Free working antivirus software

Features: Unfortunately, this free cybersecurity solution is missing many features you would expect to see, such as web-based security, protection against malicious websites, and personal data protection. Essential protection: Qihoo formerly used the same core antivirus as Bitdefender and Avira, but it no longer does. Sadly, its malware protection has suffered for it.

Features: Qihoo comes with an impressive suite of bonus features, including cleanup and tuneup utilities, an adblocker , and more. You may have been expecting to see some big-name antivirus players on this list, like Norton, McAfee, or Malwarebytes.

Norton offers only paid antivirus software. McAfee is the same as Norton — a free trial, but no free version. You can find this in their paid products, but why not go with a full-service free option instead? You can avoid some forms of malware by practicing smart digital habits like using secure messaging apps and checking that websites are safe before you use them. But hackers are craftier than ever.

Social engineering tricks , phishing scams, malicious URLs and infected downloads… the list goes on. Cybercriminals find ways to reach even the most careful among us. Make sure to choose one of our best security software options with robust protection against all kinds of online threats.

Mobile devices may also be susceptible to malware, so protect yours with a security program that can remove malware from your smartphone. When it comes to the best virus scanners and best anti-malware tools, there are tons of choices. Effectiveness: Of course, the most important factor is how effective the antivirus engine is against malware and other threats. Gone are the days when the primary internet baddie was the computer virus. Impact on system resources: No one wants an antivirus that slows down your PC.

We recommend starting with one of the strongest best free internet security options above. Privacy: Antivirus programs need access to all parts of your machine to properly protect it. That means you should choose a program from a reputable developer with a reasonable and transparent privacy policy. But you probably have additional devices, right? Malware, phishing, and other threats also affect Macs, Androids, and even iPhones. Some companies offer multi-device subscriptions so you can easily protect yourself with free antivirus software for Mac , cybersecurity for Android , and mobile security for iOS.

Most companies offer advanced features, add-ons, and customization options in their paid products. But our above list of the best free programs contains options for excellent virus and malware protection — and many include great features in their free versions, too. Microsoft has put resources into trying to make its built-in solution the best free antivirus for Windows But while it has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, Windows Defender is still not as good as many third-party options out there, like AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, and BitDefender.

Beyond test results, there may be other issues with relying solely on Windows Defender. Absolutely not. Product and OS updates often include patches that plug security holes. Ignoring security updates can make you far more vulnerable to malware. With these persistent limitations to Defender, most AV experts still recommend you opt for one of the best free anti-malware software options on our list above.

Introducing the new Avast One. Our free download now includes much more to keep you safe and private online, including free antivirus, VPN, and firewall. Private connection with VPN.

Essential protection for your life today A free all-in-one service combining antivirus, VPN, performance enhancement, and security tools to help you stay private and safe. Learn more. Avast Free Antivirus. Easy to install, effortless to use. Get essential antivirus protection. Avast Free Antivirus scans Windows devices, like your laptop or desktop PC, for privacy, security, and performance issues, then tells you how to fix things instantly.

Over million users worldwide trust Avast. Join them. Intelligent Antivirus Detect and block viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware and phishing. We use smart analytics to stop threats before they affect you.

CyberCapture Automatically send suspicious files for analysis in the cloud, and push a cure to all Avast users if it's a threat. Wi-Fi Inspector Automatically detect weaknesses in your home Wi-Fi and strangers piggybacking on your network. Smart Scan Find all those cracks which allow malware to slip in, from unsafe settings and passwords to suspicious add-ons and out-of-date software. Layer upon layer of security. Ryan Rentfro. Eric Scherer. Daryl Colley.

Why is Avast one of the best free antivirus solutions? How does Avast Free Antivirus protect against so many types of threats? Will Avast One free antivirus software affect the performance of my device? How do I detect and remove viruses and other malware? All you need is a PC with Windows 10 , 8. Essential free protection is just one click away.

Would you like this app for Android? Would you like this app for Windows or Mac? Would you like this app for Windows or Android? Together with a malware scanner, these tools are crucial to building a good online defense against hackers, scammers, and predators. Here are a few of them:. Avira Free Security for Windows is my favorite free Windows antivirus in — it has one of the best anti-malware engines on the market, includes more free features than any other competitor, and is really easy to use.

Paid programs like McAfee and Norton are equally effective at detecting malware, but their full disk scans will slow down your system much more than Avira will. The Safe Shopping browser extension for Firefox and Chrome is really good — it blocks suspicious phishing sites, web trackers, and unwanted advertisements. The extension also automatically recommends links to better deals when shopping online. Download Avira Free Now. Another thing that makes Panda a good choice for Windows users is the Rescue Kit feature, which allows you to download a bootable version of Panda to a USB drive and then use the USB drive to clean an infected PC and get it up and running again.

With lightweight malware scanning, an automatic gaming mode, a Rescue Kit, and a VPN, Panda is an excellent free internet security product. Download Panda Free Now. It uses a huge blacklist to identify known phishing sites as well as an AI-powered phishing detection system to detect new threats. TotalAV is also the most intuitive free Windows antivirus on this list, with easy-to-use and easy-to-understand features and functions inside a minimalistic, well-designed dashboard.

Kaspersky Security Cloud — Free is good at detecting and removing malware, and it also comes with plenty of extras — including:. All Kaspersky purchases include a day money-back guarantee.

Download Kaspersky Free Now. Malwarebytes Free is a good choice for users looking for a simple antivirus scanner that they can install and forget about. Apart from the scanner, Malwarebytes Free also comes with a browser extension that protects against a wide range of threats, including malware, ads and trackers, scams, and PUPs.

Malwarebytes Free is a minimalistic antivirus scanner with good virus detection and removal rates. It also comes with a browser extension that blocks malware, phishing sites, ads, and trackers. Download Malwarebytes For Free Now. Sophos Home Free offers pretty good free anti-malware protection. It also includes some helpful web protections and covers up to 3 PCs all within its free antivirus package.

In addition to multi-device protection and remote management, Sophos is also a decent choice for families because it has free parental controls. Sophos offers pretty good antivirus scanning and remote management for up to 3 devices — which is pretty generous for a free antivirus.