The most effective antivirus. What is the best antivirus for your computer?
Anyone who has ever suffered from a virus attack on their computer understands perfectly well that the choice of antivirus must be approached with the utmost responsibility. We don't want to scare you, but if you don't properly protect your PC, you can suffer from ransomware Trojans important files, banking Trojans can steal money from your cards or electronic wallets, and the botnet will try to involve the computer in a DDoS attack. There are dozens of antivirus programs, but the expensive solution, alas, is not always the best. Fortunately for you and me, today there are plenty free software, which in terms of functionality and level of security is not inferior to paid and expensive ones, and sometimes even surpasses them, as confirmed by tests of specialized laboratories. We present to your attention the 10 best free antiviruses of 2017: the rating includes products with different functionality - there is plenty to choose from.
Does an antivirus guarantee 100% protection against malware? Alas, no. Recent events with massive attacks on the computers of private users and entire organizations indicate imperfection existing system, but this does not mean that we should sit back and ignore defense. To protect yourself as much as possible, you need to not only install a reliable antivirus, but also constantly update it, because the databases are constantly updated with new viruses.
Everyone has heard and knows about Avasta, even those who are not very computer literate. Free, easy to learn and configure, effective- these key features ensured the antivirus huge success and popularity. In independent tests of specialized laboratories Avast Free Antivirus shows results that are very close to the leaders among paid ones antivirus programs: recognition 99% Windows threats 7/8 and 97% in Windows 10. When setting up, you must register by specifying email to use the program for free for a year, then free license can be extended.
Pros:
- simple and clear interface, even a beginner can figure it out;
- really effective protection from viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, analysis of potential threats;
- huge amount additional tools protection, so you can customize the program completely for yourself;
- scanning of files accessed by the user, scanning during download, scanning of browser extensions and add-ons, web protection - the user remains safe on all fronts;
- presence of a gaming mode. When running resource-intensive games, the antivirus can stop some non-critical diagnostic modes so as not to load resources;
- protection when connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks;
- built-in password manager;
- Frequent updates.
Among the disadvantages:
Welcome everyone to the next episode! Almost every computer user knows perfectly well that any computer, tablet, laptop or other device needs high-quality protection.
Every day thousands of ways to infect remote PCs appear on the Internet, new viruses are written and simply dangerous programs to steal data or disable a computer. Therefore, there is a need to protect yourself from such misfortunes. Which antivirus is best for your comprehensive protection personal computers? Which antivirus is better than others, we will try to find out about this and many other issues from our article today...
The average user can protect himself from 99% of threats, but to do this he must have good, comprehensive protection installed. There remains 1%, which can include planned and special attacks on a specific server or computer - if carried out competently and purposefully, such dangerous actions can bypass almost any ordinary protection and anti-virus program.
But, fortunately for us, ordinary citizens are practically not exposed to such danger, since serious hacking programs and viruses are written for specific purposes and regular user The PC is of little interest to truly serious organizations.
Therefore, it will be enough to simply install a good antivirus and configure its operation specifically to suit your computer use conditions. Believe me, it will be good, reliable and practically guaranteed protection from various internet problems, viruses and leftist attacks.
Which antivirus is better - how to choose the right protection?
There are several recognized leaders in the antivirus software market, among which you can make your choice. But at the same time, of course, it is IMPORTANT for you to remember that only one antivirus must be installed and configured correctly on your PC. If there are 2 or more of them, then not only will the computer slow down mercilessly, but it will also not receive proper protection. Well, the defender programs, in turn, will conflict with each other and even their collaboration it won't work. In addition, now many antivirus programs, even at the installation stage on the PC, look to see if there is another antivirus and offer to remove it.
After you have enabled the firewall, you need to select antivirus software. It will be difficult to advise something really specific here, but it is still possible. The fact is that every antivirus manufacturer claims that its program is the best and copes with problems that competitors cannot overcome.
In fact, most of these programs are about the same. Some specialize in protection against viruses. Some are on computer protection in network plan. Others are on protection against malware and third party applications, who behave suspiciously and send something somewhere without your knowledge. In a word, the choice is great and I will list only the most common antivirus programs for 2016. And which antivirus is better, in my opinion, we will now find out.
They, in turn, can be divided into free, shareware and paid. Carefully study the selected antivirus for additional functions and bonuses that can be purchased - sometimes there are really interesting offers. But in most cases, a home PC can be protected with at least a simple and free antivirus, which will regularly update its database of viruses and Internet dangers, monitor the computer and prevent it from starting suspicious files. For most families this will be more than enough.
