Best Free Antivirus Software
Hackers are as plentiful as the mid and late nineties and every day there are thousands of threats that your computer can are susceptible to. However with the recent advancements in technology, it’s becoming harder and harder for viruses, Trojan software and spyware to take control of your computer thanks to the cooperation of many browsers, email clients and the overall more security of the Windows operating system.
With these advancements in technology, it’s not necessary to pay $50-$100 a year for virus protection. Yes you should have virus protection (unless you’re computer savvy enough to use MsDOS) because most malicious code can cause great damage including the theft of financial and other personal information.
The virus programs listed below are recommended for Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. While they can work on XP, we wouldn’t advise it because with the release of Windows 7, there is no need to stick with an archaic operating system that supports a max of 3GB of RAM.
Microsoft Security Essentials Free Antivirus
Microsoft has long been accused of monopolistic plays to corner the software market and you can imagine that the likes of Norton, McAfee and TrendMicro are none too happy with Redmond’s decision to release a full fledged antivirus, spyware and Trojan protection for the Windows operating system.
Being a beta tester of Windows 7 I can honestly say that I have not had a single problem with the OS concerning viruses and spyware, however I did install Microsoft Security Essentials just to make sure and so far it has worked perfectly. It’s very lightweight and provides great features.
Best of all since Microsoft Security Essentials integrates into Windows so well, it uses very little system resources and runs quietly in the background. If you want a free solution with all the basic support you need, this is the selection to go with. Download it here.
AVG Anti-Virus (Freeware and Shareware)
This lightweight anti-virus fighter provides excellent protection against the various unwanted nasties floating around the Internet. This virus killer provides freeware (with limitations) and commercial versions of their software, but most users find AVG Free is all they need.
This has been one of the all time favorite free antivirus solutions for millions of users. Users also swear by AVG Anti-Virus as a comprehensive and bulletproof solution. It’s not hard to see why AVG is the top downloaded antivirus on download.com. Although recent versions have become a little bloated and do hug system resources, this is a great option for those who have the power to support it (Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM should be fine).
It provides unparalleled support and is more feature rich than Microsoft Security Essentials. However the reason it ranks second is because it still has way more features than you will probably ever use and as we said before, thanks to the improved security of Vista and Windows 7, you won’t need to be deleting that many viruses unless ThePirateBay and online movie sites are your regular internet traffic. Download it here.
Avast Antivirus (Freeware and Shareware)
Available in both freeware (Home) and shareware (Professional) options. Avast is slightly heavier on system resources than most, all though it’s still considered light weight and users argue its excellent protection makes up for the increased load. The freeware version will cost your time to register on their website, they will then send you a registration code from their to activate the free download.
There is a reason why Avast continues to receive 4 to 5 star ratings from the likes of PC World, CNET and others. It’s not only a powerful anti virus protector, Avast carries a suite of features including IM and P2P sharing security as well as network shield and support for 64-bit operating systems. If you’re looking for the perfect combination of speed, power and reliability, Avast is one of your best options. It features stellar automatic updates and with its built in firewall support, you can be sure that hackers will be kept at bay. Download it here.
Avira Personal Free Antivirus
Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus is for home-users only, it’s not as full featured as Avast. However, it comprehensive, easy to use, and it does a great job protecting against those unwanted nasties. This anti virus program offers : extensive malware recognition of viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, worms, an advanced heuristic system and what it calls a Virus Guard real time monitoring system. Like most on this list it is easy to install, but it also offers forum and phone support; Knowledge Base with virus descriptions are available on the web site;
Version 9 introduces a quick-removal button for eliminating viruses with a single click, enhanced anti-spyware and anti-adware engines, and support for low resolution netbook screens. Download it here.
Comodo
Before installing Microsoft Security Essentials, I used Comodo to protect my Windows 7 installation. It is a great option for those looking for something free and provides some nice features such as built in firewall (something many free antivirus programs lack).
It also has the ability to prevent certain programs from accessing the Internet or receiving information from online servers. The only reason I rank it at number 5 on this list is the warning signs can be a little annoying at times and for some reason I cannot get the damn thing to remember my selection.
But that aside, it’s a great option and since it’s free for both home and commercial use, it can provide basic protection for you small business. Download it here.
Why not just go with Linux and dispense the virus issue altogether?