Best Basic Antivirus Software![Software Software](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126607101/452758430.png)
- Top Ten Antivirus Software For Mac
- Top Ten Antivirus Software 2018
- Free Virus Protection For Windows 10
- Free Antivirus Protection
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
Superior protection, low system impact
The Top 10 Antivirus Rankings is a quick and easy way for you to see in a bit more detail how the 10 highest-rated Antivirus providers stack up next to each other across the areas that matter most to you. Providers featured on AntivirusRankings have been tested by our own editors or third-party antivirus software testing agencies. Looking for a top-rated antivirus? Our Top 10 Best Antivirus Software of 2017 and 2019 is based on intensive testing and in-depth analysis. The best antivirus protection for Windows 7, 8 and 10. Top 5 things to look for when buying antivirus software. Choosing which antivirus software to buy is far from an easy decision. There are so many different products from so many different companies. All varying in price, features, type of protection, and so much more. Antivirus software is something you need. There is no other way to put it. The best antivirus 2019 1. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019. In a world packed with free security software. Norton AntiVirus Plus. Norton AntiVirus Plus is a top quality malware hunter which can. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus. At Webroot Inc. ESET NOD32 Antivirus. If you judge. Here is the guide to the top 10 antivirus software for your PC (often Windows). Because in some situations, a paid offer is not necessary for basic protection especially. Here is Best free antivirus software 2019.
Best Midrange Antivirus SoftwareKaspersky Internet Security
Most everything you need
Best Premium PC Security SuiteKaspersky Total Security
Still top of the class
Plenty of Windows users believe they don't need to pay for the best antivirus software. Many Mac and Android users think they don't need protection at all. Windows' high profile makes it the biggest target, but macOS and Android are also vulnerable to malware, even if their users don't encounter as much of it.
We believe it's worth paying for Windows antivirus software, because even the best free software leaves out some protection features we consider essential. But you don't have to spend a lot. Many antivirus products are sold online for much less than their list prices.
Mac and Android users have other options: Some of our favorite Mac AV products cost nothing, and most Android security apps have free versions.
Different Types of Antivirus Software
Latest Security Alerts and Threats
— Medical records of more than 24 million people have been exposed on nearly 600 servers belonging to healthcare providers, a German security firm revealed. ADVICE: Ask your healthcare provider how images of your X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are protected online.
— Two adware-ridden selfie-filter apps were removed from the Google Play store, but are still easy to find in other Android app markets. ADVICE: Check to see whether Sun Pro Beauty Camera or Funny Sweet Beauty Selfie Camera are on your phone, and run a good Android antivirus app.
— More than a dozen home and small-business routers and network-attached-storage drives, including the Netgear Nighthawk R9000, can be compromised remotely, researchers revealed. ADVICE: Make sure your networked devices' firmware is up-to-date, disable remote access and UPnP in the administrative settings, and make sure the admin password is not the factory default.
How We Tested the Best Antivirus Software
Our evaluations were based on an antivirus product's interface, performance, protection and extra features. Was the interface intuitive and user-friendly? How badly did malware scans slow performance? How well did the program detect and remove malware? Does the program have any additional tools, and are they useful?
Most of our Windows tests were performed on the same Asus X555LA laptop running 64-bit Windows 8.1 (later upgraded to Windows 10), with an Intel Core i3-5005U processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive containing 36GB of files.
Some of our newer Windows performance tests were done on a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 with a 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage containing 43.3GB of files.
Our Mac evaluations were conducted on a 2017 MacBook Air running macOS 10.14 Mojave with a 1.8-GHz Intel Core i5 CPU and approximately 54GB of data stored on a 128GB SSD.
To assess a program's impact on system speed on both Windows and macOS, we used our own custom tests, which measure how long a CPU takes to match 20,000 names and addresses on an OpenOffice or Excel spreadsheet. The longer it took the laptop to finish either test, the heavier the performance impact.
For smartphones, we used the Geekbench 4 benchmarking app on a Samsung Galaxy S8 running Android 7.0 Nougat.
