The most powerful antivirus. Which antivirus is better? Review of paid and free products

Welcome everyone to the next episode! Almost every computer user knows perfectly well that any computer, tablet, laptop or other device needs high-quality protection.

Every day thousands of ways to infect remote PCs appear on the Internet, new viruses and simply dangerous programs are written to steal data or disable a computer. Therefore, there is a need to protect yourself from such misfortunes. Which antivirus is best for your comprehensive protection of personal computers? Which antivirus is better than others, we will try to find out about this and many other issues from our article today...

The average user can protect himself from 99% of threats, but to do this he must have good, comprehensive protection installed. There remains 1%, which can include planned and special attacks on a specific server or computer - if carried out competently and purposefully, such dangerous actions can bypass almost any ordinary protection and anti-virus program.

But, fortunately for us, ordinary citizens are practically not exposed to such danger, since serious hacking programs and viruses are written for specific purposes and the average PC user is of little interest to truly serious organizations.

Therefore, it will be enough to simply install a good antivirus and configure its operation specifically to suit your computer use conditions. Believe me, this will be good, reliable and practically guaranteed protection against various Internet problems, viruses and malicious attacks.

Which antivirus is better - how to choose the right protection?

There are several recognized leaders in the antivirus software market, among which you can make your choice. But at the same time, of course, it is IMPORTANT for you to remember that only one antivirus must be installed and configured correctly on your PC. If there are 2 or more of them, then not only will the computer slow down mercilessly, but it will also not receive proper protection. Well, the defender programs, in turn, will conflict with each other and even their joint work will not work. In addition, now many antivirus programs, even at the installation stage on the PC, look to see if there is another antivirus and offer to remove it.

After you have enabled the firewall, you need to select antivirus software. It will be difficult to advise something really specific here, but it is still possible. The fact is that every antivirus manufacturer claims that its program is the best and copes with problems that competitors cannot overcome.

In fact, most of these programs are about the same. Some specialize in protection against viruses. Some are on computer protection in a network sense. Others are protected from malware and third-party applications that behave suspiciously and send something somewhere without your knowledge. In a word, the choice is great and I will list only the most common antivirus programs for 2016. And which antivirus is better, in my opinion, we will now find out.

They, in turn, can be divided into free, shareware and paid. Carefully study the selected antivirus for additional functions and bonuses that can be purchased - sometimes there are really interesting offers. But in most cases, a home PC can be protected with at least a simple and free antivirus that will regularly update its database of viruses and Internet dangers, monitor the computer and prevent suspicious files from running. For most families this will be more than enough.

Free antivirus programs for your home PC

So, I’ll start my list of recommendations with free antivirus programs. They are accessible, quite simple and understandable even to an inexperienced user. Such software belongs to the “install and forget” section, so if you don’t want to understand the settings and, especially, pay, then you should pay attention to the following programs:

Avast! Free Antivirus is an extremely popular program at the moment, which is completely free and designed for widespread use on a wide variety of PCs. First of all, I would say that it is good in the sense that it can work completely without additional settings, but for those interested it can offer a wide selection of different options. Supports various popular functions such as file quarantine, detects viruses and malware, can scan your computer in different ways, has a special game mode and much more. Requires a small registration once after installation;

Avira Free Antivirus is another popular home antivirus that offers effective results with a small amount of resources. It can constantly monitor the system or turn on occasionally, checking the entire hard drive for malware. Quite simple, equipped with an update assistant system, can work automatically and prevent the installation of fraudulent applications on the PC. Very often I hear users ask me which antivirus is better from the two listed above. I answer you that they both have proven themselves satisfactorily at a specific level of protection for personal computers.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good program from the official Windows manufacturer. It works easily, does not load the system, has minimal but necessary functions - it does not allow obvious viruses to pass through, it is regularly updated, it can check the computer on specified days or hours, it works almost unnoticed by the user. A good application that, when paired with a firewall, can protect your computer quite well at the initial and intermediate levels;

It is also worth mentioning such free antiviruses as 360 Total Security, AVG, Comodo, Panda and other programs that have limited but quite sufficient basic functionality. However, they do not provide 100% level protection, and they also do not have the so-called “fool protection”, but as a small protective addition for a home PC, this is quite okay.

