Avira provides those real time functions with their free version.

I also recommend Glary Utilities which is free. One can seriously optimize their system with THIS baby. It has a start up manager in which one controls what programs start up when you boot up.
You will be interested to see the applications that you don't realize do this. Then there is the option to take them out of the start up process.
http://www.glarysoft.com/products/utili ... utilities/

Windows OS's have this feature already.

Windows, again, already has this feature. Does Glary have any other features I might be interested in?

Yes, Windows OS' have those features but it's convenient to have them in a utility that I open regularly.

Glary lists the features on the product page.

Eh, well, I mean startup isn't really something I change often, so it's not really a big deal for me.

Start>Run>msconfig>Startup>Disable All>then enable your anti-virus programs and bada bing bada boom, you're done.

I work in IT..I use AVG and Anti-Malware..We have symantec, but some slip through. you do your windows update pretty regular and run either one or both of the above, should keep you clean.

I know you all are not clicking on the ad that comes up and states, you have been attacked, click here!

I've used AVG and Avast. Both work well, but with their own drawbacks. Avast uses LOTS of resources, so with my PC at the time Avast was just far too much - I had very little RAM so that really slowed things down.

AVG I've always been fine with, but as others have said the marketing gets a little agressive.

To go over the head of anti-virus programs and really keep the viruses out, you can take it to another level.

I manage a huge amount of computers. I use two methods to combat viruses which eliminates them completely.

First method. For different makes and models of PC, I have an image for them. The image will have everything needed for that operation. If something goes wrong with that computer, such as viruses, or whatever, I just simply reimage the computer. Takes about 5 or 6 minutes and you back like new, with all the programs needed for that operation.

The second method is to use a LOCKING PROGRAM. I use Deep Freeze. What DF does is, whatever you do on that computer, you can even install the worse virus ever created, ,when you turn the computer off and back on, everything goes back to normal. Simple, you save everything to a flash or external drive. But, the primary drive where the OS is located, everything that was done, goes away when the computer is turned off and back on. Too much time wasted scanning and located viruses..

My two methods eliminates any virus attack. On the computers that I have DF on, when time comes to update or install a new program, I turn off DF, install the program, and/or install windows update, then turn it back on..

Simple..

ceh

I would recommend AVAST.

Reiterated my ideas...funny how people who have worked in the IT industry have recommended it.

I had Microsoft Security Essentials but the process MsMpEng.exe was hogging the majority of my available CPU, so I switched to AVG...it seems to not take up as many resources.

GREAT SETUP, HOWARD! Keeping separate drives for files and the OS is especially good as opposed to just one drive because eventually it will crash or for when one wants to upgrade.

I've used AVAST but it eventually wants you to do a paid upgrade.

Avira uses the least amount of resources out of the anti-virus software that I have found and is covers malware in addition to viruses.

Another great free program is No Script. It only allows what you want to load while on web pages and pages load faster. It's surprising how much extra junk gets loaded on some.

The best is OSX. Oh yeah!

Go away Macman.

Hey, he's perfectly welcome here.

Magicman, if only I could afford a mac...