Free antivirus programs for your home PC
So, I’ll start my list of recommendations with free antivirus programs. They are accessible, quite simple and understandable even to an inexperienced user. Such software belongs to the “install and forget” section, so if you don’t want to understand the settings and, especially, pay, then you should pay attention to the following programs:
Avast! Free Antivirus is an extremely popular program nowadays, which is completely free and designed for widespread use on a variety of PCs. First of all, I would say that it is good in the sense that it can work completely without additional settings, but for those interested I can offer wide choice various options. Supports various popular functions such as file quarantine, detects viruses and malware, and can scan your computer in different ways, there is a special game mode and much more. Requires a small registration once after installation;
Avira Free Antivirus is another popular home antivirus that offers effective results with a small amount of resources. It can constantly monitor the system or turn on occasionally to check all hard disk for malware. Quite simple, equipped with an update assistant system, can work automatically and prevent the installation of fraudulent applications on the PC. Very often I hear users ask me which antivirus is better from the two listed above. I answer you that they both have proven themselves satisfactorily at a specific level of protection for personal computers.
Microsoft Security Essentials– a good program from the official Windows manufacturer. It works easily, does not load the system, has minimal but necessary functions- does not allow obvious viruses to pass through, is regularly updated, can scan the computer on specified days or hours, and works almost unnoticed by the user. Good application, which, when paired with a firewall, can protect a computer quite well at entry-level and intermediate levels;
Also worth mentioning are these demon paid antiviruses like 360 Total Security, AVG, Comodo, Panda and other programs that have limited but quite sufficient basic functionality. However, they do not provide 100% level protection, and they also do not have the so-called “fool protection”, but as a small protective addition for a home PC, this is quite okay.
So, it should also be noted that all of these antivirus programs presented above can be found on the official website.
Paid antivirus programs - which antivirus is the best?
Paid antivirus programs for PC protection include several of the most popular products. We will not recommend the rest, less common ones, since they have almost the same functions as theirs. free analogues. But the old and well-known paid anti-virus software, real dinosaurs of their class, are really good and if you are concerned about the problem of computer security at a serious level, then I recommend considering the following anti-virus products:
Kaspersky is one of the best paid antiviruses. There is also a free version, but full functionality is only available after an annual subscription. It provides full functionality, has a lot of functions and capabilities, and can be configured as flexibly as possible in this antivirus software. The cost is relatively small, but renewal must be issued annually. Eat advantageous packages- when purchasing a subscription for a year, the second key comes as a gift and similar interesting offers;
Dr.Web, aka Doctor Web - good program which provides comprehensive protection PC. Like Kaspersky, it is available in different versions, has trial period, includes all kinds of scanners and monitoring systems. It is updated promptly and has proven itself to be the best. The subscription is also issued for a year, but the price is already cheaper than for Kaspersky. I wrote about Doctor Web in
In terms of efficiency and richness of settings, it is slightly less than the first antivirus on the list, but also a very, very good option;
ESET NOD32, aka Nod 32- a good antivirus with rich settings. Quite old and popular, it can be used to solve a wide range of problems. Allows you not only to effectively catch viruses, but also to perform various actions on computer control and monitoring of a comprehensive type. Feature - it practically does not slow down the computer, it works unnoticed and easily. However, in the recent past I had to give it up because one of the significant shortcomings of this antivirus there was an inability to perform the check system files for the presence of malware. As a result, my computer was infected with a Trojan, which I had to remove thanks to Dr.Web. Although today the developers have probably already taken care of this flaw.
So, to sum up today’s issue – “Which antivirus is better” I can say with confidence that the best, reliable and comprehensive protection for the entire computer is anti-virus programs from the “Paid” range. In addition, I note that I have installed all of the above anti-virus programs (both paid and free) on many computers. And it is paid antiviruses that, according to statistics, provide comprehensive computer protection that is an order of magnitude higher than free ones. I also bring to your attention a short video: Which antivirus is best to install on your computer?
Thus, you can see that the choice of antivirus software is quite wide and choose something optimal for your needs. own needs you can do it without any problem. Which computer protection programs do you prefer most, dear users?
Antivirus software- This is the most important thing on every computer. The overwhelming majority of all users are afraid to go online if they do not have an antivirus installed on their PC. Similar programs protect your computer from infected files, virus attacks and other unwanted incidents that can significantly harm the condition and performance of the system. It is logical that there are many antivirus programs and first you need to decide which one you should install. Some people think that there is no fundamental difference, both antivirus, as they say, and antivirus in Africa. However, everyone software product offers a different set of features and to varying degrees success detects and neutralizes everything malicious files. This article is designed to help you figure out which antivirus is better, how they differ from each other, and which one you should choose for yourself. So, we present to your attention a rating of the best antivirus programs. Let's go!
