Viruses, spyware, hackers, phishing sites - the web is a dangerous
place, and every PC owner needs effective, reliable antivirus software
to keep them safe. But this can be expensive, especially as you'll pay
again to update the package, each and every year.
Fortunately
there is plenty of free antivirus software, many of which are just as
capable as their commercial cousins. So if you're tired of annual
subscriptions, read on - we've picked out nine of the best free internet
security tools to deliver great security at no cost at all.
1. Avast Free Antivirus
You don't have to spend long with Avast Free Antivirus to realise why it's one of the most popular security tools around.
The
program is simple to install; a straightforward interface makes it easy
to use; a quick first scan should identify any potential threats on
your PC, and this all has minimal impact on your system performance.
These aren't just subjective opinions, either. Independent testing by
AV-Test has found the program to be a good all-rounder, and it was one
of AV-Comparative's "Products of 2012".
Avast Free has some useful
extras, too. A Software Updater alerts you to program updates you've
missed, for instance, while its Browser Cleanup tool provides a simple
way to remove unwanted add-ons from your browsers.
2. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free
Small and simple, Panda Cloud Antivirus
is a lightweight tool which provides free real-time antivirus
protection, and can be used alongside many other security tools without
problems.
It's the free version of a commercial product, and so
has a few missing features. The Pro edition helps to protect you at
public wifi networks, for instance, while its "USB Vaccine" function
reduces the risk of malware infecting a USB drive.
The
core antivirus protection remains the same, though. And while that
doesn't deliver the top detection rates, independent testing shows it's
very capable, with the program winning certification in AV-Test's latest
report.
3. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall
We have one or two concerns about ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall,
notably that its antivirus database is only updated daily (hourly
updates are reserved for the commercial version), which leaves you more
exposed to the very latest threats.
The program does provide
plenty of functionality, though, with a capable, AV-Test-certified
antivirus engine, an easy-to-use firewall and some browsing protection.
It
does its best to keep things simple. Open the Preferences dialog, say,
and you'll find only 10 buttons and settings (and most of those you'll
never need to use).
The database update means it wouldn't be our
first choice, but if you're a fan of ZoneAlarm, or just want a firewall
and antivirus tool from the same company, this could be a good choice.
4. Avira Free Antivirus
A
strong antivirus engine (rated highly by independent labs for its file
detection rates) constantly monitors your PC, looking for and
eliminating threats.
If
you choose to install the Avira toolbar then you also get some web
tools (an antiphishing tool, ad blocker, social networking protection),
although this also replaces your default search engine with an Avira
page.
Problems? The interface can seem a little complex, just at
first. And the program has more impact on your PC's performance than
some other tools. Still, on balance Avira Free Antivirus remains a
capable and effective security package.
5. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
Bitdefender's
antivirus engine is one of the best around, and a favourite of the
independent testing labs, so getting a free version sounds very
appealing indeed.
The program is ultra-compact, downloading and
installing in less than a minute on our test PC (although it does demand
removal of any incompatible products first). A very basic interface
then provides effective on-demand and automatic scanning, real-time
antivirus and antiphishing protection.
There
are very few manual controls here: no settings, no options, no scan
types, no scheduling, nothing at all, perhaps an issue if you like to
fine tune your security. But if you prefer simplicity then Bitdefender
Antivirus Free Edition is an excellent choice.
6. AVG Free Antivirus
AVG Free Antivirus
is a solid package with a good range of features: an antivirus engine,
email scanner, identity theft protection, and LinkScanner Surf-Shield to
keep you safe online.
At first glance this makes the program
seem more complex, as there are lots of tiles, buttons and menu entries.
Smart interface design means you can carry out most common actions in a
click or two, though, so you'll soon feel at home.
AVG
Free Antivirus gets mixed reviews on its effectiveness: AV-Comparatives
rate it as average, AV-Test say it's better than some commercial
suites. Our view: it's a capable, feature-packed tool, and one of the
stronger free antivirus packages.
Why isn't Microsoft Security
Essentials in the list? It's small, simple, and won't slow your system
down - but it's also just not reliable enough to justify inclusion in
our best free antivirus software round-up.
When Security
Essentials was last included in an AV Comparatives File Detection test,
the program managed a file detection rate of 94.9%, placing it 13th out
of 15. AV-Test's opinion was even lower.
In its analysis of 2012 products for Home Users, Microsoft Security
Essentials delivered the lowest "average protection score" of all,
putting it bottom in a list of 20.
7. Emsisoft Emergency Kit
No
antivirus program comes with a guaranteed 100% detection rate, and
malware might occasionally slip through your defences. You should always
have a second tool available, then, just in case - and Emsisoft Emergency Kit (EEK) is a great choice.
The program runs without requiring installation, reducing the chance of any conflicts with your existing antivirus package.
Its
straightforward system scanner uses a dual-scan-engine, rated highly by
Virus Bulletin (and which did actually achieve a 100% detection rate in
a recent AV-Comparatives test).
And experienced users will
appreciate tools like HiJackFree and BlitzBlank, which can help you
manually detect and clean up malware.
8. FortiNet FortiClient
While they're best known in the corporate world of network security appliances, FortiNet also produce a capable antivirus tool, FortiClient, which is free for home users.
The
program can be installed in two modes. The standard option provides a
good range of tools: an antivirus engine, simple parental controls, an
application firewall, vulnerability scanning and more. But you can also
run FortiClient without its real-time protection, perfect if you need to
run it alongside an existing antivirus tool without conflicts.
Our
tests suggest it's not the best antivirus engine around, but is still
worth having. AV-Test and AV-Comparatives confirm that it's a good
mid-range contender, and FortiClient could be particularly helpful if
you want a second-line tool to run alongside an existing antivirus
engine.
9. 360 Internet Security 2013
Qihoo
is a Chinese software company which has had enormous success in its
home market (it claims 450 million users), but now it's branching out
with its first international release, 360 Internet Security 2013.
Despite
its name, this isn't a full internet security suite - there's no spam
filter, firewall or parental controls - but installing the program does
get you no less than three antivirus engines: BitDefender, its own QVM
II, and Cloud 360.
These
delivered accurate results for us, and the independent testing labs
have also reported positive results for Qihoo products in the past year (AV Comparatives has certified it as "Windows 8 approved", for instance).
360
Internet Security does a reasonable job of blocking access to malicious
websites, too, and on balance it's an effective entry to the free
antivirus world.
