Which antivirus solution has the minimal impact on system performance while running Lightroom Classi

[palombian]

I use Avast Premium.

Despite placing all possible locations of Lightroom data (files, catalog, previews...) in the exception list, after working a while Avast claims more and more CPU and disk, making LR slow.

It settles down after some time when the antivirus has done whatever it has to do.

Maybe this is inevitable, generaly speaking I am satisfied with Avast.

I admit my desktop has an old i5-8600 CPU with only 6 threads but my laptop has an i9 with 20 threads and has the same problem.

Except from that LR is quite fast on both machines so I don't think throwing more hardware will be a solution (catalog and previews are on M2 SSD's, files on 7200rpm Barracuda PRO, 48GB RAM, RTX 4060 GPU).

 

[dj_paige]

What specific actions in LrC do you think are slowed down by an Antivirus program? What specific actions in LrC do you think should be faster?

 

[RobBurke]

For minimal impact but good enough, I’d choose the built-in Microsoft Defender on Windows, and no antivirus on MacOS except for the built-in security. (Disclaimer: I haven’t used Windows much in the last couple of years. When I used to support PCs I had to strip out AV packages a few times that had brought down aging but otherwise usable PCs.)

 

[palombian]

What specific actions in LrC do you think are slowed down by an Antivirus program? What specific actions in LrC do you think should be faster?

Changing/browsing images, switching back and forth to PS, Topaz, Qimage.

In particular after import, although Build Previews is set to minimal (replace with standard during idle time not selected), no Smart Previews (are not set for processing).

I seem to have 2GB Smart Previews and 20GB 1:1 2048p Standard Previews (set to never expire), all on SSD.

LR sync is off.

My feeling is LR places some work in a queue. But since the disk locations used are in the Avast exception list (excluded from all shields and scans) why from time to time suddenly several antivirus processes start to run and take substantial part of CPU and disk resources ?

I just tried reviewing Collections from long ago (where certainly no more Previews are present) and this seems to run very smoothly (withouth engaging antivirus, CPU, disk and network drop back immediately when I don't touch anything, over half of the memory free).

It seems to happen only when processing new work. Does this use a location not yet in the Avast exceptions ?

Another possibiliity is that I try do other things while waiting (although the suspected Firefox is open now).

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Which antivirus solution has the minimal impact on system performance while running Lightroom Classic?

I use Avast Premium.

Despite placing all possible locations of Lightroom data (files, catalog, previews...) in the exception list, after working a while Avast claims more and more CPU and disk, making LR slow.

It settles down after some time when the antivirus has done whatever it has to do.

Maybe this is inevitable, generaly speaking I am satisfied with Avast.

I admit my desktop has an old i5-8600 CPU with only 6 threads but my laptop has an i9 with 20 threads and has the same problem.

Except from that LR is quite fast on both machines so I don't think throwing more hardware will be a solution (catalog and previews are on M2 SSD's, files on 7200rpm Barracuda PRO, 48GB RAM, RTX 4060 GPU).

IMO for the large majority of typical home users, the day of any third-party, continuously-running antivirus measures is long past. Just use the built-in Windows security; keep it updated (sometimes updated virus definitions get served when you specifically check for updates, that don't show up as pending updates); and if you have a problem, or periodically as an extra measure, run a scan with the free Malwarebytes version.

 

[dj_paige]

What specific actions in LrC do you think are slowed down by an Antivirus program? What specific actions in LrC do you think should be faster?

Changing/browsing images ...

More specific information is required. Are you browsing in Library Module or Develop Module or somewhere else?

 

[ishwanu]

I f you use Defender, you can tell it not to monitor certain folders, so it won't cause slowdowns examining files in them. Maybe that's also possible with Avast.

 

[hectorsm]

For minimal performance impact, use Microsoft Defender. I've never noticed it is running.

 

[GammyKnee]

Honestly I would go with Windows' inbuilt protection AND add exclusions for your most used (and trusted) editing apps and the workspaces they use.

Back when I was a software engineer the effect of 3rd party virus scanners on large project build times was very noticeable, e.g. something that should take 20 mins would take 30 until the AV was told to keep its nose out. Windows' own solution was, in my usage, typically the least problematic and the least invasive, but there was still a benefit in giving it appropriate no-go zones. I know that's not quite the same as photo editing, but both activities involve big file reads, loading of specialized auxiliary components, generation of temporary files of various sizes and then some big writes at output time. Not that different in many respects.

 

[tbcass]

I switched from McAfee which came free with my computer to Windows Security which is free, Uses very few resources and is very effective. Avast, which I used on another computer is a resource hog.

 

[Zeee]

Mac and PC Talk forums are very good for these topics as well that include questions about apps. Good answers here. I’m not familiar with PC but like Mac in those forums they will always tell you use the OS security. Keep it updated, etc.

--
Funny how millions of people on an internet platform where they can communicate instantaneously with people on the other side of the world using incredibly powerful handheld computers linked to orbiting the satellites hundreds of miles in space don’t believe in science. Neil deGrasse Tyson

 

[palombian]

Thanks for confirming Microsoft Defender being a reliable solution.

I am already evaluating Ghostery and Proton VPN as (free) replacements for other products in the Avast (Ultimate) package.

How about mail ?

PS: Avast is now available for very low prices (from independent but official vendors), maybe I am not the only one leaving.

