The most normal antivirus for Windows 10

When connecting to the Internet, the user is always at risk, because there is always the possibility of getting a malicious program on the computer. Those who recently installed the new Windows 10 operating system also have to worry about this. Therefore, today we will try to answer the pressing question of which antivirus is best to install on Windows 10.

Built-in antivirus

After installing Windows 10, the user wonders whether it is worth installing an antivirus on the PC at all. This interest is justified, since the new version of the operating system includes a protection service. Today it is called Windows Defender. But this is not a new development, but the Microsoft Security Essential antivirus that is well-known among users.

This program has proven itself to be a good fighter against malware, for which the developers have received awards, including the “VB100” from Virus Bulletin Ltd. The antivirus is suitable for ordinary users or small business owners. Microsoft Security Essential runs in the background and prompts the user only when necessary action is taken against a detected threat.

This antivirus helps your computer cope with problems that arise, but its ability to block malware is not unlimited, since this is an example of basic protection. If you want to more reliably protect yourself from Trojans, spyware, and other things, you should install additional protection. It remains to figure out which antivirus suite is best for Windows 10.

Important! There is not yet a single antivirus program that can protect a computer with a 100% guarantee, so you need to be careful when handling messages or files coming from unknown users.

Free antivirus products

The built-in antivirus program will work correctly and reliably if the computer does not become a deliberate target for attackers, and its owner avoids visiting “dangerous” sites. But sometimes you have to download information from not the most trusted sources, so it’s safer to install something else. At the same time, it is not necessary to buy an expensive protective product - you can use a free analogue.

When deciding which free antivirus is best for Windows 10, you can pay attention to several of the most common options:

Avira Antivirus Free 2015, according to the developers themselves, is “the best free antivirus.” It protects the user's personal data from major threats, including virus attacks and theft of confidential information. Prevents spyware, trojans, worms and viruses and can scan data in the cloud in real time.
- another popular option. It effectively fights all types of dangerous applications and scans links to suspicious emails and sites. It is possible to treat an already infected operating system.
Panda Free Antivirus 2016 performs the entire set of actions listed for previous free defenders. Using the "Recovery Set" function, it is possible to revive the system even if it does not boot.
Avast Free Antivirus is also known to many PC owners. Among the advantages are simplicity and high speed of operation. It prevents attacks on your home network and browser, and cleans your computer of hacker applications.
. In addition to the antivirus, this product contains tools for checking the security of a Wi-Fi network, optimizing and cleaning the system.

Paid protection packages

Comprehensive protection advocates will also find options. Such developments have more and, in some cases, better functionality. If you need to choose which antivirus is best for Windows 10, then you can think about installing the following products:

(from 1 950 rub.) - a new version of the respected “defender”, from which the improved version differs in Internet banking protection, support for network signatures, and an updated user interface.
(from 1 800 rub.) is another model of a product popular among users. The antivirus prevents illegal penetration of unwanted applications into the OS, protects against data collection and controls changes in the operating system.
Dr.Web Security Space 11 (from 1 290 rub.) - refers to complex programs. It attracts PC owners with its file and email antivirus, parental controls, preventive protection and antispam.
Norton Security also belongs to the class of comprehensive antiviruses. One of its features is five-level protection.

Comparison of free antivirus features

Table 1 - Comparison of the functionality of popular free antiviruses.

Functions	Avira Free Antivirus	AVG Antivirus Protection FREE	Avast Free AntiVirus	Panda Free Antivirus 2016
Blocks malware and viruses	+	+	+	+	+
Cloud protection	+	—	—	+	+
Sandbox	+	—	—	+	+
System Restore	—	—	—	+	+
Remote control	—	+	—	—	—
One control panel for all devices	—	+	—	—	—
Safe online shopping	—	—	—	+	+
Webcam protection	—	—	—	—	+
Keylogger protection	+	—	+	+	+
Password manager	—	—	+	—	—
Removable media protection	+	+	+	+	+
Firewall	—	—	—	+	+
Registry protection	—	—	—	+	+
Wi-Fi Security Check	—	—	—	—	+
Disabling startup	—	—	—	+	—
Clearing temporary files	—	—	—	—	+
System optimization	—	—	—	—	+
Browser protection	+	—	+	+	+
Clearing history	—	—	—	+	—
Block tracking via browser	+	—	—	+	—
Safe Browsing	+	—	—	—	—
Price comparison when purchasing	+	—	—	—	—
Number of useful functions (+)	9	4	5	13	14

