Avast Home and RAM

[astral_cyborg]

Hello, and congratulations for this great and free antivirus.

I am using the standard shield only from the antivirus and I would like to know, if enabling some of the other features, how much will decrease my system's free memory and generally what effect will they have in resources.

I'm asking that, because it happens that I have to use many programs simultaneously resulting to heavy system usage and I want to make some arrangements for that, but I also consider for better safety.

So, from the avast services, if I have only the Standard Shield activated will it be ok?

I also want to know, if I run for example a p2p program and having only the Standard Shield running, what will be the difference of whether using the p2p protection or not? The same question applies for the other features too (IM messaging etc).

One last question, for e-mail client, I use the Mozilla Thunderbird. What provider should I run from the antivirus for the e-mail protection? Do the "Outlook/Exchange" options apply on Thunderbird too?

Thank you for any support.

[XMAS]

One last question, for e-mail client, I use the Mozilla Thunderbird. What provider should I run from the antivirus for the e-mail protection? Do the "Outlook/Exchange" options apply on Thunderbird too?

For Thunderbird you must use the provider "Internet Mail" 
The provider "Outlook/Exchange" is for MS Outlook and MS Exchange mail clients only!

[Eddy]

Wasn't there something else you must do when running TB?
I remember seeing something like that in a thread here..... I can be wrong ofcourse

About the mem usage:
Avast is really low on it.
What other security (related) programs do you have installed/running?

[Lisandro]

I also want to know, if I run for example a p2p program and having only the Standard Shield running, what will be the difference of whether using the p2p protection or not? The same question applies for the other features too (IM messaging etc).

Dedicated provider will do the job better. Will only take resources if the protected system (program, etc.) is running at that time.
Let them enabled 

One last question, for e-mail client, I use the Mozilla Thunderbird. What provider should I run from the antivirus for the e-mail protection? Do the "Outlook/Exchange" options apply on Thunderbird too?

Internet Mail provider will do the job 

[DavidR]

The Standard Shield when combines with the specialist providers (IM, P2P, email, etc.) gives excellent protection in depth giving a multi layer protection.

For the most part the specialist providers, web shield, email, etc try to intercept the virus before it gets on to your HDD which is then harder to remove.

So for me I don't feel that just using Standard Shield gives you a last line of defence only and is not as good as multi level and stopping it get on your system before detecting it.

[Spiritsongs]

  From an anti-spyware "orientation", avoid P2P programs
    and use the safe & clean alternative of "Shareaza"
    available at www.shareaza.com .