The most popular antivirus for windows 7. Which antivirus is the best? The best paid antiviruses for your computer

Rating of the best free antivirus for Windows 2020. The best free antivirus for Windows 2019. You will also be interested in the article "" The rating of the best free antiviruses does not differ much from year to year.

Naturally free products will not be as effective as their paid versions. This is definitely worth considering when choosing an antivirus. software. By the way, there is an opinion that using linux completely eliminates the need for antiviruses. Whether to believe this or not - decide for yourself, but I will allow myself to recommend interesting materials about and. Well, we're starting.

It is probably worth noting that I am not trying to give you as much information as possible about each individual antivirus in this top. I want to provide just the bare minimum, to get you started, or just to help you make a choice. All detailed information about each of the programs it is better to search on official resources, as well as in other articles and materials (including on).

Avast Free Antivirus

In many tops, this antivirus (its free version including) takes a leading position. I don’t think that this is due to the venality of these very tops, because I myself have been using this antivirus as my main antivirus for a long time. What can I say, I'm really happy with it. For a free product, this is very even nothing. Moreover, in the paid version Avast has some features that are not even in paid versions of other antiviruses. Therefore, I don’t know why you are still in doubt, quickly click on the button at the bottom of this item and go download an excellent antivirus.

A little about the features and benefits of Avast Free Antivirus:

• Intelligent antivirus protection: includes constant monitoring of the system, as well as timely blocking of virus software.
• WiFi check: detecting holes in home WiFi networks, monitoring for outside visitors.
• Intelligent Scan: allows you to detect all vulnerabilities in the system, including insecure settings and saved passwords.

AVG AntiVirus Free

Another excellent antivirus that occupies a leading position in all sorts of ratings and tops. As in the previous case, it has a paid version and the ability to upgrade to it. However, the free version also has quite interesting features and capabilities. AVG AntiVirus Free, according to the developers, has become even better. In addition to all the basic tools of comprehensive security software, AVG can check the system for vulnerabilities in real time, as well as stop suspicious downloads.

It is worth noting that the interface of the application has been noticeably improved. Now it's even easier to manage protection. And all this thanks to informative elements with which you can monitor the state of the system.

Application features:

• Protect your PC from viruses, spyware, hackers, ransomware, and more
• Blocking unsafe links, downloads and email attachments
• Ability to scan the system for performance issues
• Real-time updates

Kaspersky Free

A free solution from developers in Russia that has all the necessary features to protect your home computer. This program is notable for the fact that it spends very little of your system resources. And all this at a very high level of security; many users consider this antivirus the most powerful in terms of protection.

Kaspersky Free can:

• Automatically block dangerous files, apps and websites
• Check your mail for viruses
• Protect you from phishing sites
• Provide high level protection without system slowdown

360 Total Security

This software will not only protect your PC from viruses, but at the same time, it will help clean and speed up your system. And it's all free, you won't be charged a cent. True, it is worth noting that this antivirus has a partner program with other companies (however, like many free solutions), so during installation you will need to refuse to install unnecessary software. Another feature 360 Total Security - support for engines of other antiviruses, and their simultaneous use. This approach helps to achieve the highest protection of your data.

Features of 360 Total Security:

• Protection against virus and malware
• Ransomware and ransomware protection
• Support for multiple engines
• Sandbox
• Safe online shopping
• Keylogger Protection
• System protection components (scanning disks, flash drives and vulnerabilities)
• Wi-Fi security check
• System optimization and data shredder

Panda Free Antivirus

Using the Internet, it is very easy to "catch" a virus or inadvertently download a spyware or other harmful application to your computer. You need resources to help protect your PC, including antivirus solutions. Among them are both free and commercial, and the choice is quite wide. What are good antiviruses? Are there any of these among the free versions?

We have made a selection of programs based on their versatility - each solution, judging by the content of reviews on the Internet, is the best antivirus for Windows 7, for XP, for the latest version 8.1.

First, let's take a look at some of the features commercial offers. Let one of them be Russian and the other foreign.

