Avira Free Security

The main component in Avira’s free software suite that makes it stand out is the optional “in-the-cloud detection” feature called Protection Cloud. This scanning method lets Avira’s antivirus tool identify and stop threats before they get out of hand.

This is how it works: When a suspicious file is detected on any computer running Avira, a fingerprint of that specific file is generated and uploaded anonymously to Avira so that they can scan it and report its status (whether it’s safe or dangerous) back to every Avira user so that the program can take appropriate action. 

Avira can scan and remove existing threats, as well as automatically detect and stop new ones. It protects you against ransomware, Trojans, spyware, and other kinds of malware. You can even choose which ones to actively watch out for, and disable others (though it’s not recommended) like dialers, jokes, adware, etc.

This software can also scan on a schedule, check files with any file extension or just the ones you manually choose from, disable the ability to stop active scans (so that viruses can not stop the program from finding them), adjust the scanner’s priority level, scan primary boot sectors, follow symbolic links to scan the actual files, search for rootkits before starting a scan, scan the Windows Registry, ignore files on network drives, automatically repair, rename, quarantine, delete, or ignore threats when they’re found, use heuristic scanning, add files, folders, and processes to the ignore list, manage Windows Firewall settings, password protect the program’s settings, block autorun on removable devices, and make the hosts file read-only.

This program offers more than just a very extensive antivirus application. It includes several other “layers” of security that will install automatically, and they might take a while to download since there are several. However, you don’t have to use them, and they won’t bother you unless you open them.

These separate modules include a VPN that encrypts all your traffic (up through the first 500 MB each month), a password manager to securely store complex passwords, and a software updater that identifies outdated programs and gives you the download links to update them. 

In addition, Avira can speed up your computer and reduce boot time with its tune-up tool, help you find the best deals as you shop online, and warn you of malicious websites or software bundles before you download them.

These extra features were a bit annoying to me while using the software since I was strictly after an antivirus solution. But again, you don’t have to use them; just keep them tucked away where they are, and you won’t have to worry about them.

Avira Free Security is intended to run on computers with Windows 7 and newer. I reviewed it in Windows 11, but it’ll also work with Windows 10/8. There’s a version for macOS.

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AVG AntiVirus Free

AVG’s free antivirus program is easy on the eyes and even easier to use. The scan button is right in the middle of the screen, turning features off is dead-simple, and all the advanced options are available in the settings.

Like most antivirus tools, this one lets you schedule scans, check for threats in archives, remove viruses right when they’re found, scan USB drives, exclude files/folders/websites from scans, and run boot-time scans.

AVG AntiVirus Free is highly customizable. You can either install it and leave the settings alone to have regular protection, or go into the settings and make adjustments to nearly anything.

I appreciate the option to choose how to scan files— include only content that might include malware (like executable data), only files that use a file extension considered potentially dangerous (like EXE), or all files regardless of content type or file extension.

You can also enable rootkit detection, hardcore mode, and CyberCapture technology, which helps detect threats in unrecognized files.

During setup, you have full control over which components should be enabled or disabled after AVG is installed. Options include File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, SafePrice browser extension, File Shredder, Cleanup, and Do Not Disturb Mode.

A file shredder tool is included as well, which you can use from the right-click context menu to overwrite files using a few different data sanitization methods.

Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and XP are the official minimum OS system requirements. It also runs on Mac (10.13 High Sierra and newer), Android, and iOS.

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Avast Free Antivirus

Avast is used by hundreds of millions of people and ranks high in nearly every “best list” of antivirus programs, and for good reason. If you want a solid program that’s sure to block new threats but is still easy enough to customize, you should consider using it.

Avast’s free AV software works a bit like some of the others on this list; supplemental modules enhance the virus shield and provide additional services related to security and privacy.

The antivirus portion has lots of options you can change, but it’s still easy enough for anyone to use since there are information blurbs next to most items, so you’re not left wondering what will happen if you enable them.

Plus, both definition and program updates are performed automatically (a manual option is available, too), meaning you can install Avast and let it do its thing without worrying whether you’re running the latest and greatest version.

Avast is customizable and lets you make changes to everything from whether to make a sound when threats are detected and how long notifications should remain on the screen, to the kinds of file extensions that should be scanned.

Here are some more features I found noteworthy: scheduled scans, custom scans that can check only the memory, rootkits, auto-start programs, etc., checking all files or just certain file extensions, protecting against ransomware, identifying files by their content instead of their suffix, fine-tuned heuristics sensitivity, scanning for potentially unwanted programs, follows shortcuts to scan the real file, scan archives like self-extracting DOS and Win32 executables and 7Z and RAR, Windows File Explorer context menu integration, exclusions for folders, HDDs, and URLs (but not specific files), custom scans that are easy to save for use in the future, a Rescue Disk utility lets you use the Avast scanner even if you can’t start your computer, particular areas of the program can be protected with a password, and Do Not Disturb Mode.

Before Avast is installed, you have the option to include over a dozen different tools: file, behavior, web, and mail shields; software updater, browser cleaner, rescue disk, Wi-Fi inspector, security and SafePrice browser extensions; password manager; junk file cleaner; and Game Mode.

