Free virus software pc tools

The free antivirus version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs -- using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool -- plus a day trial of the company's malware-removal tool. Test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performs well for malware detection with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security.

And we've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before. But Avast was in the news for several months for its non-antivirus business, so we looked at the company, specifically reports at the end of that Avast allegedly collected user data with its browser plug-ins and antivirus software and then sold data it collected through its Jumpshot subsidiary in early In response to the reports that his company gathered and sold the details of its customers' online activities, Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek said in a statement that he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company.

To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January and closed its operations because the data collection business wasn't in line with Avast's privacy priorities. These newer reports follow another in from Avast that its internal network was breached , possibly to insert malware into its CCleaner software, similar to an earlier CCleaner hack that occurred prior to Avast's acquiring the Windows utility.

Avast is now saying the right things about taking its customers' privacy seriously , but it only came to that point after reacting to investigative reporting that revealed the Jumpshot practices.

The CCleaner revelations, while concerning, were self-disclosed, which is important to building user trust. We hope Avast's more privacy-friendly policies mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and it returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software. In the meantime, we'd recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm listed above.

Because the company has been in the news the past few years, let's talk about Kaspersky Lab -- specifically about the federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using Kaspersky Antivirus products. Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the best antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers.

But in the US government prohibited Kaspersky security cloud software on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government. But as with China-based Huawei , the question remains: If the federal government doesn't think the products are safe enough for its own devices, should consumers avoid them as well?

In a statement sent to CNET, the company said, "Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never, nor will ever, engage in cyber offensive activities.

Kaspersky Lab maintains that no public evidence of any wrongdoing has been presented by the US government, and that the US government's actions against Kaspersky Lab were unconstitutional. In Kaspersky's favor, it continues to earn top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs. And it's reasonably priced. In the end, even though no one has ever publicly produced a "smoking gun" linking the company to Russian intrigue, we think any of the options listed above are a safer bet.

And if you are a US government employee or work with the federal government, you'll want to steer clear of Kaspersky internet security products -- and perhaps use one of the antivirus software products mentioned here instead. Picking the best antivirus software for Windows means finding one that keeps your PC safe, doesn't take up a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way till you need it. Here's what to look for. Antivirus software runs virus scans for known viruses and malware, of course, and can offer real-time protection.

And it watches for shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also offer ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new and not-yet-identified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives. Light on system resources.

You don't want antivirus software that taxes your PC's resources. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, apps download or open sluggishly or file copies take longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is, all our picks offer a free trial to let you try out the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you may want to keep looking.

Cost and discounts. Don't just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company's website. Another way to save: The prices we list above are for 10 devices -- if the company offered that package -- but you can trim your cost with antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices.

You may also find discounts on an app's Amazon page. To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what's going on with your PC, check in with company servers about unusual behavior and should provide sound banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy. But if you want to know more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share.

Protection for other platforms. Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware. While the Mac does come under attack via side-loaded apps, it's rare, and if you download apps only from the Mac and iOS app stores and keep your guard up when clicking links and download files, you should be OK without an antivirus app on Apple devices.

CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. Light and fast Avira has one of the smallest footprints in the industry — with virus definition updates lighter than most other antivirus products.

The best antivirus protection With over 30 years of security experience, Avira offers superior detection, with additional web protection and repair capabilities. Made in Germany. Downloaded by millions. Rating: 4. Rating: 5 stars. I found Avira easy to install and am pleased with the protection it provides. Very easy to use.

No guessing. The latest technologies. Antivirus Scanner Detects and blocks malware viruses, ransomware, banker trojans, etc. NightVision Our automated, intelligent learning system protects you against new and evolving threats. PUA Shield Identifies potentially unwanted applications hidden within legitimate software. Safe Browsing Blocks harmful websites before they load.

Ad Blocker Prevents intrusive and malicious ads, banners, and pop-ups from loading. Browser Tracking Blocker Stops companies from monitoring you online. Price Comparison Saves you money while you shop. Load more. Laptop, smartphone or tablet? Secure all your devices with Avira. Discover Antivirus Pro for Mac and Windows. Install Avira Free Antivirus for Windows in 3 easy steps. Run the installer Double-click on the downloaded file. Confirm Click "Yes" on the dialog box to start your installation.

Follow the on-screen instructions This should take a few minutes only. System Requirements Your device is compatible. Free antivirus for Windows by Avira — Made in Germany.

Why is antivirus software for Windows PCs important? Why is Windows Defender not enough to protect your system? How to get complete protection for your Windows device?

How does Avira Free Security for Windows work? Avira Free Security: the best free antivirus for Windows Is Avira Free Security for Windows really free? Unlike other software, it can easily protect each and every aspect which can affect the files and help malware to enter your system. The software can moreover help you in improving the performance of the PC by cleaning unwanted files. Next software in the list of best free malware removal tools is IObit Malware Fighter. The software will help you clean, speed up, optimize and protect your PC.

Just like other software, it will easily remove and protect your system. It also offers protection and safety from online threats. The software has some other features too, you can check the list of features below.

McAfee is a very well-known brand that offers various software for PC protection. The software can easily protect all your data and files present in the system. It has also won many awards for its amazing performance. Due to its outstanding performance, we have kept this software on the list of Best malware removal tools for Windows It can even protect all the passwords easily, so all your passwords are safe with this software and you can easily keep anything as your password.

Avast is one of the best malware removal tools for Windows 10 and older versions. The software will protect your system from every virus and malware that can attack your files. The best part about this software is that it is very easy to use and every user irrespective of their level of knowledge uses this software and removes all the threats. It moreover finds browser vulnerabilities too.

Unlike other malware removal software that can only remove malware from PCs, this software can even improve performance. It also protects the system in real-time from malicious software. Other than this the software has other features too. Next software in our list of best free malware removal tools is Malwarefox. The software offers complete protection of your computer from every threat. The software other than just protecting the files can even help you in repairing them.

It uses a rootkit to repair damaged files. This software is one of the many competitors which protect the system in real-time from threats. Other than this it has many other features, refer to the below list to know them. SolarWinds malware removal tool is one of the best tools that you can have in This software can easily remove and block all threats. Other than just removing threats it also helps in improving the performance of the system.

Security Event Manager automatically detects threats and monitors security policies and protects the system. Apart from this, it offers many other features too, check them in the list below.

Lastly, on the list of best malware removal tools for Windows 10, we have Panda Security software. This is very smart software that was created with adaptive features.