All known antiviruses. Free antiviruses: what to choose? Antivirus from Microsoft

You have to pay for pleasures, and you have to pay for free pleasures. Well, it’s never happened to anyone: they downloaded a pirated program, followed an unknown link, and on you - they picked up viruses. Then we pay with the loss of information, and sometimes money. At best, we spend time searching for and destroying the malware, rejoicing if it didn’t manage to do much harm, and regretting that we didn’t get good protection in time.

Which antivirus should you trust with your security, since they are all different? Of course, the strongest. Today I prepared a rating best antiviruses the beginning of 2018 based on the results of the last half of 2017. Unexpected discoveries await you!

Who compiles antivirus program ratings and how?

Testing is carried out in various areas. For example:

• The best antivirus for Windows.
• The best means of protecting mobile devices.
• Best performance in treating active infection, etc.

Researchers publish summary reports on their websites and in specialized online publications. Products that have received a maximum of gold-silver-bronze medals, especially in several categories and in different laboratories, are objectively the best.

Major League 2018: antiviruses with the maximum detection rate and the fewest errors

Based on the results of dynamic testing conducted for 5 months in a row, experts from the AV-Comparatives laboratory determined which antiviruses protect the system best using default settings. By the concept of “best protection” they meant the maximum level of recognition of various malware and the minimum level of false positives.

The top five were:

• First place: AviraAntivirusPro(Germany) – a comprehensive solution that includes an anti-virus scanner, a personal data protection tool, a website security monitor, etc. The cost of an annual license for 1 computer is approximately $35.

• Second place: BitdefenderInternetSecurity(Romania) – a universal antivirus with a multi-level web protection system. The promotional price for an annual license for 3 devices is $49.99 (this is with a discount).

• Third place: Kaspersky InternetSecurity for all devices (Russia) – a powerful anti-virus combine with advanced capabilities. The cost of an annual subscription for 3 devices is 1990 rubles.

• Fourth place: VIPRE Internet Security(USA). A single machine license costs $38.49 (discounted) per year.

• Fifth place: Avast!FreeAntivirus(Czech Republic). Free.

Free is good... it happens!

Not only solutions with a minimum basic level of protection are non-commercial. Many of them are packages that, in addition to antivirus, include a firewall, tools for protecting user personal information, a password manager, web security modules, vulnerability scanners, etc. At the same time, they do an excellent job of detecting and removing all types of malicious objects and effectively preventing re-infections.

So, according to comparative tests, the best free ones in 2017 were:

• Already familiar
• AVG AntiVirus Free(Czech Republic) .

• Panda Free Antivirus(Spain).

The free use of these products is unlimited, but some require annual license renewal.

“Cyber ​​antibiotics” of the year: the best in the treatment of active infection

The AV-Test laboratory determined how standard antivirus systems and . Each prototype passed more than 450 tests. The study was carried out for about 6 months on real computers in Windows environment 7. Therefore, the accuracy of the result is beyond doubt.

Based on the testing results, the following leaders were identified:

• Utility Malwarebytes Anti-Malware(USA).

• Kaspersky Internet Security and utility Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool(other name AVPTool).

• Avast!FreeAntivirus.

As for repairing damage to Windows after infection, only Kaspersky Lab products have this ability among the leaders in this rating. They also do a good job of cleaning viruses and restoring the functionality of unbootable systems, for example, those blocked by a ransomware Trojan or with a damaged bootloader. For this purpose, the Laboratory has released a free boot disk rescue - an image for recording on DVD or USB flash drives. The disk's toolkit includes a powerful anti-virus scanner and system recovery tools.

The best protection for operating systems

Windows 10

Microsoft Security Essentials' detection rate of malicious objects is significantly lower than that of the leaders in today's rankings. And even below average. However, in 2016 there was progress. If several years ago MSE showed record low efficiency in tests, today it is simply low.

According to the AV-Test laboratory, the following applications demonstrated the best protection performance in Windows 10:

• Already familiar Avira Antivirus Pro.
• Excellent in every way
• Popular in Europe, but not in Russia BitdefenderInternetSecurity.
• A promising Japanese antivirus Trend Micro Internet Security .

• And an Indian product known in eastern countries QuickHealTotal Security.

The assessment was carried out according to three main parameters:

• quality of protection, including against malware unknown to the antivirus;
• impact on the overall performance of the computer (the less, the better);
• ease of use (usability) and the number of false detections.

The first two products showed equally excellent results. The other three are only 0.5 points behind them.