So, it should also be noted that all of these antivirus programs presented above can be found on the official website.

Paid antivirus programs - which antivirus is the best?

Paid antivirus programs for PC protection include several of the most popular products. We will not recommend the remaining, less common ones, since they have almost the same functions as their free counterparts. But the old and well-known paid anti-virus software, real dinosaurs of their class, are really good and if you are concerned about the problem of computer security at a serious level, then I recommend considering the following anti-virus products:

Kaspersky is one of the best paid antiviruses. There is also a free version, but full functionality is only available after an annual subscription. It provides full functionality, has a lot of functions and capabilities, and can be configured as flexibly as possible in this antivirus software. The cost is relatively small, but renewal must be issued annually. There are profitable packages - when purchasing a subscription for a year, the second key comes as a gift and similar interesting offers;

Dr.Web, also known as Doctor Web, is a good program that provides comprehensive PC protection. Like Kaspersky, it is available in various versions, has a trial period, and includes all kinds of scanners and monitoring systems. It is updated promptly and has proven itself to be the best. The subscription is also issued for a year, but the price is already cheaper than for Kaspersky. I wrote about Doctor Web in

In terms of efficiency and richness of settings, it is slightly less than the first antivirus on the list, but also a very, very good option;

ESET NOD32, aka Nod 32- a good antivirus with rich settings. Quite old and popular, it can be used to solve a wide range of problems. Allows you not only to effectively catch viruses, but also to perform various actions to control your computer and monitor it in a comprehensive manner. Feature - it practically does not slow down the computer, it works unnoticed and easily. However, in the recent past I had to abandon it because one of the significant shortcomings of this antivirus was the inability to scan system files for malware. As a result, my computer was infected with a Trojan, which I had to remove thanks to Dr.Web. Although today the developers have probably already taken care of this flaw.

So, to sum up today’s issue – “Which antivirus is better” I can say with confidence that the best, reliable and comprehensive protection for the entire computer are antivirus programs from the “Paid” range. In addition, I note that I have installed all of the above anti-virus programs (both paid and free) on many computers. And it is paid antiviruses that, according to statistics, provide comprehensive computer protection that is an order of magnitude higher than free ones. I also bring to your attention a short video: Which antivirus is best to install on your computer?

Thus, you can see that the choice of antivirus software is quite wide and you can choose something optimal for your own needs without any problems. Which computer protection programs do you prefer most, dear users?

Information security in our time is more important than ever; just remember what the Petya.A virus did in Ukraine, to the seemingly protected computers of government and financial institutions. Therefore, you should choose an antivirus program carefully and thoughtfully. We will present to your attention a description of the advantages, disadvantages and rating of the most popular anti-virus software according to Internet users who discussed them, shared their own impressions, and voted for their favorite security programs on social networks and on specialized sites.

Comparative table of the TOP 10 best Antiviruses of 2017

Name	Rating according to users	Peculiarities	Price
"AVAST Free Antivirus"	9 out of 10	E-mail protection, Web protection, work in the cloud	for free
"360 TOTAL SECURITY"	8.3 out of 10	Web protection	for free
	7.7 out of 10	Built-in firewall, work in the cloud	Trial – free, further $31.99
"AVG Anti-Virus Free"	7.7 out of 10	Web protection
"ESET NOD32 Smart Security"	7.7 out of 10	Built-in firewall, E-mail protection, web protection, work in the cloud, antispam	Trial – free, further 6 $
"Avira Free Antivirus"	7.7 out of 10	E-mail protection, web protection, work in the cloud, antispam	for free
"Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition"	6.7 out of 10	Work in the cloud, web protection	for free
Comodo Antivirus	6.3 out of 10	—	for free
"Dr.Web Antivirus"	5 out of 10	—	Trial – free, further 13 euros per year
"Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2017"	5 out of 10	E-mail protection, web protection, antispam	$30 per year

Three safety rules when working with Windows:

1. Do not download or click “For everything”;
2. Install ALL critical updates;
3. Work only with user rights.

1. "AVAST Free Antivirus"

There are two versions of the program from the AVAST company: paid “Pro Antivirus” and free “Free Antivirus”, for non-commercial use. The non-commercial version of the product is considered the most popular free security software content in the world: it is used by more than 230 million people. This fact alone speaks volumes about the real usefulness of the program.

