Every computer needs antivirus protection, period. If cost is an issue, try one of these nine free AV apps.
If your computer ever connects to the Internet, it's potentially exposed to viruses and other malicious software. As last year's Stuxnet worm demonstrated, even a computer that never connects can be compromised through an infected USB drive. Given the quality of free antivirus software available, there's no excuse for failing to install protection. The question is, which is the best free antivirus?Publishers of free AV software don't always put out a new release every year. None as yet have jumped on the 2012-edition bandwagon: but that's OK: It's still 2011. Here's the low-down on recent free antivirus releases. Here's the low-down on the most recent releases to help you choose the best free antivirus software.
Blocking Malware Attack
When you get a brand-new computer the very first thing you should install is a good antivirus. Not sure which one to choose? Install a free one to stay protected while you're researching your decision.
Ad-Aware FREE Internet Security 9.0 (Free, 4.5 stars) scored well across the board in my hands-on malware protection tests. It detected 91 percent of the threats and scored 9.0 points, the best score of any free product. Comodo Antivirus 5.0 (Free, 3.5 stars) actually detected more threats, 94 percent of them, but was just slightly less effective at blocking them, for a score of 8.9 points.
All of the free products did a decent job of protection, though avast! Free version 6.0 (Free, 3.5 stars) was less effective against scareware threats and AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011 (Free, 3.5 stars) less effective against scareware. For an explanation of how I arrive at these scores, see How We Test Malware Blocking.
Fighting Existing MalwareYou can't always start with a clean system. A free antivirus can be very handy when you need to clean up an infestation of malicious software right now. Ad-Aware FREE proved very effective in my malware removal tests. Comodo, the other top scorer for malware blocking, didn't do nearly as well at cleanup.
Panda Cloud Anti-Virus 1.5 Free Edition (Free, 3.5 stars) is the only one of this group tested with my 2011 malware collection. It detected 91 percent of threats, the same as Ad-Aware, but scored much lower due to incomplete cleanup. According to Panda,an update with improved cleanup abilities is in the works. Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0 (Free, 3 stars) doesn't shine either at blocking or cleanup.
Several of the free products specifically aim to clean up malware problems, not to give you ongoing protection. Symantec designed Norton Power Eraser (Free, 4 stars) to aggressively deal with scareware and other persistent malware that may prevent installation of a full-scale antivirus product. The similar Norman Malware Cleaner 2.1 (Free, 3.5 stars) was especially effective at detecting and removing scareware.
When tech support agents for other antivirus companies hit the wall trying to help users, they sometimes invoke Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46 (Free, 3.5 stars) to perform the initial cleanup. In my tests it tied with Ad-Aware FREE for top overall score, though it wasn't as effective against rootkits. For details on how I derive these scores, see How We Test Malware Removal.
Your Best ChoiceWhich free antivirus should you choose? Since they're free, you can try several to see which suits you the best. In my testing Comodo and Ad-Aware FREE were especially effective at blocking new malware attacks, while Panda Cloud and Ad-Aware FREE did a good job removing existing malware. Where others excelled at one task or the other, Ad-Aware FREE Internet Security 9.0 handled both protection and cleanup very well. It remains PCMag's Editor's Choice for free antivirus.
Ad-Aware FREE Internet Security 9.0
Most free antivirus utilities are good at either malware removal or malware blocking, but not both. Ad-Aware Free proved very effective in both areas, almost as effective as Ad-Aware Pro. This is a great free antivirus solution for non-commercial use.
avast! Free version 6.0
Avast! Free has some dandy new features, and it's a great-looking program. However, the new features didn't shine in my testing. It needs to do a better job cleaning up the threats it detects. Since it's free, you can give it a try and make your own decision.
AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011 is better at removing malware than most free solutions, but not at malware blocking. With the current release it has the full power of AVG's paid solutions, and the independent labs give it top marks. Add some unusual bonus features and you've got a solid choice for free antivirus protection.
Comodo Antivirus 5.0Comodo promises to keep a clean PC clean, and it delivers on that promise. It does include a component to scan and clean infested systems, but this component doesn't really work. Consider using a different free tool for cleanup, and be prepared to carefully peruse Comodo's numerous popups.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46When support agents from other vendors run into malware that foils their own product they frequently direct users to run Malwarebytes. I can see why—it's small, fast, and simple. This free product should definitely be in your toolbox. Just don't pay extra for real-time protection.
Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0
If using a Microsoft product gives you a warm, safe feeling you may consider relying on Microsoft Security Essentials for antivirus protection. The independent labs give it good ratings, for the most part. In my own testing, though, it didn't shine. Other free products offer better protection.
Norton Power Eraser
Norton Power Eraser's aggressive detection features catch threats others miss. It can also remove malware that blocks antivirus installation. The combination of Norton 360 and Norton Power Eraser set new scoring records in all categories of my malware removal tests.
Norman Malware Cleaner 2.1Both PCMag's tests and independent lab tests show that Norman's malware cleanup isn't the best. However, this free tool runs even when malware blocks installation of more full-featured products. Give it a try when you need a quick fix.
Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.5 Free EditionThis free antivirus solution minimizes its impact on your system by using the cloud for malware detection, and its simple user interface is easy on the eyes. In testing, it didn't completely handle every detected threat, but it's still a reasonable choice if you're looking for a free solution.
No comments:
Post a Comment