If you’re running Windows, we don’t recommend you rely on Microsoft’s security tools. Many free third-party apps are much more effective at keeping you and your PC safe.
There are many companies offering free antivirus software like Avira, Avg, Avast, Kapersky, McAfee and Norton but are they any good? Antivirus software is widely available on the internet today with countless antivirus software providers to choose from. A good free antivirus software however isn’t as easy to find.
Most reputable companies offer a free version of their antivirus software but are we, the users, really seeing a true representation of the fully paid versions? Surprisingly the answer is yes, in most cases you can scan your computer with the software, it will display the issues and give you the option to destroy the unwanted virus. In many cases the only difference between the free and paid versions are the added extras, VPN, parental control etc. However, if it’s just antivirus software you are in the market for then the free versions are a pretty good option.
There are however some experts that will try to tell you that the free antivirus software providers offer a significantly poorer virus detection rate, claims that a free version will only detect around 25% of viruses whereas a paid version will offer you up to a 90% detection rate. However, the reality is if an antivirus software provider is offering you a free or trial version of their software it will be the same software that they are offering for a fee. Why would they offer you an inferior version of their flagship product when the whole idea of a free version is an attempt to convince you that their product is the best and you’ll hopefully upgrade to their paid version. So, when choosing a product, make sure that the paid version of the software is robust enough for your needs and the likelihood is that your free version will be just as robust.
How useful is free antivirus software? We believe they’re very useful, the key things to remember are that you must do your research before you commit to downloading the antivirus software as 9 times out of 10 you’ll be downloading the same version of the software as the one you pay for. Check the capabilities and bells and whistles of the paid version to see if there’s a feature available via a paid subscription. And ALWAYS look for customer reviews, if people have paid for the antivirus software and are happy to recommend it, then you’re probably looking at a winner.
Here are the TOP RATED FREE antivirus programs for your consideration: AVAST Free – available for Windows, MAC, Android. and iOS devices https://www.avast.com/store
AVG Free – available for Windows, OSX 10.8 and Android 2.2 or above https://www.avg.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download
BITDEFENDER Free – PC Only – other operating systems require buying the full version https://www.bitdefender.com/toolbox/
SOPOS HOME Free – PC and MAC support and comes with a 30-day trial of Advanced Ransomeware Protection, Privacy Protection and Live email and chat support from 8am – 8pm ET
WINDOWS: https://home.sophos.com/free-anti-virus-windows MAC: https://home.sophos.com/free-mac-antivirus
