The best antivirus software for windows 7. Free antivirus rating: review, description and reviews

People whose computers have ever succumbed to the influence of various viruses are sure that antivirus for a computer must be selected very carefully and very seriously.
Important warning: you need to protect your device right now so that it does not suffer from various malicious programs... Sometimes even real money in internet wallets can be stolen by such programs. Read a helpful article for beginners.
There are a huge number of antivirus programs at the moment, but they operate on almost the same principle. They study the computer and find the most vulnerable spots in order to protect them.

There are two types of antivirus software: paid and free

Don't think that if the program is expensive, it protects it much better. Today there are a huge number of free offers that will help protect your computer from unwanted viruses. So, below we will talk in detail about the best antivirus programs for 2019.

This antivirus is most likely the most popular. The program functions very well, users immediately liked it, therefore, to this day, they are actively using it for their own purposes.

Benefits of Kaspersky Free:
1. The software works very quickly.
2. The free version uses the same databases as the paid one.
3. With its help, all financial transactions are reliably protected.
4. It protects your internet connection with a VPN.
5. There is a function.
6. Compatible with Windows, Android, Mac and other OS.
7. Low cost of the license (BUY).
8. You can use a free trial period (1 month)
9. Do you want a Kaspersky license for a year? Then you are here!

Disadvantages of Kaspersky Free:
1. Some viruses cannot be detected (like any antivirus program).
2. Many functions are not available in the free version.

Even those who rarely use a computer have heard about this defender. Avast is free, but at the same time very convenient and capable antivirus. In order to start using the program, you will first need to provide an email address and go through a small registration. Analysis shows that the antivirus is capable of eliminating up to 99% of threats.

Benefits of Avast Free Antivirus:
1. The program has a very nice and simple interface.
2. Lots of add-ons to customize Avast personally for yourself.
3. Protects against applications that can cause even the slightest harm to your computer.
4. Fast check for threats.
5. Ease of updating the virus database thanks to direct access.
6. Cloud protection technology.

Disadvantages of Avast Free Antivirus:
1. Once a year you will need to repeat the SIMPLE registration process.
2. The free version can only be used for home devices.

The main task of this antivirus is to scan your computer for viruses, as well as delete infected files. It should be noted that the program is not a full-fledged antivirus, but is more often used in addition to any program of this kind.

Benefits of Dr. Web Curelt:
1. It is possible not to delete infected files, but to “cure” them.
2. You don't even have to install the program.

Disadvantages of the free version of Dr. Web Curelt:
1. The trial version does not have the ability to update the database.
2. Operation is not possible in web mode.

The paid version of the application is considered the best, but the free program will also interest many. Despite some stripped-down features, the antivirus works great.

Benefits of Bitdefender Antivirus:
1. Very nice interface.
2. Great work efficiency.

Disadvantages of Bitdefender Antivirus:
1. There is no Russian language.
2. Works poorly on weak computers.

The program is one of the best in its field. It detects and removes viruses very well. You can download the antivirus for free, to improve the work, you can download various plugins, which are also free.

Avira Antivirus benefits:
1. The program saves system resources very well.
2. Antivirus works stably and flawlessly.
3. Quite good protection mechanism and high working efficiency.
4. Reliable protection against threats from the Internet;
5. You can customize data processing and set filters for applications;

Disadvantages of Avira Antivirus:
1. Sometimes advertisements pop up offering to purchase a paid version.
2. Sometimes the program may miss trojans.

Download 360 Total Security

This program has very good protective functions.

And wherein configure 360 \u200b\u200bTotal Security very simple. Of course, various subtleties in the settings are present, but even a "beginner" can handle them. Even Microsoft has included the program in the recommended list, so you should pay attention to this antivirus.

AVG AntiVirus Free

The program is not very popular, but at the same time it copes well with its tasks. The fact is that it uses the same databases as the paid version of the program.

Benefits of AVG AntiVirus:
1. Very effective virus protection.
2. The program is economical in the consumption of system resources.

Disadvantages of AVG AntiVirus:
1. Verification is rather slow.
2. The program sometimes works falsely.

The first antivirus program to use cloud technology to enable better scanning.

Panda Free Antivirus benefits:
1. The interface looks very attractive.
2. The virus database is constantly updated.

Disadvantages of Panda Free Antivirus:
1. Not supported on weak PCs.
2. Sometimes the program fails.

Comodo Antivirus

Comodo antivirus is in great demand only among experienced computer users, because setting up the program is not so easy.

Comodo Antivirus

Comodo Antivirus benefits:
1. The program is able to identify potential threats.
2. The software is updated frequently.

Disadvantages of Comodo Antivirus:
1. In some cases, test results are controversial.
2. The program may conflict with some files.

An excellent application that can function both in scanning and in real time.