The main thing about Kaspersky

Among the world's most popular paid anti-virus programs is a product from Kaspersky Lab. The distribution kit from 2014 is able to protect not only from viruses and Trojans, but also from spyware and advertising scripts. Like most modern antiviruses, Kaspersky's program can detect threats that are not in the database. For this, heuristic analysis is used.

The main functions of the program from Kaspersky:

• tracking virus attacks, disinfecting files in real time;
• checking programs for reputation;
• analysis and detection of malicious codes in Internet traffic (links);
• monitoring the system for suspicious software actions.

The current version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus is compatible with the latest operating systems such as Windows 8.1. The proactive protection policy implemented by this solution includes tracking sites on which malicious modules are installed and early warning of the user about detected threats at the time of an attempt to enter such web resources. Experts note the adaptability of the antivirus to optimal use PC resources.

Program from Kaspersky: activation nuances

For many years, to activate the distribution kit, Kaspersky required special keys for antiviruses (using such a scheme is a common thing). But since August 2013, the methodology of this process has changed. Kaspersky Anti-Virus can only be activated using a special code online, that is, Internet access is required. Necessary condition successful completion of this procedure - a correctly set system date.

Kaspersky and promotion from Yandex

There is an interesting precedent in the history of the Russian IT industry. Users had the opportunity to observe a rather unusual guise in which Kaspersky Anti-Virus was - the "Yandex" version of the product. In December 2011, two large Russian IT companies - Yandex and Kaspersky Labs - decided to hold an unusual campaign.

Users from Russia and several other countries of the near abroad got the opportunity to use a full-fledged product from Kaspersky, released in a co-branded version with Yandex, completely free of charge. In this case, it would be most fair to say that in this form, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a trial version. The fact is that the validity period of the license for the program within the framework of the action was not very long - 6 months. Participants of the campaign also had the opportunity to purchase a standard Kaspersky anti-virus at a 20% discount.

The action included a number of restrictions. In particular, for the version of the antivirus distributed through Yandex, there were no technical support. If the user had difficulties with mastering the application, he was recommended to refer to the resources of the Kaspersky Lab knowledge base.

By now, the campaign has ended. Now you can use Kaspersky Lab products for free only if you download a trial antivirus that works for 30 days.

NOD: strong competitor from Slovakia

One of the most famous antivirus competitors from Kaspersky Lab is a product manufactured by the Slovak company ESET. We are talking about the NOD32 program (in Russia it is often called simply “NOD”). Its main functions are the same as those of most analogues: “catching” viruses, Trojans, adware, protection against phishing, etc. The program has its own heuristic analysis algorithm called ThreatSense.

Users and experts in the field information security note the low level of consumption of computer resources by the antivirus, as well as the low intensity of the use of Internet traffic when updating databases and basic software modules. The work of the protection system is, for the most part, in the background. Some experts believe that the speed of scanning files this antivirus one of the best.

The ESET software package also includes an application smart security. Its main functions:

• monitoring Email, blocking malicious scripts, spam filtering;
• detection and removal of spyware email programs;
• protection of the computer from outside connections (the application acts as a firewall).

Smart Security is also characterized by many experts as a solution that consumes a minimum of system resources.

According to many experts, NOD is an antivirus that, in terms of level, can be safely put on a par with the world's leading products.

Now let's move on to free antiviruses.

Avast - reliable protection for nothing

Avast antivirus (in Free versions Antivirus, according to some analysts, is the most popular product in the world in the free solutions segment. It has all the basic features you need for a home program. Activating Avast antivirus is very simple - just enter your name and e-mail. After that, the program can be used for free for a year.

Operating systems for PCs on which the free version of Avast can be installed are Windows, Linux and MacOS. Mobile platforms compatible with antivirus include Android, Windows. There are also several paid versions of the program: Pro, Internet Security, and Premier. There are a number of corporate solutions.

Many users note that Avast antivirus has a very comfortable interface. All the necessary options are displayed compactly and conveniently on the screen. Users like the display of interfaces related to real-time computer protection. This component of the program analyzes several sources of threats at once and shows on the screen how much of a particular source has been worked out.

There is also a minimum amount of advertising in the application interface, as well as its complete absence when using some options in the active window. Many users, determining for themselves which antiviruses are good and which are not very good, form their opinion based on the amount of advertising in free versions of programs.

