Ranking Of Free Antivirus
For Windows PC users, a good antivirus program is a necessity to ward off malware attacks, keep your computer running efficiently, and safeguard your online identity and personal information. Premium antivirus suites have additional features to protect you from malicious Web pages, help you manage security on mobile devices, and monitor your computer s firewall, software updates and other features. But some just don t want to or can t pay a yearly subscription fee for those extra features.
If that s you, you ve come to the right place. We ve evaluated the most widely used free antivirus programs based on ease of use, features, protection and overall system impact.
So which free PC antivirus product is right for you. We reviewed Avira Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free, Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free and Microsoft Windows Defender. Each was tested on the same Windows 8 Acer Aspire E1 laptop, which featured a Core i3 processor and 4 GB of RAM.
Our malware-detection data comes primarily from independent German evaluation lab AV-TEST, which regularly tests all major security software for the ability to detect zero-day malware and other threats.
We also conducted our own tests on how each security suite affected a laptop s performance, running the PCMark7 benchmark software and our own OpenOffice productivity test to assess the system s baseline. We ran the tests again while each security product did a quick malware scan, and then again during full system scans, and compared the results.
Ease of use is also important, which is why we assessed each program on its user interface, and also on how insistently it nags you to upgrade from the free version to a paid edition from the same company.
Do Mac computers need antivirus protection. Many people use Macs for years without experiencing any malware infections. But Mac malware does exist, and while it s not as common as Windows malware, it s become much more prevalent in recent years.
On one hand, you want to protect your Mac. But on the other, you don t want to overdo it, and you don t want to get scammed.
That s why we looked at five of the most popular antivirus programs for Mac OS X: Avast Free Antivirus for Mac free, Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 40/year, ClamXav 2 free, Intego Mac Internet Security X8 40/year and Sophos Antivirus for Mac Home Edition free.
Tom s Guide evaluated each product based on a number of criteria, including interface, performance, protection and extra features. Was a product intuitive and easy to use. Did running a scan slow down a Mac. How good was the software at catching and eliminating malware. How much value did extra features add.
We tested all five programs on the same MacBook Air, a 13-inch model from early 2014 model identifier MacBook Air 6,2, model number MD761xx/B with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM running Mac OS X 10.9.3.
To assess the computer s speed while running each program, we used the Geekbench 3 benchmarking software. The more a program s scan caused the score to drop, the heavier its impact on system performance.
Among the five Mac antivirus programs in this review suite, which offers the best range of protection, usability, low performance impact and extra features. Check our reviews to find the program that best suits you.
Sophos Antivirus for Mac Home Edition
Sophos
Best Mac Antivirus Overall
Sophos Antivirus for Mac Home Edition has all the features we want from an antivirus program, including a Web-link scanner and the option to schedule routine scans. Sophos also offers solid malware protection without significantly impacting performance. Overall, Sophos earns our Editors Choice award because it s the most comprehensive offering. It s also free. Read the Full Review
Avast Free Antivirus for Mac
Avast
Close Second
An excellent all-around Mac antivirus program, Avast Free Antivirus for Mac offers strong antivirus detection, low computer performance impact and a hub for managing Avast products on other devices, such as Android phones. Our only complaint is its lack of scheduled scans. Read the Full Review
Intego Mac Internet Security X8
Best Paid Mac Antivirus
Intego s Mac security software comes with a useful firewall for managing your Wi-Fi connections, even down to which applications connect to the Internet and when they can do so. We also appreciate that this program caused the least performance impact while scanning. However, we wish Intego Mac Security X8 offered a Web-link scanner, which is an essential defense against drive-by downloads and phishing sites. Read the Full Review
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Top-Notch Protection
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac had the highest malware-detection scores of any of the five Mac antivirus products we evaluated. The TrafficLight browser plugin, which scans Web links for malware and phishing scams, is another plus. But for a 40 yearly subscription free, we would expect scheduled scans. Read the Full Review
ClamXav 2
ClamXav
Open-Source Option
A relic from the early days of Mac OS X security software, ClamXav 2 s only redeeming quality is that it s open-source software. It has a poor interface, no extra features and no Web-link protection. Confusingly, it comes in two versions, depending on whether it s downloaded directly from its website or installed from the Mac App Store. The latter has no on-access malware scanner, which we consider an essential feature. Read the Full Review.
We thoroughly test free- and paid antivirus software for effectiveness and ease of use. Here are our latest antivirus software reviews and top picks.
Best free antivirus software 2015 Switching to a free package doesn t have to compromise your security – you could be even safer in some cases.
Best Free PC Antivirus Software 2015
Best Antivirus Software. We ve researched and tested the top antivirus software solutions to compare the most important elements including the features, pricing, ease.
PC Magazine provides up-to-date coverage and product reviews of antivirus software.
Our best free antivirus round-up has been fully updated.
Viruses, spyware, hackers, phishing sites - the web is a dangerous place, and every PC owner needs effective, reliable antivirus software to keep them safe. But this can be expensive, especially as you ll pay again to update the package, each and every year.
Fortunately there is plenty of free antivirus software, many of which are just as capable as their commercial cousins. So if you re tired of annual subscriptions, read on - we ve picked out nine of the best free internet security tools to deliver great security at no cost at all.1. Avast Free Antivirus
You don t have to spend long with Avast Free Antivirus to realise why it s one of the most popular security tools around.
