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Free Virus Software Review: Best Free Antivirus Software
The first thing you should do when buying a new computer is to install the best free antivirus software. There are a lot of available free virus software in the market, making it challenging to choose which is the best free antivirus software to install.
I have narrowed down top best free antivirus software below to make it easier for you.
Best free antivirus software downloads in 2018:
1. Avast free antivirus
Score: 8/10
Avast Free is one of the best free antivirus software available, it has a friendly interface including password manager and a free network scanner which is definitely a great addition to your security system. The good thing is it does not slow your computer and it offers great virus protection.
Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android | Version: 17 | Features: Virus detection, Gaming mode, Password manager, Malware scanner
2. Bitdefender antivirus free version
Score: 8/10
Another one of the best free antivirus software is bitfenfer free virus software. It provides a fast scanning and excellent antivirus protection. The down side is the scan cannot be scheduled and some people may want more control. It runs in autopilot mode, making the process of virus protection management a lot easier.
You can also opt in for a premium version, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus for around $1.66 per month. That’s a small amount to pay for a lot of extra features, such as online banking protection, password manager, free 24/7 online support, and permanent file shredder.
Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android | Version: 2018 | Features: Phishing protection, Behavioural analysis, Automatic scanning
3. AVG antivirus free
Score: 7/10
AVG and Avast are the same company now and they offer an excellent antivirus software while having a minimal system impact. AVG’s customisation options are also still available, however they promote their paid AVG software quite heavily.
AVG is a decent free virus software and has a good record of virus protection but the virus scanning can be rather slow.
Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android | Version: 2018 | Features: Virus detection, Phishing protection, System optimization tools, Malware scanner
4. Avira free virus software
Score: 7/10
Avira free virus software offers some free add-on features, such as VPN client and a password manager. Please read the fine print, because many of the best features are reserved for paid version. It provides a great detection rates and clean friendly interface.
Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Version: 2018 | Features: Virus detection, Phishing protection, Built-in VPN, System optimization tools
5. Sophos homes
Score: 6/10
Sophos homes free virus software offers more than other free antivirus software, and suitable for families. With sophos homes, you will get the basics such as standard antivirus and anti-malware protection, anti-phishing and, and content control. The best thing is it offers a central management of up to 10 PCs, which means you can lock or limit your kids’ browsing options.
Operating system: Windows, Mac | Version: 17 | Features: Virus detection, Phishing protection, Parental controls, Protects up to 10 PCs.
6. Kaspersky security free software
Score: 6/10
The paid version of Kaspersky security software is definitely one of the best antivirus solution, it often has full marks in AV test and placed in top charts. Good news is there is also a free version available, Kaspersky free software offers accurate and reliable free virus protection. It is user friendly however the technical support is quite limited. As you would imagine, Kaspersky Free is a scaled down version of the paid version.
Operating system: Windows | Version: 18.0.0.405 | Features: Real-time scanning, Anti-phishing, Email scanning, Spyware protection
7. Panda free antivirus
Score: 6/10
Panda free virus software provides a good virus and malware detection rates however it is not as light weight as any other free antivirus softwares i have mentioned previously. It has a noticeable impact on system resources for common tasks such as like installation, copying files, or downloading apps. On the other hand, Panda free antivirus software offers some extra features that are quite beneficial such as a game mode when you need extra CPU speed, ability to immunise USB sticks, a bootable rescue kit, and a threat-weighted process monitor.
8. 360 total security
Score: 5.5/10
360 total security is quite decent free virus software with a lot of features including bitdefender and avira engines.
However most tools are underpowered and it serves plenty of ads. Please read its privacy policy carefully before signing up.
Operating system: Windows | Version: 2018 | Features: Multiple virus scanners, Malware scanner, Phishing protection, Mobile app
9. Zonealarm free antivirus
Score: 5.5/10
Zonealarm is a licenced free virus software that has a pretty solid firewall. However the installation process is very slow and in my opinion the software is quite noisy, it alerts you of every little thing that’s been blocked or deflected – while some people may like that, others may find it a bit much. The interface is user friendly and everything is laid out pretty well, easy to use, and you have options to use the ZoneAlarm firewall alongside any anti-malware app other than Windows Defender.
Operating system: Windows | Version: 2017 | Features: Malware scanner, Personal firewall, Identity protection, Online file backups
Conclusion
Hope this article helps you learn how to choose the best free antivirus software for your computer. If you have any questions please contact me.