Users note the very fast operation of the manual scanning module, as well as low consumption of computer RAM.

AVIRA: the universal protection format

Another popular solution among those that can be used for free is the Avira antivirus in the Free Antivirus version. This product consists of several applications: a monitor (which scans files in real time), an on-demand system scan module, and a malware database updater.

Main functionality antivirus:

• detection and removal of malicious codes, Trojans and other malicious applications;
• detection and filtering of advertising "exploits", spyware.

There is also a commercial version of the product - AntiVirus Premium. Compared to a free antivirus, the program has several advantages:

• accelerated updating via the Internet;
• lack of advertising;
• the presence of the function of blocking sites containing malicious codes;
• the ability to check e-mail when using the POP3 and SMTP protocols.

In addition to the basic platforms, Avira offers users several specialized packages that are adapted to work on workstations, corporate networks, etc.

Lavasoft: simplicity and reliability

Users of this antivirus note the convenience and balance of the interface. The window displays only necessary information, extra data at least. If there is a need to enable some additional function, then this can be done in one click. If the user wants to scan the entire system at once, then just press the large Scan Now button.

The only difficulty noted by antivirus users is that by default it is not possible to select individual disks for scanning. However, this option can be enabled through the program settings menu. Additional features for users of antivirus in a large number is in the paid version. Some users speak of Lavasoft as not the most productive solution. Even in the background, active consumption of program RAM is noted.

AVG: simplicity and functionality

AVG is another free antivirus. The interface of the program, according to users, is very simple. It is a list of icons denoting a particular module. antivirus protection. The system scan functions are located on the sidebar of the window. Just like in many other antiviruses, there is a Scan Now button, when clicked, a comprehensive scan of the entire computer is performed.

The package from AVG contains a large number of additional modules. For example, those that are designed to protect email, filter web traffic. Some users say that you need to buy a license to activate many modules. Sometimes it turns out that options are not intended for operating systems desktop PCs, and for mobile platforms.

Many note the insufficient performance of the antivirus when scanning disks, but they are quite satisfied with the low level of consumption of RAM by the program.

Another disadvantage of AVG antivirus is a rather complicated interface. You can get confused. In order to scan a specific disk or other storage media, you have to perform several sequential steps. In addition, to use some options, you need to enable a special mode called "expert", while in many other antivirus programs this option is available in the main menu of the program. There is no need to activate any other modes, except for what is enabled by default.

Many users were impressed by the performance of the antivirus and its low consumption of system resources.

Microsoft Security Essentials: a free solution from the giant

Unlike other programs in our review (which provide free use only the most basic version with restrictions), this product is completely free. And this is despite the fact that it was released by one of the most commercially engaged IT companies in the world.

Many users note that the program interface is very convenient, they especially emphasize that there are no ads on it. There are, however, disadvantages: it cannot scan e-mail, it does not contain anti-phishing protection modules. While other antiviruses even include such features in the free version.

According to users, the product from Microsoft is characterized by an average level of performance.

Pros and cons of free antiviruses

Without claiming to be the ultimate truth, let's try to summarize the pros and cons for each of the free antiviruses in our review. Based, of course, on user reviews. We will not determine which antiviruses are good and which are not. We highlight the strengths and weak sides everyone.

If the user cares about the speed of work, then it makes sense to pay attention to Avira, even despite the shortcomings of the platform in the form of confusing interface elements. According to some users, the creators of this antivirus should definitely work on appearance product. If they do this, Avira will have a great chance to get closer to the market leaders.

Avast antivirus can be the best choice for those users who do not like to study the program settings in depth. Product performance is not bad. The interface is clear and pleasant. Advertising, if you do not pay attention to it, does not interfere with the work with the program at all. Many users will want to get a free antivirus for 1 year with the functionality that Avast has.

Solutions from Lavasoft and AVG are praised by users for their good functionality. For some users, it is important which antiviruses are good precisely in terms of the capabilities that the creators endowed them with.

Focus on rating

User opinions about certain software products subjective. Now attempts are being made to form an objective rating of antiviruses. Let's see who does it and what are the results of their work.

