A good free antivirus program is essential for a secure system and you must not pay for any of the great protection. “But do antiviruses really help?” Okay, the answer is yes and no. If you’re on Windows 10, Windows Defender is more than enough. If you’re on older Windows versions, many free scanners like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Avast, etc.
Hackers, phishing scammers, and cybercriminals are not leaving any time soon which means downloading internet security. Below we have a list of the 5 best antivirus programs that you can use for Windows today. Any recognized free antivirus software does not have important features like fraud protection or link blocking. Things are a bit different when we talk about good antivirus software.
All of these running programs automatically perform definition updates to make sure your files are protected from malware. And your personal information is confidential and you can start on-demand scans whenever you want. However, each of them has some significant differences that set them apart. In this article, let’s take a look at some of the best antivirus software options out there to help you choose the best one.
You might expect that investing in the most powerful software is the best solution – and if you want to take care of your company’s computers, we have the best business antivirus plan. This does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money because our guide gives you affordable access to the top software. I am sure you have found a candidate who will meet all your needs.
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How do We Choose Free Antivirus Software?
You have decided to take a free alternative to your antivirus and are not sure how to decide among all the choices. There are many things to consider, but we will narrow them down to a few. Consider first what features your free antivirus software brings to the table. After comparing features, you’ll want to see if it’s compatible with your computer system.
Another important issue is how much the system advertises. It’s a good idea to see what additional tools and display ads will be added to your system when using free antivirus software. These are the top things to consider with your free antivirus download.
Chosen the best free antivirus software in 2021 for you:
- Avast Free Antivirus
- Kaspersky Free Antivirus
- AVG Free Antivirus
- Avira Free Antivirus
- Immunet AntiVirus
1. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is used by millions of people and almost every one of the antivirus programs is on the “best list” and is in a high position for good reason. When you are looking for free antivirus software to maintain the integrity of your computer and protect you from various malware and hacking attacks, Avast has become the leader in all solutions. Complementary modules enhance the virulence of viruses and provide additional services related to security and privacy.
Also, both definition and program updates are performed automatically. The latest free antivirus suite from Avast is an impressive package. The 2021 version of Avast goes the extra mile to make sure you feel safe using the program. During the installation, you will receive a direct breakdown showing how to manually access your personal information.
Here are some of the features this software offers.
- This “Intelligent Antivirus” detects malware, viruses, ransomware, and phishing, etc. Using smart analytics, the threats are stopped at the earliest possible time.
- “Smart Scan” detects various small-big security holes present on your machine.
- The automatic “Game Mode” makes sure that all notifications are put on hold.
- “CyberCapture,” a cloud-based scanner, sends suspicious files for further analysis in the cloud. If it turns out to be a threat, all the users are protected in the future.
- “WiFi Inspector” finds flaws in your home WiFi and makes it more secure.
- “Behaviour shield” keeps an eye on the apps and their behavior to make sure that they don’t harm your machine.
Avast
Technically, if you only want antimalware protection, you can install just the shields from the start of that list. Wi-Fi inspectors scan the network for devices at risk of attack. The software also includes an annoying mode that completely disables alerts and pop-ups when you’re watching a movie or playing an important game. You can install these tools (it takes less than five minutes) and then disable or delete them completely.
The biggest reason to choose this software over others is the abundance of features and options that it gives you. However, the password manager and cleanup tools are only trial versions that will expire after a time-limited test. If the interface is overloaded with information and features, you may get confused and look for other software. Avast is better to avoid these results. They have created a dashboard that works easily for anyone. Avast Antivirus is one of the best antivirus around and the most popular software down. Avast Free Antivirus is compatible with Windows 10, 8, and 7. There’s also a Mac and Android version.
2. Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is a good choice for an antivirus program if you want a simple program that boasts a lot of features. This free AV program is also effective if your computer system has fewer resources. Free and Lightweight Antivirus from Kaspersky Labs is a basic program that does not come with fancy features and promises to work with care. Kaspersky’s “Security Cloud” is a version of its security software that syncs across the cloud across all your devices. So you can manage everything from smartphones to desktop computers.
Talking about its features, you get the core protection of this not-so-heavy antivirus, including protection against dangerous malware, viruses, phishing attacks, spyware, etc. There are a variety of parenting options for filtering, screening, and secure YouTube search.
Other notable details include being able to search for rootkits and delete malicious tools, adware, auto-dialers, and suspicious packages. The password protects the program from changing its settings or preventing it from being uninstalled or shut down.
