Utilizing the trusty built-in Windows Defender keeps you protected to a certain extent, various tests and reports have showed that it typically misses at least one out of every ten threats.
Your Android also has stronger core security but it is still vulnerable to the new crop of malicious apps so you're going to need extra help to keep your devices safe - which is where antivirus comes in
Luckily, you can get this protection for free and there are loads of different apps and programs offering that level of adequate protection without you having to pay through your nose for it.
That is why I have come up with a list of the best free antivirus software you can get for your PC, your Android device, and when you are on the Internet. Check them out below:
For PCs.
- AVG AntiVirus Free: Although AVG struggled with the competition for the better part of last year, don't give up on it just yet - the latest iteration is showing real signs of improvement. An independent testing lab AV-Test recently awarded AVG AntiVirus Free its maximum score for protection - a testament to the fact that you should still put it in contention. The program is also really configurable. You can define exactly whaqt various scan types do, schedule them to run unattended, configure which notifications you'd like to see, decide how updates will be handled, and so much more.
Avast Free AntiVirus: Avast Free has a clean and configurable interface which gives you access to a host of other features. This particular program does better than most when it comes to blocking malicious URLs and also rates highly when dealing with tricky zero-day threats, another area where other antivirus software fall short. The real highlight however, is the lenghty list of genuinely useful security extras. The program can warn you of network vulnerabilities, highlight missing software patches, reveal weak or duplicate passwords stored by your browser and more.
- Avira Free AntiVirus 2016: First, Avira Free Antivirus looks plain, ordinary, and a little dated. Now that that’s out of the way, it scores very highly on most tests and does its work almost entirely automatically. There are options to protect the hosts file, block autorun, scan archives, monitor network drives, set the files types to be scanned, and even password protect your Avira installation so others can't mess with your settings.
Panda Free AntiVirus 2016: No, this has nothing to do with Desiigner or dabbing - just pay attention when you're installing it if you don't want Yahoo to be your home page. Away from that, the program's accuracy makes it worth all the effort while filtering is another significant plus, with Panda doing an above-average job of blocking access to malicious sites. Extras include USB protection to keep your USB keys safe from some malware, while Process Monitor is a task manager-like tool that displays running processes, their open HTTP connections, and highlighting key dangers.
For Android.
Avira Antivirus Security 4.4: There is very little separating all the top antivirus apps in the mobile segment but Avira Antivirus Security earns the vote for its consistency. It’s a pretty reliable engine (with a 4.4 star rating on Google Play), and Avira's great record with PCs makes you think you'll be able to trust the product over the long term. There are loads of bonus features as well. You can use anti-theft tools to locate a lost phone, trigger a siren, and remotely lock or wipe a device. The privacy ratings also give you an insight into how apps are handling your data along with indentity protection, app locking, call filtering and much more.
360 Security - Antivirus FREE: This is one of the most popular antivirus apps around - it's has a 4.6 rating in the Play Store - and the reason is not far-fetched: it really is free. There is a very long list of extras. The optimisation features alone - junk file cleaning, memory booster, power saver - are much more capable and effective than most standalone apps. The antivirus is an extremely accurate engine which doesn't generate too much traffic, significantly drain your battery, or get in the way of your regular activities. It also monitors apps as they are installed, blocking malware before it can cause any harm to your device, and the bonus features list isn't bad: anti-theft, call and SMS filtering, an app locker and more.
VirusTotal: Just upload a suspect file to VirusTotal and eventually (it could take long, especially during peak period) you'll see the scanning results from over 50 leading antivirus packages, along with an in-depth analysis of the file, as well as what it does when you run it on your computer (the kind of modules it needs, the files it reads and writes, and much more).
- Metascan Online: This app is one of the main competitors to VirusTotal, and that is saying a lot. The idea is pretty much the same - place a file in Metascan Online and it will be uploaded and scanned by a host of antivirus packages, with their verdicts listed in a detailed report. It can also scan marginally larger files that VirusTotal (140MB compared to 128MB) and it has a neat Scan History page to show how a file's detection rate has changed over time. You should try it out and see how it works for you.
There are all sorts of evil lurking on the Internet and in files waiting to go to town on your device or PC and default security setups placed in devices usually can't handle them all. Check out these free antivirus programs listed above to give your device or browser that much-needed cover of protection.
FROM PULSE.NG
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