Some functions may not be integrated into the antivirus itself. If necessary, scanner and additional protection modules can be downloaded and installed from the manufacturers’ official websites.

The best antivirus according to the editors

It all depends on what risks you face when working on a computer:

For users who are interested in various modifications for games and visit potentially dangerous sites (http connections, a large number of advertisements, execution of malicious scripts), we recommend using the free antivirus Panda Free Antivirus 2016. On its shoulders it carries a database that can compete with the same paid Kaspersky Internet Security for all devices. But large functionality uses quite a lot of system resources and you need to remember this.
We recommend that users who use a computer for work or leisure pay attention to antivirus. It performs not only protective functions (for example, protecting unauthorized access to a webcam), but also has in its arsenal computer care functions (cleaning junk files and the registry).

According to the editors, the best antivirus software option for a computer with Windows 10 is to install Avast Free Antivirus. Yes, it does not have as much functionality as its competitors, but at the same time it has all the standard antivirus functions and does not load the system. Also, its advantages include:

shareware (you can use either the free version or purchase a paid subscription, which will allow you to get the maximum level of protection);
when upgrading to Windows 10 from older versions, you do not need to reinstall the antivirus - it will do it automatically in the background;
constant release of updates, which provides a high degree of protection;
Possibility of flexible program settings;
A full system scan takes no more than 15 minutes.

Avast Free Antivirus also has some disadvantages:

cannot be used for business - only at home;
the need to update registration once a year.

conclusions

It's hard to know which antivirus is the best for Windows 10 unless you test it. The parameters for assessing the quality of the program are:

comfort of use. What is taken into account is how clear the interface is and whether the antivirus is easy to configure;
OS delay. The speed of the system’s functioning is taken into account after the defender program starts working;
reliability of the antivirus. Perhaps the most difficult criterion to check is how well the antivirus protects.

Of course, paid protection systems are superior in terms of reliability, but whether you need such increased protection is up to you to decide. Experience shows that free software works just as well as paid software. The main thing is to take into account the specified parameters when choosing, then working on the computer will be pleasant and safe.

We continue to explore valuable statistics from the AV-TEST antivirus testing laboratory. In one of the previous materials we talked about, and in this article we will consider another pressing issue - antiviruses for Windows 10. Moreover, we will evaluate them by an important characteristic: performance.

Antivirus performance on Windows is a sore subject; there are often cases when the system and antivirus software literally fight with each other for processor resources, RAM and Internet connection. Briefly: if you consider the rating of antiviruses specifically in relation to Windows 10 and specifically from the point of view of performance, you can find out a lot of new names and get a lot of truly confusing results.

AV-TEST assessed antivirus software on an Intel Xeon X3360 @ 2.83 GHz computer with 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive and Windows 10 Home installed using five system slowdown tests, each of which was performed with the antivirus running. Let's look at the results.

1st place: АhnLab V3 Internet Security

Many of us have never heard of the leader in the performance table according to AV-TEST. Tests call the best antivirus for Windows 10 in terms of performance a little-known Korean product.

AV-TEST statistics claim that AhnLab practically does not slow down standard Windows 10 operations: copying files (both locally and over the network) when the antivirus is running is slowed down so minimally that it can be neglected; the same can be said about the processes of installing programs, downloading files from the Internet and launching standard Windows programs. Only site loading slows down slightly, but only 1% more than the industry average. At the same time, the antivirus detects 100% of malware from 10,684 virus samples collected on the Internet over the past 4 weeks.

