The most powerful antivirus. Lightweight antiviruses for old and weak computers

Both products score very well in antivirus labs and PCMag's own tests and include several additional security features. Avast, in particular, includes a built-in password manager and a home network vulnerability scanner. If you have a budget set aside for computer security, the best commercial solutions will provide more effective and comprehensive protection. Otherwise, feel free to choose from the free solutions presented here.

Vendors	Antiviruses	PCMag Rating
Avast	Avast Free Antivirus
Avast	AVG AntiVirus Free
Bitdefender
Check Point	ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+
Kaspersky Lab	Antivirus Kaspersky Free
Sophos	Sophos Home
Avira	Avira Free Antivirus
Adaware	Adaware Antivirus Free
Comodo	Comodo Antivirus
Panda Security	Panda Free Antivirus

Free protection against various types of threats

These days, new computers and laptops come with antivirus protection. As a rule, trial versions of commercial antiviruses from well-known brands are pre-installed on devices. If your trial ends and you ignore the subscription purchase reminders, Windows Defender will keep your PC safe. However, you can get more reliable and better protection with third-party solutions. Don't worry if your budget doesn't allow for a paid antivirus. You can get really good protection without paying a penny. PCMag tested 17 free antivirus programs to help you choose the right solution to protect your computer.

Your antivirus should definitely do a great job of cleaning up existing infections, but its main job is to protect your PC from ransomware, botnets, Trojan horses, and other types of malware. All antiviruses in this collection offer real-time protection. Some solutions additionally offer web protection to prevent you from visiting fraudulent sites and web resources with malware.

Free or commercial antivirus?

If free antiviruses are truly effective, why would anyone pay? First of all, many of the antiviruses proposed in the rating are free only for non-commercial use - if you want to protect computers in an organization, you will have to purchase a paid version. In this case, it is recommended to buy a comprehensive antivirus product because business security is at stake.

Even for personal use, many commercial tools offer much more functionality than the corresponding free versions. For example, Kaspersky Free does not include the powerful Activity Monitor component that is present in the paid version. This security module monitors suspicious activity and allows you to roll back malicious changes. The paid version of Adaware Antivirus comes with a similar behavioral detection tool, as well as a malicious site protection component that you won't find in the vendor's free antivirus. Panda also reserves some advanced security features only for commercial solution customers—among them firewall, software monitoring, and detection of insecure wireless networks.

In addition, many companies do not offer full technical support to free version customers. If you need professional help cleaning up stubborn infestations, you may regret not having this option.

Independent laboratory tests

Researchers from independent laboratories spend a lot of time and effort testing antiviruses. Some organizations regularly publish reports with test results. PCMag tracks results from 4 major labs: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, SE Labs and MRG-Effitas. Certification from ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs is also appreciated.

Typically, antivirus developers pay for the opportunity to participate in testing. In turn, the laboratories provide vendors with detailed reports that help improve products. Thus, the number of laboratories that test a particular product is an indicator of the significance of this decision. 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, adding only advanced features to paid products.

PCMag tests

In addition to in-depth analysis of lab test results, PCMag conducts its own amateur antivirus testing to block malware. 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 between 0 and 10 points for blocking, depending on how thoroughly it protects the system from the test samples.

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 100 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. Norton received the highest score in this test, followed in the final table by Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security and Avira Free Antivirus.

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 another effective way to avoid 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.

Any antivirus should detect spyware, but some products include separate anti-spyware components. Features such as privacy encryption and webcam protection help keep sensitive information safe from third parties, but they usually come with paid solutions. However, some free antivirus programs include an on-screen keyboard to protect against keyloggers.

One simple way to keep your computer as protected as possible is to install security updates for Windows, browsers, and other popular programs. In Windows 10, updates are mandatory and fully automated, but there remain a large number of gaps in older Windows systems, popular applications 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 is not represented in the ranking

This rating contains information only about free antivirus solutions that have received at least a “Good” rating according to PCMag reviews - from 3 points or higher. In the latest review, Windows Defender Security Center received just 3 stars and worked better than last time. However, it is more of a Windows component than a standalone product. The best free antiviruses offer more layers of protection.

