Rating of free antiviruses: review, description and reviews. Which antivirus is better

This article will show which antivirus is actually better for Windows 7. A lot of antiviruses on the Internet have been sold out, everyone praises themselves and considers them the best, but we’ll see if this is true.

What is a virus

To put it simply, a virus is a program, like everything else on your computer. This program looks for security holes in your computer, especially if it does not have an antivirus. There are standard protection systems, such as in Windows 7 and higher, when you install a program, you are asked about your intention.

But the virus is looking for loopholes to bypass the system and quickly register itself on the computer, in the same registry, which is very problematic when removed.

Which antivirus is best for Windows 7

To answer the question which antivirus is best for Windows 7, an article was written. The post will be aimed at both types - free and paid antiviruses, because each representative has both service options.

Kaspersky.

The giant that everyone knows about is Kaspersky antivirus. Popular and reliable software that protects against everything possible. At one time it was on my computer, everything is fine, but there is one drawback, more about it below. I won’t say anything bad, I warned and caught everything with lightning speed. There were also false positives, but it was better than non-functioning computer or laptop programs.

Pros:

High-quality and fast firewall.
The databases are updated frequently.
The speed of work is amazing.
A good function for blocking bad sites actually shows those sites with which something is wrong.

Minuses:

Price 2000 per this moment, used to be 3000, the crisis played a role.
The computer loads a lot, if the machine is weak, then you can forget about Kaspersky. It requires a lot of resources, and there are reviews on this topic on the Internet.

All antiviruses from this collection can be downloaded and used for free, just read the entire post first.

Avast Antivirus

Avast antivirus is an oldie among antiviruses. I'll say that I passed it, in Lately They don’t praise it, it lets viruses through. I was able to install it and evaluate it during operation, and free version, which is no worse than the paid one, as the developers say.

Advantages

Quickly scans files on the system and installed applications.
The free period can be 1 year, which makes it stand out among others.
Scans and monitors startup, where viruses are usually registered.
Blocker of bad sites.
Fast operation and low resource consumption.
The cost is 1200 rubles at the moment.

Flaw

The jamb is one and global. It lets viruses through. Most likely, the databases are updated slowly, and new threats are easy to deceive.

All programs provide a trial period without a license (or rather, purchasing one).

Antivirus ESET NOD32

Honestly, I haven’t used ESET NOD32 antivirus (I was only able to install the free version on a virtual machine), but it stands out among the others as a tool not for housewives, but for advanced computer users. Reviews about it are different, about 60/40 the first number is good.

Advantages

Everything the others have.
Protection social networks your accounts, which I haven’t seen from others.

Flaws

High cost, at maximum it is more expensive than Kaspersky, 2350 per year.
The scanning speed is very low and the computer slows down (it’s difficult to get my 6 cores to a dead end, but ESET NOD32 antivirus did it), it’s not suitable for a laptop, only on a PC.

Antivirus Avira Antivir

The dark horse of my rating is Avira Antivir. This software has been on my computer for 2 years, and in the free version. And I am very pleased, over the past 2 years I have caught one virus, only due to my stupidity, although Avira warned me.

Advantages

Many free add-ons, for example, checking for bad sites in the browser itself.
Does not load the system or computer, suitable for use on a laptop.
New databases arrive every day, even for the free version.
Quickly catches unwanted surges.

Minuses

Not really a minus, the check occurs only after downloading the file (because the version is free).
The price is 1900 rubles, and this is still on the day of the promotion, so the complete set costs 2900.

An excellent antivirus, it will show all its power on free products, and paid ones will be at their best.

Dr.Web Antivirus

Last on the list is Dr Web antivirus, but not least. The famous Doctor Web is Kaspersky’s main competitor, and it’s clear why. Many free programs that easily scan and remove junk and pests from your computer.

pros

A free antivirus works just as well as a paid one. There are only restrictions in terms of Internet protection.
Lots of extras.
Relatively low price, the most popular and powerful, only 1540 rubles per year.
It scans the system quickly and actually finds suspicious files.

Flaws

Low computer speed. But this is more likely not a minus, but a consequence of reliability; if you want good protection, you will have to sacrifice or buy a more powerful computer.

All antiviruses support 32 and 64 bit Windows systems.

My choice is good and free

All are good, but my only choice is Dr. Web, but I won’t give up my Avira, I can handle it and that’s okay. This rating is not empty words, I installed and tried all the antiviruses myself. Plus I looked at reviews on the Internet, weighed and evaluated. You already know the winner. Moreover, Doctor Web is the best, both free and paid, the developers are great.

An article on the topic that contains a lot of safety tips will be useful.

This article showed which antivirus is best for Windows 7 - the most reliable and adequate of all on the Internet in 2016. I'll end here, good luck! Finally, I found a cool video about antiviruses, watch it.

