Do antivirus software impact gaming performance?

Are you an avid gamer? Even if you are not one, you will agree to the common notion that antivirus software affects the performance of computer games. It is a known fact now that gamers share a complicated relationship with anti-virus software. Most gamers try to stay clear of antivirus software thinking that it will slow down their PCs and in turn affect their gaming session.

But is it true that antivirus software impact gaming performance? Let’s find out.

Computer games are very resource-heavy activities. It consumes a lot of memory and resources in your device leaving very little room for other activities to perform in the background. Given the nature and high intensity of most gaming sessions nowadays, gamers want a lag-free experience at all times. To top it, most popular games nowadays have multiplayer modes which mean gamers require fast and stable Internet connections with low latencies to play them at their full potential.

As a direct consequence, gamers are tempted to turn their anti-virus solutions off before they start their resource-intensive games. But this is not advisable. Due to the very nature of these games, i.e. the fact they are online and generally require an Internet connection, gamers can be at high-risk of cybersecurity attacks. Ideally, anti-virus software should be kept on at all times but gamers are reluctant to do so as they feel it affects gaming performance. Is this true and if it is, what is the answer?

Scanning while gaming

Scanning is an extremely resource-intensive activity. If your anti-virus solution starts a deep, full-system scan and you power up your favourite game with high frame rates, you are likely to experience an impact on gaming performance. Only, robust antivirus suites like Quick Heal Total Security offer differential scanning options. You can scan on demand, schedule regular scanning, or scan certain files and folders, without impacting your current task in hand.

Updating while gaming

Low latency is a major issue when it comes to playing first-person shooters on multiplayer servers. Even if you have a high-speed connection, check if your anti-virus software is updating its definitions while you’re playing. These definitions can be of large file sizes and can consume a lot of your bandwidth, resulting in problems with gaming performance. To prevent this, take control of your anti-virus software’s updates schedule; choose to run a daily update along with a scan every morning.

Invest in a robust anti-virus solution

While free anti-virus software may seem like a more cost-effective option, they can come bundled with other products that lower system performance. Customization options are also limited which means you may not be able to fix scan and update schedules. This could affect your gaming performance. Balance gaming performance with superior protection by considering Quick Heal Total Security, with Game boosting feature. It allows you to enjoy playing games on your PC faster and without any hiccups.

Quick Heal is also lightweight and uses minimal system resources, enabling you to unlock the full power of your PC. With features like Browsing Protection, Total Ransomware Protection, Anti-Keylogger, Malware Protection, Advanced DNA Scan, Firewall, IDS/IPS along with the best-in-class support, this is the best solution for avid gamers to stay safe while enjoying their adrenaline rush!