AhnLab V3 Internet Security - impact on Windows 10 performance

Test	Number of samples	Result
	39	12%	11%
	20	4%	4%
	12	8%	15%
	19	7%	26%
	7 915	2%	7%

Data: AV-Test

2nd place: Avira Antivirus Pro

To our no less surprise, the second place in the ranking of the fastest antiviruses for Windows 10 is occupied by the paid version Avira.

Avira Antivirus Pro

With Avira on board, files in Windows 10 are copied only 3% slower than without antivirus. Loading sites and downloading files also slows down so slightly that it can be ignored. Standard Windows applications launch about 18% slower when Avira is running, and third-party programs install almost half as fast as the industry average.

At the same time, Avira cannot be called the best antivirus for Windows 10 - only one of the fastest. In terms of anti-virus scanning, Avira does not do a great job: out of 10,684 fresh viruses, the scanner finds about 97%.

Avira Antivirus Pro - impact on Windows 10 performance

Test	Number of samples	Result	Industry average
Delay when opening websites	39	8%	11%
Delay when downloading files	20	8%	4%
Delay when starting standard programs	12	18%	15%
Delay when installing third-party programs	19	12%	26%
Delay when copying files	7 915	3%	7%

Data: AV-Test

3rd place: Bitdefender Internet Security

It is also not the most popular antivirus among Russian users, but it has good test results specifically on Windows 10. It ranks third in terms of performance in the ranking of antiviruses for the top ten.

Bitdefender Internet Security

Bitdefender is the most liberal antivirus in terms of downloading and copying files on Windows, which it has virtually no effect on at all. Installation of third-party programs is also half as fast as the industry average. But the antivirus scans the websites that are opened meticulously, resulting in a delay of as much as 15% compared to the opening speed without an antivirus. The antivirus passes the test to detect new malware with 100%.

Bitdefender Internet Security - impact on Windows 10 performance

Test	Number of samples	Result	Industry average
Delay when opening websites	39	15%	11%
Delay when downloading files	20	1%	4%
Delay when starting standard programs	12	6%	15%
Delay when installing third-party programs	19	13%	26%
Delay when copying files	7 915	2%	7%

Data: AV-Test

4th place: Kaspersky Internet Security

But our native Kaspersky is located on the fourth line of the rating. Some will be surprised (like us) why it is only fourth with such indicators, others will wonder how it even ended up in the top of the fastest antiviruses, but the fact is a fact: on Windows 10 Home, the full version of Kaspersky Internet Security detects 100% of the viruses offered to it and even with This works extremely quickly.

Kaspersky Internet Security

Thus, Kaspersky does not slow down downloading files from the Internet at all - from the word “at all”. Files download at the same speed as without antivirus. Copying files goes almost unnoticed, and launching standard programs and installing third-party ones is half as fast as the industry average. Loading sites is also quite fast. And yet, the fourth line of the rating, although we would readily give him the first.

Test	Number of samples	Result	Industry average
Delay when opening websites	39	13%	11%
Delay when downloading files	20	0%	4%
Delay when starting standard programs	12	6%	15%
Delay when installing third-party programs	19	14%	26%
Delay when copying files	7 915	4%	7%

Data: AV-Test

5th place: McAfee Internet Security

Closes the top five among the best antiviruses for Windows 10 McAfee Internet Security, the free version of which many inadvertently try together with Adobe Flash Player. Here, however, we are talking about a full-fledged paid version.

McAfee Internet Security

McAfee, although it passes the virus detection test 100%, already gives a fairly noticeable delay when installing programs: 30% slower than without an antivirus. But it allows you to open websites and download files from the Internet faster than anyone else. Copying is generally slower than the industry average. Standard programs launch quite quickly.

Kaspersky Internet Security - impact on Windows 10 performance

Test	Number of samples	Result	Industry average
Delay when opening websites	39	7%	11%
Delay when downloading files	20	1%	4%
Delay when starting standard programs	12	5%	15%
Delay when installing third-party programs	19	30%	26%
Delay when copying files	7 915	11%	7%

Data: AV-Test

Other candidates

Three little-known products also show good performance results: MicroWorld eScan Internet Security Suite, PC Pitstop PC Matic And VIPREAdvancedSecurity. However, the first one falls far short of the mark in malware detection, the second one suffers from false positives, and the third one, to our surprise, works brilliantly - 100% of viruses detected, and performance in certain tests is even higher than that of McAfee and Avira - but why -few people know.