 

[palombian]

What specific actions in LrC do you think are slowed down by an Antivirus program? What specific actions in LrC do you think should be faster?

Changing/browsing images ...

More specific information is required. Are you browsing in Library Module or Develop Module or somewhere else?

I kept task manager active yesterday when working (mostly on older collections to enhance some photos with Topaz AI 3.6 plugin - RAW file sizes same as actual CRAW) and couldn't see excessive resource use.

But after a while LR started to show strange behaviour (without intervention from my side): going borderless, opening second window, selecting other collections and going back and forth between library and development modules...

The latter was also occurring when I observed excessive antivirus activity (maybe because I was importing new files then).

So maybe the cause is within LR itself.

I replaced the 15 yrs old wireless USB 2 mouse with a recent BT one. If this helps I maybe should do the same with the keyboard.

PS: previously I also disabled all diagnostic and privacy stuff making Windows (11) a bit leaner (in settings, don't need FlyOOBE...).

 

[Annie Ng]

I use Avast Premium.

Despite placing all possible locations of Lightroom data (files, catalog, previews...) in the exception list, after working a while Avast claims more and more CPU and disk, making LR slow.

It settles down after some time when the antivirus has done whatever it has to do.

Maybe this is inevitable, generaly speaking I am satisfied with Avast.

I admit my desktop has an old i5-8600 CPU with only 6 threads but my laptop has an i9 with 20 threads and has the same problem.

Except from that LR is quite fast on both machines so I don't think throwing more hardware will be a solution (catalog and previews are on M2 SSD's, files on 7200rpm Barracuda PRO, 48GB RAM, RTX 4060 GPU).

This did not happen to me when I was using Lightroom with McAfee installed.

However, I am not just suggesting McAfee. Microsoft Defender holds its own against all the Anti-Virus out there. The free version of Microsoft is just pure bargain, knowing that Microsoft includes the engine as "Microsoft Defender for Endpoint" to corporations.

--
Annie
https://smallpotato.photography/

 

[GammyKnee]

AVs hook deeply into the operating system and processes (including the software you run) to monitor for suspicious behavior. This can slow down a variety of operations that your software needs to carry out, and that extra resource consumption can often appear to be coming from the process / software you're using rather than from the AV itself.

I'm not saying LRC doesn't have its own problems, but Task Manager won't necessarily tell the whole story. The easiest way to check what's really happening is to take the AV out of the loop and then see if LRC behaves any differently.

 

[Ho72]

AVs hook deeply into the operating system and processes ...

And uninstalls aren't always pain-free. An acquaintance told me that Norton AV was harder to get rid of than any virus he'd ever had.

 

[Annie Ng]

AVs hook deeply into the operating system and processes ...

And uninstalls aren't always pain-free. An acquaintance told me that Norton AV was harder to get rid of than any virus he'd ever had.

Yes, this is real. When it was still Symantec it released dedicated uninstall tools for its AV because the usual uninstaller corrupted various systems leaving orphaned files and registries.

 

[GammyKnee]

And uninstalls aren't always pain-free. An acquaintance told me that Norton AV was harder to get rid of than any virus he'd ever had.

+1

 

[Zeee]

AVs hook deeply into the operating system and processes (including the software you run) to monitor for suspicious behavior. This can slow down a variety of operations that your software needs to carry out, and that extra resource consumption can often appear to be coming from the process / software you're using rather than from the AV itself.

I'm not saying LRC doesn't have its own problems, but Task Manager won't necessarily tell the whole story. The easiest way to check what's really happening is to take the AV out of the loop and then see if LRC behaves any differently.

I can't speak for PC but LrC flies on my Mac's. It flew on my 2020 MB Air, 16GB. I'm talking about basic editing, masking, etc. Never a hiccup. Denoise AI is the slower edit which known but that also depends on the hardware. Mac studios run Denoise quickly.

I agree. Remove any anti virus apps. Check to make sure all aspects are removed and restart computer.

 

[dj_paige]

What specific actions in LrC do you think are slowed down by an Antivirus program? What specific actions in LrC do you think should be faster?

Changing/browsing images ...

More specific information is required. Are you browsing in Library Module or Develop Module or somewhere else?

I kept task manager active yesterday when working (mostly on older collections to enhance some photos with Topaz AI 3.6 plugin - RAW file sizes same as actual CRAW) and couldn't see excessive resource use.

But after a while LR started to show strange behaviour (without intervention from my side): going borderless, opening second window, selecting other collections and going back and forth between library and development modules...

The latter was also occurring when I observed excessive antivirus activity (maybe because I was importing new files then).

So maybe the cause is within LR itself.

I replaced the 15 yrs old wireless USB 2 mouse with a recent BT one. If this helps I maybe should do the same with the keyboard.

PS: previously I also disabled all diagnostic and privacy stuff making Windows (11) a bit leaner (in settings, don't need FlyOOBE...).

I'm sorry, but I asked "Are you browsing in Library Module or Develop Module?" and I don't see where you answered that. Instead of slow performance, now you list a whole lot of problems that aren't really performance, but as you said "strange behaviour", and so it seems like you have switched from one problem to another in the middle of the thread.

That makes it tough to help, and I want to get back to my question and concentrate on that first ... and address this slowness if only I knew what was slow.