Free antivirus for weak computers (Avast and Avira). Rating of free antiviruses: review, description and reviews

Many manufacturers of security products produce free versions of antiviruses, which can be completely freely downloaded from the official website of the manufacturer and used on your computers.

Most developers only include anti-virus scanners without real-time protection in their free editions, but there are developers who provide a full range of tools to protect your data in their free version.

Below is a selection of antiviruses that you can download and use absolutely free.

07/19/2018, Anton Maksimov

The ranks of free antiviruses with constant protection have been replenished by a new version of the Kaspersky Lab product called Kaspersky Free. If previously they only had a healing utility (antivirus scanner Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool), now they also release permanent file system protection and protection against malicious sites on the network.

06/12/2018, Anton Maksimov

Security is never enough. Many manufacturers of security systems think so. Including the developers of the free antivirus 360 Total Security, which includes as many as 5 engines. Yes, this antivirus has many different engines, each of which performs its own task. This includes virus detection mechanisms from Avira and Bitdefender, proactive protection QVM II, the 360 ​​Cloud cloud system and the System Repair system recovery system.

04/18/2018, Anton Maksimov

Avast Free Antivirus is a free antivirus suite with always-on protection. Perfect for home use. In addition to the anti-virus module itself, it has a number of additional tools that will help save data and protect you from online threats.

01/11/2018, Anton Maksimov

So we got our hands on the free Comodo Internet Security. This is a set of tools to protect your computer, which includes a firewall, antivirus and proactive protection module. I will not describe all the features of Comodo Internet Security, because, in my opinion, they are standard and are present in most similar programs. The main difference between this program and the others is that it is free and amazingly reliable. When configured correctly, the program allows you to secure your computer to the maximum. The other day I reviewed several comparative tests conducted by various companies, and the results of these tests quite surprised me. As an example, I will give the results of one of these tests.

10/05/2017, Anton Maksimov

AVG AntiVirus FREE is a world-famous antivirus program that is available free of charge to home users and is already used by millions of people around the world. Unlike many free scanners from large antivirus laboratories, AVG is a full-fledged product that can ensure the full security of your PC. AVG Anti-Virus FREE is easy to use and does not slow down the operating system (has low system requirements).

07/12/2017, Anton Maksimov

Today I will talk about another free antivirus, Avira Free Antivirus, which recently settled on one of my computers. The situation with it is special, since this antivirus is not a simple scanner; it does not need to be downloaded every time you need to check the system. This antivirus hangs in memory and does everything on its own. Independently downloads and installs updates, independently checks files accessed by the operating system and various applications.

A massive attack by the WannaCry ransomware (WannaCryptor, WanaDecryptor) led to the infection of tens of thousands of computers in organizations and public institutions around the world. The malware uses a known vulnerability described in security bulletin MS17-010 and a combination of EternalBlue/DoublePulsar exploits that allow it to attack other vulnerable Windows systems on the same network. As a result, infection of one computer can lead to the compromise of the entire corporate network in the organization.

Once it appears on a computer through successful exploitation of the vulnerability, the WannaCry ransomware encrypts all files and documents of certain formats, executing remote commands sent via the SMB protocol and spreading to other Windows computers on the network.

Perhaps you are too trusting and therefore have not installed an antivirus on your PC, or the license for your antivirus has already expired, or the antivirus you have installed does not provide maximum protection, and... maybe your PC is infected!

02/20/2015, Anton Maksimov

For the vast majority of home users of Windows 7 and Windows 10, a standard antivirus product from Microsoft is quite suitable. In the Windows 10 operating system, it is already built into the system called Windows Defender and does not need to be additionally downloaded and installed. But for Windows 7 you will have to install it by downloading the Microsoft Security Essentials distribution from the Microsoft website. Essentially, they are the same product, but with different names for different systems.

07/22/2013, Anton Maksimov

Dr.Web CureIt! - an antivirus that is noticeably different from the programs everyone is familiar with. This utility does not work constantly, preventing the appearance of malware on the computer. It allows you to cure an already infected PC from viruses, Trojan horses, rootkits, etc. This feature of Dr.Web CureIt! determines the scope of application of this product. It can be used periodically to check the reliability of the antivirus installed on your computer, as well as in cases where, based on indirect signs, you can suspect a PC infection. In general, I benefit from Dr.Web CureIt! difficult to overestimate.

