Computer security , protection and cleaning from viruses and malware in the background are provided by special programs - antiviruses. Rating of the best free antiviruses amateur and quite authoritative tests are published with enviable regularity, but choosing a high-quality and functional product is not so simple.
In addition, it is believed that free software does not provide such protection as paid software. In fact, in the segment of free applications you can choose the best solution. The rating of free antiviruses is presented below.
Microsoft Standard Antivirus: Prevalence and Performance
Windows is the undisputed leader among vendors of operating systems and related software. In 2016, Windows 7 was installed on 55% of all devices, while Linux and OS X 10.11 from Apple own a share of 2% and 7% of users, respectively.
Standard solutions are rarely included in the rating of free antiviruses, but they are also acceptable programs for ensuring the necessary level of security. Windows Defender, which comes with Windows 8 and 10, recognizes and eliminates up to 95% of common threats and about 85% of so-called zero-day attacks, i.e. the latest viruses against which protection algorithms have not yet been developed.
Is Windows Defender enough for the needs of an ordinary user?
In general, along with the observance of elementary security rules, the use of a modern browser and regular software updates make it possible to successfully use the standard antivirus (reviews, the Windows Defender rating confirm this possibility) as the main security solution. But for those who often download pirated content, is an active Internet user or stores important data on their hard drive, it is better to look at other, free, but somewhat more functional programs.
Testing at Independent Anti-Virus Labs
Comparative tests with a large number of samples are regularly conducted by leading antivirus laboratories. Test results allow developers to improve their own products, so participation is usually paid. Basically, the rating of Windows antiviruses (the operating system is the most common, which is why it is tested on it) includes paid versions of programs, but if a free solution provides complete protection, the software is also evaluated.
In May 2016, AV-Comparatives conducted dynamic testing of 19 antivirus programs. For research, we used the Windows 7 platform (with relevant third-party programs, such as Adobe Flash or Java) and 350 malicious test samples. Below is the rating of free antiviruses according to the version of AV-Comparatives.
Practical research results
The rating "Anti-virus for free" (Windows 10 and other operating systems based on the corporation) was headed by Bitdefender and ThreatTrack Vipre, which did not miss a single threat and worked without false positives. Trend Micro and F-Secure also took leadership positions with 100% malware detection result, but 7th and 15th false positives, respectively. Closed the top five Kaspersky Internet Security, who missed 0.3% of the threats, but passed the test without false positives.
Free analogues of tested antivirus programs
Bitdefender's free counterpart, Free Edition, is used as an alternative to many paid applications, provides background virus protection and is able to detect spyware. CreativeTrack Vipre is not available in a free version. Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + is distributed freely only in the form of a trial version (6 months of free use), as well as F-Secure (90 days). An analogue of Kaspersky Internet Security is Kaspersky Free Anti-Virus (Free) with a free license, which has several limited capabilities compared to KIS or Total Security, but remains the best solution.
Antivirus Rating for Windows: Functionality
"Anti-virus for free" (rating compiled by many reputable sources and amateurs) often differs in functionality from paid versions. However, this does not mean at all that free software is not able to protect your computer from viruses, malware and spyware.
In general, antivirus programs provide the following features:
scanning for threats at the request of the user;
real-time system protection in the background;
scanning the file system at boot time;
an algorithm for detecting the latest malware, methods of dealing with which are not yet included in the general version of the application;
work with cloud storage;
network traffic control (firewall or Firewall);
third-party intrusion detection system;
Email protection, detection of malicious attachments;
web protection;
interactive analysis and recognition of spam;
automatic update.
At the same time, the best free antivirus for Windows 7 (rating by functionality) does not have to include the entire set of features. The main thing is that the chosen solution meets the requirements and subjective representations of a particular user.