Android

According to AV Test, 6 products meet these criteria. I am very pleased that several free solutions were among the leaders. Here they are.

Provided 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 easy.

In addition, it is believed that free programs do not provide the same protection as paid software. In fact and in the segment free applications you can choose the optimal solution. The ratings of free antiviruses are presented below.

Standard antivirus from Microsoft: prevalence and performance

Windows Corporation is the undisputed leader among suppliers of operating systems and related software. As of 2016, Windows 7 was installed on 55% of all devices, while Linux and Apple's OS X 10.11 accounted for 2% and 7% of users, respectively.

The ratings of free antiviruses rarely include standard solutions, but they are also acceptable programs to ensure the required 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 the average user?

In general, along with compliance with basic security rules, the use of a modern browser and regular software updates allow you to successfully use a standard antivirus (reviews and the Windows Defender rating confirm this possibility) as the main security solution. But for those who often download pirated content, are active Internet users, or store important data on their hard drive, it is better to take a closer look at other, free, but somewhat more functional programs.

Testing in independent antivirus laboratories

Comparative tests with a large number of samples are regularly carried out by leading antivirus laboratories. Test results allow developers to improve their own products, so participation is usually paid. Mainly in the rating Windows antivirus(the operating system is the most common, which is why tests are carried out on it) include paid versions of programs, but if a free solution provides full protection— the software is also evaluated.

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

Results of practical research

The “Free Antivirus” rating (Windows 10 and other corporate-based operating systems) was topped by Bitdefender and ThreatTrack Vipre, which did not miss a single threat and worked without false positives. Trend Micro and F-Secure also took leading positions with a 100% malware recognition result, but 7 and 15 false positives, respectively. Kaspersky Internet Security closed the top five, missing 0.3% of threats but passing 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 capable of detecting spyware. ThreatTrack Vipre is not available in a free version. Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus+ is freely distributed only as a trial version (6 months of free use), like F-Secure (90 days). An analogue of Kaspersky Internet Security is Kaspersky Free Anti-Virus (Free) with a free license, which has somewhat limited capabilities compared to KIS or Total Security, but remains the optimal solution.

Antivirus rating for Windows: functionality

“Antivirus for free” (the rating is compiled by many reputable 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, antivirus programs provide the following capabilities:

scanning for threats upon user request;

Constant system protection in the background;

scanning file system while the computer is booting;

an 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;

network traffic control (firewall or Firewall);

third-party intrusion detection system;

Recognition of malicious attachments;

web protection;

interactive analysis and spam recognition;

automatic update.

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

Rating leader: ESET Nod32 Smart Security

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

A serious disadvantage of the antivirus is the lack of free version protection from software that records user actions (mouse movements, keystrokes, clipboard, snapshots, and sometimes video recording of the screen).

Rating of free antiviruses: 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 have a slight effect on the loading speed of the system; AVG Antivirus Free, Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition and ESET NOD32 Smart Security are not far behind. Avira Free Antivirus significantly slows down loading (more than three minutes).

Scanning system folders (even if malware is detected) 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 - the scan took more than half an hour.

Avast Free Antivirus and Panda Antivirus Pro use the least amount of memory (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 by only 5%, while the smaller AVG Antivirus Free uses as much as 16%.

Distribution of places based on rating results

In general, free antiviruses for Windows XP (rating by performance), as well as for other platforms (Windows 7, 8, 10), are ranked as follows:

Panda Antivirus.

360 Total Security.

AVG Antivirus Free and Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition.

Avira Free Antivirus and Comodo Antivirus.

Brief review of Panda Antivirus Pro

One of the main advantages - the low load on the system from the side of Panda Antivirus, along with providing sufficient protection - is explained by the fact that the program is Software It has most of the necessary functions, USB scanning is additionally available, but there are quite a few significant shortcomings.

For example, a free antivirus (rated as the best solution based on 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.

Antivirus apps for Android

If Windows occupies a leading position in the computer equipment market, then for mobile devices the Android operating system is almost a monopolist: 80% of smartphones run on Android. Mobile antiviruses are represented both by analogues of the already mentioned extended versions, and by programs that operate exclusively on smartphones.

The AV-Test laboratory tested mobile antiviruses. The rating of free antiviruses for Android is topped by the AhnLab application. The application carries out a comprehensive scan of the mobile device, prevents Internet threats, and 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 common in the Russian-language segment, so you should rely more on real user reviews - there are no authoritative laboratories that would evaluate Russian-language applications.