06/26/2013, Anton Maksimov

Continuing the popular topic of free antivirus, I would like to mention another development that I became acquainted with relatively recently and which I have not yet had time to write about. In theory, it would be possible to add this information to the original message, but I decided to put everything in the form of a separate note. So, today we will talk about a free antivirus from Kaspersky Lab called Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.

10.21.2009, Anton Maksimov

An interesting free antivirus program is produced by Microsoft Corporation. The utility is called Malicious Software Removal Tool (Malicious Software Removal Tool for Microsoft® Windows® OS). This tool automatically scans your computer for a range of malicious programs and immediately removes them when found. The tool is not a replacement for a regular antivirus utility; it only allows you to perform a quick analysis for the presence of common viruses.

The use of an antivirus in our time has become a prerequisite for ensuring system security. After all, everyone can encounter viruses on their computer. Modern antiviruses, which guarantee maximum protection, are quite resource-demanding. But this does not mean that weak devices should remain vulnerable, or even without protection at all. There are simple solutions for them that will not negatively affect the performance of the laptop.

Not all people have the desire or opportunity to update their device by replacing some parts or the laptop itself. Undoubtedly, antiviruses effectively protect the system from virus attacks, but they can greatly load the processor, which will adversely affect your work with the computer.

Choosing an antivirus

You don't have to have an old device to wonder about a lightweight antivirus. Some modern budget models also require undemanding protection. The antivirus program itself must do a lot: monitor running processes, check downloaded files, etc. All of this requires resources, which may be limited. Therefore, it is worth choosing those antiviruses that offer basic security tools, and the fewer additional functions such a product has, the better in this case.

Avast Free Antivirus

AVG

When tested, it does not critically affect performance.

Along with the antivirus, other auxiliary software is installed, which does not take up much space and does not consume a large amount of resources. You can delete it if you wish.

Panda Security

One of the popular cloud antiviruses is Panda Security. Has many settings, supports Russian. Takes up quite a bit of space and consumes minimal resources. The only negative, if you can call it that, is the need for a stable Internet connection. Unlike Comodo Cloud Antivirus, this product does not automatically install additional modules.

Even when scanning files, the antivirus does not load the device. This defender launches several more of its services, which do not consume many resources.

The computer is an integral part of everyday life. For some it is a means of earning money, for others it is a means of spending leisure time, for others it is a means of communicating with friends and relatives through the computer, and for others the computer has even replaced going to the store. Therefore, people try to protect their computer and the data stored on it as best as possible. But how best to do this in the world of advanced technology? What guides people when choosing protection for their personal computer? How to achieve the maximum level of security? In this article we will help you understand everything and make the right choice.

So, in order to protect your “machine” you need to definitely install an antivirus on it. This is a program that will protect your computer from malicious software, scans the files and folders we work with to detect viruses, destroys the viruses found, and also disinfects infected files. There are a huge number of antivirus programs, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Before you start choosing an antivirus, you should understand the fact that you need to install not two or three antiviruses, but only one. Since after installing several, a conflict of programs will begin, which will affect the performance of the system. If you want to install another antivirus, you must first uninstall the installed one.

Let's now look at the main antivirus programs. They are free and paid. Let's start with the free ones.

Free antivirus programs

• Avast Free Antivirus;
• AVG Antivirus;
• Avira Free Antivirus;
• MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials).

Avast Free Antivirus

1. Avast Free Antivirus is one of the popular antiviruses that not only protects your computer when viewing Internet content, but also protects against spam and hacker attacks. This program scans the entire OS for viruses at boot time. Adds suspicious or malicious files to quarantine. This program also has built-in self-defense, that is, no virus can remove it from the computer.

Advantages:

• High functionality and level of protection;
• Fast data scanning;
• Does not load the processor;
• Nice interface.

Flaws:

• Triggering false alarms;
• There is no blocking of pop-ups and banners.

AVG Antivirus

2. AVG Antivirus - protects your personal computer from spyware and viruses, and also blocks web pages with suspicious content. This antivirus is updated free of charge and supports common operating systems. Mainly used by home network users.