The research methods of the Safety-Gate portal are recognized by the Russian IT community as one of the most effective. Therefore, we will take the rating of antiviruses according to the experts of this organization. Satefy-Gate tests solutions from various global manufacturers every quarter. Testing sessions are called On-Demand (on-demand testing, that is, in manual mode scanning). In the second quarter of 2014, Safety-Gate tested the effectiveness of 26 solutions, both commercial and free. Let's look at the overall results and what are the indicators for antiviruses from our review.

During testing, the programs were supposed to identify as many as possible of the 3266 infected malicious code files prepared by Safety-Gate specialists. The number of detected viruses was expressed as a percentage rounded to hundredths. That is, if, for example, the program found 3000 infected files, then the result was recorded as 91.86%.

Let's look at the distribution of places in the top ten rankings.

• The first line was taken by Ashampoo antivirus, its indicator is 98.96% or about 3232 viruses found.
• In second place (with a very small lag) is the Slovak product ESED NOD32, which found 98.71% of infected files.
• The third and fourth lines were shared by solutions from TrustPort (Total Protection and Internet Security, respectively). The first got a result of 98.07%, and the second lagged behind noticeably, having managed to find only 95.71% of the viruses.
• Emsisoft Anti-Malwre entered the top 5 of the ranking with a score of 95.34%.
• In sixth place is the antivirus from our Avira review. The program was able to find 95.22% of infected files.
• 360 Internet Security showed the seventh result, having managed to detect 94.76% of programs with malicious code.
• The eighth line was occupied by the Russian Dr.Web, showing a result of 94.3%.
• In ninth place is HitmanPro antivirus, which managed to detect 93.63% of infected files.
• The tenth line was occupied by the product eScan Internet Security, showing a result of 93.57%.
• What is the place of Kaspersky antivirus? One of the most popular Russian solutions showed a rather modest result, taking 12th place. The program found 92.92% of infected files.

What are the results of the remaining antiviruses from our review? Even lower.

AVG ranked 14th with 92.22% of infected files detected. Avast is located on the 16th line, having managed to find 91.64% of viruses. Microsoft Security Essentials and Lavasoft have not been tested by experts.

This is the rating of antiviruses according to the Safety-Gate portal. This is, of course, one of dozens or even hundreds of possible rankings, but it allows you to get a rough idea of ​​the quality of solutions for protecting your PC from malicious codes. Based on the Safety-Gate rating, the best free antiviruses we've reviewed in 2014 are Avira and Avast. The first was ahead of the solution from Kaspersky. The best paid antivirus from our review, judging by the test results, is Satefy-Gate, this is NOD32.

Having studied the general data on the leading antivirus brands and reviewed the test results, we can also pay attention to some expert advice regarding the criteria for choosing the best solution for protecting your PC from malicious codes.

Experts do not recommend using "cracked" ("cracked") versions of antiviruses downloaded from free torrents and other portals of this type. It often happens that the installation files of these programs are already infected with malicious code. In addition, manufacturers of modern antiviruses have learned to build reliable algorithms for detecting pirated versions. Most likely, an illegal copy of the program will be quickly detected and stopped being serviced (new databases and software components will stop downloading). Experts note that due to the tightening of search results filtering policy by Russian providers in relation to pirated copies programs, look for unlicensed versions of antiviruses or "keys" for them, it will take a very long time. Analysts advise to spend money on purchasing a legal copy of the software and save time.

IT specialists do not recommend choosing antiviruses based on the criteria of "lightness": a small amount of disk space occupied, low rates of RAM consumption, low processor load, etc. According to experts, a high-quality program for protecting a computer from threats cannot be "lightweight" . The antivirus performs many functions, and this cannot take place without using system resources. Experts point out that most modern computers equipped with enough RAM and hard drives in order to ignore the requirements for PC performance that are recommended by software manufacturers. If it turns out that the power of the system is not enough, then it is preferable to upgrade its individual components than to change the antivirus to a less demanding one. The only difficulty is that by default it is not possible to select individual disks for scanning, however, this option can be enabled through the program settings menu.

Austrian laboratory AV Comparatives is an independent organization that regularly tests antivirus products entering the market, both for personal computers, and for corporations and mobile phones.

