Application Loading -- is it slowed by Avast

[don35]

Does Avast, slow down the loading of an application or is Avast checking of the application when it's loading simultaneous with the loading?

[Lisandro]

Depends on your Standard Shield configuration.
At High level, yes.
At Normal scanning opened files, yes.
At Custom level, without scanning opened files, only the executables will be scanned.

[igor]

No antivirus can check the started application "simultaneously" (it would allow an infected file to be started) - so every antivirus (with resident protection) slows down application execution to some degree.

Of course, the exact slowdown depends on your hardware configuration and other details, but I don't think avast! slowdown would be significant.

[don35]

Thank you both, Igor & Tech, for your prompt answer to my question

[Lisandro]

Thank you both, Igor & Tech, for your prompt answer to my question

Be used to the speed and friendship of avast forums
Welcome

[Vladimyr]

Comparison of time taken to run 'OpenOffice.org Writer 2.2' from fresh boot with various AV (all free for home use except CA). Deliberately used slow PC (SIS630, Celeron 850mhz, 256MB RAM) so as to clearly see differences. All AV at default settings. Each timed twice (reboot in between) and times averaged. (They were the same or very close anyway.)

Comodo AV 2.0 Beta, 103 seconds
PC Tools AV 3.1, 40 seconds
Spyware Terminator with CLAMAV plugin, 37 seconds
PC Tools AV 4.0.0.18 (beta), 34 seconds
Avast! 4.7 , 33 seconds
CA Antivirus 8.4, 29 seconds
AVG (Antivirus) 7.5 , 27 seconds
AOL Active Virus Shield, 26 seconds No Longer Available
Avira PEC, 25 seconds
Avast! 4.7.1098, 24 seconds
NO AV installed, 20 seconds

[Lisandro]

Comparison of time taken to run 'OpenOffice.org Writer' from fresh boot with various AV (all free for home use except CA). Deliberately used slow PC (SIS630, Celeron 850mhz, 256MB RAM) so as to clearly see differences. All AV at default settings. Each timed twice (reboot in between) and times averaged. (They were the same or very close anyway.)

Comodo AV 2.0 Beta, 103 seconds
PC Tools AV 3.1, 40 seconds
Spyware Terminator with CLAMAV plugin, 37 seconds
Avast! 4.7 , 33 seconds
CA Antivirus 8.4, 29 seconds
AVG (Antivirus) 7.5 , 27 seconds
AOL Active Virus Shield, 26 seconds
Avira PEC, 25 seconds
NO AV installed, 20 seconds

Vladimir, you have patience indeed... all that installation/booting/testing/uninstallation/booting...

[Vladimyr]

Thanks Tech 
For better or worse I have 3 PCs at my desk at the moment so it wasn't the only thing I was doing.

[Lisandro]

Thanks Tech 
For better or worse I have 3 PCs at my desk at the moment so it wasn't the only thing I was doing.

By the way, do you find a way to install AOL only on-demand and not as resident?
Did you try to have avast on-access and AOL only a second, non-resident, scanner?

[Vladimyr]

By the way, do you find a way to install AOL only on-demand and not as resident?
Did you try to have avast on-access and AOL only a second, non-resident, scanner?

Short answer, no, but I didn't try overly hard. I don't remember ever trying to install Avast after AOL but you would have seen the attached warning when you attempt to install AOL alongside Avast- even BitDefender Free is surprisingly "incompatible" according to AOL.

[Lisandro]

Short answer, no, but I didn't try overly hard. I don't remember ever trying to install Avast after AOL but you would have seen the attached warning when you attempt to install AOL alongside Avast- even BitDefender Free is surprisingly "incompatible" according to AOL.

What more can I say? Well, when and if anybody finds a way, I'll be glad to read here in forums.