Utilizing reliable antivirus software is essential to keep your device secure online. However, what do you do to choose one when it’s so numerous options to choose from? To make your decision less difficult, we’ve compiled our list of top free antivirus software that will be available in the year 2022. Within each one of these descriptions, we’ve provided the advantages and disadvantages of each antivirus.
Is it Safe to Use a Free Antivirus Program?
Utilizing free antivirus software to guard your PC is risky if you aren’t aware of the business that runs it. The biggest danger comes from using something that appears to be an antivirus program. However, it’s, in fact, disguised malware designed to steal personal information. This is why it’s crucial to download your antivirus program on the official website of a trusted firm.
Another issue that could be a problem that some antivirus programs are free of charge is that they may offer your user’s data to advertisers or third-party businesses. Even some of the most trusted businesses have been accused of selling the data of their users (like Avast), which is why reviewing reviews and conducting your study is essential. The top five antivirus programs that you’ve read about on the list below are programs that we have faith in and suggest you try to see if you like them.
1. Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus has numerous useful features to protect your PC from malware and viruses. Alongside antivirus protection and scans, it also comes with a security checker for your network that assists you in identifying security holes within networks that you use at home.
Other features that are useful include protection against browsers as well as protection against risky URLs. These are the reasons we’ve chosen to award the Avast Free Antivirus the top spot on our top free antivirus lists.
Avast and its affiliate, AVG, were caught selling customer data in the last year, which led to a huge privacy scandal for the business and its customers. Since the scandal was revealed, Avast issued a public statement and cancelled Jumpstart, the company to which it sold the data. But this does not mean that Avast doesn’t collect any information via its software. It is just that they do not sell information to other businesses.
Avast Free Antivirus includes a password manager, which is something you should consider for antivirus, but not an option we often see. The reason why this feature is categorized as a disadvantage is that it offers very few options and lacks master password security. To be completely secure with your passwords, you may want to look into the use of a more secure account manager instead. The main drawback with this antivirus is that most of its advanced features can only be accessed with a paid account. This free software is restricted to private use and isn’t able to be utilized by companies.
However, Avast Free Antivirus is the best personal security software available due to the broad range of basic features and security that it offers. The browser-based and URL security is an important feature of it. The free edition of the antivirus is also a great option.
If you’re looking to purchase the pay-per-use version, look up this page.
2. Sophos Home Free
Sophos Home Free will be the perfect choice for you if you require managing the security of your antivirus for those who aren’t in the same house as you do. With its remote-management feature, it is possible to install a local agent onto the individual’s PC and manage the settings of your main account. In addition, you’re receiving excellent protection against viruses by using Sophos Home Free.
The disadvantage of the usage of Sophos Home Free is that their security against phishing isn’t as robust as the ones you’ll find in the other choices listed that are on the list. Additionally, it’s the case that their parental content protection doesn’t function well enough to be relied on. If you’d like the ability to control three or more remote installs, you’ll need to update your subscription. The poor parental content filter and the low protection against phishing are the reason we’ve placed this antivirus in second place in our ranking of top free antivirus alternatives.
Sophos Home Free is the ideal choice if you’re looking to provide remote antivirus control to other computers. If you reside in a household that has more than one PC, this is an excellent option since you can control up to three computer systems with an account that is free.
For the pay version, go to this page.
3. AVG AntiVirus Free
AVG AntiVirus Free can be described as an antivirus program with a wide range of features that protects your PC against any threat that could be encountered while browsing online. The most notable advantages that come with the use of AVG AntiVirus Free are its high-security score as well as its excellent protection against malware as well as fantastic phishing security.
It is important to know that, as AVG is a subsidiary that is part of Avast, AVG was also involved in the scandal that involved customer data being sold to corporations. The practice of selling customer data was stopped last year after Avast closed Jumpstart, which was the name of the company that sold the data. This does not mean that Avast does not collect the information they collect via their software.
One of the weaknesses of this program is that it isn’t compatible with iOS gadgets. This means it isn’t a good choice to recommend to anyone except Windows users. A minor issue is that the first scan is slower than the average to finish. The iOS restriction is the reason why we’ve put AVG in the third position on our list of top performers.