Some free security tools are designed solely to protect against ransomware. Cybereason RansomFree, Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware Beta and Trend Micro RansomBuster all serve one primary purpose - preventing any ransomware attacks that may be undetectable by mainstream antivirus protection. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware tries to trick ransomware Trojans into thinking that the system is already infected. They were not included in the rating because they are not full-fledged antivirus products.

There are numerous free antivirus utilities that exist solely to clean up malicious infections. You turn to these utilities only if you suspect an active infection. Once the problem is resolved, they are not used because they do not offer ongoing protection. The title of “Editor's Choice” in this category belongs to Malwarebytes Free - this product is worth using in case of malicious infection. Since such solutions are usually free, you can use several scanning programs at once. Once the threat has been removed, you will need a full-fledged antivirus for ongoing protection.

List of all tested free solutions

Avast Free Antivirus. Avast's free antivirus combines highly effective antivirus protection with a comprehensive collection of additional tools.
AVG AntiVirus Free. Free antivirus AVG has received an updated interface and new security technologies. Tests from independent labs and PCMag's own tests show that protection is stronger than ever.
Acronis Ransomware Protection. If your antivirus misses the latest ransomware and your data is at serious risk, Acronis Ransomware Protection will add an extra layer of protection for your files and provide 5 gigabytes of cloud storage for backups.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. The free Bitdefender antivirus includes the same antivirus protection as the paid Bitdefender antivirus, but lacks the additional functionality of the commercial version.
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+. Free antivirus ZoneAlarm combines a high-quality and powerful firewall with a licensed antivirus protection engine from Kaspersky Lab. This is a great choice for users who don't need advanced security features.
Cybereason RansomFree. The consequences of a malicious ransomware attack can be catastrophic. Therefore, the possibility of strengthening protection against this type of threat should be considered. Cybereason RansomFree is a free solution for organizing an additional level of protection against ransomware.
Kaspersky Free. Kaspersky's free antivirus offers full-featured basic antivirus protection that scores excellent in lab tests.
Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware Beta. Malwarebytes Analyzes program activity to look for suspicious behavior that is typical of ransomware. This lightweight utility will help you identify ransomware Trojans that can bypass basic anti-virus protection.
Sophos Home. Sophos free antivirus allows you to provide the capabilities of a powerful corporate antivirus to ordinary home users absolutely free. Users have access to a cloud console that allows them to control up to three product installations.
Avira Free Antivirus. Avira's free antivirus gets excellent scores from independent labs, but in PCMag's amateur tests it was very slow to scan the test system. Additionally, web protection only works in Chrome and Firefox.
CyberSight RansomStopper. RansomStopper offers free advanced ransomware protection, but PCMag's own tests found that the product failed to respond to one rare strain of ransomware.
Adaware Antivirus Free. The free Adaware antivirus has a new name and a new look. However, its testing results are not the best, and competing free antiviruses offer more features.
Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware protects your PC from infections from four ransomware families. Tests have shown that the product successfully copes with this task. However, you will need additional solutions to protect against other types of ransomware.
Comodo Antivirus. Free antivirus Comodo has received a new look and showed an ideal detection rate in the malware blocking test. However, the product performed worse in other PCMag tests and in independent lab tests.
Panda Free Antivirus. Free Panda antivirus has an attractive user interface and an unusual USB vaccination feature. However, the product didn't perform the best in independent lab tests and PCMag's own tests.
Qihoo 360 Total Security. Qihoo 360 comes with a powerful set of additional tools, but its basic antivirus protection can't compete with the best free antiviruses.
Trend Micro RansomBuster. Built-in folder protection successfully blocks unauthorized changes to protected documents. However, the behavioral detection system needs improvement.
Baidu Antivirus 2015. The antivirus has not been developed for a long time and cannot be recommended as the main antivirus protection.
Comodo Internet Security Premium. Comodo's complete solution combines a standalone antivirus and a standalone vendor firewall in one product. For a free product, this antivirus includes a large number of functions, but not all of them are effective.
Windows Defender Security Center. Microsoft Antivirus provides security for Windows 10 computers that do not have other antivirus solutions installed. In PCMag's newest round of testing, the product performed better than previously.

