With technological advancements being made every day, it may be difficult to keep up with the trends. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by how many different antivirus programs there are, fret not. This article will update and inform you of the best free antivirus options available now.
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Table of Contents:
How Do Antivirus Programs Work?
The purpose of this article is to tell you more about the main criteria of how to select a modern antivirus program and to show you the pros and cons of the most popular free products. These are also considered the best free antivirus software on Reddit and Quora. Best free antivirus for Windows 10 in 2021 1.1. Bitdefender Free includes an on-demand antivirus scanner (Windows, Mac, Android) along with real-time anti-malware protection and web protection for Windows users. Bitdefender Free uses the same advanced scanning engine as the paid version, and unlike most competitors, Bitdefender’s free antivirus for Windows also includes excellent real-time.
Antivirus software works in many different ways, but one of the most important is scanning all programs and files that are opened by an unsuspecting user for viruses and other malicious code. Called “real time scanning,” an antivirus program can detect and block these types of threats in real-time and can even wipe out a threat before it causes a problem on the computer. In other words, antivirus programs can stop dangerous malware from getting into your computer when it’s still relatively confined in the first place. This is extremely useful because once the virus escapes the confinement of a file downloaded onto your computer, it’s very hard to get rid of.
Antivirus programs are also capable of full system scans, meaning the software will scan every file, program, etc. on your computer. These scans will wipe out any viruses that may have already infected your computer prior to the installation of a protective antivirus software.
Regardless of whether your antivirus software is conducting a real-time or full system scan, it works by comparing each file to several known viruses. Even in the worst-case scenario where your computer safety becomes compromised by a brand new type of virus, a good antivirus program will be able to detect bits and pieces of activity typically found in malware, and effectively eradicate the threat.
Do Antivirus Programs Really Keep You Safe?
Source: answers.u-post.net
In short, yes! The internet is a useful tool that has become a key part of many peoples’ everyday lives, however, it can also be used as a weapon. Without protection from an antivirus program, you are put at high risk of your computer being compromised by spyware (you or your web activity will be monitored), adware (unwanted advertisements will pop up on your browser), various types of scams where your passwords for social media and even your online banking accounts may be hijacked, and more. It is crucial for you to take precautionary action by installing an antivirus program in your computer that can fight against these threats.
What Are The Most Popular Free Antivirus Programs?
Avira Antivirus
This antivirus offers protection for your computer hardware and browser. Its browser extension will warn users about sites with dangerous activity. Avira operates primarily on a cloud rather than on your actual computer, meaning it will not take up much space on your computer. As a result, your computer will never lag because of the program running. This can be especially helpful for those with older computers that may not be well equipped to handle much multitasking. The application is also designed so that it can not be compromised by an attacker who has gained access to the host machine, meaning the antivirus itself will always be safe from the hands of a hacker.
AVG Antivirus
Source: findit.com
Like Avira Antivirus, AVG provides protection for both your computer and your browser. AVG’s browser extension even has AD blocking capabilities, which can be extremely helpful in preventing scams or automatic file downloads popping up on your screen. AVG collects data on viruses from all of its users and uses that data to detect threats on your software. As AVG has an immense user base, its antivirus detection program will always be updated and capable of wiping out even the newest of viruses.
Avast Antivirus
This antivirus has been available for several years now, and it has kept improving itself over time. Avast comes with the basics discussed in the past two antivirus programs: computer and browser security. However, Avast offers extra protection that cannot be found in the previous options. Avast can examine your network security, which is extremely important as hackers getting into your computer through unsecured Wi-Fi connections has become growingly common in recent times. It also offers a secure password manager, which will help you keep track of your login credentials and update your passwords to fight against hackers on a regular basis.
What Is The Best Free Antivirus Software According to Reddit users?
After examining recent Reddit threads on computer protection, there seems to be two highly praised antivirus software that has yet to be mentioned in this article.
Bitdefender
Source: bzfuture.com
Bitdefender was probably recommended most frequently by Reddit users. The core of Bitdefender’s antivirus system is the same in the free version as the paid version. Meaning, you will be getting a quality system that many people pay for without having to splash out on it. Though it lacks layers in cybersecurity that the paid version has, it will still keep your computer well-protected. Bitdefender promises to run at full speed without slowing down your computer, meaning those with older tech that is prone to lagging will benefit from using Bitdefender as opposed to other heavier programs.
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is highly recommended by many Reddit users as it scans for malware at unparalleled speeds. However, there is a downside to this program that may be a deal-breaker for some potential users. It lacks a real-time protection system. In other words, it can eradicate malware that has already infiltrated your system, but it cannot detect viruses before they are exposed to your computer. As a result, many Reddit users recommended pairing this antivirus software with another one. Through this, you can get real-time protection from another program, but also have the perks of speedy malware eradication with Malwarebytes in the case that one slips past your defense system.
What advantages do paid antivirus programs offer?
While free antivirus programs offer baseline protection, paid programs provide total protection for your computer. Paid programs tend to have better real-time protection. Threats that you may come across through online interactions may be better addressed through paid programs, as paid programs usually have better security for your sensitive information (such as your online banking accounts, online shopping transactions, etcetera). If you can afford to spend money on a paid program, it may be wise to do so. However, if spending money on online security is not something you can/want to do as of now, a free program should offer adequate protection.
