In this age of the internet, cybercrime is on a constant rise. Stats tell us that a victim of cybercrime occurs every 37 seconds, with an average of 97 victims per hour. Cybercrimes and cyberattacks are bad because they hurt your workflow and can result in heavy losses of money and identity. Hence, it is vital to have top-notch security on all of your devices.
Out of all the devices you use, Windows PCs are one of the easiest targets for attackers, as users often download files and other data from unauthorized sites on their PCs. Hence, it is vital to keep a good antivirus on your PC. While many are paid, some good ones are also available for free. These antivirus software work well and do the basic job of protecting your PC from any threats.
We have compiled a list of your Windows PC’s best free antivirus software. So, let’s get started.
Choosing the Right Antivirus
Before we start with the list of the best antiviruses, it is better to understand some of the features you need in antivirus software. Some of these features are essential but only available in paid versions. However, free versions should also cover the basic and essential features.
These are the features you need to check:
- Malware Detection: This one sounds obvious, but it is essential. The antivirus software should be able to effectively detect and block various types of malware, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and trojans.
- Real-Time Protection: The antivirus should look for new possible threats and eliminate them on the go. Hence, your antivirus must have an instant scan feature and scan schedule that can provide continuous protection against new threats as they emerge.
- Behavior-based Detection: This is a feature of some antivirus software. It is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can detect malware never seen before. On the other hand, if it’s not done right, it can baffle the user with messages about legitimate programs.
- System Performance: Ensure the antivirus doesn’t significantly impact your computer’s performance, especially during resource-intensive tasks.
- Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface and minimal configuration requirements are essential for general users.
- Other features include protection against USB-based malware attacks, scanning for router weaknesses, and cleaning up traces of browsing history.
Latest Antivirus Engine: Antivirus software is only as good as the malware it can protect against. With new malware constantly emerging, the software must have the latest antivirus engine, which has a library of the newest malware to detect it quickly.
You can read the antivirus buying guide in detail.
10 Best Antivirus for Windows 11, 10, 8.1 & 7[Free and Paid]
Below is the list of the top 10 free antivirus software that offers protection from a wide range of online and offline PC threats; these antivirus utilities have all the abovementioned features.
1. Avast Free Antivirus
First up, the old and gold Avast Free Antivirus. It is a powerful, reliable security solution that protects your Windows computer from various online threats. The antivirus comes with cool features like malware detection capabilities and real-time protection. Hence, it can protect your system from viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malicious software.
One of the standout features of Avast Free Antivirus is its ability to detect and block even the latest and most sophisticated threats. With time, Avast has also evolved, and it has started using technologies like machine learning and behavior-based analysis to identify suspicious activity and prevent infections. This proactive approach ensures your computer is always protected against emerging cyber threats.
Avast Free Antivirus is designed to be user-friendly and easy to install. The intuitive interface makes it simple to navigate and manage your security settings. The software operates quietly in the background, protecting your system without slowing down your computer’s performance.
2. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira is another leading antivirus company that offers complete protection from viruses, malware, trojans, worms, spyware, and rootkits.
According to AV-TEST, Avira offers the most robust protection against widespread and zero-day malware. However, computers with less RAM might see a performance impact.
However, Avira Free Antivirus’s sheer effectiveness and a good range of features, including a mobile portal and child-safety settings, make it one of the best choices.
Avira’s user interface is not as simple and clean as Avast’s or AVG’s. It has a bunch of control and setting options that give you more control over the antivirus, but you may not get familiar with them quickly.
However, it does take less time to complete the scanning than other free antiviruses, and if you have less than 2 Gigs of RAM, you might notice a slight performance drop during the scan process.
3. Malwarebytes
Hundreds of new threats are spread every day. Sometimes, these threats skip through your leading antivirus and get onto your PC.
To deal with such threats, Malwarebytes’ antimalware is technically not antivirus software itself. It is a second opinion to antivirus programs; Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is an excellent complement to any antivirus program.
The software focuses on eliminating tricky zero-day malware from your PC.
The Chameleon feature, which disguises the software so malicious programs can’t find it, is worth mentioning. We recommend Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free for every PC user. Although it has a straightforward interface, detecting and deleting malware and other PC threats may take longer. The 2022 version of antimalware has an attractive interface and added features that protect you from known and unknown malware.
4. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Bitdefender’s antivirus engine makes it one of the top antivirus programs to download. A favorite of independent testing labs, the accessible version of Bitdefender is engineered to maximize computer performance.
The program is ultra-compact, and downloading and installing takes less than a minute. A fundamental interface provides effective on-demand and automatic scanning, real-time antivirus, and anti-phishing protection.
It doesn’t slow down your PC; computers with less RAM can easily use it without any performance drop. Even if you are gaming, video/photo editing, or using resource-intensive applications, it won’t slow down your PC.
There are very few manual controls here—no settings, options, scan types, schedule—nothing at all. This may be an issue if you like to fine-tune your security. But if you prefer simplicity, then Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is an excellent choice.