VIPRE Advanced Security

Favorite by Russian users Avast Free Antivirus in terms of performance, it sags somewhat, in particular due to the slow launch of standard Windows system applications and incomplete detection of malware. Otherwise, all the indicators are quite decent - we would give him a place without any special complaints Avira.

"Native" Microsoft Windows Defender does not shine in the tests, since it slows down the installation of applications by almost half as much as the installation speed when Windows Defender is disabled (by 42%), and besides, it generates false positives too often.

Notes for experienced PC users Norton Internet Security And ESET Internet Security- quite “heavy” guys. The second one especially distinguished itself, as it manages to slow down the launch of the simplest system applications by as much as 60%.

Windows 10 includes built-in Windows Defender antivirus, which on Window 7 and Windows 8 had to be installed separately if you wanted to use it. Windows Defender or Windows Defender as an antivirus does not perform very well according to antivirus tests. Its capabilities are very limited, but for most users they are enough. If the antivirus copes with most malware, you can forgive it for the lack of additional goodies. But is Windows Defender really the best way to protect Windows 10 PCs? Perhaps the manufacturers of anti-virus solutions have an optimal version of anti-virus protection specifically for Windows 10. I suggest you find out this point.

Built-in Windows Defender

Windows Defender is essentially the latest version of Microsoft Security Essentials, which Microsoft offered as a free antivirus solution for Windows 7. Years have passed and now this antivirus program is built into the Windows 10 system, which gives basic security to any user of this operating system. The antivirus already works out of the box. Windows Defender automatically scans open programs, downloads new definitions from Windows Update, and provides an interface you can use to scan files and folders.

But how good is Windows Defender? Well, truth be told, Microsoft's antivirus is just a little behind its competitors when it comes to antivirus software comparison tests. But given that it is free and invisible, it can outperform even some commercial solutions based on these two indicators alone.

Windows Defender has many benefits. It's built-in and won't bother you with annoying pop-ups. It will not attempt to collect browsing data.

Windows Defender Settings

In general, Windows Defender provides good protection if you use the latest version of Windows, periodically update your browser, avoid clicking on potentially dangerous banners, windows, etc., and do not install suspicious plugins and add-ons in your browser. How to protect your computer from viruses and whether it’s worth using an antivirus program at all, I advise you to read in this article Is your antivirus reliable?

I would like to note that Windows Defender receives fairly low antivirus ratings - only 5.5 out of 6 in the latest testing for March 2016 by AV-Test. Another testing lab, AV-Comparatives, shows Windows Defender last in June 2016. However, when it comes to real-world statistics, AV-TEST says that Defender was 99% successful in neutralizing the threat. AV-Comparatives puts the figure at 94.5%. In both cases, this is a pretty decent result, although it is still slightly below other competitors. In numbers, for example, it looks like out of 1,868 threat types on AV-Comparatives, Windows Defender was unable to eliminate 104 threats.

BitDefender and Kaspersky managed to protect the computer from threats 100% according to testing from AV-Test and 9997% 99.7% respectively on AV-Comparatives.

Microsoft claims that Windows Defender is aimed at eliminating real malware that sometimes violates all laws and statistics of antivirus tests, once again showing that all tests are not representative and 100% indicative. You need to rely only on real conditions in each specific case of infection threat and look at the operation of the anti-virus system. Microsoft employees do not comment at all on the actual infection statistics, where Windows Defender is also slightly behind its competitors.

Windows 10 also includes various other security features introduced back in Windows 8, such as SmartScreen filter, whose task is to prevent you from downloading and running a malicious program, regardless of the anti-virus tools that are installed on your computer. Chrome and Firefox also include Google Safe Browsing, which blocks many unwanted downloads.

