When it comes to free antivirus software, the programs available vary just as much as paid security programs do in the quality of their protection.
We look at free security programs
Frugal computer users on the hunt for no-cost antivirus software - already faced with tons of options (AVG, Avira, Comodo and PC Tools) - will have even more to choose with Microsoft's new Security Essentials and a new offering expected from Panda.
To help you figure out which free antivirus app is right for you, we put packages from all of those companies through their paces.
Our testing partner, AV-Test.org, employed its vast 'zoo' of collected malware to test detection rates and scan speed. We then poked and prodded the apps to see which ones made stopping malware an effortless task, and which ones made it feel more like drudgery.
Something - but not everything - for nothing
While free antivirus programs give you some value, they don't have everything that a paid security application can offer.
For one thing, you won't have anyone to call if things go haywire, or if you need disinfection help in the event something does sneak past your PC's defences. Most free apps give support only on online forums, though Avast and Microsoft offer email support. Avast users can submit online support tickets, too. AVG gives paid phone support, but the per-call fee costs more than most paid antivirus apps.
Do-it-yourselfers can often find good advice at helpful sites like Wilders Security Forums, but even there you shouldn't expect to talk to anyone for help with a free antivirus app. (Unless you can bribe a techie friend, that is.)
Generally, free apps have less-frequent malware-signature updates than paid products do, which can leave a window of opportunity for brand-new baddies to evade detection. Most of the free apps we tried update their signature databases only once daily.
Microsoft Security Essentials, however, will also check suspicious samples that don't match a particular installed signature, by running the sample against Microsoft's latest online signatures. And as long as you have an internet connection, Panda Cloud Antivirus checks everything against Panda's servers, so it will always use the newest signatures. (If you don't have an internet connection, the Panda program falls back on local caches.)
Some free utilities have fewer scanning options than paid apps from the same company do. For example, Avira's paid antivirus program will scan http traffic to catch web-borne malware before it hits your hard drive, but the company's free AntiVir Personal version won't. And AVG's paid app ties in to IM programs for additional security, while its AVG 8.5 Free doesn't.
Finally, some free programs give you stuff you don't want. The AVG app and Comodo Internet Security both default to installing unnecessary search or social networking browser toolbars (you can opt out during program installation), and many free apps display ads urging you to buy the paid versions.
Avira's daily pop-up ads are the most intrusive, but Avast, AVG, and PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition all display ads in some form as well.
In spite of all that, in choosing a no-cost antivirus utility, you can get decent protection and save yourself at minimum £20 every year, if you're willing to go without a few nonessentials. For many people, that isn't a bad trade-off.
NEXT PAGE: Which free software is best for you?
Comments
raija theodoulou said: HiI wanted to try the 1clickPCFixcom but Kaspersky classified it as phishingRaaija
Jeff said: Pc tools free antivirus is da best Uses very little resources and scans fast wwwfreeantivirushelpcom
Neil Patmore said: Its safe as long as you dont need support - then its expensive wwwantivirusmarketcouk are doing bitDefender for 12 quid at the moment
Marie said: have used AVG and AVAST free antivirus software for many years with out any problems Both provide excellent cover also inglude free Adaware and spyblaster and you will be fully covered Remember to schedule downloadsscans if available in the options or run manually
PeterH said: Re comments from Big-GeeI use Firefox all the time as my IPs AOL browser is so slow Dont have any problems with Firefox and my McAfee IS and SpySweeper security software With McAfee IS at the end of each session you can run a full scan and select to turn off the computer if all is ok Hence this is no inconvenience to the user and provides full security at an acceptable cost Real-time protection from both of these programs does not inhibit my computer in any way I only have an Intel Pentium 4 processor but 25GB of RAM no dual core Sorry but you wont convince me that free is better
Big-Gee said: 3 years user of Avast which is updated daily has proven protection is non-intrusive however the proxy function does affect some systems with firefox being particuarly susceptible to blocking so much that I hardly bother with firefox but then all I want is functionality but its still far better than norton amp Mcafee in my book