WITH computer viruses Sooner or later, every Internet user faces this problem, and if this hasn’t happened to you yet, then it’s still to come. Not too optimistic, right?

But, nevertheless, in 2019, we are now in a more advantageous position than our predecessors, because at a time when antivirus software just began to appear on the market, computer viruses calmly and unhindered ruled computers, sometimes causing damage worth millions of dollars.

Just some 5-10 years ago, the only way to get rid of viruses was formatting the hard drive, which means the loss of all data stored on it. Today even the most inexperienced user A personal computer that has very little understanding of computer protection methods can put up a serious fight against viruses and get rid of these malicious aliens.

Rating of the best free antiviruses of 2019 (TOP 10)

This article offers an overview most popular today 2019 and some tips for keeping your computer safe. Naturally, to protect your PC, the first thing you need to do is find good antivirus.

#1

A very worthy domestically developed antivirus program that has the ability to find and cope with any threats your computer and is one of leaders in the CIS countries.

He responds to a threat very quickly and immediately eliminates it. This program can update automatically, its interface is quite simple and understandable, management is not complicated. This program will also provide decent protection for your computer.

Her only drawback is that she puts a lot of stress on the computer, consuming a lot of resources.

#2

Latest versions antivirus package Avast! 2019 possess high level efficiency virus detection. The kernel engine used in the program has been certified by ICSA, is constantly tested by Virus Bulletin and consistently receives awards.

The program has a very simple interface that is very understandable even for a beginner, which allows even a not very experienced user to configure scanning parameters. There is also a great opportunity to quickly tune appearance programs. In addition, it is possible setting up a schedule for scanning computer.

Avast protection! Uses a powerful module that can prevent the virus from affecting your computer before it infects it. The system is capable update yourself. To summarize, we can say that the presence of this program on your computer makes you feel much calmer.

#3

360 Total Security - antivirus who will help you protect And optimize the operation of your computer.

It provides protection against many threats that could steal your personal information, malware, unnecessary files, privacy risks, viruses and much more. Simple and convenient interface makes using the antivirus very pleasant.

This application also allows you to get rid of applications that slow down your computer by automatic search slow startup programs and unnecessary files.

#4

NANO Security NANO AntiVirus 2019 is relatively new product in a huge free market antivirus programs. He offers comprehensive, modern protection from computer viruses, Trojans, malicious and suspicious programs. It monitors web traffic, checks your email and keeps your system secure in real time.

He also scans RAM for infections and maybe even detect viruses in encrypted and compressed files such as archives or backups. Unlike many others free antiviruses, it does not limit the user's capabilities, but provides full set of functions for free.

#5

This one is very popular Avira antivirus program allows you to protect your computer from various virus threats. Antivirus has the technological ability to detect new viruses and eliminate them.

Also its advantages are the ability update automatically and not consume large system resources. This is very effective tool virus detection that can guarantee the security of your computer.

#6

AVG Antivirus Free is constantly being improved to protect your computer even better.
It now includes real-time security updates, issue and malware and performance scanning, and even catches malicious file downloads before they reach your computer.

Very popular antivirus among PC users.

#7

Comodo Antivirus is an excellent tool for scanning and detecting Internet threats. The antivirus scans any disk or file, including unknown untrusted or suspicious email files.

If the program identifies any files as attackers, viruses or worms, the system will identify and eliminate them. Comodo Antivirus scans your system for viruses automatically so as not to interrupt you from working at the computer.

#8

BitDefender Antivirus Plus 2019 has sophisticated PC protection style, which includes simulating a computer inside a computer, in which program segments are activated in order to obtain time for pre-scan for the presence of viruses and other harmful things.

Powerful search engines BitDefender Antivirus accesses the most remote and unused areas of your computer to detect any possible problems that could be there.

Viruses are removed from minimal data corruption, with the ability to restore damaged documents before deleting them. Web traffic filter prevents malicious files from entering your computer.

#9

Panda Antivirus combines cloud computing with antivirus, so it is an excellent solution that reduces local PC resource requirements and creates reliable protection.

The flip side of the coin may be that a potential attack on the developer's servers may interfere with the protection of computers, however, this is highly unlikely. Thus, its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages.

#10 ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall

ZoneAlarm provides protection with flexibility for users with intermediate computer knowledge.

ZoneAlarm 2019 is an easy-to-use program that protects your computer from threats posed by viruses and other potentially harmful programs to the personal information you have stored on your computer. Free version of ZoneAlarm includes daily updates.

In addition to everything, there is a function firewall, which includes spyware And phishing protection; the user can manually determine which program to provide "Trust Level".

