Download a powerful antivirus for free. What is the best antivirus for your computer?

Absolutely all users, from computer gurus to beginners, know about such a terrible concept as “computer viruses.” Beginners are afraid of computer viruses, because for them they are fraught with a lot of myths and unknowns, while advanced users know the scale of the consequences of such an unpleasant event as a PC being infected with viruses, and are afraid of its occurrence. In any case, both beginners and advanced users want to reliably protect their data and their computer - that’s why they need an antivirus. Antivirus will protect your files on your computer: documents, photos, music, videos and other data, including passwords and other personal data. IN this material Our experts will try to help you choose the best antivirus of 2013 for your home computer.

Danger and types of viruses

To choose the best antivirus for yourself, you must understand that by the term “virus” we mean a complex of malicious files, programs and scripts that, one way or another, harm the computer. There are several types of computer viruses:

Worms

This type of virus does not pose any danger to data, but at the same time “clogs” the computer by copying itself. As a result, the computer begins to work very slowly, in other words, it begins to “slow down”. It is worth noting that even enough powerful computer can work very slowly: windows take a long time to open, programs start after a long pause, videos slow down during playback, etc.

Trojans

Trojan horses are one of the most dangerous species computer viruses. The danger of Trojans is that they can steal data (most often passwords), change files, and also delete them, masquerading as harmless and simple files.

Manipulators

Manipulative viruses, as a rule, do not harm user data; their main goal is to turn the computer into a zombie so that it commits required action at a certain time. In the vast majority of cases, this type of virus is spread by hackers in order to attack websites using zombie computers.

Blockers

Blockers are a type of virus that blocks entry into the operating system, requiring the user to transfer, under various pretexts, a certain amount of money to unlock it.

Antivirus effectiveness

It’s worth saying right away that there is no perfect antivirus. Yes, antiviruses protect your computer, but no antivirus will protect your computer 100%. Why? The fact is that the essence of the work of an antivirus lies in its algorithms, thanks to which the presence of viruses on the computer is recognized. Viruses are detected by their activity or certain actions. When the antivirus knows the virus and its features, then when it enters the computer, the antivirus notices it and informs the user about the danger. This is what concerns well-known antiviruses, but there are also new viruses that are not yet known to antivirus developers and are not included in antivirus databases. This situation has also been thought out. To do this, antivirus algorithms monitor the activity of files and applications and, if there are suspicious actions, inform the user, suggesting a certain list of actions. All this is good, but there are viruses that the antivirus may not notice; these are, as a rule, new viruses or updated old ones. There are other reasons why an antivirus misses viruses, but we probably won’t touch on them.

Protecting your computer on the Internet

Modern antivirus programs include not only the ability to detect and remove viruses, but also the ability to protect your computer from various undesirable consequences: hacker attacks, intrusive advertising on websites, spam, etc. Thus, an antivirus includes a firewall, which most of you have probably heard of. If earlier antivirus and firewall were different programs, now, as a rule, the best and most advanced versions of antiviruses include comprehensive protection, that is, antivirus + firewall.

What criteria do you use to choose the best antivirus?

The best antivirus for your own computer should initially include basic functions and have the features that we list below:

Antivirus scanner

The scanner function scans the hard drive and RAM to search for viruses. It is very good if the scanner periodically automatically checks changed and added files, for the so-called passive security.

Antivirus monitor

This antivirus function continuously monitors the activity of your computer, that is, it monitors all events that occur on the computer, preventing viruses from entering the computer.

Program control

Quite often, viruses penetrate programs or are pseudo-programs; this is precisely why the program control function was created. If there are any suspicious program actions, this control immediately notifies the user and determines the type of threat.

Network control and web antivirus

Another necessary antivirus function, in our opinion, is to control the local network and Internet traffic. This way, you will be protected from computer attacks from the local network and the Internet, as well as from the negative consequences of malicious codes and infected sites.

Possibility of flexible settings

The more settings the antivirus has, the better. Thanks to this, you can choose the level of control of a particular antivirus function: low, medium or high, or completely disable unnecessary functions in order to remove unnecessary load on your computer’s resources. In addition, you can create your own rules for searching and detecting viruses, as well as the actions taken by the antivirus when detecting virus activity on your computer.

Updating anti-virus databases

Anti-virus databases are a so-called file of viruses and a repository of algorithms for their detection and neutralization. To reliably protect a computer, anti-virus databases must be constantly updated and up-to-date, so that when a new virus appears on the network, developers will create a neutralization algorithm and add it to the anti-virus database. By frequently updating your antivirus databases, your antivirus will have the latest algorithms to neutralize new or updated viruses.

