7 top free antivirus programs to consider in 2017
With an exponential rise in online threats, it’s dangerous to ignore the need for a dependable antivirus solution. It could be devastating to expose your financial or other sensitive information or to have your computer stop working all together.
Paid antivirus suites come with various features such as online child protection and monitoring your computer’s firewall, but sometimes, all you need is basic and effective protection without all the extra features. Note that we recommend free antivirus programs only for home use and advise businesses to upgrade to a complete security suite.
In this piece, we’ve compiled a list of free antivirus programs you should consider using this year, with their useful and negative features.
1. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira’s free antivirus software is a popular security solution with millions of users around the world. It has a clean look, with distinct buttons for all the settings and various options for scanning and blocking malware. It also includes a number of free add-on features.
Avira Free Antivirus uses its acclaimed signature-based malware scanning to protect computers by actively operating in the background. Certainly one of the leading free antivirus programs available, it comes with the added advantage of cloud protection. It works well with other programs like VPN clients and web browsers, and doesn’t constantly pester users to upgrade to the full version.
The problem with Avira is it’s sluggish with on-demand scanning and real-time scanning, and provides browser protection only for Firefox and Chrome.
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Romanian company, Bitdefender has continued to impress with its range of anti-spyware and antivirus products. It has a multi-device license that allows users select their preferred platform as well as a central account to manage all your devices. You’ll forget that it’s running on your computer as it’s not obtrusive.
Bitdefender’s free antivirus offers real-time protection, blocks malicious URLs, provides phishing protection, and performs on-demand scans. It comes with free add-ons to provide a limited password manger and a secure browser. While the software takes care of the basics, it has an interface that’s not easy to figure out and is not easily customisable.
The free software provides the same antivirus protection as the paid version and has a top anti-phishing score, however, beyond basic antivirus protection, it does not provide all the other features of the paid version.
3. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast is another well-known brand that offers a quality free antivirus product. It’s easy to install but you have to handle add-ons such as Google Toolbar and Chrome. Avast Free Antivirus performs basic malware scanning and scans all installed programs. It remains free forever and can be used across as many devices as you like. Avast provides a browser cleanup option, home network security, smart gaming mode, and a software updater.
The software has a user-friendly interface, useful extra features including a network scanner and a password manager, and it allows users configure scans. While Avast has a top anti-phishing score, its password manager features are limited and some extra features need to be bought separately.
4. AVG Free Antivirus
AVG is one of the few free antivirus products that provide top-notch features and protection. It features on-demand malware scanning, hardly has an impact on the boot process, is highly customisable, and minimally interferes with the computer’s operating system. The software can be trusted to provide concrete protection against various types of malware as well as online protection. It has a number of useful features including a smart gaming mode and protection against data theft and spying, among others.
AVG has stepped up its malware detection in the past year, putting the software on par with industry giants like Bitdefender and Avira. It provides modest malicious URL blocking, has a good malware-blocking score, and its web security plug-in features website rating and active Do Not Track.
The problem with the product is it will moderately slow down your computer, scores poorly with anti-phishing, has a slower than average scan, and continuously reminds you upgrade to the paid version.
5. Sophos Home Free Antivirus
Sophos Home Free Antivirus is a quality product that provides enterprise-level security. While it performs basic virus scanning, it features built-in web protection that restricts dangerous websites and an app detection feature that handles unwanted apps. An added advantage is the online dashboard that allows users remotely run scans and monitor the security status. Another plus is it doesn’t continuously bother you to upgrade to a paid version. Sophos comes with a simple and clean interface but requires UAC confirmation each time you open the interface.
6. Panda Free Antivirus
Panda Free Antivirus features many options for scanning and customisation with real-time protection that can detect the latest malware. It provides USB protection for dealing with several types of trojans, a cloud cleaner, and URL scanning to protect you online.
The program is user-friendly with settings that are easy to optimise, an attractive user interface, several configuration options, and has a minimal impact on system performance. The problem with Panda is it keeps reminding you to upgrade to the paid version and has a high rate of false positives. It offers only a few extra features, displays many ads, and attempts to hijack your browser’s settings.
7. Comodo Antivirus
Comodo Antivirus is a strict solution that carefully scrutinises all executed programs and protects users from various threat sources. This product features a frequently updated cloud scanning option and keeps getting better as fresh users upload their data. Comodo has a clean look with big buttons representing all the prime options. It features a Defense+ technology that automatically presumes unknown files are harmful. There’s no need to worry about this feature because the program uses other technologies to make the process quiet but effective.
This antivirus scores highly on malware blocking, performs automatic sandboxing of suspicious programs, and provides a secure browser. The downside to Comodo is it doesn’t provide web-based protection against malicious URLs.
Think About Hosting if you Have a Website
If you are worried about threats to and through your own website, if you have one, then it is also important to get good website hosting that offers you protection. Companies like Openhost provide data recovery services and are constantly monitoring for threats with antivirus scans.. Also, make sure that you update your CMS platforms regularly to plug security gaps.
In a world where there is always a security threat it seems you can at least provide yourself with a good level of protection using the right Antivirus programs.