After installing the OS, the first thing you need to do is choose a good antivirus
Now it is the undisputed leader in the antivirus software market. A real beast and the threat of all viruses, and completely free. This product is designed Chinese company and instantly “catch” all possible malicious files trying to penetrate your PC. In addition to the fact that 360 Total Security copes excellently with all worms and Trojans, it has the function of cleaning your computer from temporary garbage and unnecessary files. This antivirus also boasts excellent performance, which means that its operation will not significantly affect the speed of the computer, unlike some competitors. The program can also be installed as a plugin in your browser to raise the security bar even higher. 360 Total Security is rapidly gaining popularity, despite the fact that it can already be called one of the most popular antiviruses on the market.
AVG AntiVirus Free
Winner of a silver medal in our rating. AVG AntiVirus Free is an excellent free antivirus that protects your computer from all possible threats. Worth noting high level performance of this product, and for those who like to play games on a PC there is special mode“During the game”, in which the program reduces the priorities of scanning and updates so as not to additionally load the system. This antivirus also scans all incoming mail, so the chances that some malicious file will end up on your PC are minimal. There is also a paid version of the program, which adds a special spam filter, firewall and the ability to encrypt files and folders. AVG AntiVirus Free is an excellent solution to computer security problems. In all tests, it is only slightly inferior to 360 Total Security. The free version of the program will be more than enough for home use. With AVG AntiVirus Free you can rest assured that your PC is safe.
Avast Free Antivirus
This antivirus can become great solution if you need reliable protection your computer, with a minimum of system resources. Avast can be called the most popular and widespread antivirus software on the market. Avast does a great job with all sorts of spyware, worms and Trojans, and practically does not load the system at all. This product supports all popular operating systems, as well as many languages. There are paid and free versions of the program, which differ little from each other, so much so that the free version can be called fully functional. Avast implements some of the best algorithms to detect malware, making it excellent choice to ensure system security.
Panda Free Antivirus
Already less known, but no less good antivirus. Panda Free Antivirus is a product of a Spanish company that implements latest technologies and algorithms. The scanning technology used in Panda Free Antivirus is something new and is based on cloud base data. As a result, the need for updating antivirus databases disappears completely. Very useful feature implemented in this product is to prohibit autorun of malicious files from external storage(flash drives). This will be very convenient for users who connect their own media to other people's PCs. Panda Free Antivirus allows you to create on a flash drive backup copy systems for convenient recovery in case of complete infection of the computer. Paid version product may offer more advanced protection capabilities, however, free version you will also have enough for comfortable home use.
Ad-Aware Free Antivirus
This antivirus thoroughly scans all disks, partitions, mail and network traffic, and also allows you to fully customize the scanning procedure. A special feature of Ad-Aware Free Antivirus is the deep smart scanning. Using the first module, the program scans regular and installation files, and using the second, the antivirus scans all objects, skipping those that have been identified as safe. This method of verification can significantly reduce the time of system analysis. Ad-Aware Free Antivirus implements an anti-hacking mechanism third party programs, as well as a wide range various settings For full control antivirus. There is also a game mode, which is implemented a little worse than its competitors, but on the whole it serves its purpose. This product is free, which means it will allow you to get full protection against all malicious objects and attacks for free.
Bitdefender Total Security
This is an innovative antivirus solution, thanks to the implementation special algorithm, which analyzes the behavior and state of the computer’s system files to protect against new viruses that may not be in the database. Bitdefender Total Security can analyze the system load level, which allows you not to unnecessarily load system resources. Special utility, built into the antivirus, allows you to optimize your PC by removing unnecessary files. Pleases very pleasant and user-friendly interface. The developers offer several versions of this product, which provide the user with a different set of capabilities - from the most basic to advanced. Bitdefender Total Security 2015 can be called the optimal and balanced option. Unfortunately, this version of the product is paid and can be used freely only for a limited period of 30 days. There are also easier to use versions, for example Bitdefender Free Edition, which is completely free, and its capabilities are sufficient to provide a basic level of protection.
Zillya
This is a good anti-virus product from Ukrainian developers, which has not yet received proper distribution and popularity due to its novelty, however, in the near future it may well displace one of the leaders in this rating. Zillya completely scans the computer from the moment it is launched, including email and media connected to the PC. Among the features worth noting is a pleasant interface, constant support for anti-virus database updates and the presence of several modules for the most extensive possible scanning of the system for the presence of malicious files. Among other things, Zillya works quickly and unnoticed by the system, without “eating up” its resources at all. In general, this antivirus will provide your PC with reliable and complete protection, and for free.