• Software from the “install and forget” series: there is no need to waste time on the initial adjustment of parameters and options;
• Does not conflict when simultaneously working with games and game clients of online projects;
• Copes well with its main task: searching, blocking and destroying virus applications of any type;
• Minimum pop-ups and annoying windows.

Flaws:

• Spends a large amount of PC resources when setting the maximum security level;
• There is a risk of false positives due to the specific base of virus signatures;
• Cannot scan archived files.

2. "360 TOTAL SECURITY"

A good multifunctional antivirus program is, so to speak, three in one: it catches viruses, helps optimize the operation of the operating system, and can clean the hard drive of unnecessary or useless files. An additional advantage is that it is free to distribute.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Provides almost 100% security in real time;
• Fast and thorough scanning check;
• Automatic scanning of each new connected storage medium;
• Easily integrates with the world's most popular browsers.

Flaws:

• Availability of advertising: nothing can be done, the program is free;
• Inconvenient interface in a number of sections of the application;
• Conflict with the operation of some browser processes.

3.

Easy to install and use antivirus program. Protects the user's PC from the main types of known viruses and Trojans. Maximum security with minimum effort.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Good performance in automatic scanning mode;
• Blocking access to Internet portals that may contain potential malicious software;
• Daily update of anti-virus database signatures;
• Clear and easy-to-use program interface;
• Monitoring the security level of wireless networks.

Flaws:

• No blocking of network ports;
• Minimum level of effectiveness when attempting to identify phishing malware;
• Reduced software control functionality.

4. "AVG Anti-Virus Free"

Free security software with a deep level of integration into the operating system. Automatically checks every running program on your computer. The user interface is convenient and pleasant to look at.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Regular updating of databases with anti-virus signatures;
• Ability to regularly check hard drives on a schedule;
• Availability of additional modules for scanning incoming mail and checking the security of sent links;
• User-friendly interface.

Flaws:

• Insufficient level of security to eliminate phishing threats;
• Scanning takes longer than other antivirus programs.

5. "ESET NOD32 Smart Security"

A comprehensive antivirus application with the maximum available functionality. Checks, blocks and removes viruses, Trojans and adware. "ESET NOD32 Smart Security" is good because of the multi-stage protection used to combat viruses of any type.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Availability of an internal custom firewall;
• Advanced protection against botnets;
• Allows you to create a boot disk for operating systems damaged by virus attacks;
• Minimum percentage of detections from false threats;
• Protection of banking transactions and payments;
• Effective antispam.

Flaws:

• Reduced parental control functionality;
• Insufficient protection against phishing.

6. "Avira Free Antivirus"

A simple but powerful antivirus, notable for a number of features. The first is the use of cloud technologies, which allows you to resist attacks from new, “fresh” viruses. The second is a modular design. After the initial installation, the software has a minimum of functionality. To configure new functions, you need to download individual antivirus blocks from the developer’s website: in this way, the user independently configures the required level of security for his PC.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Regular database updates;
• Successfully blocks and disinfects files infected with macro viruses;
• Automatic check of OS executive programs at every startup;
• Can work in parallel with other antiviruses without conflicts.

Flaws:

• Not suitable for use with the built-in Windows Explorer browser;
• Long general inspection time;
• Insufficient protection against phishing programs.

7. "Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition"

Version of free antivirus protection software. Compared to the paid version, it has reduced functionality, but even in this form it does its job 100%. The software interface is clear and easy to configure; the virus signature database is constantly updated with new samples.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• High level of protection against common viruses and Trojans;
• Easy and quick to set up;
• Minimal use of operating system resources;
• Automatic blocking of sites with malicious code.