Additional virus protection

But, in addition to having a good anti-virus program, the user must take into account a few more basic rules:

Do not access sites unless you are confident in them. reliability;
Cannot download from the Internet unnecessary you files, even from well-known sources;
You cannot open or read letters that have come to you from unknown recipients, since it is through mail that various viruses often penetrate your computer.

What Anti-Virus do you use?

Both products receive very good scores in antivirus labs and PCMag's own testing and include several additional security components. Avast, in particular, includes a built-in password manager and a home network vulnerability scanner. If you have a budget set aside for computer security, the best commercial solutions will provide more effective and comprehensive protection. Otherwise, feel free to choose from the free solutions presented here.

Vendors	Antiviruses	PCMag Rating
Avast	Avast Free Antivirus
Avast	AVG AntiVirus Free
Bitdefender
Check Point	ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+
Kaspersky Lab	Antivirus Kaspersky Free
Sophos	Sophos Home
Avira	Avira Free Antivirus
Adaware	Adaware Antivirus Free
Comodo	Comodo Antivirus
Panda Security	Panda Free Antivirus

Free protection against various types of threats

These days, new computers and laptops come with antivirus protection. As a rule, trial versions of commercial antiviruses from famous brands. If your trial ends and you ignore the subscription purchase reminders, Windows Defender will keep your PC safe. However, you can get more reliable and better protection with third-party solutions. Don't worry if your budget doesn't allow for a paid antivirus. You can get really good protection without paying a penny. PCMag tested 17 free antivirus programs to help you choose correct solution to protect your computer.

Your antivirus should definitely do a great job of cleaning up existing infections, but its main job is to protect your PC from ransomware, botnets, Trojan horses, and other types of malware. All antiviruses in this collection offer real-time protection. Some solutions additionally offer web protection to prevent you from visiting fraudulent sites and web resources with malware.

Free or commercial antivirus?

If free antiviruses are truly effective, why would anyone pay? First of all, many of the antiviruses proposed in the rating are free only for non-commercial use - if you want to protect computers in an organization, you will have to purchase a paid version. In this case, it is recommended to buy a comprehensive antivirus product because business security is at stake.

Even for personal use, many commercial tools offer much more functionality than the corresponding free versions. For example, Kaspersky Free does not include the powerful Activity Monitor component that is present in the paid version. This security module monitors suspicious activity and allows you to roll back malicious changes. The paid version of Adaware Antivirus comes with a similar behavioral detection tool, as well as a malicious site protection component that you won't find in the vendor's free antivirus. Panda also reserves some advanced security features only for commercial solution customers—among them firewall, software monitoring, and detection of insecure wireless networks.

In addition, many companies do not offer complete technical support free version clients. If you need professional help cleaning up stubborn infestations, you may regret not having this option.

Independent laboratory tests

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 4 major labs: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, SE Labs 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 testing of antivirus software to block malware. Every antivirus encounters a set of malware different types, 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 an indication of the antivirus's ability to detect latest threats. A separate test attempts to load malware from 100 online sources no more than a day old, provided by the MRG-Effitas laboratory. During the testing process, it is noted whether the product has blocked access to the network location, cleared payload malware during download or ignored the threat. Norton received the highest score in this test, followed in the final table by Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security and Avira Free Antivirus.

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 another effective way avoid 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.

Any antivirus should detect spyware, but some products include individual components protection against spying activity. Features such as privacy encryption and webcam protection help keep sensitive information safe from third parties, but they usually come with paid solutions. However, some free antivirus programs include an on-screen keyboard to protect against keyloggers.

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 it remains 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 is not represented in the ranking

This rating contains information only about free antivirus solutions that have received at least a “Good” rating according to PCMag reviews - from 3 points or higher. In the latest review, Windows Defender Security Center received just 3 stars and worked better than last time. However, it is more of a Windows component than a standalone product. The best free antiviruses offer more layers of protection.

Some free security tools are designed solely to protect against ransomware. Cybereason RansomFree, Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware Beta and Trend Micro RansomBuster all serve one primary purpose - preventing any ransomware attacks that may be undetectable by mainstream antivirus protection. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware tries to trick ransomware Trojans into thinking that the system is already infected. They were not included in the rating because they are not full-fledged antivirus products.

There are numerous free antivirus utilities that exist solely to clean up malicious infections. You turn to these utilities only if you suspect an active infection. Once the problem is resolved, they are not used because they do not offer ongoing protection. The title of “Editor's Choice” in this category belongs to Malwarebytes Free - this product is worth using in case of malicious infection. Since such solutions are usually free, you can use several scanning programs at once. Once the threat has been removed, you will need a full-fledged antivirus for ongoing protection.