Antivirus self-defense

An antivirus must ensure not only the security of the computer, but also its own security. That is, the antivirus must have self-defense, thanks to which viruses will not be able to disable it, neutralize it, or block it from launching. This is another reason why an antivirus may not detect or remove a virus.

Rational consumption of resources in passive mode

Well, the last important factor when choosing an antivirus is to analyze its consumption of computer resources. Despite the fact that modern antiviruses use computer resources sparingly when working in passive mode, some unsuccessful versions of antiviruses may have this problem, so you need to pay attention to this. It should be noted that it is necessary to distinguish between the passive mode of operation of the antivirus and the active one. Passive mode is when the antivirus is minimized to tray and monitors the operation of the computer, and active mode is when you independently run a virus scan on your computer or perform another active action.

These are the so-called basic functions that your antivirus must have. The only exception may be network control, which refers to a firewall.

Which antivirus is the best?

All users have their own criteria and preferences in antiviruses, which is why each user will have their own best antivirus. Before touching on the list of the best antiviruses, according to the site’s experts, it is worth saying that the vast majority of antiviruses have 2 types of antivirus programs for computers and laptops: a simple antivirus and an antivirus + firewall (with additional functions). For a home computer, a regular antivirus will be enough, but if we speak in the spirit of our topic, then the best distribution can be called one that includes an antivirus + firewall. If your computer does not have an Internet connection, then, in fact, you do not need a version with a built-in firewall, but if you have access to the Internet, we recommend installing an antivirus with a firewall.

1. Kaspersky (Kaspersky Anti-Virus)

In our opinion, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is at the moment the best antivirus solution. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is available in many versions, but we will highlight the two most popular of them: Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Kaspersky Internet Security. The difference between these two versions of the antivirus is that the first version is a simple antivirus, the second is an antivirus + firewall. Despite the existing disadvantages, this antivirus has many more advantages and they are more significant. Now let's analyze all the pros and cons of Kaspersky Internet Security.

Advantages:

High degree of protection against viruses;
Beautiful and convenient interface;
High functionality and customization;
Worldwide popularity;
Availability of traffic control, site checking and anti-banner.

Flaws:

Quite a high price;
Extra “independence” of the antivirus in some situations;
During active scanning, it consumes a large amount of computer resources.

Antivirus prices:

A 1-year license for Kaspersky Anti-Virus costs 1,200 rubles.

A 1-year license for Kaspersky Internet Security will cost you 1,600 rubles.

In our opinion, second place among the list of the best antiviruses is rightfully taken by Dr.Web antivirus. In principle, Dr.Web and Kaspersky go hand in hand, but, nevertheless, Dr.Web is somewhat inferior to its main competitor. Dr.Web antivirus has two versions: Dr.Web Antivirus and Dr.Web Security Space, simple antivirus and antivirus + firewall, respectively. Let's analyze them.

Advantages:

Good protection against viruses;
Internet monitoring, site checking and anti-banner;
Simple interface.

Flaws:

Despite good job antivirus, sometimes misses viruses when scanning a PC;
IN latest versions there were deficiencies in the antivirus that led to some problems in working with the program;
Compared to Kaspersky it has low price for a license, but not very affordable;
Lack of customization options as in the previous product.

Antivirus prices:

A 1-year license for Dr.Web Antivirus will cost 990 rubles.

A 1-year license for Dr.Web Security Space costs 1,290 rubles.

NOD32 is also a popular antivirus among home users. This antivirus does a good job of protecting your computer from viruses and includes a number of useful additional functions. Like other antiviruses, NOD32 has two versions: ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security (with firewall). After analyzing the antivirus, we can highlight the following.

Advantages:

Good protection against viruses;
Ad blocking;
Safety in social media networks;
Ease of use.

Flaws:

Problems with completely removing antivirus from your computer;
Sometimes quite simple Trojan programs have been observed to be missed by the antivirus;
High license cost (and unjustified);
Problems with the speed of scanning your computer for viruses.

Antivirus prices:

A 1-year license for ESET NOD32 Antivirus will cost 1,080 rubles.

Well, at the end of the review of the best antivirus products, we should mention Avast! antivirus. As for its paid version - Avast! Internet Security, in our opinion, it occupies the last step in the ranking of the best antiviruses, which cannot be said about its free version- Avast! Free Antivirus, which is the best free antivirus available today. Avast! Free Antivirus is a full-fledged simple antivirus, and not a utility for checking your computer for viruses, which is what we will look at below.