For malware-detection scores, we use the results of three independent testing labs: AV-TEST in Germany, AV-Comparatives in Austria and SE Labs in England. Each lab subjects the major antivirus brands' products to stress tests involving thousands of pieces of malware, including hundreds of previously unseen samples.
Windows Antivirus Software Types
Most antivirus makers have three or four tiers of Windows products, with each price bump adding extra features, such as parental controls or cloud backups. But because each company uses a single malware-detection engine for all its Windows antivirus software, the cheapest item — even a free one — in any product line usually finds malware just as thoroughly as the priciest.
Not all users will need premium suites, or even midrange products. If you don't have kids, or if you already have backup software, the basic product may be enough.
MORE: How to Buy Antivirus Software
Basic or Entry-Level Windows Antivirus Software
The least-expensive paid Windows antivirus products, which generally start at $40 to $60 per year depending on the number of PCs covered, have the essentials. Definition updates and scans are automatic; websites and email attachments are screened, and the products are mostly easy to use. Some basic AV programs toss in extra features, such as file shredders or system optimizers, that are normally found in pricier products.
Best Basic Antivirus Software
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
Reasons to Buy
Small performance penalty
Lots of useful extra features
Reasons to Avoid
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus has very good malware detection and a strong selection of extra tools. You'll find a built-in unlimited password manager, a secure browser, VPN client software, protection against encrypting ransomware, anti-tracking software and automatic profiles that optimize Bitdefender's impact on your system, depending on whether you're working, watching a movie or playing a game.
Midpriced Windows Antivirus Software
These products usually start at $60 to $80 per year. They generally build on the basic packages by bundling in parental controls and a two-way firewall to catch outgoing data, although many add other features. But for the full feature set each brand offers, you'll have to pony up for the premium products.
Best Midrange Antivirus Software
Kaspersky Internet Security
Reasons to Buy
Webcam protection, hardened web browser
Two-factor authentication for online account
Reasons to Avoid
Unlimited VPN usage costs extra
Parental controls not as good as top-tier program
Kaspersky takes first place among midrange antivirus software products, thanks to its excellent malware protection and a full assortment of extra features and tools. Kaspersky Internet Security includes a secure browser, a virtual keyboard, specialized protection against ransomware, webcam protection to guard your privacy. There's VPN client software that automatically switches on when you connect to an unsafe Wi-Fi network, but data usage is limited unless you pay extra.
Premium Windows Antivirus Software
Top-tier packages are often called security suites because they do much more than catch malware. They might also offer file encryption, secure online storage, a password manager or an ad blocker. As most suites cover multiple devices, they also frequently bundle in licenses for Mac and Android antivirus software. For all this, you're meant to pay at least $80 per year — but as with all paid antivirus software, steep discounts can often be found online.
Best Premium Antivirus Software
Kaspersky Total Security
Reasons to Buy
Backup software, rich parental controls, unlimited password manager
Reasons to Avoid
VPN data usage capped unless you pay extra
Top Ten Antivirus Software For Mac
Kaspersky Total Security has it all for those who want more than just excellent malware detection. This one rose to the top because it eliminates threats without generating many annoying false positives. We also like the included secure browser, which is ideal for online banking and shopping. Other highlights include a thorough file shredder, Windows backup and recovery software, and excellent parental controls.
Free Windows Antivirus Software
Free Windows antivirus products have gotten much better, and our top two choices offer excellent malware detection, if little else. The others provide adequate protection with a smattering of goodies such as password managers or parental controls. Among those is Microsoft's built-in Windows Defender, which has risen to the middle of our rankings. However, free antivirus software generally leaves out extra protection features such as dedicated defenses against ransomware or spam blockers.
Best Free Windows Antivirus
Kasperky Free Antivirus
Reasons to Buy
Light-to-moderate performance hit
Some customization options
Reasons to Avoid
Kaspersky Lab largely keeps quiet about its free antivirus product, but it's a winner, with a user-friendly interface, a fairly light system-performance impact and Kaspersky's nearly flawless malware protection. Just don't expect anything from it but the bare necessities.