To sum it up, Windows Defender isn't really bad, but it's not as good as its competitors based on testing alone. I would not trust real statistics 100%, since they may just be a marketing product of antivirus companies. If you are annoyed by countless pop-up windows about an upcoming attack threat or are tired of messages about purchasing the pro version, then Windows Defender will be one of the best among free solutions.

If you are puzzled by the protection of your computer, personal data, and in general are a fan of 200% protection, then I would not recommend you to use Windows Defender. If you regularly download pirated versions of applications, including greed cures, Windows Defender may one day fail to save your computer, especially when it comes to threats from little-known malware samples.

Which antivirus is better?

I won’t pour water, I’ll say it right away. It is difficult to determine which antivirus is clearly the best for Windows 10. Due to the almost identical results in the above antivirus tests, it is impossible to recommend just one specific product. The fact is that, taking into account the difference of half a percent among the 5 best antiviruses, these 5 and even all 10 products can be recommended. But it’s worth considering that winning places are always distributed differently from month to month. Therefore, even among experienced users and computer hardware gurus, there are those who can use two or more antiviruses sequentially, changing them, say, every two or three months.

However, I want to list some of my favorites, and you can choose what suits you the most:

If you want the absolute best protection, then you have to pay for it. Kaspersky invariably takes prizes and is included in the tops of various antivirus tests. In addition, its interface is in Russian, if this is important to you.
If you want to, best free antivirus, then this is Avira Free Antivirus, which today offers the optimal balance between protection and unobtrusiveness. I advise you not to install with it various, as the installer insists, useful add-ons for browsers.
If you want the least intrusive free protection, Windows Defender is just right. He will never nag you with advertisements and messages about the number of threats caught. If you're a fan of quiet protection and don't want to see a ton of pop-ups, Windows Defender is a decent option.

It should be said that Windows Defender will automatically disable itself when you install third-party antiviruses, and then re-enable itself if you ever uninstall the third-party antivirus. I also want to say that you should not install two or more third-party antiviruses on one Windows system. This will not add better protection, but a new headache.

When antivirus is not enough

Undoubtedly, antivirus is important these days, but it is perhaps more important to use good anti-exploit protection to ensure the safety of the web browser and its plugins, which are the biggest target for attackers. Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit is a free program that I recommend. It functions similarly to Microsoft's own EMET security tool, but is more convenient and offers new security features. Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit helps block infections even if their signature is not included in anti-virus databases. Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit blocks all unwanted flash, even those that were not previously detected as malicious by any antivirus.

I also recommend using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, which in itself is good protection against malware. This utility detects and neutralizes fraudulent applications, Trojans, rootkits, network worms, spyware and many other self-disappearing malicious objects that a regular antivirus will not find.

With these three applications Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware And antivirus Your computer will be protected just perfectly!

Remember: any antivirus, no matter which one you choose, will not provide one hundred percent protection. If you provoke infection yourself without following the basic rules listed in the article, then getting infected is as easy as shelling pears. Good preventive security measures play the most important role in the fight against viruses and malicious code.

Probably, no one needs to explain that today, given our realities, protecting a computer system from various types of viruses is becoming an urgent problem. This is especially true for Windows systems, which are the most vulnerable of all existing systems to attacks because they have too many security holes. And the tenth version of the OS is no exception in this regard, although it has a higher degree of security compared to previous modifications. Absolutely all users, and without fail, when switching to Windows 10, need an antivirus, whether you like it or not. But which one to choose from all the variety that is offered on the market?

Do you need an antivirus on Windows 10?

Before considering the most popular antivirus packages, it is worth saying a little about the built-in tools of the system itself.

In addition to the fact that it has its own firewall, the system provides a specialized tool for detecting potentially dangerous or unwanted programs. This is Windows Defender, also known as Microsoft Security Essentials. But is it as good as Microsoft claims?

Unfortunately, there is no need to say that this is the best antivirus for Windows 10. Its capabilities are extremely limited, and such protection is only suitable for some minor needs, such as checking downloaded files or infrequently surfing the Internet. There can be no talk of any treatment or removal of the threat other than blocking.

