This thread needs no introduction; there are many free anti-virus programs out there but
chossing the right one is key !
What is Anti-Virus
I would be worried if you didn’t know what Anti-Virus, but here is a short description anyway.
Antivirus or anti-virus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove malware, including but
not limited to computer viruses, computer worm, trojan horses, spyware and adware.
Here is my list of the top 7 free anti-virus programs.
Microsoft Security Essentials
Released by Microsoft in late 2009, Microsoft Security Essentials sports more than a typically
verbose Microsoft name: it’s also a really good antivirus. Lightweight enough to run on older
machines without crippling their performance, yet competent enough to handle most viruses
and malware out there.Download
AVG Free
AVG has become synonymous with free anti-virus, and there’s a reason for this: AVG offers
complete malware protection, with considerably less bloat than the top pay-to-use antivirus
clients. And while AVG Free does constantly remind you that you could pay for the professional
version of the program, it does this without ever getting in the way of the program’s core
purpose: protecting you from viruses.Download
Avira Free
In terms of simplicity, Avira’s right up there with MSE. It’s fairly lightweight, too, so the
comparison is quite apt. While Avira does have a paid professional version to peddle, much
like AVG, it’s not quite as aggressive as AVG in peddling it. I’d say Avira is solid and worth
looking into for sure.Download
Avast! Free
If this competition were for the coolest name, the piratey Avast! would win hands down.
Even though that’s not what we’re discussing, Avast! stands up pretty well. This is one
of the top free anti-viruses on the market, and for good reason: it’s remarkably complete.
Expect great all-around protection, including against trojans and spyware. You can also
expect constant reminders that there’s a free version you can upgrade to, on your desktop
and in your inbox. Still, the protection is solid.Download
Malwarebytes
Whatever your default anti-virus is, you need Malwarebytes too. This program doesn’t
run in your system background and constantly protect you, but when you run into a
problem running Malwarebytes will usually take care of what other programs can’t.Download
Clamwin
Clamwin is the Windows version of ClamAV, the main Linux anti-virus on the market.
ClamWin is flawed in many ways: it simply scans instead of offering real-time protection,
it doesn’t really do non-virus malware and it’s not exactly easy to use. Still, having
ClamWin around doesn’t cost anything, and you can never have enough scanning tools
in your arsenal.Download
Comodo Firewall + Antivirus
Comodo is best known for its free firewall, but it also offers a bundled firewall and
antivirus program. While the Comodo firewall isn’t the easiest to use, and the
antivirus doesn’t include protection for non-virus forms of malware, this one’s worth
mentioning if you’re looking for a free security suite which includes both a firewall
and anti-virus protection.Download
There are a lot of great free anti-virus programs out there, but what you use is
mostly a matter of preference. Myself, I use Comodo Firewall + Antivirus on my
Windows machine because it’s free, has a great firewall included and will never
ask me for money. But I also make sure I always have Malwarebytes on my
thumb drive for quickly removing viruses and malware from the computers of
friends and family.
What about you? Which free anti-virus do you prefer?