Kaspersky
This product performs excellently in all tests and is one of the best in malware detection criteria. On the CIS market, Kaspersky can be called the most popular antivirus, however, the most popular are precisely pirated versions programs, which, of course, is very bad from a security point of view and in general. Not long ago, Kaspersky Lab finally released a free version of its product, but it turned out to be quite limited in its functionality. Of course, Kaspersky Antivirus It copes wonderfully with all malicious objects, however, apart from this, it will not offer you anything else. In the free version you will only get the most basic level protection that will be enough for some consumers. Big disadvantage Kaspersky Antivirus is performance. This antivirus puts a lot of stress on the system, and therefore causes constant slowdown on low-power computers. So we can recommend it only for users with powerful PCs and willing to pay for its protection, or for undemanding users who are willing to be content with the most basic set opportunities.
Avira Free Antivirus
An excellent free solution to protect your computer from malware. Avira is a convenient, reliable, fast antivirus that does an excellent job of finding and neutralizing a wide variety of system threats. It implements the function of creating boot disk, as well as functions for checking file integrity and managing built-in Windows means protection. Avira Free Antivirus reliably protects the system without overloading it. This product can be called good choice for home use.
This concludes the rating of the best antiviruses. Each company offers its own solutions, developments and innovations to combat viruses. All you have to do is choose WHAT you like best. Write in the comments which antivirus you think is the best and leave your feedback about this article.
XSoge Complex Protection for Windows OS. The solution includes a file antivirus engine own development, firewall, proactive protection and USB antivirus.
xCore Complex Protection - free antivirus from Russian developers, which uses its own detection technologies (based on the open AiD Scanner engine). is not limited to file antivirus (real-time monitor and heuristics are expected in the future) and includes features such as firewall, proactive protection and USB antivirus.
As the developers themselves note:
A lot has been done preparatory work for testing and troubleshooting. We remind you that “proactive protection” in xCore Complex Protection V 3.1.0.0 at the moment will be more convenient for advanced users, but in the coming versions our team will optimize the operation of the proactive system xCore protection for ordinary users!
We can’t say that the application is stable yet: 
It is also worth noting the problems with proactive protection on 64-bit Windows 8/8.1 systems - at the moment the antivirus will not work on these systems (we do not recommend installing it - this will lead to problems). Therefore, the installation was carried out on Windows system 7.
While the solution does not have real-time protection, the antivirus does not respond to malicious files that enter the system. However, manual check showed that the engine coped well with the test set of threats. Proactive protection, as noted by the developers, is currently only suitable for experienced users- too many requests for system processes that require decisions to be made.
xCore Antivirus for Windows: Proactive Protection
The firewall has basic functionality, but allows you to control outgoing network activity applications in several modes. By default, Training Mode is enabled. You can completely block all applications, allow only allowed ones, or block only blocked ones that are set in the rules.
xCore Antivirus for Windows: Firewall
A useful addition - USB antivirus reacts immediately when you connect a flash drive and by default prompts you to scan the removable media.
Also released mobile versions xCore Antivirus for Android OS:
PCMag tested everything popular solutions in the free antivirus category during 2016. This rating allows you to choose the best free antivirus for Windows protection 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. Laboratories are not required to test free products, but many vendors include full protection V free solutions, adding to paid products advanced features.
PCMag's own amateur tests
In addition to its rigorous analysis of lab test results, PCMag performs its own amateur program-blocking testing of antivirus products. 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 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 an indication of the antivirus's ability to detect latest threats. A separate test attempts to load malware With network 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 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 ratings to results search results, flagging suspicious and dangerous links.
Behavioral detection is featured in some products in the collection. On the one side, this component can detect malware which are unknown threats. On the other hand, behavioral analysis can lead to false positives for reliable programs.
One in a simple way for maximum computer protection is to install security updates for Windows OS, browsers and other popular programs. Windows 10 made updates mandatory for consumers, but remains large number gaps in popular applications and plugins. Vulnerability scanning in the form of missed updates is a feature often found in commercial antivirus products. However, some free antiviruses have similar functionality.
Who was not included in the rating
This article contains information only about free antivirus solutions, which received at least a “good” rating from PCMag reviews. Among those products that were not included in this rating- Windows Defender, which was given 2.5 stars. Microsoft participates in tests of all monitored antivirus laboratories, but only as basic protection. If a product cannot exceed the basic level of protection, it is not worth considering.
Avast Free Antivirus 2016 scores highly in independent lab tests and PCMag's own tests, especially in its anti-phishing test. Additional features, in particular new manager passwords and innovative router security check make the product an excellent choice for free protection.
Last AVG version AntiVirus Free scores high in tests from independent laboratories, and also performed well in its 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 automatic mode excellent work suitable 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 want to install a complex solution.
