Your computer is definitely slowing you down. You try to open a website and it grinds to a halt, or read an email and it churns along sluggishly. A slow computer, in many ways, is worse than a broken one or at least infinitely more frustrating.
If you’re going to have any chance of reversing the serious slowdown that has affected your computer. People buy Antivirus using bitdefender coupon because it gives discount but it is known to slow down PC.
You’re going to have to work out what’s at the root cause of the sluggishness. Put on your detective’s hat and identify the source of the problem with the help of these tools and tricks.
A good place to start is with the apps currently running on your machine and the ones that try and load themselves at the same time as your operating system. For that, we need Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on macOS.
Task Manager, which has gotten a lot more user-friendly and useful over the years, can be found by right-clicking on a blank part of the taskbar and choosing Task Manager.
Over on macOS, launch Spotlight (Ctrl+Space), then type out “Activity Monitor” and select it when it appears.
In both utilities you can see exactly where your CPU time, disk cycles and RAM are all going, so look out for bad actors hogging more than their fair share of system resources
Anti-virus programs which monitor I/O disk operations in order to detect and protect against viruses place a burden on the processor and reduce the speed of reading and writing data.
For home use or office tasks, where a small number of files are processed, the effect of an anti-virus monitor is hardly felt.
For operations on thousands of files or in the case of an archiving server on which a database is stored and on which large archives are recorded, the operation of the monitor can place a substantial burden on the processor and reduce backup speed.
In some situations, the filters of an anti-virus monitor can disrupt write operations.
This can both compromise the integrity of the program’s database and damage the structure of backup copy files. In a business environment, anti-virus monitors must, therefore, be correctly configured so that they do not have a negative effect on processes being carried out automatically.
In computers dedicated to specific tasks, such as backup servers, deinstalling the anti-virus monitor completely and periodically checking the disks using an anti-virus scanner, starting up using an embedded or external scheduler, should be considered.
If the anti-virus software is able to exclude particular processes from monitoring, the processes making up the data backup system should be excluded
All apps use processing power. With antivirus, CPU usage can be constant, as the programs perform ongoing, automatic scans. These can occur at scheduled time intervals, whenever you install a new app, or when you download a file from the web.
Every time a scan happens, the AV software has to compare the network drive with a vast list of known malware signatures and behaviors. Understandably, these in-depth checks need the power to function.
The list of malware-types has grown drastically, and the databases that AV programs use became very large. Fortunately, security companies quickly recognized the problem and now, most premium antivirus companies work online. This uses the provider’s server to power the processes rather than the customer’s.
If your device is so slow that it’s become unusable, it’s unlikely that your antivirus alone is at fault. Ensure there isn’t another cause before you make any changes to your security suite.
All applications must be updated regularly
It’s not just your operating system that can cause delays if it’s not updated. Every app you use regularly has a similar effect. Make sure you’re up-to-date with your browser, social media apps, streaming services, email clients, and anything else you rely on.
Other Malware
The number one cause of computer slowdown is malware. Even if you have an antivirus, certain malware types can slip through. Try using a variety of free malware detectors to see if they flag any problems.
The Operating System
Your computer’s OS is important to the device running smoothly. If you haven’t updated it in a while, chances are it’s the root of the problem. OS updates provide patches for coding problems so staying up-to-date is essential for speed.
Background Programs
Most installed apps want startup permissions, which means they’ll open as soon as you turn on your device. Then they’ll run in the background, using precious processing power. Check what’s running by looking in your Task Manager (PC) or Activity Monitor (Mac). Also, check for any apps you might have forgotten to close on previous use.
Hard Drive clean-up is essential
Every hard drive has wasted space. Old files, apps we don’t use or accidental downloads all take up unnecessary memory and drain your computer’s resources. A quick once-over should uncover things you can delete to speed up processing.
Below are some characteristics of fast antivirus providers. Finding the best option may be a case of trial and error, so don’t worry if your first attempt isn’t successful.
Characteristics of a Fast Antivirus
When choosing an antivirus, look for the following features to guarantee as little slowdown as possible:
Cloud Processing
Many antivirus companies now offer cloud-processing to negate slowdown. Instead of using your computer resources to scan for viruses, they use their own servers and transfer the information over the web. The one drawback here is that it won’t work if you’re not attached to the internet.
Low RAM Usage
Checking how much computer space each software title will use is usually a good indication of the speed. Heavy-weight downloads that take up lots of RAM are always going to be slower than lightweight options. This information should be easy to find before you make a purchase.
Short Installation
Installation time is another telling factor for antivirus. Some can take hours or even days to fully install on your system. If an app needs that much time, it’s usually because it has a lot of elements to handle. The more internal elements, the slower the program will be.
Finally, many online resources offer regular testing of antivirus options. You can always check your antivirus against the most current database of test results to see if the significant slowdown was noted.
Contentment with a slow antivirus is not an option
Antivirus is essential; with so many cyber threats, you’re asking for trouble if you leave your computer unprotected. However, you don’t want to sacrifice usability. If you think your antivirus is responsible for slowing your system, then do something about it.
Once you’ve ruled out alternative problems and tried to fix the speed issues internally, then it’s time to look for another security provider.
Fortunately, numerous premium providers exist, so there’s no shortage of options. With a bit of investigation, you’ll be able to find a sleek and straightforward option that causes limited slowdown to your system.