Advantages:

Free, and a full-fledged antivirus, not a utility;
Good virus detection for a free antivirus;
Blocking sites that can harm your computer;
Nice interface.

Flaws:

Low functionality;
Compared to paid analogues, it sometimes misses viruses;
Does not block advertisements and banners on websites.

Antivirus prices:

Avast! Free Antivirus is free.

1 year license for Avast! Internet Security costs 1,450 rubles.

Well, after all of the above and after describing the best antiviruses today, it’s worth summing up a little. Whatever one may say, only a paid antivirus can reliably protect your computer from various types threats, and it will also include a lot of additional services, which is very convenient. To summarize, we will say that, in our opinion, the best paid antivirus is Kaspersky Internet Security, and perhaps the only high-quality free antivirus is Avast! Free Antivirus. Well, the final choice is yours.

When using the Internet, it is very easy to “catch” a virus or inadvertently download a spyware or other harmful application onto your computer. You need resources to protect your PC, including antivirus solutions. There are both free and commercial ones, and the choice is quite wide. What antiviruses are good? Are these found among the free versions?

We have made a selection of programs based on their versatility - each solution, judging by the content of reviews on the Internet, is the optimal antivirus for Windows 7, for XP, for latest version 8.1.

First, let's look at the features of some commercial offers. Let one of them be Russian, and the other foreign.

The main thing about Kaspersky

Among the most popular paid antivirus programs in the world is a product from Kaspersky Lab. The 2014 distribution is capable of protecting not only from viruses and Trojans, but also from spyware applications and advertising scripts. Like most modern antiviruses, the Kaspersky program can detect threats that are not in the database. For this purpose, heuristic analysis is used.

The main functions of the program from Kaspersky:

tracking virus attacks, disinfecting files in real time;
checking programs for reputation;
analysis and identification of malicious codes in Internet traffic (links);
monitoring the system for suspicious software actions.

The modern version of Kaspersky antivirus is compatible with the latest operating systems, such as Windows 8.1. The proactive protection policy implemented by this solution includes monitoring sites on which malicious modules are installed and warning the user in advance about identified threats when attempting to enter such web resources. Experts note that the antivirus is adapted to the optimal use of PC resources.

Kaspersky program: activation nuances

For many years, special antivirus keys were required from Kaspersky to activate the distribution (the use of such a scheme is common). But since August 2013, the methodology of this process has changed. You can activate Kaspersky Anti-Virus only using a special code online, that is, Internet access is required. A necessary condition for the successful completion of this procedure is a correctly set system date.

Kaspersky and promotion from Yandex

There is an interesting precedent in the history of the Russian IT industry. Users had the opportunity to observe a rather unusual guise in which Kaspersky anti-virus was - the Yandex version of the product. In December 2011, two large Russian IT companies - Yandex and Kaspersky Labs - decided to carry out an unusual action.

Users from Russia and several other neighboring countries had the opportunity to use a full-fledged product from Kaspersky, released in a co-branded version with Yandex, completely free of charge. In this case, it would be fairest to say that in this form, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a trial version. The fact is that the validity period of the license for the program as part of the promotion was not very long - 6 months. Also, participants of the promotion had the opportunity to purchase standard Kaspersky anti-virus with a 20% discount.

The promotion included a number of restrictions. In particular, there was no technical support for the version of the antivirus distributed through Yandex. If the user had difficulties mastering the program, he was recommended to turn to the resources of the Kaspersky Lab knowledge base.

By now the action has ended. Currently, you can use Kaspersky Lab products for free only if you download a trial antivirus that works for 30 days.

NOD: strong competitor from Slovakia

One of the most famous competitors of the antivirus from Kaspersky Lab is a product produced by the Slovak company ESET. It's about about the NOD32 program (in Russia it is often called simply “NOD”). Its main functions are the same as those of most analogues: “catching” viruses, “Trojans”, advertising applications, protection against phishing, etc. The program has its own heuristic analysis algorithm called ThreatSense.

Users and domain experts information security note the low level of consumption of computer resources by the antivirus, as well as the low intensity of Internet traffic use when updating databases and main software modules. The security system works, for the most part, in the background. Some experts believe that this antivirus is one of the best in terms of file scanning speed.

The ESET software package also includes the Smart Security application. Its main functions:

monitoring email, blocking malicious scripts, spam filtering;
detection and removal of spyware email programs;
protects your computer from connections from outside (the application acts as a firewall).

Smart Security is also characterized by many experts as a solution that consumes a minimum of system resources.