Quite good solutions for choosing active users are CM Security, Dr.Web Light and free antivirus (reviews, rating below). CM Security does not load the system and effectively copes with its duties, Dr.Web Light provides powerful protection, but irritates 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 this build consumes a large amount of resources, which is why the device may work slower.

Finally

An antivirus is a necessary program, because the user’s needs are not always met by 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, so you can be guided by various ratings, but you should not rely entirely on testing. What is the use of an antivirus that, according to research results, copes with its tasks perfectly, but is extremely inconvenient to use or significantly slows down the operation of a laptop or smartphone? Many users need to first try several options in order to ultimately choose the only one that is convenient.

Download the antivirus for free without registration or SMS, and most importantly, without problems - we guarantee you this opportunity! There is no need to search and download via torrent, just take a few minutes to select the software you need and it is yours.

The number and type of external threats changes every day. Therefore, the issue of providing reliable protection for your computer should be approached with all responsibility. Trojans and dialers, phishing attacks, spies and worms - and this is far from full list malicious files shared by suspicious Internet resources.

What protection should be in place to prevent danger from these objects? What program will not only be reliably responsible for the safety of the entire database, but will also use computer resources economically without interfering with the simultaneous operation of other software?
The best antivirus in Russian
In order for the user to navigate the offered range, we present free antiviruses for Windows 7.

You don't have to download a 30-day trial and then buy the software. We offer an economical solution - install a free antivirus on your computer! Decide for yourself which program you need.
What does the protection process consist of?
Before choosing a system security product, we suggest you understand what components it consists of and what functions it performs:

So, we hope we helped you decide on the choice of program and download the one you need. You will find answers to all remaining questions (how to lock the screen, why you need a specific module, how complex the interface is, etc.) in the program review.

• - a powerful antivirus that provides reliable protection and high system efficiency.

• - a free anti-virus utility that removes malicious objects from flash drives.

• - regularly updated high-quality protection against viruses, rootkits, spyware and others...

• - quick access to settings, mail checking module, favorite files scanner, scanning when...

• - a solid anti-virus utility for reliable system protection against Trojan programs, network/email...

• - Software for scanning and removing malware, the latest database of dangerous objects.

• - protection against malware, including unknown macro viruses, constant system monitoring.
• 
  

  Computers make our lives much easier. With their help, you can quickly find the necessary information, draw up a document, watch an interesting movie and much, much more. Moreover, we have only listed the tasks of ordinary users, but ATMs, robots in factories and satellites also work on the basis of the most common operating systems, albeit installed on specific equipment.

  Of course, most users are aware of the threat, which is popularly called simply a “virus”. This nasty thing includes worms, Trojans, spyware, banners and malware. However, these subtleties are of little interest to us, because the methods of protection are practically the same. And the first “line” of defense is your own brain. Yes, yes, in order not to catch the virus, you should remember just a few simple rules:

  1. Use the current version of the operating system. Old versions have vulnerabilities, and therefore are easier to “infect”
  2. Use a modern browser. For example, Chrome or Firefox
  3. Do not click on banners or follow unknown links
  4. Download files only from trusted sites

  But even all these precautions can fail, and therefore it is worth thinking about installing an antivirus - a program that, roughly speaking, scans files, finds infected ones and disinfects or deletes them. Our traditional rating will help you select software specifically for your requirements.

  The best free antiviruses for Windows

  Windows is on this moment the most popular operating system for desktop devices. Thanks to this, we have a huge number of programs for it and... a lot of viruses. This is the other side of popularity. Fortunately, there are also a lot of antiviruses for Windows. First of all, let's pay attention to free software. And here it is worth making one note - only completely free programs are included in the rating; trial versions of paid solutions are not included in the rating.

  5 Microsoft Windows Defender

  Basic protection for the undemanding user
  Country: USA
  Average price: Free
  Rating (2019): 4.5

  Let's start with one of the most popular antiviruses for Windows. This program gained enormous popularity not because of the sympathy of users, but due to its initial presence in operating rooms Windows systems 8.1 and Windows 10. And this is the main advantage of the product. There is no need to install an antivirus, there is no need to understand hundreds of settings - it simply protects your computer from malware by default.

  How good is the defense? The results of independent tests leave much to be desired: zero-day threats (previously unknown) are detected by Windows Defender only in 80-85% of cases. With known threats, the situation is much better - about 99.7% of threats are successfully neutralized. Protection against web threats is present only in branded browsers - Internet Explorer and Edge - there are no plugins for other browsers.

