Best free antivirus software for 2021
For years, if you wanted the best antivirus software, you had to pay for genuine protection and security. Any free antivirus software admittedly lacked some critical features, like fraud protection or link blocking. While some antivirus programs cost money, there are plenty of free options with fantastic features.
You don’t always have to miss out on features like malware blockers just because these antivirus options are free. Plus, you can download these programs and start using them immediately.
The best free antivirus software at a glance Bitdefender Antivirus Free EditionBitdefender
The Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is an antivirus program that revels in a minimalist design that makes it low maintenance. Though the application features no configurations of any kind, it automatically scans your machine in the background using cloud-based detection, subsequently performing a deeper scan if it comes across any malicious software or red flags.
The bundled, real-time virus shield also uses behavior-based detection to protect against potential threats. Newer features include anti-fraud and phishing options that use more advanced filters to warn block and protect you from any sites known to steal identities.
Besides excellent malware blocking and removal, the lightweight program doubles as an excellent anti-rootkit and anti-phishing utility. It performs the latter task by detecting and blocking fraudulent sites.
AVG AntiVirus FreeAVG Press Center screenshot
AVG has two major selling points. First, this free antivirus option has an impressively broad reach. The software will not only search for viruses and malware, but it also helps block suspicious links, prevent suspect downloads, and keeps suspicious email attachments from being used. That makes the app a better choice for a family or elderly users on a budget.
The second benefit is AVG’s affinity with Google platforms, as it has one of the better Android downloads. In addition to its antivirus features, the Android version of the software also has a phone tracker, which allows you to track the location of your lost phone, remotely lock it, remotely enable an alarm to ring, and even remotely wipe your mobile device clean so that your data isn’t exposed to identity thieves or anyone else you don’t want to see your personal information.
ZoneAlarm Free Antivirusscreenshot
ZoneAlarm provides firewalls and antivirus scanning but then goes a step further to address two growing security concerns: identify theft and data loss. Daily credit-monitoring tools prevent identity theft and a “credit education specialist” to help you work through any alerts or problems. If you don’t already have a service that helps protect your identity and data, this could be the option for you.
If you choose to download this free software you’ll need to know three things: You’ll be getting the beta version of the software, the free license to use it only lasts about a year, and most importantly, if you choose to uninstall it later it can be difficult to remove it completely from your system as some features like its browser extension aren’t necessarily removed during the installation process and may not be easily disabled.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Freescreenshot
Malwarebytes offers some of the best and most comprehensive virus-removal software available, frequently making it one of the first go-to sources for tech agencies and support groups alike.
The only caveat with the free version of Malwarebytes is that it’s more of a remediation tool than a live, protective shield. The scanning tool will find and remove anything once you’re already infected — effectively, too — but doesn’t prevent the infection from happening in the first place. For that, you need the premium version or one of the other tools on this list. Still, as a secondary layer of defense, the free version of Malwarebytes is a must.
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