Advantages:

• Does not load the processor;
• High level of protection;
• User-friendly interface.

Flaws:

• Slow computer scanning;
• Intrusive advertising content.

Avira Free Antivirus

3. Avira Free Antivirus – reliably protects against viruses, worms, and Trojans. One click is all it takes to remove malicious software. Doesn't burden the system.

Advantages:

• Low resource consumption;
• Lightning-fast system scan.

Flaws:

• The absence of a module that warns about visiting a malicious site;
• A huge amount of advertising;
• Lack of Russified menu.

MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials)

4. MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) is an antivirus program that will protect your computer from malicious files and spyware. The program is updated every 24 hours. After installation on your computer, you do not need to restart it.

Advantages:

• Ease of use;
• Nice interface;
• Doesn't load the system.

Flaws:

It is worth noting that to use a free antivirus you need to install it and go through the registration procedure. Some antiviruses, such as Avast, are available in both paid and free versions. After the free demo version of the program expires, you will need to purchase it, but after purchasing the program’s capabilities expand significantly. But if you have enough of the functions that the demo version is equipped with, and you have neither the desire nor the need to buy it, then after the program expires, the activation procedure should be repeated.

Now let's move on to considering the main paid antivirus programs.

Paid antivirus programs

• Kaspersky
• Dr.Web
• NOD32

Kaspersky

1. Kaspersky is the most popular and revered antivirus. This program perfectly protects the system from worms, viruses and other “virtual nastiness”. It also has the following functions: payment protection, parental controls, anti-spam and anti-banner.

Advantages:

• High scanning speed;
• Effective protection;
• Instantly block threats.

Flaws:

• Expensive license;
• To scan your computer completely, you need to close all programs.

Dr.Web

2. Dr.Web is at the origins of antivirus programs. It effectively protects your computer and allows you not only to remove virus software, but also to treat and restore infected files. Using this antivirus, important information is restored. Dr.Web also has excellent self-defense; it will not be removed by a pest program.

Advantages:

• Ability to check archives;
• High level of self-defense.

Flaws:

• High license cost;
• Needs regular downloading of updates.

NOD32

3. NOD32 – perfectly protects the system from malware, spyware, and resists scammers. This program includes anti-spam protection and a personal firewall. There is an opinion that this is the best antivirus for experienced users, as it requires some settings.

Advantages:

• High speed;
• High level of protection;
• User-friendly interface.

Flaws:

• High license cost;
• Some settings required.

We reviewed the main anti-virus programs, which, according to their criteria, occupy leading positions in the ratings. All of these programs are compatible with the Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems. Of course, the main indicator when choosing antivirus software is the security and protection of data stored on the computer. But when choosing antivirus software, you should also consider the power of your computer.

Which antivirus is better to choose for Windows 7?

The Windows 7 operating system was created in such a way that it has built-in functional protection, which is many times greater than previous versions of the OS. And everything seems to be fine, but the “evil geniuses” who develop malware are one step ahead, and their pest programs penetrate the system, infecting and destroying everything in its path. Therefore, like any other version of the OS, Windows 7 needs additional protection. This means that you definitely need to install an antivirus program on your computer.

But what is the best antivirus program to choose? There is no clear answer to this question. Of the programs we have listed, all are considered good, but none of them guarantees 100% protection for you.

When choosing an antivirus, keep in mind that the operating system can be 32- or 64-bit. Antivirus software is developed specifically for each type. And, of course, computer parameters. If they are very weak, then an antivirus like Kaspersky will simply slow down all the work.

Also, when choosing an antivirus, you need to decide what kind of work you need a computer for. If you use a computer to play games or surf the Internet, then Avast (free version) is suitable for you. If you also work on it, then, by the way, Kaspersky (paid) will suit you. So, the choice is yours!

Which antivirus is better to choose for Windows 8 and 10?

The Windows 8 operating system, like its predecessor, is equipped with a basic level of protection. Each new OS version has expanded and improved security features. Finally, we see that Windows 8 has reached the point where programmers claim that this system is so developed and debugged that it can easily protect itself without antivirus software. But after weighing all the pros and cons, we still recommend installing an antivirus on your computer.