  Overall, the bottom line is that this software is good as basic protection for advanced users who know how to prevent exposure to malware. Or for people who don’t bother searching for and studying more advanced antiviruses.

  Advantages:

  • Pre-installed on the system
  • Doesn't display ads, doesn't offer to upgrade to premium, etc.
  • Good basic protection

  Flaws:

  • Threat protection is not 100%
  • Antivirus protection only

  4 Comodo Internet Security

  

  The most extensive functionality
  Country: USA
  Average price: Free
  Rating (2019): 4.6

  In contrast to the previous participant, the free Comodo Internet Security provides enormous functionality. It has basic anti-virus protection, anti-rootkit, firewall, cloud scanning, sandboxing and much more. The program will protect not only from malware, but also from phishing programs and Internet attacks. If you doubt the reliability of an application, you can run it in an isolated sandbox, from which the virus cannot harm the system.

  The program interface can be presented in two versions: simple - in which the user can enable only quick, full or selective scanning, and expert - for advanced users who have the knowledge and courage to manually configure all aspects of the program. Among other interesting features, we note the presence of a “game mode” in which notifications will be hidden in full-screen applications.

  Advantages:

  • Quite powerful protection
  • A large number of additional functions
  • Lots of settings for advanced users

  Flaws:

  • Excessive firewall paranoia
  • Imposition of other company products.

  3 Panda Free Antivirus

  

  Strong average
  Country: Spain
  Average price: Free
  Rating (2019): 4.6

  The top three are opened by antivirus software from programmers from Spain. Protection rates in synthetic and real tests are close to 100%, but the load on the system is quite high, which does not allow the program to become a leader. Of course, modern PCs will not slow down when using it, but owners of older systems should think about other software.

  Advantages:

  • Automatic “vaccination” of USB flash drives and external hard drives
  • Can display information about the security of a particular Windows process
  • Detects potentially unwanted programs that are not viruses
  • Convenient exception setup

  2 360 Total Security

  

  The most reliable protection
  Country: China
  Average price: Free
  Rating (2019): 4.7

  A couple of years ago, a creation from the Chinese was at the top of the rankings of respected antivirus testing sites. However, 360 Total Security is now disqualified for using the Bitdefender engine (we'll talk about it below). But such “doping” only benefits us – ordinary users. While remaining free, the program shows the best results in protecting your PC from threats. The only drawback that users talk about is that the antivirus sometimes sees a threat where, in principle, there cannot be one.

  Advantages:

  • Using engines from more powerful antivirus systems
  • There is system cleaning, startup
  • Protection from ransomware
  • Running suspicious programs in the sandbox
  • Protect flash drives, browser and webcam

  1 Avast Free Antivirus

  

  The best combination of protection and convenience
  Country: Czech Republic
  Average price: Free
  Rating (2019): 4.8

  Avast antivirus has been on the list of the best antiviruses for several years now. When used in Windows 7 and Windows 8, the program shows 99% protection, in Windows 10 – 97%, which can be considered an excellent indicator for a free product. Ease of use is also excellent. Even during installation, the user can choose which protection methods and functions he needs. Also noteworthy is the very simple interface, which even the least experienced user can understand. The only drawback of the program is that the performance is not the best, but to say that the computer starts to slow down after Avast installations it is forbidden.

  Advantages:

  • Best protection in class
  • It is possible to create a rescue disk to boot from and scan the system for viruses
  • There is scanning of browser extensions
  • Special modes that reduce system load
  • Can check Wi-Fi security

  Flaws:

  • Sometimes it is too annoying when it offers to upgrade to a paid version from the same developer

  The best paid antiviruses for Windows

  Everything in our world has its price. If you want to get a truly high-quality product, in the vast majority of cases you will have to pay a certain amount. The situation is similar with antiviruses. From simple viruses Both free and paid versions protect equally well, but the latter also have a huge number of additional functions that will not only increase the level of protection, but also make work easier.

  5 Norton Security Deluxe

  

  The most affordable antivirus with powerful protection
  Country: USA
  Average price: 1205 rub.
  Rating (2019): 4.6

  The top 5 paid antiviruses are opened by a product from Symantec. Norton Security is one of the leaders in the field of antivirus protection. Judging by numerous independent tests, the level of protection is almost at the same level as that of industry leaders. At the same time, the cost of an annual subscription is much lower: for the Deluxe version for 5 devices, a Russian user will have to pay only 1,205 rubles; protecting one device will cost 649 rubles. This is more than 2 times less than competitors!

