Webroot SecureAnywhere

Antivirus programs and hardware-demanding games don't mix well. Many gamers prefer to disable their security systems temporarily, to gain some much needed RAM, which exposes them to viruses, hacker attacks and other threats. If you don't want to sacrifice your computer's security for a performance boost, then Webroot SecureAnywhere is something you should definitely try. It provides high-grade security features against various threats, but unlike conventional antivirus solutions, this one will not drain your computer's resources. Due to its cloud-based signatures library and its fast scanning capabilities, the software needs only a small amount of RAM and processing power, so it leaves more resources for games.

Installing Webroot SecureAnywhere requires a single click, if you are satisfied with the wizard's default settings. The program works on all modern Windows platforms and it doesn't have any special requirements. Although it is not free, a fully functional trial version is available, which can be used without any restrictions, until it expires.

Webroot SecureAnywhere comes with a compact user interface, on which you can enable and disable its real-time protection feature, built-in firewall, as well as its web, identity and anti-phishing shields. All you have to do is click their on/off switches, which can be found in a series of collapsible menus, among other options, on the right side of the window. Running the program and letting it work in the background is sufficient to protect your system even when playing games. The best part is that you don't have to switch to a game mode, like in other programs. Webroot SecureAnywhere's core architecture is located in the cloud, which means a reduction in hard drive reading and writing and an increase in overall performance.

The program can scan your computer automatically, according to a schedule or on demand. It takes about a minute to complete a scanning process and, according to the developers, it requires only 5 MB of RAM. Besides scanning for threats, the software can also optimize your system, to allow games to run smoother. A series of system control tools can be found on a different page, which allow you to remove specific threats, if you know exactly what files are infected, control active processes and perform other actions.

The SafeStart Sandbox is another useful feature. You can use it to run suspicious programs in a controlled environment, to prevent spreading any infections. What's more, you can set various conditions for the targeted program, like allowing it to connect to the Internet or not, granting it write access to system parameters and so on.