Since Windows 8 is significantly different from previous versions, not every antivirus program is suitable for this system.

And yet, which antivirus is best to install to ensure stable system operation and protect your computer? Hand on heart, we can safely say that Kaspersky antivirus is ideal for Windows 8. It was this company that was the first to “conquer” and adapt antivirus software for Windows 8. The system’s operation with this antivirus is stable and safe.

Antiviruses such as NOD32 and Avast have also performed well in terms of system protection and stability.

Summarizing what has been said, we can conclude that choosing an antivirus program is your personal choice and we have no right to impose our opinion on you, but please give advice on choosing a particular antivirus program. There is no need to chase popularity and brand, this is not always an indicator of quality. And also follow the reviews of friends and acquaintances, because every user praises the antivirus that he uses. But, be that as it may, the choice is yours. Make no mistake, read, take a closer look, because the security of your computer depends on your choice.

The PCMag portal tested all popular solutions in the free antivirus category during 2016. This rating allows you to choose the best free antivirus to protect your Windows computer

Antivirus vendors typically pay for the opportunity to participate in testing because lab reports help improve products. The number of laboratories that include a particular product primarily indicates its importance. In any case, to test an antivirus, two conditions must be met: the laboratory must consider the product important enough, and the development company must be satisfied with the cost of participation. Labs are not required to test free products, but many vendors include full protection in free solutions while adding advanced features to paid products.

PCMag's own amateur tests

In addition to its rigorous analysis of lab test results, PCMag performs its own amateur program-blocking testing of antivirus products. Each antivirus encounters a set of different types of malware, after which the product’s reaction to the threat is recorded. Typically, an antivirus removes most samples at once and detects several more instances of malware when it tries to launch. Based on the test results, the product can receive from 0 to 10 points for blocking, depending on how thoroughly it protects the system from test threats.

The test collection has been in use for months, so the malware blocking test does not provide any indication of an antivirus's ability to detect the latest threats. A separate test attempts to download malware from online sources less than a day old, provided by the MRG-Effitas laboratory. The testing process notes whether the product blocked access to a network location, cleared the malware payload during download, or ignored the threat. Avira Free Antivirus received the highest score in this test, followed by McAfee and Symantec in the final table.

Useful features

Each antivirus product in the collection scans files on access to prevent potential malware from running, and also scans the system on demand or on a set schedule. Blocking access to malicious links is a great way to stay out of trouble. Many products extend protection to prevent you from visiting fraudulent or phishing sites that try to steal your credentials. Some solutions assign rankings to search results by flagging suspicious and dangerous links.

Behavioral detection is featured in some products in the collection. On the one hand, this component can detect malware, which are unknown threats. On the other hand, behavioral analysis can lead to false positives for reliable programs.

One simple way to keep your computer as protected as possible is to install security updates for Windows, browsers, and other popular programs. Windows 10 has made updates mandatory for consumers, but many gaps remain in popular apps and plugins. Vulnerability scanning in the form of missed updates is a feature often found in commercial antivirus products. However, some free antiviruses have similar functionality.

Who was not included in the rating

This article contains information only about free antivirus solutions that have received at least a “good” rating from PCMag reviews. Among those products that were not included in this rating is Windows Defender, which was awarded 2.5 stars. Microsoft participates in tests from all monitored antivirus labs, but only for basic protection. If a product cannot exceed the basic level of protection, it is not worth considering.

Avast Free Antivirus 2016 scores highly in independent lab tests and PCMag's own tests, especially in its anti-phishing test. Additional features, such as a new password manager and innovative router security check, make the product an excellent choice for free protection.

The latest version of AVG AntiVirus Free scores high in tests from independent laboratories, and also performed well in our own amateur tests. AVG remains PCMag's Editors' Choice in the free antivirus category.

Although Panda Free Antivirus is not superior to the best commercial solutions, many paid antiviruses are inferior in effectiveness. The product remains PCMag's Editors' Choice in the free antivirus software category.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2014) remains invisible on your system until a threat is detected. The tiny main window and automatic operating mode are perfect for users who value simplicity, efficiency and unobtrusiveness.

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2016 combines powerful antivirus protection from Kaspersky with a high-quality firewall. The product is an excellent choice for users who do not want to install a complex solution.