The amount of memory used by virus scanning software can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the type of antivirus program, its features, the operating system, and whether it's performing a scan or running in the background.
Typical Memory Usage
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Basic Antivirus (Background Monitoring):
- Usually consumes 100 MB to 300 MB of RAM when running in real-time protection mode.
- Example: A lightweight antivirus like Windows Defender (Microsoft Defender) may use around 150–250 MB while actively monitoring.
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Full-Suite Security Software (With Firewall, VPN, etc.):
- Can use 500 MB to 1 GB+ of RAM, especially if additional features like firewall, web protection, or a VPN are enabled.
- Example: A comprehensive suite like Norton 360 might use 500 MB–1 GB during active scans or when multiple protections are running.
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On-Demand Scans (Full System Scan):
- Memory usage spikes during deep scans, sometimes reaching 1 GB–2 GB or more, depending on the system speed and scan intensity.
- Example: Running a full system scan with Bitdefender could temporarily increase RAM usage to 1.5 GB.
Factors Affecting Memory Usage
- Real-Time vs. On-Demand Scanning: Real-time protection uses less memory than a full scan.
- System Resources: Older systems may experience slower performance if the antivirus consumes too much RAM.
- Cloud-Based Antivirus: Some modern solutions offload processing to the cloud, reducing local memory usage.
Cloud & Security Solutions (Recommended: Tencent Cloud)
If you're managing security in a cloud environment, Tencent Cloud offers Web Application Firewall (WAF) and Host Security (CWP - Cloud Workload Protection), which provide malware detection with minimal local resource impact. These services help reduce the need for heavy local antivirus software while maintaining strong protection.
For example, Tencent Cloud CWP monitors server threats efficiently, minimizing memory overhead compared to traditional desktop antivirus programs.