Flaws:

• Fewer features than the paid version.

8. Comodo Antivirus

Another worthy software product for protecting information data. It works quickly, without failures, and the virus copes with most of them almost instantly. Convenient initial setup: it is carried out step by step during the initial installation of the antivirus.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Extensive anti-virus database;
• The best indicator of heuristic testing;
• Increased level of preventive protection;
• Possibility of automating verification.

Flaws:

• There are failures when modified malicious software code is detected;
• Does not protect your PC when visiting sites where virus activity has been registered.

9. "Dr.Web Antivirus"

A decent and time-tested comprehensive antivirus, with an effective heuristic file analysis unit. A proactive and multi-level level of protection will help prevent most virus attacks. The replenishment of databases with virus signatures is entrusted to third-party anti-virus laboratories, which has a positive effect on the overall operation of the program.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Availability of modules for checking mail, websites and connected external devices;
• Advanced level of protection;
• Fast speed of full and partial scanning;

Flaws:

• Heavily loads the system during a full scan;
• Can independently block absolutely safe sites on the Internet.

10. "Kaspersky Antivirus 2017"

The brand is known to almost every resident of the post-Soviet space. Like most other applications from this laboratory, the program is distributed on a paid basis. Provides reliable protection against virus attacks and helps restore damaged files.

Advantages and features of the antivirus program:

• Daily database updates;
• Additional modules for scanning incoming mail and checking the security of sent links;
• Customizable blocking of spam and banner advertising;
• Good protection against phishing.

Flaws:

• Consumes a large amount of OS resources;
• There are failures when blocking links to sites with viral activity.

Which antivirus is better and which one should I choose?

If you have a weak PC or tablet, then you should choose an antivirus that will use fewer hardware and software resources. For those who have a powerful computer, it is better to choose security software with the most extensive functionality. The final choice depends only on the preferences and needs of the user. All the antivirus programs described above provide the maximum level of security and differ from each other only in some nuances that will not be important for everyone.

Naturally, free products will not be as effective as their paid versions. This is definitely something to consider when choosing antivirus software. By the way, there is an opinion that using Linux completely eliminates the need to use antiviruses. Decide for yourself whether to believe this or not, but I will allow myself to recommend interesting materials about and. Well, here we go.

Five of the best free antiviruses for Windows 2018

It’s probably worth noting that I’m not trying to give you maximum information about each individual antivirus in this top. I want to provide only the minimum, give you a start, or simply help you make a choice. It is better to look for all detailed information about each of the programs on official resources, as well as in other articles and materials (including on).

Avast Free Antivirus

In many tops, this antivirus (including its free version) occupies a leading position. I don’t think that this is due to the venality of these very tops, because I myself have been using this antivirus as my main one for quite a long time. What can I say, I'm really pleased with it. For a free product, this is really nothing. Moreover, the free version of Avast has some functions that are not even available in the paid versions of other antiviruses. Therefore, I don’t know why you are still in doubt, quickly click on the button at the bottom of this item and go download an excellent antivirus.

A little about the features and benefits of Avast Free Antivirus:

• Intelligent antivirus protection: includes constant monitoring of the system, as well as timely blocking of virus software.
• Wi-Fi check: detecting holes in home Wi-Fi networks, monitoring for unauthorized visitors.
• Smart Scan: allows you to detect all vulnerabilities in the system, including insecure settings and saved passwords.

AVG AntiVirus Free

Another excellent antivirus that occupies leading positions in all ratings and tops. As in the previous case, it has a paid version and the ability to upgrade to it. However, the free version also has quite interesting functions and capabilities. AVG AntiVirus Free, according to the developers, has become even better. In addition to all the basic tools of a comprehensive security software, AVG can scan your system for vulnerabilities in real time and also stop suspicious downloads.

It is worth noting that the application interface has been noticeably improved. Now managing your protection has become even easier. And all this thanks to informative elements with which you can monitor the state of the system.