Mac Antivirus Software
Despite what Apple's marketing has implied, Macs do get infected, and the amount of Mac malware keeps rising. But there's less money to be made in the Mac antivirus market than in the Windows one, and the products are less standardized. Some Mac antivirus products are free, and some are paid. One of the products we recently evaluated, Avast Free Mac Security, doesn't cost a dime.
Best Mac Antivirus Software
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac
Reasons to Buy
Ransomware protection
Imperceptible system impact
Reasons to Avoid
Automatically installs VPN client, but unlimited costs extra
$38.99
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac offers flawless malware detection, ransomware rollbacks and almost no impact on system performance. It has a streamlined, easy-to-use interface that places on-demand scans front and center. We wish that Bitdefender didn't nag us to buy extra VPN service, but other than that, this program is nearly perfect.
Android Antivirus Apps
Every Android device, whether it's a smartphone, tablet or TV stick, should have antivirus software. Usually, that software comes with an all-encompassing security app that also includes anti-theft and remote-locating features, and many apps have both a basic free version and a premium version with more features.
The free versions of the Android security apps we reviewed are pretty solid. The paid versions, which cost between $15 and $30 per year, range from being just a bit better than the free ones to becoming practically separate products, with a wide range of capabilities. You'll have to decide what you need and select accordingly.
Best Android Antivirus App
Bitdefender Mobile Security
Reasons to Buy
Comprehensive and reliable anti-theft features
Intuitive user interface
Reasons to Avoid
Can't schedule scans
![Software Software](/uploads/1/2/6/6/126607101/452758430.png)
$14.99
The Bitdefender Android security app has flawless malware protection, a small performance hit, privacy-protection tools and Android Wear integration. Yet there are no scheduled malware scans, and no freemium option. (The separate Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Android only scans for malware.) Still, at $15 per year per device, Bitdefender Mobile Security is worth the expense.
iOS Antivirus Apps
A lot of people want iOS antivirus software for their iPhones and iPads. The truth is that such software doesn't exist. Apple won't let third-party apps examine other iOS apps, or even inspect new apps as they're installed. Anything that claims to be antivirus software swiftly gets kicked out of the iTunes App Store.
Many major antivirus vendors, including F-Secure, McAfee, Norton and Trend Micro, do have 'security' apps in the App Store. But these check web links for known malicious sites, locate lost devices or pretend to protect your privacy. None scans an iPhone for malware.
There has been real iOS malware that affects non-jailbroken devices, but it's very rarely cropped up. In each instance, Apple has pushed out a new version of iOS to stop the malware in a matter of days or weeks. Generally, if you keep your Apple mobile device updated to the latest version of iOS, you should be safe.
[Editor's Note: Best Buy has removed Kaspersky Lab products from its shelves, citing concerns regarding Kaspersky's alleged (but as yet undocumented) ties to the Russian government. However, until we see real evidence that Kaspersky software is a threat to consumers, we will continue to recommend it. Here is further clarification of our position.]
Free Malware, Spyware, and Adware Protection
There are all kinds of excuses not to install antivirus software. I don't have time. I'm really careful. It's too expensive. Procrastinators will put things off, but we can at least knock out that last excuse. You don't have to spend a penny to get one of the many free antivirus programs. There's a wide selection, and the best ones perform better than many commercial competitors. We've evaluated more than a dozen free antivirus tools, to help you pick one that will protect you without hitting you in the wallet.
Your antivirus should definitely have the ability to root out existing malware, but its ongoing task is to prevent ransomware, botnets, Trojans, and other types of nasty programs from getting a foothold. All of the antivirus programs in this collection offer real-time malware protection. Some take the fight upstream, working hard to ensure you never even browse to a malware-hosting site, or get fooled into turning over your credentials to a phishing site.
Free Antivirus vs. Paid Antivirus
If free antivirus tools are so great, why should anybody pay? For one thing, quite a few of these products are free only for noncommercial use; if you want to protect your business, you have to pony up for the paid edition. At that point, you should probably consider upgrading to a full security suite. After all, it's your business's security on the line.