According to many experts, GOD is an antivirus that can easily be ranked on par with the world's leading products.

Now let's move on to free antiviruses.

Avast - reliable protection for free

Avast antivirus (Free Antivirus version), according to some analysts, is the most popular product in the world in the segment of free solutions. It has all the basic features you need for a home program. Activating Avast antivirus is very simple - just enter your name and e-mail. After this, you can use the program for free for a year.

Operating systems for PCs on which the free version of Avast can be installed are Windows, Linux and MacOS. Among mobile platforms compatible with antivirus - Android, Windows. There are also several paid versions of the program: Pro, Internet Security, and Premier. There are a number of enterprise solutions.

Many users note that Avast antivirus has a very user-friendly interface. All necessary options are displayed compactly and conveniently on the screen. Users like the display of interfaces related to real-time computer protection. This component of the program analyzes several threat sources at once and shows on the screen what percentage of a particular source has been processed.

It is also noted minimum quantity advertising in the application interface, as well as its complete absence when using some options in the active window. Many users, determining for themselves which antiviruses are good and which are not, form their opinion based on the amount of advertising in the free versions of the programs.

Users note the very fast operation of the manual scanning module, as well as low consumption of computer RAM.

AVIRA: universal protection format

Another popular solution that can be used for free is Avira antivirus in the Free Antivirus version. This product consists of several applications: a monitor (scanning files in real time), a module for checking the system on request, and a program for updating malicious code databases.

The main functionality of the antivirus:

detection and removal of malicious codes, Trojans and other malicious applications;
detection and filtering of advertising exploits and spyware.

There is also a commercial version of the product - AntiVirus Premium. Compared to a free antivirus, the program has several advantages:

accelerated updating via the Internet;
no advertising;
the presence of a function to block sites containing malicious codes;
ability to check e-mail using POP3 and SMTP protocols.

In addition to basic platforms, Avira offers users several specialized packages that are adapted for use on workstations, corporate networks, etc.

Lavasoft: simplicity and reliability

Users of this antivirus note the convenience and balance of the interface. The window displays only the necessary information, with a minimum of unnecessary data. If there is a need to enable some additional function, this can be done in one click. If the user wants to scan the entire system at once, then just click the large Scan Now button.

The only difficulty noted by antivirus users is that by default there is no option to select individual drives for scanning. However, this option can be enabled through the program settings menu. Additional features for antivirus users are available in large quantities in the paid version. Some users describe Lavasoft as not the most productive solution. Even in the background there is active consumption of software RAM.

AVG: simplicity and functionality

AVG is another free antivirus. The program interface, as users note, is very simple. It is a list of icons indicating a particular anti-virus protection module. System scanning functions are located on the side panel of the window. Just like many other antiviruses, there is a Scan Now button, which, when clicked, performs a comprehensive scan of the entire computer.

AVG's package contains a large number additional modules. For example, those designed to protect email and filter web traffic. Some users say that to activate many modules you need to buy a license. Sometimes it turns out that options are not intended for desktop operating systems, but for mobile platforms.

Many people note the insufficient performance of the antivirus when scanning disks, but are quite satisfied with the low level of RAM consumption by the program.

Another drawback of AVG antivirus is its rather complex interface. You can get confused. In order to scan a specific disk or other storage medium, you have to perform several sequential actions. In addition, to use some options you need to enable a special mode called “expert”, while in many other antivirus programs this option is available in the main menu of the program. There is no need to activate any other modes other than what is enabled by default.

Many users were impressed by the performance of the antivirus and its low consumption of system resources.

Microsoft Security Essentials: Free solution from the giant

Unlike other programs in our review (which provide only the most basic version with limitations for free use), this product is completely free. And this despite the fact that it was released by one of the most commercially engaged IT companies in the world.

Many users note that the program interface is very convenient; they especially emphasize that there are no advertisements on it. There are, however, some disadvantages: it cannot scan email and does not contain anti-phishing modules. While other antiviruses even include such features in the free version.

According to users, the Microsoft product is characterized by an average level of performance.

Pros and cons of free antiviruses

Without claiming to be the ultimate truth, let’s try to summarize the pros and cons of each free antiviruses our review. Based, of course, on user reviews. We will not determine which antiviruses are good and which are not. We will highlight the strong and weaknesses everyone.

If speed is important to the user, then it makes sense to pay attention to Avira, even despite the platform’s shortcomings in the form of confusing interface elements. According to some users, the creators of this antivirus should definitely work on the appearance of the product. If they do this, Avira will have a great chance to get closer to the market leaders.