The program is simple to install; a straightforward interface makes it easy to use; a quick first scan should identify any potential threats on your PC, and this all has minimal impact on your system performance.
These aren t just subjective opinions, either. Independent testing by AV-Test has found the program to be a good all-rounder, and it was one of AV-Comparative s Products of 2012.
Avast Free has some useful extras, too. A Software Updater alerts you to program updates you ve missed, for instance, while its Browser Cleanup tool provides a simple way to remove unwanted add-ons from your browsers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free
Small and simple, Panda Cloud Antivirus is a lightweight tool which provides free real-time antivirus protection, and can be used alongside many other security tools without problems.
It s the free version of a commercial product, and so has a few missing features. The Pro edition helps to protect you at public wifi networks, for instance, while its USB Vaccine function reduces the risk of malware infecting a USB drive.
The core antivirus protection remains the same, though. And while that doesn t deliver the top detection rates, independent testing shows it s very capable, with the program winning certification in AV-Test s latest report.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus Firewall
We have one or two concerns about ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus Firewall, notably that its antivirus database is only updated daily hourly updates are reserved for the commercial version, which leaves you more exposed to the very latest threats,
The program does provide plenty of functionality, though, with a capable, AV-Test-certified antivirus engine, an easy-to-use firewall and some browsing protection.
It does its best to keep things simple. Open the Preferences dialog, say, and you ll find only 10 buttons and settings and most of those you ll never need to use.
The database update means it wouldn t be our first choice, but if you re a fan of ZoneAlarm, or just want a firewall and antivirus tool from the same company, this could be a good choice.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. Avira Free Antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus provides two main areas of protection.
A strong antivirus engine rated highly by independent labs for its file detection rates constantly monitors your PC, looking for and eliminating threats.
If you choose to install the Avira toolbar then you also get some web tools an antiphishing tool, ad blocker, social networking protection, although this also replaces your default search engine with an Avira page.
Problems. The interface can seem a little complex, just at first. And the program has more impact on your PC s performance than some other tools. Still, on balance Avira Free Antivirus remains a capable and effective security package.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Bitdefender s antivirus engine is one of the best around, and a favourite of the independent testing labs, so getting a free version sounds very appealing indeed.
The program is ultra-compact, downloading and installing in less than a minute on our test PC although it does demand removal of any incompatible products first. A very basic interface then provides effective on-demand and automatic scanning, real-time antivirus and antiphishing protection.
Some security companies spend a great deal of time and effort on interface design, but Avira isn t quite so concerned. Sure, Avira Free Antivirus adds a graphical launcher to your system tray, but the core program looks plain, ordinary, and a little dated.
Fortunately Avira scores where it matters. The company seems much more interested in substance than style, and the end result is one of the best security freebies around.
The program is loved by the testing labs. Whether you check out AV-Test, AV-Comparatives or VB100 reports, Avira technology almost always scores very highly. And that s not only in relation to free software. AV-Comparative s December 2014 Real-World Protection Test ranked the program fifth out of 22 mostly commercial contenders, with the same 99.4 protection rate as the highly-rated Bitdefender and Kaspersky. That s a typical score, not a fluke – sometimes Avira tops the list.
Avira Free provides better protection than many paid products
If you re looking for an easy life then you can leave the program alone, and it ll do its work almost entirely automatically. But expert users get plenty of fine control. There are options to protect the Hosts file, block autorun, scan archives including a configurable recursion depth, monitor network drives, set the file types to be scanned, even password protect your Avira installation so others can t mess with your settings.
Avira Free Antivirus has a distinct shortage of bonus extras, which might be an issue for some. The Firewall options add little they configure the standard Windows firewall, rather than adding anything new, and even basic web protection requires a separate browser extension.
Still, for us, Avira s stripped-back design is a plus, as it makes it easier to add other security tools without conflicts. Factor in its very accurate engine and Avira is our pick of the free antivirus crop.5. Panda Free Antivirus
Panda Free Antivirus makes a great first impression, with its colourful Windows 8-style interface giving easy access to the program s many features.
We were surprised to find the main screen is configurable, too. If you re unhappy with the layout of the tiles then you can drag and drop them around, delete some or add others.
The verdict on the core antivirus engine is a little less clear. We found it delivered great detection rates in our own small-scale tests, but scanning speeds were a little below average.
The independent testing labs also have some doubts, with AV-Comparatives in particular showing protection levels falling a little towards the end of the year. But that s still good enough to justify a top five position, and the test reports also highlight some other positives the package raises very few false alarms.
Panda s friendly, colourful interface stands out immediately
A useful set of extras start with the URL filter, which does a solid job of preventing access to malicious sites. The USB Vaccine feature tries to protect your USB keys from some infections, while Process Monitor is a Task Manager-like tool, displaying running processes, their open HTTP connections, and highlighting likely dangers.
If all this fails then Panda s Rescue Kit could be a lifesaver. It s able to download and run Panda Cloud Cleaner, which is great for catching the very latest malware, or you can build a bootable USB key to remove the most stubborn of threats.
Panda Free Antivirus isn t quite as powerful as the market leaders, but it still offers very capable protection and some valuable bonus features. If you re looking for a simple package which anyone can use then it s a sensible choice.
The Best Free Antivirus Utilities for 2015. By Neil J. Rubenking; December 8, 2015 ; 10 Comments; Protecting your PC with an antivirus isn t just for your own benefit.