Even for personal use, most for-pay antivirus tools offer more than their free counterparts—sometimes a lot more. For example, ZoneAlarm's paid edition adds protection against malicious and fraudulent websites that the free version lacks. And Panda reserves quite a few features for paying customers, among them firewall protection, application control, cross-platform support, and detection of insecure Wi-Fi connections.
In addition, many companies don't offer full-scale tech support for users of the free edition. The first time you need extra help digging a particularly stubborn piece of malware out of your system, you might regret the lack of support.
Independent Antivirus Lab Test Results
Around the world, researchers at independent antivirus testing labs spend their days putting antivirus tools to the test. Some of these labs regularly release public reports on their findings. We follow four such labs closely: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, SE Labs, and MRG-Effitas. We also take note of whether vendors have contracted for certification by ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs.
Security companies typically pay for the privilege of being included in testing. In return, the labs supply them with detailed reports that can help improve their products. The number of labs that include a particular vendor serves as a measure of significance. In each case, the lab considered the product important enough to test, and the vendor felt the price was worthwhile. The labs don't necessarily test a vendor's free product, but most vendors pack full protection into the free product, enhancing premium versions with additional features.
We Test Malware Protection
In addition to carefully perusing results from the independent labs, we also run our own hands-on malware protection test. We expose each antivirus to a collection of malware samples, including a variety of different malware types, and note its reaction. Typically the antivirus will wipe out most of the samples on sight, and detect some of the remaining ones when we try to launch them. We derive a malware blocking score from 0 to 10 points based on how thoroughly the antivirus protects the test system from these samples.
Since we use the same samples month after month, the malware-blocking test definitely doesn't measure a product's ability to detect brand-new threats. In a separate test, we attempt to download malware from 100 very new malicious URLs supplied by MRG-Effitas, typically less than a few days old. We note whether the antivirus blocked all access to the URL, wiped out the malicious payload during download, or did nothing. Bitdefender and Trend Micro hold the top score in this test, but Sophos Home Free is close behind.
If you're interested in learning more about our testing techniques, you're welcome to read more about how we test security software.
Useful Features
Just about every antivirus product scans files on access to make sure malware can't launch, and also scans the entire system on demand, or on a schedule you set. Once that cleaning and scheduling is done, blocking all access to malware-hosting URLs is another good way to avoid trouble. Many products extend that protection to also steer users away from fraudulent websites, phishing sites that try to steal login credentials for financial sites and other sensitive sites. A few rate links in search results, flagging any dangerous or iffy ones.
Behavior-based detection, a feature of some antivirus products, is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can detect malware that's never been seen before. On the other hand, if it's not done right, it can baffle the user with messages about perfectly legitimate programs.
Any antivirus should eliminate spyware along with other types of malware, but some products include features designed specifically for spyware protection. Features like encryption to protect your sensitive data and webcam control to prevent remote peeping typically show up in commercial products, not free ones. But some free products include features like a simple on-screen keyboard to foil keyloggers.
One easy way to keep your PC protected is to install all security updates, both for Windows and for browsers and other popular applications. Windows 10 makes it easier than ever to stay up to date, but there are plenty of security holes in older Windows versions, in popular apps, and in add-ons. Scanning for vulnerabilities in the form of missing updates is a feature most often found in commercial antivirus products, but it does turn up in some free ones. In the chart above you can see which products include these useful features.
What's Not Here?
This article reports only on free antivirus products that received at least a good rating in our reviews—three stars or better. Now that Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center has maintained a three-star score for a while, we've let it join the party. Yes, it's more of a Windows component than a free product. Yes, the very best free antivirus utilities offer many more layers of protection. But Windows Defender protects everyone who can't be bothered to install a third-party antivirus tool.
Several free utilities devoted entirely to ransomware protection joined the party in the last year or two. Cybereason RansomFree, CyberSight RansomStopper, and Acronis Ransomware Protection, among others, exist for the sole purpose of fending off any ransomware attack that your regular antivirus misses. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware works by fooling ransomware to think that your computer is already infected. These are useful companion products, but they don't do the job of a full-scale antivirus utility.