Avast antivirus may be the best choice for those users who do not gravitate towards an in-depth study of program settings. The performance of the product is quite good. The interface is clear and pleasant. Advertising, if you do not pay attention to it, does not interfere with working with the program at all. Many users will want to get a free antivirus for 1 year with the functionality that Avast has.

Solutions from Lavasoft and AVG are praised by users for their good functionality. For some users, it is important which antiviruses are good in terms of the capabilities that their creators have endowed them with.

We focus on the rating

Users' opinions about certain software products are subjective. Attempts are now being made to formulate an objective rating of antiviruses. Let's see who does it and what are the results of their work.

The research methods of the Safety-Gate portal are recognized by the Russian IT community as one of the most effective. Therefore, we will take the rating of antiviruses according to the experts of this organization. Satefy-Gate conducts tests of solutions from various global manufacturers every quarter. Testing sessions are called On-Demand (checking “on demand”, that is, in manual mode scanning). In the second quarter of 2014, the Safety-Gate portal tested the effectiveness of 26 solutions, both commercial and free. Let's look at general results and what the indicators are for the antiviruses from our review.

During testing, the programs had to identify as many as possible of the 3,266 files infected with malicious code, which were prepared by Safety-Gate specialists. The number of detected viruses was expressed as a percentage, rounded to the nearest hundredth. That is, if, for example, the program found 3000 infected files, then the result was recorded as 91.86%.

Let's look at the distribution of places in the top ten rankings.

The first place was taken by Ashampoo antivirus, its indicator is 98.96% or about 3232 viruses found.
In second place (with a very small lag) is the Slovak product ESED NOD32, which found 98.71% of infected files.
The third and fourth places were shared by solutions from TrustPort (Total Protection and Internet Security, respectively). The first received a result of 98.07%, while the second lagged behind, managing to find only 95.71% of viruses.
The top 5 ranking included the Emsisoft Anti-Malwre program with a score of 95.34%.
In sixth place is the antivirus from our Avira review. The program was able to find 95.22% of infected files.
The seventh result was shown by the 360 Internet Security antivirus, having managed to detect 94.76% of programs with malicious code.
Eighth place was taken by the Russian Dr.Web, showing a result of 94.3%.
In ninth place is HitmanPro antivirus, which was able to detect 93.63% of infected files.
The eScan Internet Security product took tenth place, showing a result of 93.57%.
What place does Kaspersky antivirus have? One of the most popular Russian solutions showed a rather modest result, taking 12th place. The program found 92.92% of infected files.

How do the remaining antiviruses in our review fare? Even lower.

AVG took 14th place, detecting 92.22% of infected files. Avast is in 16th place, having managed to find 91.64% of viruses. Microsoft Security Essentials and Lavasoft have not been tested by experts.

This is the rating of antiviruses according to the Safety-Gate portal. This is, of course, one of dozens or even hundreds of possible rankings, but it allows you to get a rough idea of the quality of solutions for protecting your PC from malicious codes. If you go by the Safety-Gate rating, the best free antiviruses of 2014 that we reviewed are Avira and Avast. The first one was ahead of the decision from Kaspersky. The best paid antivirus from our review, judging by the test results, is Satefy-Gate, which is NOD32.

Having studied the general data on the leading antivirus brands and examined the test results, we can also pay attention to some expert advice regarding the criteria for choosing the optimal solution for protecting your PC from malicious codes.

Experts do not recommend using “hacked” (“cracked”) versions of antiviruses downloaded from free torrents and other portals of this type. It often happens that the installation files of these programs are already infected with malicious code. In addition, manufacturers of modern antiviruses have learned to build reliable algorithms for identifying pirated versions. Most likely, an illegal copy of the program will quickly be detected and will no longer be serviced (new databases and software components will no longer be downloaded). Experts note that due to Russian providers’ tightening policies for filtering search results regarding pirated copies of programs, searching for unlicensed versions of antiviruses or “keys” for them will take a very long time. Analysts advise spending money on purchasing a legal copy of the software and saving time.

IT specialists do not recommend choosing antiviruses based on “lightness” criteria: small amount of disk space, low RAM consumption, low processor load, etc. According to experts, quality program protecting your computer from threats cannot be “lightweight”. An antivirus performs many functions, and this cannot happen without using system resources. Experts note that most modern computers are equipped with sufficient RAM and hard drives in order to ignore the PC performance requirements recommended by software manufacturers. If it turns out that the system’s power is not enough, then it is preferable to upgrade it individual components than changing your antivirus to a less demanding one. The only difficulty is that by default there is no option to select individual drives for scanning, but this option can be enabled through the program settings menu.