The best antivirus for Windows 10: evaluation criteria

In any case, it is best to install a third-party security tool. But today there are so many software products offered that are completely different in their capabilities that the average user’s eyes simply run wild.

When talking about which antivirus is best for Windows 10, you should take into account some aspects related to the programs themselves. Most experts identify the following main evaluation criteria:

speed and quality of identifying potential threats;
the ability to treat, isolate or remove viruses;
on-demand scanning speed;
presence of a self-defense module;
false positives;
frequency of updating anti-virus databases;
the ability to use paid, free and shareware versions.

When choosing the appropriate software, it should be taken into account that the tenth version of the system itself consumes quite a lot of system resources, although it is able to work without problems in aging systems based on 2-core processors with 2 GB of RAM. Thus, installing some heavy product, say, from Kaspersky Lab, looks clearly inappropriate in this case. In addition, most of this developer’s products are paid, and the free versions are clearly limited in capabilities.

Naturally, one may wonder what is the best free antivirus for Windows 10, however, in this situation it should be borne in mind that free programs are clearly inferior to commercial ones and, again, are only suitable for home use, and not for corporate networks or large enterprises. To secure the entire infrastructure, you will have to install only paid licensed products.

And, of course, the Internet today is full of sites containing some kind of antivirus rating for Windows 10, based on which you can choose something to your liking. But even here it must be taken into account that comparative analysis is often carried out based on the personal considerations of specialists and may not reflect the real state of affairs. Therefore, only some simple tips on selecting antivirus software will be given below, without stating that one product is better and another is worse.

Kaspersky Free Antivirus

Kaspersky Lab products have always been considered leaders in the field of protection. Before us is a free antivirus for Windows 10, which in itself looks quite surprising, because previously all products were paid or shareware.

Although this package is quite limited in its capabilities (no traffic tracking, no parental controls, etc.), it nevertheless provides powerful protection. In addition, if we compare it with foreign analogues, it is worth noting that this product is more focused on Runet. The most common viruses on the RuNet get abroad much later, which is why the databases are not updated in a timely manner. But with this product it's the opposite. Even in terms of using system resources, it looks very preferable.

ESET Smart Security

Another powerful antivirus for Windows 10. It is a shareware product. To use full activation, you will have to pay, but for home use you can enter special free keys every month or convert them into a license code. This will not reduce the opportunities.

Among the advantages of this program are low resource consumption, database updates several times a day, the presence of a parental control module, real-time protection of wireless networks and connections, Internet banking protection, offline monitoring and much more. If you wish, you can activate the additional anti-theft function for free.

Dr.Web

The products of this developer have long become classics. This antivirus for Windows 10 can be used not only on home terminals, but also in large enterprises, since it has a special management system within networks.

The capabilities of the package are comparable to Kaspersky Lab products. In addition, it implements “cloud” technology for checking potential threats on the company’s servers, and the package itself contains several main modules that provide comprehensive protection.

AVG AntiVirus Free

This antivirus for Windows 10 can be used as the simplest means of protecting your home system.

In principle, there is nothing special about it. The program works quite stably, has a simple interface and is somewhat reminiscent of the built-in operating system tools. But, judging by numerous user reviews, it is extremely annoying that from time to time resource consumption increases to an incredible degree due to constant checks and re-checks with or without reason.

Avira Free Antivirus and Antivirus Pro

Now about two more representatives of anti-virus software. The first package is free, the second is paid. Both packages do not pose any special load on the system, have built-in standard security features and can be used in home systems.

However, reviews from specialists who have tested both packages in practice indicate that they are able to detect only 75% of potential threats. And in case of severe infection, it is not recommended to install them at all.

Panda Free Antivirus

Users most often associate this antivirus for Windows 10 with cloud technologies. This is true.