Antivirus FAQs / Recap
Source: jonesday.com
How to disable Avast antivirus?
If you want to disable Avast Antivirus, simply click the Avast logo, click on the Avast shields control and select “disable,” then set a time frame for how long it will remain idle if applicable. Finally, confirm that you wish to actually disable Avast in the window that pops up when you finish the prior steps.
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How to uninstall Avast antivirus?
On Windows 10
Click on the Windows start button and select “Apps and Features,” then find Avast Antivirus and select “uninstall.” The Avast Setup wizard will appear, and you will once again click “uninstall.” Confirm that you wish to delete the program from your computer, and it should be gone after the proper procedure.
On Windows 8
For Windows 8, press the Windows key and the “X” key at the same time, then click on “Programs and Features.” Locate Avast Antivirus and click on “uninstall.” The Avast Setup wizard will appear, and you will once again click “uninstall.” Confirm that you wish to delete the program from your computer, and it should disappear after the proper procedure
On Windows 7
Click on the Windows start button and then pick “Control Panel.” Go to “Programs,” and select either “uninstall a program” or “programs and features.” Find Avast Antivirus and choose “uninstall.” The Avast Setup wizard will appear, and you will once again click “uninstall.” Confirm that you wish to delete the program from your computer, and it should successfully leave your computer after the proper procedure.
On MacOS
You can uninstall Avast on Mac by opening the Avast Security application. Click on it again in the Menu bar and select “uninstall.” Make sure that all related Avast applications such as Avast Passwords and Avast VPN are selected as well, and then follow the procedure to get rid of the program on your computer.
How to delete McAfee antivirus?
McAfee can be deleted from your computer in the exact same way that Avast can be. Refer to the section above to find out how to uninstall this program (just replace “Avast” with “McAfee” while following along).
McAfee also offers a convenient removal tool. This tool can be found on the McAfee website. Simply download the tool online, then run it once it finishes downloading. The tool will delete everything for you without any hassle.
Best Free Antivirus For Mac 2021 Reddit
What is the best free antivirus for Windows 10?
According to Reddit, Bitdefender is the best free antivirus for Windows 10. When considering other sources, it seems like Aviva and Avast are highly popular and recommended by many.
Do I need antivirus for Mac?
Definitely. Though Macs are known to protect themselves quite well, they are not immune to all cyber threats. There are hackers and viruses that target Macs specifically nowadays, and thus installing an antivirus system in your computer (even a free one!) is a great addition to your security that you do not want to miss out on.
Self-termed the “front page of the internet”, Reddit is home to all sorts of useful information, and just as much useless info too. But Reddit has a long thread of discussions related to the most efficient antivirus software for Windows 10. Since the subject is of a wide interest, it’s always good to discover what the opinions of Reddit users are on it, especially when it comes to the different free antivirus software you’ll find covered by our reviews.
Windows Defender in the Eyes of Reddit Users
Surprisingly, Windows Defender is often mentioned when it comes to the question of what the best antivirus defense for Windows 10 is. Some agree that it can offer basic protection for the inexperienced user, while others don’t. All in all, the general advice is to use “Common Sense + Windows Defender. Emphasis on the former”. Another Reddit user suggests that just these two are not enough, since Windows Defender “is not bad, it’s just that it’s not very proactive in preventing zero day malware/exploits”. Of course, someone else asks where common sense can be downloaded.
One smart remark recommends following AV-TEST results, the independent antivirus ranking organization testing and ranking all known antivirus software. Windows Defender received quite a high ranking from the organization, too.
Best Free Antivirus Reddit Mac Os
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition and Reddit Karma
Bitdefender with its free version is often mentioned in comments on the subreddit “What’s the best antivirus for Windows 10?” though the solution does not seem to be so popular with users. One of them noted that it pops up when he is playing games on his PC, always doing some “mysterious” scan he didn’t ask for and even blocks some browsers from opening. His opinion is that “an antivirus is not supposed to do that”.
Free Antivirus For Mac Downloads
A more informed user replies that “Bitdefender is renowned for having the best protection in tests as well as being one of the lightest resource intensive antiviruses. I take advantage of their free version and then pair that with weekly scans using malwarebytes and superantispyware.” The same user adds that at some point he purposely downloaded something “sketchy” and Bitdefender was able to block it.
Avast Free Antivirus and Redditors
Redditors also brought up the Avast Free Antivirus solution quite often, but only briefly. One of the most interesting comments is the one that stated that Avast was the lightest of all the antiviruses tested. With other programs, according to the commenter’s experience, the CPU cooler can often be heard working, while it hardly happened with Avast. However, they add that it is necessary to do the custom setup to get rid of the useless “bloat”.
Another Redditor adds that Avast is a great program and even though he does recommend it to some users, it can prove to be particularly intrusive when used on an HTPC (home theater PC) and would be “resource-intensive”, leading to churning the disk sometimes. The commenter goes on to state that they have used the software for about three years on four different systems, however eventually decided to change to Bitdefender and is much happier with the choice now. The Redditor’s parting message is that both programs offer great security and “score well in tests”.
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Best Antivirus Software of 2021
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