Download Antivirus - Software for Windows - Which Free Antivirus To Choose?
Malwarebytes Free is a good choice for users looking for a simple antivirus scanner that they can install and forget about. However, it did miss a few well-hidden files that competitors like Norton , Bitdefender , and TotalAV detected. Apart from the scanner, Malwarebytes Free also comes with a browser extension that protects against a wide range of threats, including malware, ads and trackers, scams, and PUPs.
Malwarebytes Free is a minimalistic antivirus scanner with good virus detection and removal rates. It also comes with a browser extension that blocks malware, phishing sites, ads, and trackers.
Download Malwarebytes For Free Now. Plus, Windows Defender consistently ranks below the top antivirus scanners in our independent lab testing. The free downloads on this list are from top-notch cybersecurity companies that are offering their premium antivirus protection for free. And some of the free programs on my list also include additional cybersecurity protections. Plus, even if a free antivirus offers additional features, they are usually very limited. Yes, Windows comes with its own free antivirus Windows Defender , which does a good job of protecting your PC from malware.
The best premium antiviruses include all of the features you need to secure your PC , including anti-malware engines that use AI and machine learning to detect both known and unknown viruses, as well as malicious website protection and identity theft monitoring tools.
Free antiviruses like Bitdefender , Avira and TotalAV are pretty good, and they can offer some decent protection. Premium antiviruses are way better , as they come with all of the internet security protections you need to stay as safe as possible online. Yes, free antiviruses can offer some good protection, but users looking for complete online protection should consider a paid antivirus most of which are low cost, especially with our promotional coupons and discounts.
You can read more about paid antiviruses for different operating systems here. Both Avast and AVG offer free antivirus software for Windows, but we currently do not recommend these brands due to the alleged misuse of user data. Harvesting and selling user data is never okay, and we cannot recommend companies that have been linked with these kinds of malpractices.
Read more about the Avast data scandal here. In , Kaspersky launched its Global Transparency Initiative — and as part of it moved its data centers to Switzerland, passed the Service Organization Control for Service Organizations SOC 2 Type 1 audit, and opened Transparency Centers throughout the world where third parties can review its source code.
Here are a few of them:. There is no such thing as a truly free antivirus. Most antivirus companies limit the free version of their software to only offer basic protection. Windows Defender is not a bad antivirus — it even ranks a little bit better than some third-party free antiviruses. Technically, you can run Windows Defender and another antivirus program simultaneously. But having two anti-malware engines running at the same time can cause interference, meaning malware and other threats could potentially go undetected.
Many free third-party apps are more effective at keeping you safe. The company will continue to support the antivirus software for the time being, but their overall support for Windows 7 has ended, and they recommend you upgrade to Windows Essential protection: PCMag reports that Sophos achieved excellent scores in their hands-on tests and excellent protection against malicious websites.
But unlike the other major players on this list, Sophos has few independent lab test results to prove its efficacy. Sophos also received a poor phishing protection score from PCMag. It's extremely short on features, though, and we'd like to see more coverage from the testing labs, too. So here are few more antivirus products to consider:. Essential protection: Adaware Antivirus Free has received mixed scores in past independent tests, and PCMag cautions that Adaware has no recent test scores to show.
And for an antivirus, protection should always be the 1 concern. Check Point ZoneAlarm is a free antivirus-firewall combo that licenses its antivirus engine from security giant Kaspersky. Essential protection: Pairing strong antivirus prevention with a firewall can be good enough for basic computing. Features: Unfortunately, this free cybersecurity solution is missing many features you would expect to see, such as web-based security, protection against malicious websites, and personal data protection.
Essential protection: Qihoo formerly used the same core antivirus as Bitdefender and Avira, but it no longer does. Sadly, its malware protection has suffered for it.