Laboratory specialists claim that they use the most complete, most modern and most complex tests when testing. A product that "survived" such a test can rightly be considered best antivirus 2018. Here are ten antivirus products recognized by AV-Comparatives top quality at the end of last year.

Opening the list of the top ten antivirus programs in 2018 is the product of an Indian computer company - QuickHeal antivirus. Although the quality of the work of Indian programmers has already become a household name, this antivirus is quite suitable and will successfully rid the computer of worms, viruses and other unpleasant surprises.

9.AVG

After the Indians come the Czechs. AVG Antivirus - the brainchild of the Czech company AVG Technologies, can scan files, mail and is able to monitor computer activity 24/7.

This antivirus has a free version, which can be used indefinitely with almost no loss of functionality. Features like anti-spam and firewall are cut off, but you can surf the Internet quite calmly.

8. Avast

The main advantages of Avast are a small load on the computer and a high scanning speed. Plus, it's completely and completely free. Avast will take care of the safety of online purchases, check mail for viruses and Trojans, and scan suspicious applications.

And gamers will appreciate another Avast opportunity- disable Windows system alerts until the end of the game. Avast "sags" in the rating in several categories - malware removal and the definition of this very malware in files.

Finnish guys take from computer development other countries the best. Until 2010, they used the kernel from Kaspersky, and then switched to BitDefender in combination with their own ideas.

Despite the fact that F-Secure is positioned as a regular antivirus, it also has a firewall, a spam filter, and even its own VPN. Although it does not completely prevent the content of malicious sites from loading, it does deal with it quite effectively after.

The sixth place in the 2018 antivirus ranking goes to an Austrian product based on own developments– Emsisoft. It is able to protect the user's computer both from ordinary viruses, Trojans and spyware, but also blocks access to dangerous sites, checks everything executable files and move already famous programs Are they doing something criminal?

According to the developers, users will not even feel the load on the system from the antivirus.

5. ESET

And ESET is named the fifth among the best antiviruses. People who were present at the birth of the Russian Internet will certainly remember the NOD32 antivirus - one of the most popular antiviruses at the turn of the twenty-first century.

Bratislava scientists continue to work even now, and at the end of 2016 they released a new ESET version NOD32 Internet Security. It is able to protect the computer from network threats, and the camera from unauthorized connections. In addition, according to the assurances of the developers, the work of the program almost does not "eat" computer resources.

The American company ThreatTrack Security specializes in protecting companies from threats, attacks and spyware. Vipre antivirus offers a large set additional services- checking mail, sites and even Facebook pages, as well as clearing the history of visited sites and other traces of user activity in Windows. However, in tests to detect and block suspicious and malicious software, the antivirus showed average results.

In third place in the ranking of the best antiviruses of 2018 is Kaspersky Lab. However, AV-Comparatives experts note that the results of the top three - Kaspersky Lab, Bitdefender and AVIRA - turned out to be so similar that the Austrian scientists even had to introduce a special category for them called Outstanding Products.

Kaspersky has solutions for every taste - from private computers to large corporate networks, from a simple antivirus home use to password storage software for smartphones and tablets, and even protecting children from online bullying.

In second place in the top 10 antiviruses of 2018 is the product of a Romanian company, whose antivirus engine is in first place in terms of the number of licenses sold - it is used by many companies around the world when developing their own antiviruses. There are protection options for personal computers, mobile devices, corporate networks.

Antivirus from Bitdefender, including its free version, provides real-time scanning and protection, virus control, malware detection and neutralization, as well as web protection and anti-rootkit. And all this requires very little system resources during operation thanks to SmartScan technology.

1. AVIRA

And the best antivirus of 2018 in the ranking is AVIRA from the German company of the same name. This program received the best scores in all indicators - virus detection, performance, real-time protection and malware removal.

The antivirus has both a free version for private use and a paid one, which, however, differs from the free one only in web protection and mail checking. Moreover, with the help of AVIRA you can even find lost phone or block it in case of danger.