Top Ten Antivirus Software 2018
There are also numerous free antivirus utilities that work solely to clean up existing malware infestations. You bring out these cleanup-only tools when you have a nasty malware problem. When the malware's gone, they have no further use, since they offer no ongoing protection. Our favorite in this category is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and it's definitely one you should try if you've got a malware problem. But since they're free, you can keep trying others if the first one doesn't do the job. When the scare is over, you'll need a full-blown antivirus for ongoing protection.
What's the Best Free Antivirus?
Free Virus Protection For Windows 10
Our current Editors' Choice products for free antivirus utility are Avast Free Antivirus and Kaspersky Free. Avast gets very good scores from the independent labs, and Kaspersky took near-perfect scores in recent tests. On the other hand, Avast includes some useful bonus features not found in Kaspersky, including a password manager and a network security scanner. If you do have a little cash in your budget for security, the best paid antivirus software does offer more and better protection. If not, try a few of these free tools and see which one you like best.
Worried you might already be infected? Check out our article on the signs you have malware.
Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.
Free Antivirus Protection
Best Free Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Avast Free Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs and our hands-on tests. Network security inspector. Password manager. Many useful, security-related bonus features. Free.Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase.Microsoft enterprise manager download. Bottom Line: Avast Free Antivirus combines an antivirus engine that scores very well in testing with a surprisingly extensive collection of bonus features.Read ReviewKaspersky Security Cloud Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Perfect or near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Support for Android and iOS. Free.Cons: No direct tech support.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Security Cloud Free offers full-scale malware protection and even some suite-level features. It gets superb scores from the independent labs, and it won't cost you a penny.Read ReviewAVG AntiVirus Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores in multiple independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests.Cons: Initial scan slower than average. No longer offers web protection browser extension.Bottom Line: AVG AntiVirus Free offers precisely the same antivirus protection engine as Avast Free Antivirus, but lacks the impressive collection of bonus features that you get with Avast.Read ReviewBitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Same core antivirus protection as for-pay Bitdefender. Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Free.Cons: Lacks some advanced malware protection layers found in commercial antivirus.Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core antivirus technology found in the commercial Bitdefender Antivirus, focusing on the essential task of antivirus protection with minimal add-ons.Read ReviewCheck Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Antivirus protection licensed from Kaspersky. Tough, effective two-way firewall. Free. Bonus features.Cons: No antivirus lab test results. Lacks some antivirus features. Autocad command reference pdf. No protection for malicious or fraudulent websites. Behavioral detection tars good and bad programs in testing. Personal data protection fails in testing.Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ combines Kaspersky-powered antivirus with an effective firewall, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, and some of its bonus features don't work.Read ReviewAvira Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good score in our malware blocking test. Free. Option to install many related Avira products.Cons: Slow on-demand scan. Browser protection only for Chrome and Firefox. So-so antiphishing score. Real-time protection missed some malware EXEs, identified some valid programs as malware.Bottom Line: The free Avira Antivirus gets excellent ratings from the independent labs, but it doesn't fare as well in our antiphishing test, and its browser protection only works with Chrome and Firefox.Read ReviewSophos Home Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores in our hands-on tests. Decent antiphishing score. Remote management. Free.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Parental content filter ineffective. Slow full scan.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free gives consumers antivirus protection built for business, including remote management, but no testing labs vouch for its accuracy.Read Reviewadaware antivirus free 12 Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Full scan flags safe programs, speeding up subsequent scans. Free.Cons: Mixed scores in independent lab tests. Low scores in our hands-on tests. No protection against malicious or fraudulent URLs. Lacks features found in competing free products products and in its own previous edition.Bottom Line: In a complete makeover, adaware antivirus free 12 has a new name and a new look. Under the hood, though, its test results aren't the best, and competing free products have much more to offer.Read ReviewMicrosoft Windows Defender Security Center Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Built into Windows 10. Good lab scores. Excellent hands-on malware protection score. Simple ransomware protection. Always on if no other antivirus is present.Cons: Poor results in phishing protection test. Awkward scan scheduling. SmartScreen Filter works only in Microsoft browsers.Bottom Line: Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center protects Windows 10 PCs that have no other antivirus protection, and it has significantly improved in lab test results and our own hands-on tests.Read ReviewQihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: 360 Connect smartphone app lets you remotely help friends and family use the product. Cleanup, tuneup, vulnerability scan, and many other bonus utilities.Cons: So-so scores in our malware blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Dismal score in our antiphishing test. Default configuration not optimized for security.Bottom Line: The free Qihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 comes with a ton of bonus tools, but its core antivirus protection doesn't measure up to the best free antivirus tools.Read Review
