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Antivirus protection is as important as ever right now. Having protection for your devices (laptop, PC, etc) can save you a lot of money and embarrassment in the long run. But what if you don’t want to pay high fees for some good protection? Believe it or not, there are actually a number of excellent free antivirus software available today.
Hackers and cyber criminals are everywhere. There has even been an uptick in security breaches because of the current pandemic. The number of people trying to gain control of your data has increased exponentially.
For this reason alone, it is imperative that you take steps to protect yourself.
Protecting your laptop, desktop, or other related machines can be difficult if you don’t know what type of antivirus software to look for. It gets even more complicated when you are trying to figure out free options.
In this article, I am actually going to show you 7 of the best free antivirus software out there today. That’s right, I said free. Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of great products that are completely free and work great at protecting you against fraud, viruses, hacking, and worms.
There are common names that we all know, like AVG and Kaspersky, both of which have fantastic free antivirus software for you to use. However, there are several more out there that you may be less familiar with.
All of the following options will offer outstanding pc protection download. The best part? They all offer free plans that won’t cost you a single penny.
Be aware, hackers will never stop, neither will the creators of malware and viruses. These people are always coming up with new and inventive ways to hack your PC.
With that being said, it is important that the free antivirus software you choose to use is also constantly updating their security software packages to protect against ongoing threats like phishing scams, ransomware.
Let’s dive a little deeper into some information and then go over some fantastic free antivirus options that you can choose from.
What to Look for in the Best Free Antivirus Software
There are actually several things you want to look for when trying to compare and choose one the best free antivirus software protection. In some instances, you may be a little more limited because the version is free. But for the most part, you should still be able to look for certain things that make up a solid free antivirus software package.
Things to consider will include machine optimization, does it slow you down, or does it stay out of sight and out of mind. Add to that overall effectiveness and you will have a recipe for good protection.
Other things you may want to look for and consider include:
- Overall Effectiveness
- How Hard is it On System Resources
- Privacy
- Protection on Other Platforms
- Does “Free” mean “Bad”
What Computers Are at the Most Risk?
Microsoft and Windows is by far the most at risk and is the biggest target for viruses and malware. However, you still want to make sure all your devices are protected. Not many people may know, but Android comes in second for the highest risk for attacks.
Note: Overall threats to MacOS and especially iOS is very low. This is mostly due to the tight control that Apple has over its app store. While there are some attacks that happen, it is usually due to sideloaded apps and still, this is rare. You can get free antivirus software for your Mac, but truth be told you should be fine on Apple products without it.
One more thing worth noting before I present the list is that installing a VPN is another option you should consider. This will act as a bonus feature for protection when combined with the free antivirus software.
Best Free Anitivirus Protection
1. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
Considered by many to be the best free antivirus software available, Kaspersky Security Cloud Free offers so much that you would think it is the paid version of the software. It gives you a ton of features and extra virus protection, all for free.
It has an easy-to-use interface that allows for a lot of customizations if you are interested in that. Kaspersky will provide you with almost unbeatable malware protection. You will also have the ability to schedule scans at your leisure.
Performance impact of your computer is so minimal that you may find it actually speeds up your machine. Some of the more useful features you will get in this free antivirus software include a file shredder, an on-screen keyboard, and a terrific built-in email scanner.
The password service and VPN are more limited unless you pay. However, for free antivirus software, this one will be hard to beat.
Benefits of Using Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
- Excellent malware protection
- Performance impact is very small
- Tons of extra features all built-in
- File shredder
- On-screen keyboard
- Email scanner
- Limited password manager
- Forums and FAQs for support
- Ransomware reversal
2. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Yes, we know Bitdefender provides one of the best overall antivirus protection software out there. However, did you know that they also offer a free version called Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition?
This version is definitely stripped down some from the paid version, but it still provides amazing security with plenty of power at the handle. This is good, because it really offers nothing but the basics, yet with extreme power.
You will have the ability to manage the software from the program’s “System Tray” icon. However, once installed you really don’t need to interact with it too much. It provides a fantastic malware detection engine and is considered by many to be the best “set it and forget it” pieces of software available.
Benefits of Using Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
- Very good malware protection
- Interface is completely automatic
- Set it and forget it
- Support forums and FAQs for help
- No need to manage daily
3. Total AV Free
Total AV Free continues to perform well and is now trusted by over 10 million users. It will provide you total protection from viruses, malware, and other online threats. All this is for free.
The rapid install keeps you moving because it is so fast and easy. The product provides very powerful protection, yet is a very lightweight solution that will keep your machine running fast.
If you want amazing security features, and the knowledge that millions of others are also using this product, then Total AV Free is definitely worth looking into.
Benefits of Using Total AV Free
- Very good malware protection
- Totally free antivirus and Internet security
- Blocks malware and phishing sites
- Complete online protection
- Real-time spyware removal
4. AVG Antivirus Free
AVG Antivirus Free offers very good malware defense, strong protection against phishing, and the ability to perform scans at your leisure. The product is filled with a lot of great features, which make it even more appealing due to the fact that you can use it for free.
As a unique bonus, this particular free antivirus software comes with something called “AVG SafePrice” This is a browser extension that tracks your online shopping. If a better deal or more coupons are found, then they bump that info to you to consider using.
The core engine of AVG Antivirus free provides solid protection to your machine and is definitely one to look into if you are searching for one of the best free virus scanners available.
Benefits of Using AVG Antivirus Free
- Very good malware protection
- Shred using AVG
- Do not disturb mode
- Deep scans
- Real-time protection
- Active performance issues scans
5. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is another one of the best free antivirus protection software out there. Aside from the excellent antivirus protection, Avast Free Antivirus also gives you a network security scanner, a password manager, browser protection, and an amazing collection of security features.
Add to all that the fact that it is free and you have one of the best antivirus versions of a product out there today.
The “Avast Secure Browser” is private, secure, and very fast. You will experience the difference right when the product has been installed. By default, this also becomes your new browser. Yes, you can change back to your other browsers whenever you want.
Perhaps one of the most interesting functions that Avast Free Antivirus provides is something called “Passive Mode.” This is a built-in tool that kicks in automatically if you install a different antivirus. This allows you to avoid conflicts, as it disables all real-time scanning and other active protection.
Benefits of Using Avast Free Antivirus
- Good malware protection
- Network security scanner
- Password manager
- Browser independent protection
- Tons of security-related bonus features
- Passive mode
- Automatic secure browser