Features: Qihoo comes with an impressive suite of bonus features, including cleanup and tuneup utilities, an adblocker , and more. You may have been expecting to see some big-name antivirus players on this list, like Norton, McAfee, or Malwarebytes. Norton offers only paid antivirus software. McAfee is the same as Norton — a free trial, but no free version. You can find this in their paid products, but why not go with a full-service free option instead?
Comprehensive antivirus combats the full range of viruses and other malware threats by scanning, detecting, and removing malicious software from your computer, as well as providing real-time protection against phishing attacks, spyware , and worms and viruses attempting to compromise your system. To get free antivirus software , visit the website of your chosen free malware and virus protection tool , click download, and follow the installation instructions.
Make sure your antivirus software comes with ransomware protection and rootkit scanner tools to shield you against advanced, persistent threats. You can avoid some forms of malware by practicing smart digital habits like using secure messaging apps and checking that websites are safe before using them. But you need antivirus protection, because hackers use social engineering tricks , phishing scams, malicious URLs, and infected downloads that can fool even savvy digital natives.
Cybercriminals can find ways to reach anyone. And with advanced cybercrime techniques like ransomware , once you get infected the fallout can be disastrous. AVG Internet Security. Enhanced anti-ransomware Give your most important files extra protection. Anti-hacker security Block criminals from trying to remotely hijack your PC.
Trusted by experts, enjoyed by consumers Each month, we stop over 1. How to install First, download the installation wizard using the button at the top of the page. Follow on-screen application instructions. Run your first scan and start securing your PC today. Usage For personal and family use only. Not for business or commercial use. System requirements. Why does my PC need antivirus software? How do I get rid of a virus? What is a computer virus? Get expert security tips and advice from AVG.
See all articles. What is a Trojan Horse? Is it Malware or Virus? Read more What Is Malware? While it is a good option for conducting basic virus scans, it does not offer complete protection. Furthermore, Windows Defender is not updated often enough to keep up with the new threats. To detect the new types of malware that are being spread daily, cybersecurity experts recommend an additional antivirus to conduct real-time virus scans and alert you as soon as a malicious threat is detected.
Avira Free Security is the best free antivirus for Windows, with an impressive track record in tests performed by leading industry experts. It also includes a free VPN for private and secure browsing and built-in performance optimization tools to keep your system running fast and efficiently.
Avira Free Security is an all-in-one solution for a carefree digital life. The fingerprints of new unknown files are automatically uploaded to our cloud and analyzed in real-time. This way, we protect you from Zero-Day-Attacks, where cybercriminals use new methods to infiltrate your system. Our Protection Cloud can detect these never-seen-before attacks. Once a new thread has been identified, you are instantly protected against it. With our Firewall Manager you can optimize the protection with just one click.
Our Email Protection , available for the Pro version, scans emails for these dangers. You can protect yourself and your devices from viruses, ransomware, banker Trojans, and other types of malware with our free antivirus for Windows.
We will continue to provide updates until the end of While we encourage you to upgrade to Windows 10, we still offer protection if you decide to continue using Windows 7 for a while. If your computer or laptop operates with Windows 10, download Avira Free Security, the best free antivirus for Windows Our next-gen AI Technology with cloud-based threat detection provides real-time protection and blazing fast virus scans. Avira is the pioneer of the freemium business model, offering free privacy, security, and performance tools for a wide range of platforms.
Our free antivirus uses the same real-time virus scan engine as the pro version. The pro version brings extra features, such as unlimited VPN traffic, limited to MB per month in the free version, and automatic software updates, but you can enjoy a carefree digital life completely free of charge. If you are looking for extra convenience, you can check out our all-in-one premium solution, Avira Prime. Download the award-winning free antivirus for Windows.
Important: Your current Windows version is outdated and no longer supported. For your security, we recommend switching to Windows 10 or Windows 11 before downloading Avira software. Update your Windows version here.
Our Avira Phantom VPN is no longer available for use within India as a result of governmental regulations requiring the logging and saving of user data, but you can still use your subscription when traveling outside of India.
