Anyone with a computer is at risk of getting invaded by unwanted cyber threats. Viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and other types of malware can potentially infect your computer. It could access your personal information, wipe your computer clean of data, and create plenty of unwanted problems. Downloading antivirus software can prevent this from happening. These programs are designed to prevent, detect, and remove malicious software that could hurt your computer. Plus, many of them don’t cost a thing.
Antivirus software is available to download on both computers and smartphones. Each one provides standard protection and other nifty features that can keep your tech safe from unexpected attacks.
Wright Studio / ShutterstockAVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus provides the best all-round protection for your devices. The free version stops viruses from entering your computer through malware protective layers. This top-rated antivirus product can block them and even analyse current files on your computer to determine whether or not a virus somehow got through.
AVG users can easily launch a computer scan through the software. This scan can determine whether you’re using any insecure browser add-ons, active viruses, and even performance issues.
Overall, the free version gives you good protection for a free antivirus software.1
Avast Free Antivirus
Since both are owned by Avast Software, Avast antivirus works similarly to AVG. As such, it earns an equally impressive performance score because of this acquisition.
One of its similarities between the two is the excellent phishing protection. This function can inform users when a website is fake. Thus, preventing you from potentially falling for a fraudulent website.
One of the cons to this software is it only has full protection against harmful URLs in Chrome and Firefox. However, it does have security bonus features that don’t all require a purchase.2
Windows Defender Antivirus
If you have a PC updated to Windows 10, then you have antivirus protection built into your computer. Windows Defender gives users real-time protection and ongoing detection against cyber threats. Moreover, these security detections automatically update with the latest PC updates.
One of the benefits of Windows Defender is ransomware protection. It allows you to protect valuable data from potential attacks via malicious websites and downloads.3
360 Total Security
360 Total Security will not only protect your computer from harmful viruses but also work to help your computer’s performance. This free antivirus and system optimization software give you security and privacy protection for all your activities.
To keep your PC fast, 360 Total Security will clean unneeded junk and plug-ins from your cache. On top of cleaning up your computer, it performs several speed-up functions to keep your network and application performance fast.4
Sophos Home Free
Sophos Home Free is designed solely for Mac devices.
As Macs are becoming a bigger target for cybercriminals, Sophos Home provides advanced ransomware security and privacy security to prevent your personal data from being locked and held for ransom. Therefore, it warns you when a third party tries to gain access to your mic or webcam.
Another helpful feature is parental web filtering. This feature helps parents filter categories children can access online.
You can use the free version on up to three devices and get a 30 day trial of the premium version. Plus, Sophos Home has support technicians available to help you if needed.5
Adaware Antivirus
Adaware Antivirus has three levels of protection, and one of them is completely free to download. This free version stops viruses and ransomware in their tracks and scans all downloads for potential threats.
While there are two paid versions that include more features, the free version of Adaware Antivirus is a good antivirus for anyone to start with.6
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
The antivirus software from Bitdefender will take up little hardware on your computer and install in seconds. This antivirus is known for its quick service and having the lowest impact on your computer’s performance. So if you’re short on space or have a slower computer, consider getting Bitdefender as a light anti-malware solution.
Bitdefender runs in the background of your computer giving you an ad-free experience. It works to defend your PC against phishing and fraud, all while doing automatic updates when necessary.
Bitdefender is free to install on one device. However, downloading on more than one device requires an annual payment.7
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
Kaspersky sells a variety of anti-virus software at different prices. However, you can get basic protection for up to three PCs for free. Kaspersky is highly rated for its phishing protection and malware-blocking abilities.
Installing Kaspersky on your computer gives you rigorous protection technologies, efficient performance, and a user-friendly platform. Unfortunately, since it’s free, there is no direct tech support.
In addition to protecting your PC, you can download the available Kaspersky apps on Android and iOS devices for mobile protection.8
Avira Antivirus
Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS users can download Avira Antivirus for free. This award-winning product will protect you from billions of malware attacks.
Avira will scan and detect malware and intelligently protect you against new or evolving threats. It also blocks harmful websites before loading, so you don’t risk entering a potential cyberthreat online.
On top of protecting you from malware, Avira will repair any damaged files. In fact, this software helped fix over 90 million files in 2019 alone.9
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus
Windows users can take advantage of many safety features from ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus. The personal firewall can make your computer invisible to hackers, which keeps your data protected. It uses multiple security layers to prevent malware.
Other features include:
- Wireless network protection;
- Customizable scan mopeds, and;
- Gamer mode, which suppresses alerts so you can continue playing games without being interrupted.10
Search for Free Antivirus Software Online
There is no reason why you shouldn’t get an antivirus for your computer and/or phone. It’s completely free, easy to download, and can protect your devices from potential cyber threats.
Go online and check out what each free antivirus software offers. After downloading one, you can surf the internet securely knowing you’re protected.