Free antivirus rating: review, description and reviews

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 testing are published with an enviable regularity, but choosing a 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 optimal solution. The rating of free antiviruses is presented below.

Standard antivirus by Microsoft: prevalence and performance

Windows Corporation is the undisputed leader among operating system and related software vendors. 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.

The rating of free antiviruses rarely includes standard solutions, but they are also acceptable programs to ensure the necessary level of security. Windows Defender, which ships with Windows 8 and 10 systems, recognizes and eliminates up to 95% of common threats and about 85% of so-called zero-day attacks, i.e. The newest viruses against which protection algorithms have not yet been developed.

Is the "Defender" of Windows enough for an ordinary user's needs ?

In general, along with observance of elementary security rules, the use of a modern browser and regular software updates allow the successful use of standard antivirus (reviews, rating of "Defender" Windows confirm this possibility) as the main security decision. But those who often download pirated content, is an active Internet user or keeps important data on the hard disk, it is better to look at other, free, but somewhat more functional programs.

Testing in independent anti-virus laboratories

Comparative tests with a large number of samples are regularly conducted by leading anti-virus laboratories. Test results allow developers to improve their own products, so participation is usually paid for. Basically, in the rating of Windows antiviruses (the operating system is the most common, and therefore it is being tested) include paid versions of the programs, but if the free solution provides full protection - the software is also evaluated.

In May 2016, AV-Comparatives conducted dynamic testing of 19 antivirus programs. The study used the Windows 7 platform (with current third-party programs, for example, Adobe Flash or Java) and 350 malicious test samples. Below is a rating of free antiviruses for the version of AV-Comparatives.

Results of practical research

The "Anti-Virus Free" rating (Windows 10 and other corporate-based operating systems) was headed by Bitdefender and ThreatTrack Vipre, who did not miss any threats and worked without false positives. Leader positions also occupied Trend Micro and F-Secure with 100% result of malware recognition, but, respectively, 7 and 15 false positives. Closed the top five leaders Kaspersky Internet Security, missed 0.3% of threats, but passed the test without false positives.

Free analogues of the tested antivirus programs

Free analog Bitdefender - Free Edition - is used as an alternative to many paid applications, provides background protection against viruses and is able to detect spyware. TheTreatTrack Vipre is not released in the free version. Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus + is distributed freely only as a trial version (6 months of free use), like F-Secure (90 days). The analog of Kaspersky Internet Security is Kaspersky Free Anti-Virus (Free) with a free license, which has a few limited capabilities compared to KIS or Total Security, but remains the optimal solution.

Antivirus rating for Windows: functionality

"Antivirus free" (the rating is compiled by many authoritative sources and amateurs) often differs in functionality from paid versions. However, this does not mean that free software is not capable of protecting your computer from viruses, malware and spyware.

In general, anti-virus programs provide the following features:

• Scanning for threats on the user's request;

• Constant protection of the system in the background;

• Scanning the file system at boot time;

• Algorithm for detecting the latest malware, methods of combating which are not yet included in the general version of the application;

• Working with cloud storage;

• Monitoring of network traffic (firewall or Firewall);

• Third-party intrusion detection system;

• Protection of e-mail, recognition of malicious attachments;

• Web protection;

• Interactive analysis and spam recognition;

• automatic update.

At the same time, the best free antivirus for Windows 7 (rating by functionality) does not necessarily have to include the entire set of features. The main thing is that the chosen solution should meet the requirements and subjective representations of a particular user.

The leader of the rating: ESET Nod32 Smart Security

All of the above features include a comprehensive antivirus with multi-level protection ESET Nod32 Smart Security. In addition to the standard protection against phishing, file system security, Internet access, e-mail in stationary mail clients, ESET has some other interesting functions. Among these additional features:

• "AntiVor", which determines the location of the device with the installed program, makes screenshots and allows you to watch through the webcam "bullying" over the stolen laptop;

• A protective application for social networks, supports while, true, 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 problems with the computer.

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 video screen recording).

Free Antivirus Rating: Performance and Tests

Another rating of free antiviruses is made according to the results of testing and analysis of program performance. Slightly affects the download speed of the system Panda Antivirus Pro and 360 Total Security, not far behind AVG Antivirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition and ESET NOD32 Smart Security. Significantly slows the download of Avira Free Antivirus (more than three minutes).

Scanning system folders (with equal detection of malicious programs) takes about ten minutes for Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free, Avira Free Antivirus and ESET NOD32 Smart Security. The worst result was shown by Comodo Antivirus - 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 - by as much as 16%.

Placement by rating results

In general, free antivirus for Windows XP (performance rating), as for other platforms (Windows 7, 8, 10) are located as follows:

1. Panda Antivirus.

2. Avast Free Antivirus and ESET NOD32 Smart Security.

3. 360 Total Security.

4. AVG Antivirus Free and Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

5. Avira Free Antivirus and Comodo Antivirus.

Overview of Panda Antivirus Pro

One of the main advantages - a small load on the system by Panda Antivirus, along with providing sufficient protection - is explained by the fact that the program is a cloud-based antivirus. The software has most of the necessary functions, in addition, a USB scan is available, but there are quite a few significant shortcomings.

For example, an antivirus for free (rating recognized by Panda Antivirus as the best solution based on test results) does not provide any protection against interception of data by third-party programs, requires an active Internet connection to scan the system and does not provide Web protection. In addition, some users find malicious programs in the installation files of the antivirus itself. The unattractive interface is another drawback of Panda Antivirus.

Antivirus apps for Android

If Windows occupies a leading position in the computer hardware market, Android operating system is almost a monopoly for mobile devices: 80% of smartphones work on Android. Mobile antiviruses are presented as analogs of the already mentioned extended versions, and programs that function exclusively on smartphones.

The AV-Test laboratory tested mobile antivirus software. The rating of free antiviruses for "Android" is headed by the application AhnLab. The application performs a comprehensive scan of the mobile device, prevents Internet threats, allows you not to worry about the security of files and other personal data. At the same time, most of the programs presented in this rating are not distributed in the Russian language segment, so it is more to rely on real user feedback - authoritative laboratories that would evaluate Russian-language applications, no.

Quite 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 it irritates many users with frequent advertising. AVG AntiVirus is also a universal solution, in addition, many useful additional functions become available in the Pro-version of the application, but this assembly consumes a large amount of resources, because of what the device can run more slowly.

Finally

Antivirus is a necessary program, because not always the user's needs can meet the standard options for protection against viruses and malware (especially on mobile devices). The choice of the optimal solution here largely depends on individual needs and subjective judgments, that is why various ratings can be guided, but you do not need to rely on testing completely. What is the use of the antivirus, which, according to the results of the research, does its job well, but is it uncomfortable to use or significantly slows down the work of a laptop or smartphone? Many users need to first try a few options to eventually stop their choice on the only convenient.