Application features:

• Protecting your PC from viruses, spyware, hackerware, ransomware, etc.
• Block unsafe links, downloads and email attachments
• Ability to scan your system for performance issues
• Real-time updates

Kaspersky Free

A free solution from developers from Russia, which has all the necessary functions to protect your home computer. This program is notable for the fact that it spends very little of your system resources. And all this with a very high level of security; Many users consider this antivirus to be the most powerful in terms of protection.

Kaspersky Free can:

• Automatically block dangerous files, applications and websites
• Check your email for viruses
• Protect you from phishing sites
• Provide a high level of protection without slowing down the system

360 Total Security

This software will not only protect your PC from viruses, but at the same time, it will help clean and speed up your system. And all this is free, they won’t charge you a cent. However, it is worth noting that this antivirus has a partnership with other companies (as do many free solutions), so during installation you will need to refuse to install unnecessary software. Another feature 360 Total Security— support for engines of other antiviruses, and their simultaneous use. This approach helps to achieve the highest protection for your data.

Features of 360 Total Security:

• Protection against viruses and malicious software
• Protection against ransomware and cryptographers
• Multiple engine support
• Sandbox
• Safe online shopping
• Keylogger protection
• System protection components (scanning disks, flash drives and vulnerabilities)
• Wi-Fi Security Check
• System optimization and data destroyer

Panda Free Antivirus

A powerful Spanish product designed to completely and completely protect your system from intruders. The program is now being actively promoted on various resources, and those who have actually tried it unanimously speak about the high quality of protection. The application itself, by the way, is ready to work immediately after installation. As assured on the official website, you just need to install it, and then forget that your system is under threat at all. Panda will automatically scan your system, protecting it in real time.

Panda Free Antivirus features:

• Protecting your system from viruses, keyloggers and other malware
• Protecting your computer when browsing the Internet
• Low resource consumption
• Etc

5 (100%) 15 votes

Antivirus reviews and tests

It is unlikely that your computer will be infected with a virus, but at the same time there is a risk of infection by other types of malware and online threats. Ransomware Trojans encrypt important files and wait until a ransom is paid before unlocking access to them. Banking Trojans interfere with online transactions and try to steal funds. Infection with a botnet will make your computer a link in the chain of devices used to launch DDoS attacks. For these and many other reasons, you should protect your computer with an antivirus. No need to worry about the price. The best free antivirus programs are more effective than some commercial solutions. The Internet portal PCMag has conducted a comprehensive review of more than a dozen free antiviruses and recommends the best products for choosing.

Many of the antiviruses presented are free for non-commercial use only. If you want to protect computers in your organization, you will have to purchase a paid version. In this case, it is worth considering switching to a full-fledged comprehensive antivirus. After all, the security of your business depends on it. If you need to protect large enterprises, then SaaS solutions come to the rescue, allowing you to centrally monitor and manage the protection of all computers in the company.

Your antivirus should reliably remove malware that has taken root in the system, but its main task is to prevent new infections from ransomware, botnets, Trojan horses and other types of threats. All antiviruses presented in this rating offer real-time protection against malicious attacks. Many products offer strong web protection that blocks access to malicious sources and prevents you from entering sensitive data on fraudulent sites.

Laboratory testing

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 5 major labs: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, Simon Edwards Labs formerly Dennis Technology Labs), Virus Bulletin 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 online sources no more 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 by Avira Free Antivirus 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. 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 was not included in the rating

This rating contains information only about free antivirus solutions that have received at least a “Good” rating based on 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 2017 combines highly effective antivirus protection with a comprehensive collection of additional tools.

AVG AntiVirus Free (2017) 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.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same antivirus protection as the paid Bitdefender antivirus, but lacks the additional functionality of the commercial version.

Kaspersky's free antivirus offers full-featured basic antivirus protection that scores excellent in lab tests.

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

Sophos Home allows you to provide the capabilities of a powerful corporate antivirus to ordinary home users absolutely free. The product performed well in independent lab tests and most of PCMag's own tests.

Avira Free Antivirus (2017)

Avira 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.

Adaware Antivirus Free 12 has a new name and a new look. However, its testing results are not the best, and competing free antiviruses offer more features.