5. Panda Free Antivirus
Like Avast, Panda scored top marks for virus protection in AV-Test’s report.
Its interface is pretty but not as user-friendly as Avast’s. It also has a nice feature called USB Vaccine – this prevents virus attacks that occur when you plug in an infected USB drive.
Panda Free is an “install and forget” antivirus; once it is installed on your Windows computer, it automatically performs URL and web filtering with behavioral analysis protection.
Panda is a cloud-based antivirus engine that protects you while you do all the tasks, and you won’t even notice any performance lag; all these features make it another top malware protection tool around to download.
6. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select
Norton is a prominent name in antiviruses and cybersecurity. It has an excellent reputation for safety. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select is one of the most comprehensive antivirus solutions. It can seamlessly detect viruses without raising any false flags. The software is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
This antivirus allows you to seamlessly manage all your devices from an online portal. This is one of the best antiviruses online because it gives you many other security tools and essential threat protection. The extra services include 100GB of backup to the cloud, safe-browsing tools, a secure VPN, a password manager, parental controls, and LifeLock identity theft protection and fraud alert.
7. Microsoft Windows Defender
Not all users like having third-party antivirus software on their PCs. First, it is annoying to set it up, and second, why go anywhere else when we have Windows already? Microsoft Defender is a reliable and user-friendly security solution that comes pre-installed with Windows 11. As a built-in feature, it provides seamless protection without requiring additional downloads or installations.
Microsoft Defender offers real-time protection against various malware threats, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware. The integration is seamless since it is a Microsoft product built into Windows. It works seamlessly with other Microsoft products and services, providing comprehensive protection for your entire digital ecosystem.
While Microsoft Defender may not offer the same extensive feature set as some third-party antivirus solutions, it provides a solid baseline of protection for most users. It’s particularly well-suited for those who prefer a hassle-free security solution that doesn’t require additional configuration or maintenance.
8. Sophos Home
Sophos Home might be a perfect choice for you if you are looking for an affordable and effective antivirus solution. It is already a prominent name in the business antivirus world. However, their Sophos Home is also just as good. If you are a go-to person for security and antivirus among your friends and family, then this is a solution you should check out.
You can install the antivirus on up to 10 devices at an affordable price. The best part is that you can manage everything remotely. It has a AAA certification from SE Labs, which is quite good. Then the software provides seamless protection against ransomware, keyloggers, exploits, etc. The convenient mobile app allows for seamless software management across all devices. Overall, the antivirus solution is affordable and efficiently covers all the security features.
9. ZoneAlarm
Next, we have ZoneAlarm, another renowned cybersecurity software provider that offers free antivirus along with a firewall, making it a complete solution. With its strong firewall technology and comprehensive antivirus protection, ZoneAlarm has been a trusted choice for individuals and businesses.
ZoneAlarm’s firewall is a barrier between your computer and the internet, preventing unauthorized access and blocking malicious attacks. The antivirus component provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats, ensuring your system remains safe.
In addition to its core security features, ZoneAlarm often includes tools to safeguard against phishing scams and identity theft. These features can help protect your personal information and prevent financial losses.
The only downside is that the free version does not come with web protection, so there will be no protection against phishing scams. But it is still a good antivirus.
10. TotalAV
Finally, we have another reputable contender in the best free antivirus list. TotalAV is a good antivirus program with many security features that protect your devices from online threats. With its real-time protection and advanced malware detection capabilities, TotalAV provides a reliable shield against viruses, ransomware, and other malicious software.
TotalAV also focuses on tools to enhance your online security and system performance, in addition to basic antivirus features. One of the best things about this antivirus software is that it is cloud-based, so you don’t have to install it on your PC. Then, there are other cool features like a VPN for secure browsing, a password manager to protect sensitive credentials, and PC optimization tools to improve system speed and efficiency. So you can use it without any hassle.
The verdict
So, above are the top free antivirus suites that can protect your PC and other devices from different kinds of threats in both online and offline environments. The best practice to avoid viruses, malware, and other threats is not to download any cracked software, keygen, or hacking tools, and beware of scams and fraud while surfing and downloading stuff from the Internet.
Although there are numerous antiviruses with distinct features and pros and cons, no antivirus can be considered backward or perfect. This is because each one has its own area of specialization.
Also Read:-
- Antivirus Buying Guide – Things to Know Before Buying Best Antivirus Software.
- 10 Best Android Antivirus Apps For Your Android Device
- Does Your Mac Need An Antivirus Software? Truth & Myth
Stay Safe, and Happy Computing!
Do you use any other antivirus program? Do share it with us, too 🙂
FAQs
A: Yes, antiviruses are safe if you use a reputed and trusted one.
A: Although the Windows Defender, which is Window’s built-in antivirus, is more than enough for malware protection, having a third-party antivirus adds an extra layer of security and provides extra features like ransomware protection, phishing protection, etc.
A: Any software that runs on your PC takes resources, and that is also the case with antiviruses. So yes, sometimes they do slow down your PC.