These were the top free products that can help protect your Windows PC, and, in principle, they will be sufficient if you follow basic security measures. However, there are situations when your computer is used by other, not particularly knowledgeable and understanding people. In this case, it is better to pay for a more powerful and safe product, because the risks simply increase significantly. Besides, it’s better to pay about 50-60 bucks a year to antivirus software developers than to give absolutely all your savings to hackers and intruders. It is for this reason that today I decided to make a top 5 of the best paid antivirus for Windows 2019. And I sincerely hope that further information contained in this article will be useful to you.

Rating of paid antiviruses for Windows

Each such rating is compiled taking into account a variety of factors. This includes subjective experience of personal use, reviews of other users, and even the objective capabilities of each product under consideration. In this material, I will try to preserve all these dogmas, so that the output will be an excellent and objective article that will help you make a choice in favor of this or that software. This, in turn, will help protect your data in the future.

Kaspersky Total Security

A product that provides maximum protection not only for your main PC, but also for other devices such as smartphones and tablets. The program can provide secure operation on devices running Windows, Android and Mac. Tools for backup, parental control and secure online payments are also available here. We must not forget that the antivirus practically does not load your system. For this reason, it can be used even on the oldest equipment.

Key features of Kaspersky Total Security:

Maximum level of protection for all your devices
Parental Controls
Data backup
Confidentiality
Secure browser for online payments
Work without placing excessive load on the system
Convenient password manager
Etc.

This antivirus has a lot of advantages, but let's now look at the system requirements.

HDD: 1150MB free space
OS: Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10
Processor: frequency from 1GHz
RAM: from 1GB for 32 bits, from 2GB for 64 bits
Additional software: Microsoft .NET Framework 4 or higher, Internet browser

Not so angry, considering that in most cases these requirements will be feasible. For other devices, the system requirements are also not particularly demanding, so you can try antivirus software on both smartphones and Mac computers.

By the way, this antivirus has a trial period (free testing) of 1 month. Therefore, before purchasing, you can use this software to your heart's content, and then decide for yourself whether it is worth it. Price the same for the annual version (for two devices) is only 1990 rubles. Quite good, considering the current prices for software.

Norton Security Premium

The most maximum protection from the entire Norton line, which will help protect your devices from the majority of currently known viruses and hacker attacks. Like all antiviruses from this top, protection is provided in real time, which means that all your processes are constantly monitored for suspicious activity. At the same time, the program can perform other functions, such as automatic backup of photos and documents and protecting your privacy on the Internet.

Key features of Norton Security Premium:

Real-time protection for 10 different devices
Functions for protecting personal and financial data on the Internet
Automatic backup of photos and documents
25 GB of free space for backups in cloud storage
Unified web interface for managing antivirus on all devices
And so on

In principle, the program is almost in no way inferior to the previous one, they are all good. Perhaps it only consumes a little more resources, but these errors are not so significant for modern PCs.

System requirements for Windows

HDD: 300MB free space
Processor: for Windows XP - 300 MHz, for Windows 7/8/10 - 1 GHz
RAM: for XP - 256MB, for 7/8 - 1GB, for Windows 10 - 2GB

Requirements vary depending on the operating system. In the case of newer operating systems (Windows 8 or 10), the hardware requirements are higher. This is due to some functions that are available on new versions of the OS.

Price for such splendor is only 3199 rubles per year. However, now (at the time of writing) 18% discount, that is, if you buy an annual subscription now, the price will be only 2599 rubles.

Avast Premier

Maximum protection from Avast. Avast Free took first place because it had features that even some paid products cannot boast of. Now imagine what range of features their paid product has. Yes, that’s right, this antivirus is truly very powerful. Just look at the webcam protection feature (for all those who are concerned about surveillance from all kinds of services), which many other antiviruses do not have.

Key features of Avast Premier:

Protecting your webcam from hacking
Blocking ransomware (at the stage when they have not yet started working)
Comprehensive PC, password and home network protection
Intelligent system for protecting your data
Automatic software update
Function complete removal data
Powerful Firewall
And much more

This software is really worth your attention. Many of the features described are not available in other similar products. Avast Premier is one of the best paid antiviruses for Windows. However, it is worth remembering that you should not abuse any actions either (for example, disabling the antivirus, or giving some programs excessively high rights).