Have you ever encountered a situation where you need to install an antivirus on an old computer that is weak by modern standards? It seems like a shame to throw this one away, because you can watch movies on it, listen to music, surf the Internet, but some popular antivirus of the latest version will gobble up all the remnants of performance, which is already in short supply.

I prepared this article especially for such a case. Here are the lightest antiviruses, in my opinion, from both the paid and free sectors. Programs are selected based solely on their load on the system, but sometimes the ease of an antivirus comes at the expense of its reliability. There are such programs here too, but I left a note about reliability. The best antiviruses in terms of level of protection will be collected in another separate article.

And so that you don’t have to rely solely on the opinion of some left-wing dude from the Internet, for each antivirus I indicated its official system requirements. And so, let's go.

Lightweight free antiviruses 2016

Panda Free Antivirus 2016(link to review). Free cloud antivirus with a minimum of protective components. Not very reliable, but it seems to be the easiest of the free programs.

System requirements: processor with a frequency of 300 MHz, 256 MB of RAM.

Qihoo 360 Total Security Essential 8(link to review). Popular free antivirus from Chinese developers. Reliability is at the level of the best paid products, except that the problem is with web protection and support for 64-bit systems.

Very lightweight when using only native cloud engines. But even when connecting one additional engine, the load increases insignificantly. Personally, I have such an antivirus on an old computer with an Athlon XP 1.9 GHz processor and 1.2 GB of RAM, with an additional Avira engine connected. Using the computer is quite comfortable.

System requirements: processor with a frequency of 1.6 GHz, 512 MB of RAM.

FortiClient 5.4(link to review). An underrated antivirus, free, including for the corporate sector. Not cloud-based, with a good level of signature detection, a full web screen and a parental control system. Unfortunately, there is no proactive protection.

System requirements: similar processor to Pentium, 256 MB of RAM for Windows XP and 512 MB for Windows 7.

Lightweight paid antiviruses 2016

Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus 9(). In my opinion, the easiest antivirus of all on this page. Consists of one file, consumes 3 MB of RAM when idle. Cloud-based, ultra-lightweight, with proactive protection, including against keyloggers. But the level of reliability is extremely low, there is no web screen, and the performance of some components has not been confirmed by tests.

System requirements: processor of the Pentium, Celeron, AMD K6, Athlon, Duron family; minimum 128 MB of RAM, 2 GB recommended for Windows 7.

Norton Security 2016(link to review). One of my favorite paid antiviruses. Focused on cloud technologies, it has everything you need to fully protect your computer.

System requirements: Windows XP – processor with a frequency of 300 MHz, 256 MB of RAM; Windows 7 – 1 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM (2 GB for x64); Windows 10 – 2 GB of RAM.

Eset NOD32 Smart Security 9(link to review). A comprehensive antivirus that I didn’t remember for its ease or reliability. However, its official system requirements are more than democratic, so you shouldn’t forget about the “little green man”.

System requirements: Windows 7, 8, 10 – 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM; Windows XP SP 3 – 400 MHz processor, 128 MB of RAM.

Attention! For full and high-quality operation of cloud antiviruses, an active connection to the Internet is required.

But even if these antiviruses seem difficult to you, there is only one way out - install Puppy Linux).

Greetings to all readers of this site, in previous posts we discussed in detail on the computer. Now, we are faced with another task, this is to ensure the protection of the computer from viruses and malware. Therefore, in today’s article we will talk about which antivirus is better.

I suggest considering both free and paid versions. Each program has its own advantages and disadvantages, so you must decide for yourself which antivirus to choose. Many of you probably know very well that nowadays, your computer must have a virus protector that can protect your personal data from theft, as well as protect information stored on hard drives from malicious code. After all, it’s no secret that some viruses can not only damage the user’s files, but also disable the computer. As a rule, to protect your home computer from threats, it will be enough for us to install one of the antiviruses.

Which antivirus is better - choose the right protection.