Wi-Fi Inspector scans the network for devices that could be vulnerable to attacks. For instance, it might identify that a computer is running a file-sharing service that has been known to facilitate the spread of a certain kind of worm.

You can install these tools (it takes less than five minutes) and then disable or completely remove them later. Or, you can ignore them during setup and just install them later, or not at all.

However, the password manager and Cleanup tools are only trial versions that will expire after a time-limited trial. There’s also a firewall, file shredder, and sandbox feature that’s unusable in this free version.

Avast Free Antivirus is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. There’s also a version for macOS, Android, and iOS.

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COMODO Antivirus

COMODO Antivirus excels in a few ways: it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be depending on your experience level with antivirus tools, it supports cloud-based scans to detect new threats, and the built-in sandbox technology can isolate programs so that they can’t affect your files even if they do turn out to be malicious.

Right after installing this free antivirus program, a scan started on my computer to make sure it was safe. It can also run scans at any time, either quick scans, full scans, scans of commonly infected areas, and custom scans.

A custom scan lets you choose which files or folders to check and enables a host of other customizations like whether to decompress and scan archives, use cloud scanning, automatically delete threats, enable heuristics scanning, check for threats running in memory, skip files over a maximum size, run the scan with full system resources, delete PuPs, and more.

The basic view for the program’s settings runs scans, unblock applications, updates the program, and runs software in a virtual mode, while the advanced view reports more details about those areas of the program and displays logs as well as toggles various things like HIPS and VirusScope.

One area I want to focus on is the virtualization feature in COMODO Antivirus. You can run any program you want in a virtual space completely separate from the rest of your files. It’s an opportunity to test out an application to ensure that it’s real and not just a trick to get you to install a virus. Launch programs in this protected container from inside the COMODO program, or by right-clicking an executable file and choosing the option in the menu.

Here are some other features worth mentioning: password protect the program, show a floating desktop widget, hide the upgrade advertisement, choose which archive file types to unpack and scan, enable real-time scanning of files on the network, define heuristics scanning level (low, medium, high), schedule scans as frequently as every hour to as infrequently as once a month, customize the HIPS rules, turn on Silent Mode, force the auto-containment of suspicious or malicious files, and use a unique password for the Virtual Desktop feature.

The program is officially compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

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Panda Free Antivirus

Panda Security’s free antivirus program installs in minutes and has a minimal design. However, even though it’s not a CPU or memory hog, and doesn’t appear to be customizable, all of its many options are tucked away in the program’s settings.

From there, you can do things like set up both on-demand and automatic scans to check compressed files and scan for potentially unwanted programs.

The automatic, permanent scanner includes some additional options, too, like behavioral and analysis scanning options, the ability to ask you before neutralizing a virus, and blocking files from running for so-many seconds until results on whether it’s safe or harmful are obtained from the cloud.

Something entirely unique to Panda Free Antivirus is its security news and alerts sections that can show you critical, warning, and informational messages like when a popular vendor experiences a data breach that could affect your personal information. You can, however, turn those off if you want to.

Something I liked while using it was that I could complete a scan in just a few minutes. It checked only for actively running threats, like browser cookies, processes, and things currently loaded in memory. Of course, there’s also an option for a full system scan or a custom scan; I tried both, and they work very much like these other AV programs.

Here are some other things you can do: password protect the entire application, have the quarantine emptied every so often, disable notifications when in full screen, exclude files/folders/extensions from scans, enable USB protection to scan removable devices as they’re attached, monitor running processes as well as any URLs accessed by them, record everything in event reports that you can browse through and print or export to a TXT or CSV file, use Panda Safe Web to protect from malicious websites, and use their free VPN for limited daily traffic.

This software does a fantastic job at keeping the important buttons up front and hiding the additional options within menus so that you’re not constantly bombarded with options or alerts.

The minimum OS requirement is that you have Windows XP, so it works with Windows 11, 10, 8, etc. There’s also an Android antivirus app from this company and one for macOS that’s free during the trial.

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ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus, also called ZoneAlarm Security and ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall, is just what you think: antivirus software with a firewall tool built-in. You not only have protection against threats like spyware, viruses, Trojan horses, and bots, but there are also firewall shields to block intruders from reaching your computer files.

Here are some other important features in this free antivirus tool: real-time, cloud-based security updates that rely on millions of other users to stop threats quickly; Gamer Mode blocks interruptions while gaming, such as scans, updates, and alerts; you can set all alerts to be automatically denied or allowed; lock down ZoneAlarm’s configuration with a password to protect its settings from being changed; back up the program’s security settings and restore them later; run quick or full scans on a schedule; a network firewall that can screen every single program with “suspicious behavior” alerts that you have to explicitly allow or deny; and set up notifications for suspicious credit activity.

The advanced firewall is a nice addition that lets you block fragments, trusted servers, and public servers, as well as enable ARP protection, filter IP traffic over port 1394, allow/block VPN protocols, and lock the hosts file.

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall is said to work on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows 7.

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