  At the same time, Norton also offers a large number of additional functions: protection against spyware, against phishing (one of the best in its class), against spam, against ransomware. Among the interesting features, we note the presence of maintenance tools Windows systems. These include an application startup manager (you can disable or delay startup for more quick launch systems), cleaning temporary files, defragmenting disks.

  Advantages:

  • Excellent antivirus protection performance
  • The most affordable price tag
  • Many additional features, including system maintenance tools

  4 BullGuard Internet Security

  

  Extensive functionality with fine-tuning capabilities
  Country: UK
  Average price: 4000 rub.
  Rating (2019): 4.6

  BullGuard is perhaps the least known product in our selection. But this does not in any way prevent the antivirus from performing its tasks perfectly. The accuracy of threat detection is only tenths of a percent lower than that of category leaders. The functionality is comparable to other representatives of the TOP: protection against spyware, phishing, spam. But there are also many additional interesting features. Please note availability Reserve copy, which almost none of the competitors offer. In this case, you can configure file types, specify specific folders and select the automatic backup time.

  Also pleased with the advanced parental control. You can create multiple profiles. There are presets for children of different ages, and you can also manually select which sites to give access to and which to block. In addition, you can set the time when your child can use the computer. Finally, there are system maintenance tools and a game mode already mentioned in the review of other antiviruses.

  Advantages:

  • Excellent antivirus protection
  • Advanced Parental Controls
  • Data backup
  • Maintenance Tools

  Flaws:

  • High price tag without discounts.

  3 BitDefender Internet Security 2017

  

  One of the most powerful antivirus engines in the world
  Country: Romania
  Average price: RUB 2,099.
  Rating (2019): 4.7

  BitDefender is one of the recognized leaders in the field of antivirus software. Security and performance indicators are only a couple of percent lower than those of the leader in our rating, but the cost is 2 times lower! At the same time, the program has no less features. The secure password manager and complete file deletion system deserve special attention. The latter will be especially important for companies or people who really don't want their files to fall into the wrong hands. It is also worth noting 24/7 technical support and cloud verification, which significantly reduces the load on the system.

  The remaining functions are quite standard for this class: protection against phishing attacks and ransomware, firewall, low power mode, game mode, etc. All in all, perfect solution for their money.

  Advantages:

  • Low cost
  • Built-in password manager
  • File shredder
  • Checking the security of your Wi-Fi connection
  • Protection modules against phishing attacks, ransomware and encryptors

  Flaws:

  • Not the most user-friendly interface

  2 Kaspersky Internet Security 2017

  

  The best domestic antivirus
  Country Russia
  Average price: 2,290 rub.
  Rating (2019): 4.7

  It is gratifying that the developments of domestic specialists are recognized as among the best in the world. Antivirus software from Kaspersky Lab is known to almost all PC users. The 2017 version, in addition to a high level of protection, introduced several more interesting features. First, there was VPN. Its functionality is slightly lower than that of the leader, but for regular user Enough with your head. Secondly, the program manager can now update the software on your computer, because fresh programs are less susceptible to attack. It is also worth noting the traffic control function, which not only protects your device from attack, but also helps optimize costs when connecting to the Internet via 3G or 4G. Other functions are also present in competitors.

  Advantages:

  • Clear interface completely in Russian
  • Availability of VPN
  • Program manager with automatic updates
  • Availability of the “Safe Payments” mode
  • Protection against unauthorized access to the webcam

  Flaws:

  • The program for one device can be purchased for at least 2 years, or for a year, but not less than for two devices.

  1 Avira Prime Total Security Suite

  

  The most extensive functionality
  Country: Germany
  Average price: 4,408 rub.
  Rating (2019): 4.8

  Like all previous solutions, Avira provides excellent antivirus protection. However, in addition to it, in the full edition the developers have added several more very interesting features. The first is device management. With this feature, you can configure the connection of only certain USB devices, while others will be blocked. The second is an advanced firewall, with a convenient interface and clear controls. Third, built-in PC cleaning. This function will replace specialized programs for cleaning the system of garbage, optimization and acceleration. Separately, I would like to note the ability to encrypt important personal files. Finally, the maximum version has a built-in VPN with all the necessary protection systems. The only drawback of the program is high price– for an annual license for 1 device you will have to pay 4,408 rubles.

  Advantages:

  • The best antivirus protection
  • Great firewall
  • Built-in utility for cleaning, optimizing and speeding up the system
  • Built-in VPN with multiple levels of protection

  Flaws:

  • Relatively high cost