As I already told you, there are free and paid antivirus programs, but you should not disdain free utilities, since they can be no worse than their paid counterparts. We will try to determine which antivirus is best for Windows.

In order for you to protect your computer from viruses, you need to choose only one antivirus, since if you install two or more programs at the same time, a conflict will begin between them. At the same time, it often happens that antiviruses come into battle with each other over something, and in this case there can be no talk of any protection, since they block each other’s work. I also want to recommend that it does not conflict with a third-party antivirus.

It is quite difficult to unequivocally recommend which antivirus is better, since each developer praises their own products. We can only choose favorites based on the results of using certain programs. As for me, most popular antiviruses are very similar to each other. Their only difference is that some programs specialize more in protecting computer files, while others provide maximum protection when working on the Internet.

The best free antiviruses.

I suggest starting to consider the list of which antivirus is better with free products. As a rule, free antiviruses have all the basic functions that will be enough to protect your home computer. Such programs can be classified as “set it and forget it”, since they work independently and do not require paid license renewals or other actions from the user. If you are interested in such antiviruses, then let’s start our list.

Avast! Free Antivirus is a fairly popular antivirus program among users. The utility is completely free, but at the same time it can perfectly protect computers in various fields of application. Once installed, Avast! Free Antivirus, you won't have to delve into its settings, since after installation it will be configured by default to perform its basic duties. But if you want to apply some additional parameters, the program can offer you a large selection of options. Avast can quarantine infected and suspicious files, perform a full scan of your computer for viruses, supports game mode and many other functions. After installation, the program requires a one-time registration. Therefore, if you don’t want to worry too much about choosing a defender for your computer, then Avast is perfect for you.

Avira Free Antivirus is another popular free antivirus program that is ideal for home use. Avira differs from other programs in that it uses little computer resources, thereby not slowing down its operation. The program can constantly monitor the state of the PC, or check it for viruses on a schedule. Avira can update automatically and also monitors the installation of unwanted software. Thus, the utility, without interfering with the user, protects the computer from viruses and malware.

Microsoft Security Essentials is the latest contender for the title of best free antivirus. This is a small anti-virus program from Microsoft, which has a minimum set of all necessary functions, but at the same time protects your computer well from viruses. The program is constantly updated, so it is able to repel the interference of any modern viruses. You can scan your computer on a schedule. Microsoft Security Essentials is suitable for those who do not want to install third-party software, but at the same time care about protecting their PC from viruses. It is advisable to use this antivirus software in conjunction with Windows Firewall.

I would also like to mention to you such free antiviruses as 360 Total Security, Comodo, Panda; they are less popular among users and have more modest functionality, but just like the products described above, they can provide basic PC protection. All of the above programs can be downloaded from the official websites of the developers. Also in the following articles I will tell you how to install them.

The best paid antiviruses.

Let's now look at several paid virus protectors, and also talk to you about which antivirus is better to install. Paid products are quite interesting. They have very broad functionality, support work on devices with different platforms, and are constantly being improved and updated. At the same time, some programs were developed quite a long time ago and were loved by users so much that they became undisputed leaders. At the same time, they can provide device protection at a professional level.

Kaspersky Antivirus– probably one of the best paid antiviruses. Of course, you can use its free version, but it will have reduced functionality. In order to have “protection to the teeth”, you need to buy an annual license. Kaspersky can provide a full-fledged firewall, has a rich set of functions, and also allows the user to customize protection to suit any needs. I would also like to say that the cost of the license is not particularly high, so I recommend installing this antivirus and using its capabilities to the maximum.

Dr. Web is another fairly old antivirus program that almost all users of computers, laptops and smartphones know. Doctor Web, like Kaspersky Anti-Virus, has different versions, and after installation it provides the user with a month-long trial period. Thus, you can later make a choice whether to keep this product on your computer or look for another option. But as a rule, due to its comprehensive functionality and impeccable protection, users prefer Doctor Web. The price for a licensed product is less than for Kaspersky, the subscription is also issued for a year.