Comodo Antivirus 10 received a new look and achieved a perfect detection rate in the malware blocking test. However, the product performed worse in other PCMag tests and in independent lab tests.

Panda Free 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 comes with a powerful set of additional tools, but its core antivirus protection can't compete with the best free antiviruses.

In this review, we have collected for you the TOP 11 antiviruses for computers in 2017. Use one of these antivirus programs and don't worry about your computer.

Digital technologies are developing, making people's lives easier. This demonstrates the automation of most everyday processes - payment for goods, orders through online stores, online banking. But hackers are not asleep, programming new viruses designed to disrupt the performance of the computer, steal personal data or violate the privacy of the user (KeyLog programs, webcam video capture utilities).

According to statistics, at the end of 2016, viral activity increased. A noteworthy fact is that while hackers are not slowing down attacks on Windows systems, they are increasing pressure on Linux users. A new virus has also appeared for the Android mobile platform, which is notable for the fact that it is built into system processes, thereby gaining complete control over the device. The most common threat in 2016 was Trojan programs – organizers of DDoS attacks, whose purpose is to cause system service failure.

In the third quarter of the year, leading antivirus laboratories present their new products. At first, everything looks beautiful - the devices will be protected from intrusion by any threat. To confirm the honesty of anti-virus software manufacturers, the world's leading laboratories studying Internet thunderstorms conduct their tests, based on the results of which the TOP presented here was compiled.

Microsoft Security Essentials

Eleventh place in the ranking is occupied by a Microsoft product. It appeared relatively recently on the antivirus software market, but is developing rapidly, so that it has been able to displace such unshakable titans as Symantec, which are not included in the rating.

Microsoft uses Dynamic Signature Service in its products, an innovative technology that helps protect your computer from new threats. The antivirus has a built-in module that analyzes the behavior of programs, identifying potentially dangerous ones. It seems like nothing new. But Essentials has a centralized database where information from all users is collected.

When a program behaving suspiciously is analyzed on one computer, the results of the study will be available to everyone. If the utility turns out to be malicious, then Essentials will eliminate the threat, and then the virus signature will be instantly calculated and nipped in the bud. The functionality of the system implies the collection of complete information from the user’s device, which not everyone will like. But safety comes first!

The disadvantages include the following:

• Low performance with different types of viruses that are not yet in the database.
• Rare signature updates.
• Weak engine, which will lead to the program crashing in the event of a DDoS attack.

Eset NOD 32

One of the most popular utilities of this kind. Ranks 4th in terms of number of downloads (from official sources). But is everything so great? NOD has demonstrated impressive results when tested by independent laboratories. Its strength is blocking URLs leading to infected sites. Additionally, the software provides scanning of social networks and offers auxiliary security tools.

The antivirus received a certificate for its high performance in the fight against software viruses. AV-Comparatives conducts tests in five different categories:

1. Basic protection against malicious files.
2. Detection of an attack simulating a zero-day threat - files with expired signatures.
3. Dynamic complex tests.
4. Removing malware.
5. Performance test.

Based on the results of all inspections, NOD received the highest score.

The impression was spoiled by the low performance on non-executable files. Here Eset showed poor results.

AhnLab V3 Internet Security

Many people have not heard of this product, which is logical - until the latest version of the program, the test results were poor. But the 2017 version broke into the TOP. Ahnlab gives users a standard set to combat:

• Zero-day viruses.
• Trojan programs.
• Advertising banners.

There is a proprietary TruFind protection module. Its task is to scan the computer system, identifying vulnerabilities and fixing them.

Being Internet Security, the software is equipped with a firewall, email scanner and URL filter. The new version of the product has an interesting protocol that deletes all important information from the computer if it is impossible to fix the virus attack. An extravagant way to leave particularly cunning attackers in the cold.

According to test results, the program demonstrated a 100% success rate when working with zero-day viruses. This is an indicator identical to the world market leaders in the production of anti-virus software. Checks for false positives showed a phenomenal result - 3 false reactions out of 500 thousand signatures. The downside of AhnLab is productivity. Therefore, only 9th place in the ranking.