Leader of the rating: ESET Nod32 Smart Security
All the functions listed above include a comprehensive antivirus with multi-level protection ESET Nod32 Smart Security. In addition to standard phishing protection, file system security, Internet access, e-mail in stationary mail clients, ESET has some other interesting features. Among these additional features:
AntiVor, which determines the location of the device with the installed program, takes screenshots and allows you to watch through the webcam “bullying” over the stolen laptop;
a protective application for social networks, it supports, however, only Twitter, but in the future it can become a serious competitive advantage of ESET over other antiviruses;
Eset SysInspector analyzes the state of the operating system, identifies potentially dangerous parameters and allows you to identify the causes of computer problems.
A serious disadvantage of the antivirus is the absence in the free version of protection from software that records user actions (mouse movements, keystrokes, clipboard, snapshots, and sometimes a video screen recording).
Free antivirus rating: performance and tests
Another rating of free antiviruses is based on testing results and analysis of program performance. Panda Antivirus Pro and 360 Total Security systems have a slight effect on the download speed, AVG Antivirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition and ESET NOD32 Smart Security are not far behind. Significantly slows down the download of Avira Free Antivirus (more than three minutes).
Scanning system folders (with equal detection of malware) takes about ten minutes for Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free, Avira Free Antivirus and ESET NOD32 Smart Security. Comodo Antivirus showed the worst result - scanning took more than half an hour.
The smallest amount of memory is used by Avast Free Antivirus and Panda Antivirus Pro (only 40 mb), and the real “heavyweights” are Avira Free Antivirus (175 mb), AVG Antivirus Free (130 mb) and 360 Total Security (120 mb). At the same time, Avira uses the processor only 5%, while the smaller AVG Antivirus Free - as much as 16%.
Distribution of places according to the rating results
In general, free antiviruses for Windows XP (performance rating), as well as for other platforms (Windows 7, 8, 10) are located as follows:
Panda Antivirus.
Avast Free Antivirus and ESET NOD32 Smart Security.
360 Total Security.
AVG Antivirus Free and Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.
Avira Free Antivirus and Comodo Antivirus.
Panda Antivirus Pro Overview
One of the main advantages - the small load on the system from Panda Antivirus along with providing sufficient protection - is explained by the fact that the program is a cloud antivirus. The software has most of the necessary functions, an additional USB scan is available, but there are quite a few significant disadvantages.
So, for example, the antivirus is free (the rating recognized Panda Antivirus as the best solution according to the test results) does not provide any protection against data interception by third-party programs, requires an active Internet connection to scan the system, and does not provide web protection. In addition, some users find malware in the installation files of the antivirus itself. The unsightly interface is another drawback of Panda Antivirus.
Android Antivirus Applications
If Windows takes the leading position in the market of computer equipment, then for mobile devices the Android operating system is almost a monopolist: 80% of smartphones work on Android. Mobile antiviruses are represented both by analogs of the already mentioned extended versions, and by programs that operate exclusively on smartphones.
AV-Test laboratory tested mobile antiviruses. The rating of free antiviruses for Android was headed by the AhnLab application. The application provides comprehensive verification of a mobile device, prevents Internet threats, and allows you not to worry about the security of files and other personal data. However, most of the programs presented in this rating are not common in the Russian-language segment, so relying more on real user reviews - there are no reputable laboratories that would evaluate Russian-language applications.
Pretty good solutions for choosing active users are CM Security, Dr.Web Light and free antivirus (reviews, rating below) AVG AntiVirus. CM Security does not load the system and effectively copes with its duties; Dr.Web Light provides powerful protection, but annoys many users with frequent advertising. AVG AntiVirus is also a universal solution, in addition, in the Pro version of the application, many useful additional functions become available, but such an assembly consumes a large amount of resources, due to which the device can work more slowly.
Finally
Anti-virus is a necessary program, because far from always user needs can satisfy standard protection options against viruses and malware (especially on mobile devices). The choice of the optimal solution here largely depends on individual needs and subjective judgments, so you can be guided by a variety of ratings, but you should not rely on testing completely. What is the use of an antivirus that, according to the results of research, copes with its tasks perfectly, but is elementarily inconvenient to use or significantly slows down the work of a laptop or smartphone? Many users need to first try several options in order to eventually choose the only convenient one.