System requirements for Windows

HDD: 1.5GB free space
RAM: 256MB
Processor: the minimum clock frequency is not indicated on the official resource, but you should focus on 500+ MHz.

As the developers assure us, system requirements are not so important (taking into account the above), so we can conclude that on most more or less modern PCs this antivirus will not “eat up” a lot of resources. Here we are greeted by delicious price, which is only 1250 rubles per year. True, for one PC, but still, there is at least a choice here (you can buy a license for more or fewer devices). By the way, you can try before you buy this version. The trial period is standard - 30 days.

Bitdefender Total Security 2019

A high-tech, productive product that provides antivirus protection for devices running Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Like all other participants in this top, this program has a number of quite powerful functions that help ensure complete protection of your computer or smartphone. Among all others, the developers highlight the function of a secure Wi-Fi connection, as well as protection against ransomware.

Key features of Bitdefender Total Security:

Centralized software management for all devices
High performance and low resource consumption
Webcam protection
Secure storage of personal data
Password manager
Cross-platform
And so on

This antivirus has fairly ordinary (within the scope of this article) capabilities. But you should understand that among most popular antiviruses, Bitdefender Total Security takes a well-deserved place. High performance coupled with fairly broad capabilities make this application one of the best paid antiviruses for Windows.

System requirements for Windows

Processor: any, frequency from 1.6 GHz
HDD: 1.5GB free space
RAM: 1GB or more

Price(again, at the time of writing) annual subscription is only 1489 rubles. Moreover, this is a license for 5 devices.

Buy Bitdefender Total Security

They are provided with special programs - antiviruses. Ratings of the best free antiviruses, amateur and completely reputable tests are published with enviable regularity, but choosing a high-quality and functional product is not so easy.

In addition, it is believed that free programs do not provide the same protection as paid software. In fact, even in the segment of free applications you can choose the optimal solution. The ratings of free antiviruses are presented below.

Standard antivirus from Microsoft: prevalence and performance

Windows Corporation is the undisputed leader among suppliers of operating systems and related software. As of 2016, Windows 7 was installed on 55% of all devices, while Linux and Apple's OS X 10.11 accounted for 2% and 7% of users, respectively.

The rating of free antiviruses rarely includes standard solutions, but they are also acceptable programs to ensure the required level of security. Windows Defender, which comes with Windows 8 and 10, recognizes and eliminates up to 95% of common threats and about 85% of so-called zero-day attacks, i.e. the latest viruses against which protection algorithms have not yet been developed.

Is Windows Defender enough for the needs of the average user?

In general, along with compliance elementary rules safety, use modern browser and regular software updates allow you to successfully use a standard antivirus (reviews and the Windows Defender rating confirm this possibility) as the main security solution. But for those who often download pirated content, are active Internet users, or store important data on their hard drive, it is better to take a closer look at other, free, but somewhat more functional programs.

Testing in independent antivirus laboratories

Comparison tests with a large number samples are regularly carried out by leading antivirus laboratories. Test results allow developers to improve their own products, so participation is usually paid. Mainly in the rating Windows antivirus (operating system is the most common, which is why tests are carried out on it) include paid versions of programs, but if a free solution provides complete protection, the software is also evaluated.

In May 2016, AV-Comparatives conducted dynamic testing of 19 antivirus programs. The Windows 7 platform was used for the study (with current third party programs, such as Adobe Flash or Java) and 350 malicious test samples. Below is the rating of free antiviruses according to AV-Comparatives.

Results of practical research

The “Free Antivirus” rating (Windows 10 and other corporate-based operating systems) was topped by Bitdefender and ThreatTrack Vipre, which did not miss a single threat and worked without false positives. Trend Micro and F-Secure also took leading positions with a 100% malware recognition result, but 7 and 15 false positives, respectively. Kaspersky Internet Security closed the top five, missing 0.3% of threats but passing the test without false positives.

Free analogues of tested antivirus programs

A free analogue of Bitdefender - Free Edition - is used as an alternative to many paid applications, provides background virus protection and is capable of detecting spyware. ThreatTrack Vipre is not available in a free version. Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus+ is freely distributed only as a trial version (6 months of free use), like F-Secure (90 days). An analogue of Kaspersky Internet Security is Kaspersky Free Anti-Virus (Free) with a free license, which has several disabilities compared to KIS or Total Security, but remains the optimal solution.

Antivirus rating for Windows: functionality

“Antivirus for free” (the rating is compiled by many reputable sources and amateurs) often differs in functionality from paid versions. However, this does not mean that free software is not capable of protecting your computer from viruses, malware and spyware.

