The best free antiviruses

Avast

Avast is undoubtedly one of the most widespread and appreciated free antiviruses on the market for its completeness combined with extreme ease of use. Once downloaded and installed we will have the possibility to switch to the paid version capable of guaranteeing more complete protection. If we are not interested, it doesn't matter, just decline the request. What is surprising at first startup is the simple and essential but also very elegant and intuitive interface. Available for Windows, Mac and Android devices, Avast manages to protect your PC from viruses and malware by monitoring any offline and online activity in real time. We will therefore have the possibility to carry out a quick or complete scan of the system and we will also be able to analyze external devices such as hard disks and pendrives. Furthermore, the free version includes useful tools such as Software Updater which checks the updating of installed programs or Browser Cleanup which analyzes installed browsers in search of any unwanted and dangerous toolbars. In any case, this antivirus ensures up to 94-96% protection from malware and ranks on the podium in terms of security performance.

AVG

AVG is one of the free antiviruses and by going to the official homepage of the site we can choose whether to download the free or paid version. In reality, by downloading the free program we will still have a series of options and apps available that won't make us regret upgrading to the full version too much. The interface is quite essential and unlike other similar products it is not tabbed but has a style that is very reminiscent of the checks and buttons of Windows 8. On the main screen we will therefore have a series of colored boxes where we can start the antivirus scan which can be complete or customized. The latter in fact allows us to analyze only certain files and folders that interest us. However, with AVG we will not have the fast scan that characterizes other free antiviruses. When the program then identifies an infected file, it isolates it but does not delete it. leaving the user the possibility to decide when to delete it. Also included is the Identity Protection option to protect your PC from malware that tries to steal access data and passwords. In any case, the free version is able to detect up to 96% of threats and from the evaluation tests it seems that the software does not slow down the computer's performance in the slightest.

Avira

The strong point of Avira Free Antivirus is certainly the sophisticated ability to detect malware which makes it one of the best antiviruses. Downloading it from the official page is simple and the creation of a personal account is not required. At the first start the normal interface will appear but we can also opt for the more minimal and less invasive compact one. Although quite spartan, the interface is relatively simple to use and with a few clicks we will be able to find the desired functions. With the PC Protection function you can launch a complete or quick antivirus scan if you have little time while the Internet Protection option allows you to browse in complete safety. Finally, with the Child Protection utility you can monitor social network activities to check what young people are up to. In terms of security performance, Avira comes close to 100% threat detection and is the leader in this special ranking of free antivirus programs.

Convenient Antivirus

Comodo Antivirus is a complete and free suite that is less well known than other programs but has significantly evolved positively in recent years. It is an all-in-one software that can protect your computer from possible virus and malware threats in real time. Slightly heavy compared to Avast or other similar products, Comodo still has a good database for threat recognition and is updated daily every 6 hours. The interface is decidedly well made and all its functions are translated into Italian. Among the most interesting things it is worth mentioning that the program provides its own browser, Comodo Dragon, thanks to which we can shop and bank online without the fear of theft of sensitive data. VirtualKiosk is also very useful, a kind of work and navigation environment isolated from the rest of the PC to operate in absolute safety.

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is the free proposal put forward by the American giant. Available as separate software for XP, Vista and Windows 7 systems, it is currently no longer available for Windows 8 and Windows 10 as it is included in the new Windows Defender program. In short, it is ideal for those who are used to working in the Windows environment and its impact on the computer's performance is almost zero. Being included in the operating system, it is free for all holders of a regularly purchased Windows license and is therefore the most widespread free antivirus. The control panel is beautiful, simple to use and fully translated into Italian. The program has its own fast and efficient search engine with which to perform quick or complete scans. The suite protects the system in real time from all possible threats and is updated daily with new definitions. Compared to the main competitors, this software ensures basic protection which, however, does not always manage to reach the same quality standards. Obviously first level of protection does not mean no protection and therefore Microsoft users are in any case not protected from primary threats that can undermine the security of the computer.