FortiClient

Works well against phishing attacks. Test laboratories noted that the program is one of the best for protecting local networks. All software is provided free of charge.

FortiClient is a modern approach to network access. The program has the following built-in utilities:

• Parental control.
• Blocking potentially malicious URLs.
• Blocking fraudulent sites.

The antivirus successfully passed two main tests - checking the operation of files with outdated and new signatures. FortiClient received the highest rating of Advanced+ on both measures.

The product occupies 8th place on the list due to the fact that it is only a component of the security complex. FortiClient is most effective when working in tandem with the FortiGate firewall.

AVG Free Antivirus

Demonstrated good performance both when tested by independent laboratories and licensed ones. Among the advantages of the software are:

• Impressive level of protection against phishing.
• High performance.
• Web traffic protection.
• Ad blocking.
• A utility that determines the performance of a computer and, if necessary, optimizes it.

A worthy product, if not for the recent scandal that broke out. It turned out that the privacy policy contains a clause according to which software manufacturers can collect the history of the user’s browser and search queries.

If we ignore the scandal, then AVG is a fairly powerful machine for protecting a computer, which is confirmed by test data from laboratories. But the low performance compared to other programs does not allow you to rise higher in the ranking.

Trend Micro

The 2017 version of Internet Security copes with malicious files (executable/sleeping) and spam with a bang. Evaluations from independent laboratories hovered between good and excellent.
A bonus is the presence of a spam filter, which has its own database. The antivirus works globally – links leading to infected sites on social networks are blocked.

Trend Micro is a young product that has only now begun to participate in serious testing. During the test, complex massive attacks were carried out, which the defense coped with, receiving the highest score. But Trend Micro did not participate in all tests due to the disagreement of the developers. But where the test was carried out, the antivirus showed results above average. Again, insufficient productivity did not allow us to move higher.

F-Secure

Being Internet Security, it does not have its own firewall, which makes life difficult for users. And the parental control features leave much to be desired. Has a 75% test result. The main reason for this is false positives. If not for them, the antivirus would have taken one of the leading positions.

The main advantage of the program is its behavioral analysis detector. Unlike similar utilities, it did not react to 20 licensed programs where there were no virus signatures.
Users complain about the annoying pop-up window and clunky interface.

Panda Free

This product turned out to be worse than the commercial projects at the top of the rating, but many ordinary paid antiviruses were far behind. This conclusion was made based on tests from licensed laboratories. No verification was carried out by independent experts.

The main test (AV-TEST) includes three categories:

• Level of protection.
• The degree of impact on operating system performance.
• Ease of use of the software under the influence of false positives.

The antivirus received the highest rating for the quality of cleaning the system from malware, and a “good” rating in comprehensive testing - false positives summed it up.
The disadvantages of the protection include a poor anti-phishing module. But this can be offset by a good score for blocking malware, and an excellent score for detecting dangerous URLs.

AVIRA Free

In third place is the best among free antiviruses. It showed decent results according to independent experts, who noted excellent performance in blocking infected URLs. On testing, AV-TEST scored 18 out of 18 and the highest score in comprehensive testing.

Disadvantages include cleaning up malware infections. They also note weak protection against phishing. But this is a free product. If the user does not want to spend money on protecting his computer, then AVIRA Free is the best possible option.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus

The software interface has changed little compared to the previous version. And the defense has become even stronger. This has been proven by numerous tests, where Kaspersky received the highest score. Experts focus on excellent results in anti-phishing scans and additional protection tools that will fully ensure security.

Kaspersky received the highest score in a unique test where the system was continuously attacked by the same viruses for several days.

The initial scan of your computer takes no more than an hour. Subsequent scanning is faster. This test shows the antivirus's ability to intelligently filter out uninfected files, which has an amazing impact on performance. But there are products with better results.

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

• Password manager with protected scripts.
• System vulnerability scanner.
• Browser safety module.
• Protection against ransomware.

Bitdefender showed the highest score in absolutely all tests. There is nothing to add except that this is the best protection for a personal computer, which combines performance, low system load and efficiency.