What is the best free anti virus program?

[RumoredNow]

i prever avira

Another Avira fan here... For freeware it always comes in on the top tier for recommendations / reviews. Anyone who says their Free AV is rated #1 is looking at just one review. Look at lots of reviews and you will see a short list of possibles emerge.

I like Avira for the constant updates, ease of UI, real time notifications of issues and the sense they give me that they are seriously working for me even though it is free.

I'll agree that staying away from IE is a big step. It's the most targeted browser due to the fact that the laziest, most unaware users click away on it at everything. Also there is the Avira Browser Safety extension / plug-in / add-on available for most major browsers. Don't forget to tweak your browser for safety, whether it is Avira or another route, you should be able to add those extensions that are most helpful with ease from your browser's control panel / settings.

I do partner my Avira with Windows Firewall. Can't think of the last time I had a problem on my system. I'm sure it was before I adopted Avira though.

 

[realwarder]

I disagree with the staying away from IE. If you are on IE 11 make sure Enhanced Protection Mode is on and you'll be fine. IE also checks files downloaded as being trusted which makes it better than other browsers at protecting you.

 

[chezm]

Avast

 

[berty6294]

Lols some of the responses on this thread. In my experience, Windows Defender and AVG are the better of the free AV. But best AV I have ever used is easily Webroot.

 

[Gaurav Bhattacharjee]

Comodo Internet Security is free and it works without fail. The reasons? A military-grade firewall. A very powerful IDS (Intrusion Detection System). Even if the antivirus scanner fails to detect a malicious object (which basically hasn't happened yet... At least to me, but then again I am super-paranoid about security), the IDS will certainly detect it and promptly stop it in its tracks.

Been using Comodo since 2008, and not one infection.

 

[pahutakz]

I use ESET Smart Security and it did not fail me.

 

[Makm]

'Microsoft Security Essentials' (which is built in Windows 8) - Had no PC slow downs, small updates, cleaned every virus for me successfully and had no problems. I don't think any third party AV is needed.