In general, antivirus programs provide the following capabilities:

scanning for threats upon user request;

Constant system protection in the background;

scanning the file system while the computer boots;

an algorithm for detecting the latest malware, methods of combating which are not yet included in the general version of the application;

working with cloud storage;

control of network traffic (firewall or Firewall);

third-party intrusion detection system;

Recognition of malicious attachments;

web protection;

interactive analysis and spam recognition;

automatic update.

At the same time, the best free antivirus for Windows 7 (ranked by functionality) does not necessarily have to include the entire set of features. The main thing is that the chosen solution meets the requirements and subjective ideas of a particular user.

Rating leader: ESET Nod32 Smart Security

All of the above features include a comprehensive antivirus with multi-level protection ESET Nod32 Smart Security. Besides standard protection from phishing, file system security, Internet access, email in desktop email clients ESET has some other interesting features. Among these additional features:

A serious disadvantage of the antivirus is the lack of protection in the free version against software that records user actions (mouse movements, keystrokes, clipboard, snapshots, and sometimes video recording of the screen).

Rating of free antiviruses: performance and tests

Another rating of free antiviruses is based on testing results and analysis of program performance. Panda Antivirus Pro and 360 Total Security have a slight effect on the loading speed of the system; AVG Antivirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition and ESET NOD32 Smart Security are not far behind. Avira Free Antivirus significantly slows down loading (more than three minutes).

Scanning system folders (even if malware is detected) takes about ten minutes for Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free, Avira Free Antivirus and ESET NOD32 Smart Security. Comodo Antivirus showed the worst result - the scan took more than half an hour.

The smallest amount of memory is used by Avast Free Antivirus and Panda Antivirus Pro (only 40 MB), and the real heavyweights are Avira Free Antivirus (175 MB), AVG Antivirus Free (130 MB) and 360 Total Security (120 MB). At the same time, Avira uses the processor by only 5%, while the smaller AVG Antivirus Free uses as much as 16%.

Distribution of places based on rating results

In general, free antiviruses for Windows XP (rating by performance), as well as for other platforms (Windows 7, 8, 10), are ranked as follows:

Panda Antivirus.

360 Total Security.

AVG Antivirus Free and Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

Avira Free Antivirus and Comodo Antivirus.

Brief review of Panda Antivirus Pro

One of the main advantages - the low load on the system from Panda Antivirus, along with providing sufficient protection - is explained by the fact that the program is The software has most of the necessary functions, USB scanning is additionally available, but there are quite a lot of significant disadvantages that can be listed.

For example, antivirus is free (the rating recognized the best solution based on test results) does not provide any protection against data interception by third-party programs, requires an active Internet connection to scan the system, and does not provide web protection. In addition, some users find malware in the installation files of the antivirus itself. The unsightly interface is another drawback of Panda Antivirus.

Antivirus apps for Android

If Windows occupies a leading position in the computer equipment market, then for mobile devices the Android operating system is almost a monopolist: 80% of smartphones run on Android. Mobile antiviruses are represented both by analogues of the already mentioned extended versions, and by programs that operate exclusively on smartphones.

The AV-Test laboratory tested mobile antiviruses. The rating of free antiviruses for Android is topped by the AhnLab application. The application carries out a comprehensive scan of the mobile device, prevents Internet threats, and allows you not to worry about the security of files and other personal data. At the same time, most of the programs presented in this rating are not widespread in the Russian-speaking segment, so you should rely more on real reviews There are no users - authoritative laboratories that would evaluate Russian-language applications.

Quite good solutions to choose from active users are CM Security, Dr.Web Light and free antivirus (reviews, rating below) CM Security does not load the system and effectively copes with its responsibilities, Dr.Web Light provides powerful protection, but annoys many users with frequent advertising. AVG AntiVirus is also a universal solution, in addition, in the Pro version of the application many useful additional functions become available, but this build consumes a large amount of resources, which is why the device may work slower.

In conclusion

Antivirus is necessary program, because the user’s needs are not always met by standard options for protection against viruses and malware (especially on mobile devices). Choice optimal solution this largely depends on individual needs and subjective judgments, so you can be guided by various ratings, but you should not rely entirely on testing. What is the use of an antivirus that, according to research results, copes with its tasks perfectly, but is extremely inconvenient to use or significantly slows down the operation of a laptop or smartphone? Many users need to first try several options in order to ultimately choose the only one that is convenient.

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. All detailed information It is better to look for 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 enough interesting features and opportunities. 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 high level 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 avoid installing 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 high quality 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.