AVG AntiVirus Free is the most effective choice for Windows users. Its outstanding security scores and above-average phishing security, and unbeatable security against malware make it ideal for those who use Windows as their operating system for their PC.
If you’re interested in a paid-for subscription to this antivirus, You can sign up here.
4. Avira Free Security
Avira can be a solid contender to be the best free antivirus in particular because it shields you from ransomware, which is an extremely dangerous type of malware. Based on tests and user feedback Avira’s antivirus is excellent in avoiding false positives, meaning it doesn’t cause panic even if you don’t have the virus. It’s also not too difficult to run on your PC, so it won’t cause any slowdowns to other processes when you run routine scans.
In addition to the protection against viruses, in addition, you’ll be protected against phishing, spyware and others. In addition, a built-in heuristic algorithm is capable of detecting malware that the program isn’t yet able to detect. This is quite impressive for an antivirus that is free since the most powerful features are usually hidden behind paywalls.
That brings us to one of the major disadvantages of Avira, although it’s a problem that’s shared by the majority of free software. To gain access to features such as email attachment protection or personal file scanners, you’ll require an upgrade to move to a premium version. Free versions are advertising-supported, which is a bit unsatisfying since that’s the case with other antivirus programs that are free.
Regardless of these points, Avira’s free program is still top-quality and can help ensure your devices are secure. As of this writing, the service is available for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Chromebooks!!
If you’re looking to purchase the price-based version, visit this link.
5. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free
Kaspersky Security Cloud Free provides users with total ransomware security and an excellent phishing defence. This is a solid security solution to block malware using this antivirus program for free. The interface is simple to use, and a scheduled scan feature helps you protect your device more than ever before.
The shortcomings in Kaspersky Security Cloud Free come in the form of a lack of tech support in the free version, as well as it has a limited level of security for the iOS version of the antivirus when compared to that of the Android application. The initial start-up process is longer than usual to finish. The iOS issue is the reason we’ve included this virus scanner at number five on our list.
We suggest Kaspersky for the security of your Android devices as the app offers a user-friendly interface that’s simple to comprehend and use. The protection provided by the antivirus Android devices will meet the needs of your to keep your smartphone or tablet running at high speed.
In the event that you’re looking to buy the version that is paid for of the software, check out this page.
Why Antivirus Programs are Important
Antivirus software guards your device against potentially harmful programs and files which could get to your phone or computer while you surf the internet. The things that an antivirus program can safeguard you against include viruses and malware like Trojan horses, spyware, ransomware, and adware.
A reputable antivirus program can also protect your personal information from identity theft. This is particularly important when you keep personal data like banking information or address information within your devices.
The potential effects of not using an antivirus program that is reliable include having to deal with irritating pop-ups and errors and being able to have your devices or files held hostage, and getting the cash taken away from online banking accounts.
Another reason why antivirus scanners are essential is the fact that they prolong the life span of your devices. By securing your computer or smartphone from malware and viruses, the antivirus program ensures that your device can function effectively for a longer period of time than it would if it weren’t secured.
Paid vs Free Antivirus Programs
Most of the time, the most significant difference between free and paid antivirus scanners is the options that are offered to make the software more efficient or user-friendly. This is especially true if you’re thinking about using a free version of a priced antivirus software.
Some of the most commonly used features available only to accounts that are paid for include:
- Additional layers of security against ransomware
- Additional web security
- Parental controls
- No advertisements
- Support level
If you’re trying to decide between free and paid options, You must be aware of your budget as well as the features you really require. While paid antivirus software is crucial for a large number of people due to the necessity of these extra features, however, you might be able to get by with a no-cost version of the program installed on your device.
How We Picked the Best Antivirus Programs
When we had to choose the most effective free antivirus program, we considered a variety of factors. They included:
- How well did the free software perform when it comes to preventing threats
- The software was easy to use and navigate for users who were new to the program.
- The variety of beneficial features available with the free version
- The way that antivirus software addresses security and privacy
Conclusion
In the end, protecting your device when browsing the web and downloading files doesn’t have to be a hassle or cost a lot. The programs we’ve described in this guide have been designed to safeguard your PC from malware as well as other risky and malicious attacks. This means that any of the choices we’ve examined are great for keeping you safe while on the internet.