This article talks about what antivirus programs are and what they are, how they differ from each other and which antivirus is best to install on your computer. First of all, it should be noted that the security of a PC is one of the main conditions for its efficient and well-coordinated work. Any antivirus program is designed to detect malware and computer viruses, which infect files and block the computer.

For well-coordinated and accurate work of the PC, you need to install only one anti-virus program. If you install two or more antiviruses, they will begin to conflict with each other, which will lead to computer failures. Before purchasing an antivirus, you can install a trial version offered by the developers. It can be calculated from 30 to 90 days. However, there are also free antiviruses that will serve as good protection for your computer. The main difference between such anti-virus programs and paid ones is a special scanner that finds and removes viruses only when you run it. For those who cannot decide which antivirus is the best, first you need to consider Doctor Web and Avast products.

Pros and cons of the most popular antiviruses

Kaspersky Internet Security is the most up-to-date computer antivirus developed using Kaspersky Lab technologies. Perfect for basic PC protection in the event of an attack by major malware.

• High level of PC protection against malware;
• High speed of work;
• Quick check of PC files and program reputation;
• Preliminary check of the site by monitoring links before going to it;
• blocking inappropriate content Anti-Spam and Anti-Banner;
• Excellent compatibility with Microsoft - Windows 8, supporting IT security innovations.

• Enough high price programs;
• It is heavy and takes up a lot of space in RAM, which affects the performance of the computer;
• Launching full check PC, other programs need to be disabled to reduce the load. In some cases this is not acceptable.

Avast! Free Antivirus and Avast! internet security

Avast! Internet Security is one of the best free versions of antivirus and thanks to such technologies as Antispam Internet Security, SafeZone ™, Sandbox, Firewall provides high protection for your computer when you go to web pages, as well as when making various online transactions. Avast! Free Antivirus is very popular, because the free antiviruses of this developer are almost as good as paid antiviruses, demonstrating high protection and performance.

• There is a full free version of the program;
• Files are scanned at high speed;
• Suspicious programs are monitored;
• Blocking of malicious sites.

• Free antiviruses do not detect some malware;
• Pop-ups and banners are not blocked.

Dr.Web anti-virus program is one of the very first and is distinguished by the ability not only to detect and destroy those files that are infected, but also to completely restore them to their original state. Thanks to this, information is completely preserved, possibly very valuable. Dr.Web antivirus rating is one of the highest among analogues.

• The program has free utility Dr.Web CureIt, with which you can work even on a virus-infected computer without special installation;
• Archives of any level are scanned to detect packaged malicious products;
• High level of PC protection;
• A random check is performed RAM, boot sectors, startup objects).

• License cost full version programs are quite high;
• If a new license is registered, it is necessary to present the serial number or the old key;
• Curelt updates happen very often, so it is necessary to periodically download an updated version, which is not always acceptable.

NOD32

Many advanced netizens are of the opinion that ESET NOD32 is the best antivirus for a computer, which in fact is characterized by some features in the settings of this program.

• Unnecessary emails and advertisements are blocked;
• Protection from hackers and scammers operating on the Internet;
• High level of security in social networks;
• are blocked spyware and phishing sites.

• Happens not complete removal antivirus program from PC. On some elements, the program is saved and leads to a conflict when working with a new antivirus;
• Passes some malware;
• The PC scan takes quite a long time;
• The high cost of a licensed product.

Which antivirus program to choose?

From the above description of the pros and cons of different antivirus programs, you can already roughly imagine which antivirus is the best for your computer. However, in order to make it easier to make a choice, you need to clearly know what you will use the computer for. If you only plan to play games on it, then it is better to install free program such as Avast! If you are going to not only have fun, but also work, then it is better to install a paid antivirus, for example, Kaspersky Internet Security.

If you purchased a netbook, the protection system is slightly different. You can install a free antivirus for your computer Avast! and about once a month to check the PC with the Dr.Web Curelt! utility. Such a protection system will not take a lot of resources from the computer, which is a big plus, because the netbook is not very powerful compared to many PCs.

Having considered all the pros and cons of different antivirus programs, you just have to make a choice in favor of the most optimal protection for your computer, taking into account the antivirus rating, its cost and capabilities, as well as based on the purpose of the PC and its power.

(31 Votes)