Just because a paid version is a smaller version doesn’t mean it’s still a great system. It is highly user-friendly and has an accurate, reliable antivirus engine. Kaspersky’s free antivirus program runs on Windows operating systems. It seems to be more compatible with Windows-based tablets as well as Windows 11 and Windows 10 and 8 for desktops and laptops.
3. AVG Free Antivirus
AVG’s free antivirus program is easy on the eyes and easy to use. The scan button is located right in the middle of the screen. Features are simple and have been removed from viewing all advanced options in settings. Like most antivirus tools, it allows you to schedule scans. Check for threats in archives. Remove viruses as soon as they are detected. Scan USB drives, exclude files/folders/websites from scans and run a boot-time scan.
AVG Free Antivirus is AVG’s popular free virus scanner program that is going to get better. The software can not only detect viruses and malware, but also help block suspicious links, prevent suspicious downloads, and prevent the use of suspicious email attachments. You can always be sure that your computer will be protected by the most up-to-date software. The second advantage is Avig’s alliance with Google’s platforms. It has a better Android download and it can work well in Chrome too.
The main features of the AVG Free Antivirus are:
- Complete virus scan and protection from different malware types, including viruses, spyware, ransomware, etc.
- Web protection to keep you safe from unsafe downloads and links. Email scanning is included as well.
- It also scans your system for performance issues and notifies you of the same.
- Real-time security updates are also provided.
AVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus Free is highly customizable. You can either install it and leave the settings alone to get regular protection, or go to settings and adjust to anything. During setup, you have complete control over what components should be enabled or disabled after AVG is installed.
Options include File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, SafePrice browser extension, File Shredder, Cleanup, and Do Not Disturb Mode. The only downsides are that there are other paid versions of the product and one wrong click can literally cost you.
It also has problems with PC analysis from time to time which means it does not always detect and delete junk files or shortcuts. Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 are supported.
4. Avira Free Antivirus
The key component of Avira’s free software suite that stands in front of it is Protection’s “in-the-cloud detection” feature called Protection Cloud. Here’s how it works: When a suspicious file is identified on a computer powered by Abira. A fingerprint of that particular file is created and uploaded anonymously to Abira so that they can scan it. While custom and fast scanning are ready for use, you do not have many features available using this program.
Avira can scan and remove existing threats as well as automatically detect and block new ones. If you are interested in upgrading to the Pro version, you can get phishing detection, online shopping protection, and an AdBlock. It protects you against ransomware, Trojans, spyware, and other kinds of malware. This program offers more than just a very comprehensive antivirus application. But you don’t have to use them and they won’t bother you if you don’t open them.
Avira
The new 2021 version labels itself as light opening date software. Some of the notable features of Abira’s free solution are:
- Avira’s “Security Cloud” is an early warning system that analyzes unknown cloud files and protects the community in real-time.
- Its antivirus scanner takes care of most types of malware, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, etc.
- The “PUA Shield” stops unwanted apps from harming your system.
- With Avira Browser Security Extensions you get features like browser tracking blocker, safe browsing, and price comparison.
Avira Antivirus is great for eliminating 99.7% of tested threats and having very little impact on system performance. Its great detection rates will set this antivirus application apart from the rest. As a paid version of the free antivirus software, you will promote lots of popups and ads that can enhance the user experience. Avira Free Security is intended to run on Windows 7 and newer computers, including Windows 11, 10, and Windows 8. There is also Avira for MacOS.
5. Immunet AntiVirus
The Immunet is completely open-source software designed to protect your PC from any online threats. Free Immunet relies on ClamAV for its antivirus protection. Immunet provides real-time protection for Windows. This software uses cloud computing and community-based technology to ensure the security of your PC while online.
It has a slightly older interface but the software still exists and even connects directly to the cloud for updates. It has no features that any antivirus software should have. Detect and remove unwanted software or data (viruses, malware, spyware, bots, worms, Trojans, and Killers).
There is an effective timeline that displays a history of computer threats up to 30 days in the past. ClamAV’s detection scores in independent reviews, however, have varied from as low as 60% (ShadowServer) to as high as 90%. A very detailed history of events occurring in the program can be filtered by date, keyword, and type (e.g. partitioning, clearance, blocking process, etc.).
The interesting thing about it is that it can be used as a complement to your existing antivirus software. For Windows 10 or 11 (latest version) it requires a 1 GHz or faster processor, 1 GB RAM (32-bit operating system) or 2 GB for a 64-bit system, and 850 MB available disk space.