List of all tested free solutions

Avast Free Antivirus. Avast's free antivirus combines highly effective antivirus protection with a comprehensive collection of additional tools.
AVG AntiVirus Free. The free AVG antivirus 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.
Acronis Ransomware Protection. If your antivirus misses the latest ransomware and your data is at serious risk, Acronis Ransomware Protection will add an extra layer of protection for your files and provide 5 gigabytes of cloud storage for backups.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. The free Bitdefender antivirus includes the same antivirus protection as the paid Bitdefender antivirus, but lacks the additional functionality of the commercial version.
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+. Free antivirus ZoneAlarm combines a high-quality and powerful firewall with a licensed antivirus protection engine from Kaspersky Lab. This is a great choice for users who don't need advanced security features.
Cybereason RansomFree. The consequences of a malicious ransomware attack can be catastrophic. Therefore, the possibility of strengthening protection against this type of threat should be considered. Cybereason RansomFree is a free solution for organizing an additional level of protection against ransomware.
Kaspersky Free. Kaspersky's free antivirus offers full-featured basic antivirus protection that scores excellent in lab tests.
Malwarebytes Anti-Ransomware Beta. Malwarebytes Analyzes program activity to look for suspicious behavior that is typical of ransomware. This lightweight utility will help you identify ransomware Trojans that can bypass basic anti-virus protection.
Sophos Home. Sophos free antivirus allows you to provide the capabilities of a powerful corporate antivirus to ordinary home users absolutely free. Users have access to a cloud console that allows them to control up to three product installations.
Avira Free Antivirus. Avira's free 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.
CyberSight RansomStopper. RansomStopper offers free advanced ransomware protection, but PCMag's own tests found the product failed to respond to one rare species ransomware.
Adaware Antivirus Free. The free Adaware antivirus has a new name and a new look. However, its testing results are not the best, and competing free antiviruses offer more features.
Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware protects your PC from infections from four ransomware families. Tests have shown that the product successfully copes with this task. However, you will need additional solutions to protect against other types of ransomware.
Comodo Antivirus. Free antivirus Comodo has received a new look and showed an ideal detection rate in the malware blocking test. However, the product performed worse in other PCMag tests and in independent lab tests.
Panda Free Antivirus. Free Panda 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. Qihoo 360 comes with a powerful set of additional tools, but its basic antivirus protection can't compete with the best free antiviruses.
Trend Micro RansomBuster. Built-in folder protection successfully blocks unauthorized changes to protected documents. However, the behavioral detection system needs improvement.
Baidu Antivirus 2015. Antivirus for a long time is not being developed and cannot be recommended as primary antivirus protection.
Comodo Internet Security Premium. Comodo's complete solution combines a standalone antivirus and a standalone vendor firewall in one product. For a free product, this antivirus includes a large number of functions, but not all of them are effective.
Windows Defender Security Center. Microsoft Antivirus provides security Windows computers 10, which do not have other antivirus solutions installed. In PCMag's newest round of testing, the product performed better than previously.

PCMag tested all the popular solutions in the free antivirus category during 2016. This rating allows you to choose the best free antivirus to protect your Windows computer

Antivirus vendors typically pay for the opportunity to participate in testing because lab reports help improve products. The number of laboratories that include a particular product primarily indicates its importance. 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 while adding advanced features to paid products.

PCMag's own amateur tests

In addition to its rigorous analysis of laboratory testing results, PCMag performs its own amateur testing antivirus products to block programs. 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 from 0 to 10 points for blocking, depending on how thoroughly it protects the system from test threats.

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. Avira Free Antivirus received the highest score in this test, followed by McAfee and Symantec 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 - great way avoid 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.

One simple way to keep your computer as protected as possible is to install security updates for Windows, browsers, and other popular programs. Windows 10 has made updates mandatory for consumers, but many gaps remain in popular apps 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 article contains information only about free antivirus solutions that have received at least a “good” rating from PCMag reviews. Among those products that were not included in this rating are: Windows Defender, which was given 2.5 stars. Microsoft participates in tests from all monitored antivirus labs, but only for basic protection. If the product cannot surpass a basic level of protection, he is not worth attention.

Avast Free Antivirus 2016 is gaining high scores in third-party lab tests and in PCMag's own tests, especially in the phishing threat test. Additional functions, in particular the new password manager and innovative router security check make the product excellent choice for free protection.

The latest version of AVG AntiVirus Free scores high in tests from independent laboratories, and also performed well in our own amateur tests. AVG remains PCMag's Editors' Choice in the free antivirus category.

Although Panda Free Antivirus is not superior to the best commercial solutions, many paid antiviruses are inferior in effectiveness. The product remains PCMag's Editors' Choice in the free antivirus software category.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2014) remains invisible on your system until a threat is detected. Tiny main window and auto mode work is perfect for users who value simplicity, efficiency and unobtrusiveness.

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2016 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.