PeteH said: Nothings free thats any good if you examine the issues holistically Ive used McAfee IS with Webroot SpySweeper ever since I bought my computer removed Norton as it was rubbish Each year I shop around for the best deals before renewing and have found the combined cost of this protection is much much less than it would have cost me had I had problems - when Ive needed help its always been there quickly and FREE Annual cost for BOTH programs has remained less than 50 and I have also been offered 2 years protection for the price of one You wont convince me to take the risk of using free IS software
Katkins said: Im glad Anti-Vir came out on top Its the programme I have installed on my PC along with free edition Outpost Firewall and Spyware Terminator
Bob said: What about Clamwin I used to use it and am thinking of trying it again
Cyteck said: I have been using AVG Free with Zone Alarm Free basic firewall on my windows XP machine for several years amp I have found it an extremely stable amp solid combination of software I have tried numerous other Anti Virus products over the years such McAfee amp Norton amp AntiVir paid amp freeware but found Free AVG is just as good at detecting viruses amp parasites as other paid for licensed products Personally I think its a bit of a myth that paid for AV programs have better detection ratesFinally an AV application that updates itself once a day seems quite reasonable OK twice daily updates is nicer but its not going to make much difference to most ordinary users OK if your running a business then something like Sophos server with multiple daily updates which it pushes out to its desktop clients might not be over the top given how its businesss that get more attacks
about ThreatFire said: Let me just get this straight Youre running Agnitum Pro Firewall Avira Premium SpywareBlaster WinPatrol and occasionally Sandboxie And you think its ThreatFire thats slowing your system downAvira Premium includes anti-spyware features it has anti-rootkit technology it provides WebGuard - which will keep you safe when you accidentally stray on to dodgy websites It has a plethora of other features Leaving your other four security apps aside for a moment what made you think you needed ThreatFire as well
about ThreatFire said: PC Tools ThreatFire is provides only behavioral protection but I tried it on my two computers one older laptop one newer desktop both with Vista Home Premium 2 GB RAM I have the same security programs on these machines Agnitum Pro Firewall Avira Premium SpywareBlaster which doesnt run in the tray and in the tasks and WinPatrol does run in the tray I also use Sandboxie for even more secure browsing ThreatFire mus be in system startup programs and in the tray and to be honest its slows down startup and system closing processHaving such good av and other protecting apps I dont really need ThreatFire
small correction said: You are wrong by saying that free av apps provides just one signatures update per day Yes one but automatic Avira Personal for instance allows to update its signatures manually so you have the same signatures as in paid Premium version Just you have to remember to update it let say every two hours Scanning engine is also the same in both paid and free versionAvast updates signatures manually a couple times per dayJust AVG wont let you update signatures more than once a day
Bazza said: After reading reviews tried AntiVir free cause of better detection rates Thanks to its popup ad it drew my attention to the fact that it doesnt integrate with Outlook - rather than upgrade to the paid version which does I went for AVG which does integrate with Outlook Perhaps this article should have considered this integration
Bazza said: After reading reviews tried AntiVir free cause of better detection rates Thanks to its popup ad it drew my attention to the fact that it doesnt integrate with Outlook - rather than upgrade to the paid version which does I went for AVG which does integrate with Outlook Perhaps this article should have considered this integration
butter fingers said: Forgive me if im missing something here but there doesnt seem to be a rounding up of the article Is there a table of the results for eachWas the avira better in one area than others How far behind were the others What was the result for the microsoft It doesnt say Answers on a postcard please
Errr said: Mike this is a website not a magazine I discovered that when I tried to roll it up and swat flies with it
Mike said: I find it odd that a magazine with a mainly United Kingdom circulation includes in a group test software that is unavailable from Microsoft anyway in the UKIf one tries to download Security Essentials their website states You appear to be in a country or region where the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta is unavailable This beta is available only to customers in the United States Israel English only Peoples Republic of China Simplified Chinese only and Brazil Brazilian Portuguese onlyOr have Microsoft moved the goalpostswwwmicrosoftcomsecurityess
BILLYGEORGE said: Have been using Avast for a couple of years gives real time protection and instantly warns if you are on a dodgy site see no need to change
BILLYGEORGE said: Have been using Avast for a couple of years gives real time protection and instantly warns if you are on a dodgy site see no need to change