Anti-virus software is constantly changing as a direct result of the massive and rapid changes recognized in computer virus attacks. The free anti-virus software packages have come a long way in the past few years and many of them are just as effective as the products often offered for sale. There are quite a few free anti-virus software packages available.
AVG is one of the most well-known programs. It was originally created in 1992 as Anti Virus Guard (now AVG). This free anti-virus software is known for the speed of its scans and for blocking malicious threats with returning false positives. In addition to their free version, AVG also offers a trial version of their 2012 package that includes additional effective and attractive features. The free anti-virus software version has an attractive interface with big buttons displaying the status of the security modules included in the free package. According to their reports, AVG detects 85% of all malware threats, a better than average score but when it comes to rootkits it seems to be able to remove only 60% of those it detects and leaves behind a fair number of executable files. Although it has a very good rate of malware removal, it is not as good at blocking malware attacks and fails to warn the user of many phishing sites. Scareware, which many people are intimidated into responding to, is also not one of AVG’s strong points. This is, however, very good free anti-virus software and earned Platinum anti-malware certification from West Coast Labs, is certified by ICSA Labs, and scored 100% in tests by Virus Bulletin.
Avira has the advantage of being a very quick install with a small footprint that you’ll hardly notice. On a clean system it is an excellent malware prevention tool but if your system is infected it will not do the job you expect. Removing malware is not Avira’s strength; it tends to delete important files instead of disinfecting them and it removes rootkits haphazardly. During installation it will give you the option of choosing a time for a daily scan; after that scans will be automatic. One of the drawbacks of Avira’s free anti-virus software is the irritating pop-up ads for its security suite. Free subscribers are offered support through a support forum consisting of users and technicians who are very helpful and quick to respond.
Avast! originally hit the market in 1988 and was designed to remove a specific malware. It has evolved over the years to be very user friendly with an interface that is simple to understand. It scans quickly and blocks about 95% of all malware, catching all of the most common and quite a few of the newest threats. Avast! Free Anti-Virus Software updates automatically. Most users won’t notice any difference in the speed or operation of their computer. For a free anti-virus software program, you’ll notice very few false positives. There is a very good support system accessible by email, online or by telephone.
Panda Cloud is one of the most hands-off anti-virus systems available today. While most AV programs need to be periodically updated via the internet, Panda Cloud uses data directly from its own servers to detect malware and stay up to date with the latest threats. Panda’s free anti-virus software scans a bit slower than other programs, but once you complete installation you rarely have to think about it again. It has a recycle bin where it sends files it has neutralized. While it detects an average of 99% of malware, it only blocks 88% of live attacks, posing only a 68% successful disinfection rate. Panda Cloud is very easy to use, convenient and great for those who don’t want to bother with security but still prefer some protection.
Comodo is a popular free antivirus package that should be considered as adequate. It is good at blocking new malware but not as effective on known malware infections. Overall detection rates are fair. The Comodo free-antivirus software does give a noticeable number of false positives. The installation is cumbersome. Once you start a scan, there’s no progress meter so you have no idea when it will finish. Comodo is superior at blocking new malware–about 96% of attacks are prevented, a score much better than most. Comodo free anti-virus software is average in its overall performance.
As you can see, just like the selection in paid programs, there are a lot of choices in free antivirus software. The one you choose will depend on your needs, your risk factors and how much time you want to devote to security.
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