Best Free Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Avast Free Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs and our hands-on tests. Network security inspector. Password manager. Many useful, security-related bonus features. Free.Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase.Microsoft enterprise manager download. Bottom Line: Avast Free Antivirus combines an antivirus engine that scores very well in testing with a surprisingly extensive collection of bonus features.Read ReviewKaspersky Security Cloud Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Perfect or near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Support for Android and iOS. Free.Cons: No direct tech support.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Security Cloud Free offers full-scale malware protection and even some suite-level features. It gets superb scores from the independent labs, and it won't cost you a penny.Read ReviewAVG AntiVirus Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores in multiple independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests.Cons: Initial scan slower than average. No longer offers web protection browser extension.Bottom Line: AVG AntiVirus Free offers precisely the same antivirus protection engine as Avast Free Antivirus, but lacks the impressive collection of bonus features that you get with Avast.Read ReviewBitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Same core antivirus protection as for-pay Bitdefender. Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Free.Cons: Lacks some advanced malware protection layers found in commercial antivirus.Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core antivirus technology found in the commercial Bitdefender Antivirus, focusing on the essential task of antivirus protection with minimal add-ons.Read ReviewCheck Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Antivirus protection licensed from Kaspersky. Tough, effective two-way firewall. Free. Bonus features.Cons: No antivirus lab test results. Lacks some antivirus features. Autocad command reference pdf. No protection for malicious or fraudulent websites. Behavioral detection tars good and bad programs in testing. Personal data protection fails in testing.Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ combines Kaspersky-powered antivirus with an effective firewall, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, and some of its bonus features don't work.Read ReviewAvira Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good score in our malware blocking test. Free. Option to install many related Avira products.Cons: Slow on-demand scan. Browser protection only for Chrome and Firefox. So-so antiphishing score. Real-time protection missed some malware EXEs, identified some valid programs as malware.Bottom Line: The free Avira Antivirus gets excellent ratings from the independent labs, but it doesn't fare as well in our antiphishing test, and its browser protection only works with Chrome and Firefox.Read ReviewSophos Home Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores in our hands-on tests. Decent antiphishing score. Remote management. Free.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Parental content filter ineffective. Slow full scan.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free gives consumers antivirus protection built for business, including remote management, but no testing labs vouch for its accuracy.Read Reviewadaware antivirus free 12 Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Full scan flags safe programs, speeding up subsequent scans. Free.Cons: Mixed scores in independent lab tests. Low scores in our hands-on tests. No protection against malicious or fraudulent URLs. Lacks features found in competing free products products and in its own previous edition.Bottom Line: In a complete makeover, adaware antivirus free 12 has a new name and a new look. Under the hood, though, its test results aren't the best, and competing free products have much more to offer.Read ReviewMicrosoft Windows Defender Security Center Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Built into Windows 10. Good lab scores. Excellent hands-on malware protection score. Simple ransomware protection. Always on if no other antivirus is present.Cons: Poor results in phishing protection test. Awkward scan scheduling. SmartScreen Filter works only in Microsoft browsers.Bottom Line: Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center protects Windows 10 PCs that have no other antivirus protection, and it has significantly improved in lab test results and our own hands-on tests.Read ReviewQihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: 360 Connect smartphone app lets you remotely help friends and family use the product. Cleanup, tuneup, vulnerability scan, and many other bonus utilities.Cons: So-so scores in our malware blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Dismal score in our antiphishing test. Default configuration not optimized for security.Bottom Line: The free Qihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 comes with a ton of bonus tools, but its core antivirus protection doesn't measure up to the best free antivirus tools.Read Review