The advantage of this package is that it does not even allow potentially dangerous objects to enter the system, sending them immediately to the sandbox for analysis at the first suspicion. This, of course, takes a little more time than when conducting conventional heuristic diagnostics, but you can be one hundred percent sure that the system will not be damaged, which is confirmed by numerous comments on the Internet.

Avast! Free Antivirus

Before us is the most controversial antivirus. Some praise him, others criticize him, no matter what. And, it should be noted, not without reason.

Yes, the set of modules is, in general, standard, but unexpected activation irritates users quite a lot. If you believe what you can find on the Internet, even licensed programs or drivers are included in the “circle of suspects.” So the decision to use is entirely up to the user.

360 Total Security

And this is perhaps the best free antivirus for Windows 10. On the Internet you can find a lot of laudatory responses about this package. In addition, it is called the lightest and fastest antivirus of all known.

There are plenty of protection models here, but even if they work in parallel, the load on the system is not felt at all. And he’s good at identifying threats. So, according to the overwhelming majority, this is the package that is fully suitable for any user.

Comodo AntiVirus

Finally, another antivirus for Windows 10, although not particularly popular. What's interesting about it?

The main feature of the package is that it is ideal for protecting against so-called rootkits, displaying banners and other advertising. The function of creating your own secure DNS is responsible for this. But few people use it as a standard means in a security system.

What to prefer?

It is difficult to advise anything on this issue, because, as they say, there are no friends according to taste. It all depends on the specifics of the protection and the preferences of the user. However, if you look at surveys and popularity ratings, it is better to use packages like ESET Smart Security or its equivalents with their comprehensive protection, even though such a program needs to be activated monthly. But in the simplest case, the most popular antivirus still turns out to be 360 Total Security, which clearly leads the lists in all respects. And, of course, other, no less interesting software products were not considered here, because it is simply impossible to describe them all.

Avast has many awards, but the most important to us is the trust of our 435 million users. We're proud to protect the world's largest community of users, and we're excited to keep your PC secure when you upgrade to Windows 10.

Most downloaded program

Best Selling Security Software

Antivirus with the lowest load on system resources

The best choice for a computer running Windows 10

New standard in antivirus protection

Windows 10 only provides basic protection. Avast antivirus provides reliable protection not only for your computer, but also for your entire home network, and also includes a number of additional protection components and useful tools, such as Software Update, Passwords and many others.

Official Microsoft Partner

Avast joins forces with Microsoft to ensure your maximum security - there are no unpleasant surprises. Microsoft's support, which allows Avast antivirus to run on all Windows 10 computers, is clear proof that we are respected for what we do. That's why industry experts like PC Magazine and PC Advisor rate us very highly as well.

Doesn't slow down your computer

We're proud to be recognized as a Low Performance Antivirus by AV Comparatives. Whether you use your computer for work or play, Avast delivers uncompromisingly reliable protection with minimal strain on system resources.

And it's free, forever

Avast provides the level of protection you need for your Windows 10 PC. But we don't stop there. We offer a range of additional security features and tools, such as a password manager, remote assistance, browser cleaner and more - all completely free.

Everywhere, 24/7 protection

We're proud to protect millions of Windows 10 PCs. Why take our word for it? Find out how many computers we protected from cyber attacks in the past week alone.

Blocked virus attacks on Windows 10 PCs over the past week: .
Blocked virus attacks on Windows 10 PCs in the US over the past week: .
The United States is the third-largest country in the world for the number of virus attacks on Windows 10 PCs.

Number of virus attacks on Windows 10 PCs blocked over the past 30 weeks

Already using Avast? You are safe

If you are planning to upgrade from older versions of Windows (, Vista, , or 8.1) to the Windows 10 operating system, we are ready to provide it with reliable antivirus protection. Before upgrading, we recommend that you ensure that you have the latest version of Avast installed. After switching to Windows 10, you will find our antivirus there, in its place, fully ready to protect your PC and all the valuable data on it.

System Requirements

Avast is undemanding to your computer's system resources. 256 MB of RAM is enough and 1.5 GB disk space on your PC. If your Windows 10 computer meets these requirements (most likely it does), then there should be no difficulties.