ESET NOD32 completes our list. This contender is one of the three best paid antiviruses. It can effectively protect your computer from viruses and provide constant control and monitoring of the system. Unlike the antiviruses described above, this product does not slow down the computer and copes with its task with five points. The program is constantly updated and improved, so if you choose ESET NOD32, you can rest assured about the security of your computer.

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.

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

Avast Free Antivirus is a free Czech antivirus that does not overload the system. It has various auxiliary functions for convenient operation. This program can be easily customized to your liking by “throwing away” unnecessary components and leaving only the essentials. Supports Russian language.

As you can see in the screenshots, Avast consumes few resources in the background.

When checking the system, it’s a little more, but when compared with other antivirus products, this is a completely normal indicator.

AVG

Easy to use, AVG effectively combats various threats. Its free version has basic tools, which are enough for good protection. The program does not heavily load the system, so you can work calmly.

The load on the system in normal mode with basic protection is small.

AVG also doesn't consume much during the scanning process.

Dr.Web Security Space

The main function of Dr.Web Security Space is scanning. It can be performed in several modes: normal, full, custom. Also, there are tools such as SpIDer Guard, SpIDer Mail, SpIDer Gate, firewall and others.

The antivirus itself and its services do not consume many resources.

The situation is similar with the scanning process: it does not critically load the device.

Comodo Cloud Antivirus

The famous free cloud defender Comodo Cloud Antivirus. Perfectly protects against all kinds of Internet threats. The laptop doesn't load much. Compared to AVG or Avast, Comodo Cloud requires, first of all, a more stable Internet connection to provide full protection.

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.

Microsoft Windows Defender

Windows Defender is Microsoft's built-in antivirus software. Starting with Windows 8, this software is installed by default as a means of protection against various threats, and is not inferior to other antivirus solutions. If you do not have the opportunity or desire to install other software, then this option is suitable for you. Windows Defender automatically starts after the system is installed.

The screenshot shows that the defender does not consume many resources.

During a full scan, it does not significantly load the system.

Other methods of protection

If you cannot or do not want to install an antivirus, then you can get by with a minimal set, which can also ensure system security, but to a lesser extent. For example, there are portable scanners and the like that can be used to check the system from time to time. But they cannot provide full protection and prevent infection, since they work after the fact.


Panda Cloud	Antivirus for extremely weak computers
	Panda is a lightweight but powerful antivirus program with cloud protection technology. Due to the fact that all scanning and calculations are carried out on a third-party server, Panda Antivirus is considered the best antivirus solution for weak computers. The antivirus is completely free.


Dr.Web	Treats even the most serious infections without installation.
	CureIt! is a lightweight anti-virus scanner from Dr.Web that will quickly scan the system for anti-viruses and eliminate threats. No installation required.


FREE	Fast antivirus based on the lightweight Sophos engine
	PREVENTON antivirus is a fairly recent development, but has already established itself as one of the most productive antivirus programs. Includes comprehensive protection, parental controls and firewall.


PC Tools AntiVirus	Comprehensive FREE antivirus that works with Windows XP and older computers.
	A free antivirus that focuses on protecting against Internet viruses. Many different functions and modules. Optimized for older versions of Windows.


F-Secure Internet Security	Free, powerful, comprehensive antivirus.
	The best combination of power and performance, as well as its free nature, make this antivirus an undoubted winner among equals. Versatile laptop protection against various threats will not allow any virus to pass through. The system requirements are extremely gentle, which allows you to run this free antivirus program even on an old laptop.

Not all computers can handle powerful antiviruses - on weak PCs, these antiviruses eat up all system resources, and because of this, the computer slows down. That is why we have made for you a selection of good antiviruses, even for weak computers. Thanks to them, you can protect your data without slowing down or overloading the system. To prevent your old computer from slowing down, we suggest download any lightweight antivirus from the list.

All the antiviruses presented above are free!

All you have to do is download the program to your computer and install it. Don't forget that after installing a new antivirus, you will need an Internet connection to update the antivirus databases - this will keep your protection up to date.

And finally, I will say: you should not rely on antiviruses for a weak computer - they do not use the full potential of the system and may miss a virus. It’s better to buy a new laptop or upgrade your computer to install powerful programs and antivirus programs.