SecureAPlus advantages:
1. Databases are updated frequently.
2. The program includes a quiet mode.

Disadvantages of SecureAPlus:
1. Will be buggy on weak devices.
2. The program is very demanding on computer resources.

Nowadays, using antivirus is an integral part of working on a PC, laptop or mobile device. Of course, you can neglect this software, but then Internet surfing is associated with a huge risk not only to lose all the information available in the computer, but also to hopelessly spoil the hardware. Many modern viral programs are often compared to a baseball bat in terms of surprise, strength and accuracy of a blow. Is it worth the risk? For those who answered negatively to this question, there is special software. This article lists the TOP-10 of the best and most popular antiviruses on the Russian market. In addition, you will learn how to choose the right software for PCs on Windows and Mac platforms, as well as for Android mobile phones.

Why use antivirus software

Viruses are usually called malicious programs capable of self-replication and self-copying. Along the way, they harm the device itself and (or) the information stored on it by infecting files. The main ways to distribute spyware and virus programs:

• via external media (memory card, removable disk, flash drive, etc.);
• using e-mail (in attached files);
• through instant messengers and social networks;
• through the WEB pages. The alien program instantly recognizes the weak links in the protection of the computer device and integrates into the system.

The task of antivirus software is to prevent malicious activity of such software and signals. In addition to the protective function, their direct responsibility, they also have the following list of possibilities:

• blocking access to potentially dangerous web resources;
• parental control (protection of minors from unnecessary information);
• protection of users from advertising.

Where to buy and how to install

Buy a licensed product or use "pirated" products - the user decides himself. Of course, the first option is preferable, since the buyer will not have any problems with either the antivirus or the law. The best places to buy are the official websites of manufacturing companies, as well as trusted computer stores.

The main assessment criteria, which included 200 indicators, were:

• virus protection;
• ease of use;
• impact on the speed of the computer.

Protection against malware is the most important criterion for evaluating it: indicators within this group of parameters accounted for 65% of the overall antivirus rating. Ease of use and impact on computer speed were given 25% and 10% of the overall score, respectively.

Antivirus programs were selected for the study based on consumer popularity and affordability. For this reason, the list of analyzed antivirus programs includes:

• Free software - both built-in and offered separately.
• Paid software from leading antivirus brands. Based on selection principles, the study did not include the most expensive versions of software products from these brands.
• Only one paid product from one brand for one operating system could be represented in the ranking. The second product could only be ranked if it was free.

This time, the international study included products developed by Russian companies. As a rule, the list of goods for international testing includes products with a sufficient market share and high recognition among consumers, therefore, the inclusion of Russian developments in the study indicates their wide representation and demand abroad.

Top ten for Windows

All top 10 antiviruses deal with spyware protection and protect against phishing - attempts to gain access to confidential data. But there are differences between antiviruses in the level of protection, as well as in the presence or absence of one or another function in the tested versions of the antivirus.

The pivot table shows the top ten programs by overall rating. It also takes into account the features of packages for a set of functions.

How good is the standard protection Windоws 10

As of February 2018, the share of Windows PC users with Windows 10 operating systems installed on their desktop computers was 43%. On such computers, antivirus is installed by default - the Windows Defender program, which is included in the operating system, protects the system.

The standard antivirus, which, according to statistics, is used by most people, was only on the 17th line of the rating. Overall, Windows Defender scored 3.5 out of 5.5 points.

The built-in protection of the latest versions of Windows only gets better from year to year, but it still falls short of the level of many specialized antivirus programs, including those that are distributed free of charge. Windows Defender has shown satisfactory results in terms of online protection, but completely failed the phishing and anti-ransomware test. By the way, anti-phishing protection is declared by the antivirus manufacturers. It also turned out that it does a poor job of protecting your computer in offline mode.

Windows Defender is pretty simple in terms of design. It clearly informs about the presence of a particular threat, clearly demonstrates the degree of protection and has a "parental control" function that restricts children from visiting unwanted resources.

The standard protection of Windows 10 can only be called decent. Based on the overall rating, 16 programs for protecting a personal computer on Windows are better than him. Including four free ones.

In theory, you can only rely on Windows Defender if the user has regular updates enabled, their computer is connected to the Internet most of the time, and they are advanced enough not to knowingly visit suspicious sites. However, Roskachestvo recommends installing a specialized anti-virus package for greater confidence in the security of your PC.

How we tested

The testing was carried out in the world's most qualified laboratory specializing in antivirus software for six months. In total, four groups of malware protection tests were performed: the general online protection test, the offline test, the false positive rate test, and the auto-scan and on-demand scan test. To a lesser extent, the final rating was influenced by checking the usability of the antivirus and its effect on the speed of the computer.

• General protection

Each antivirus package was tested online for a set of viruses, a total of more than 40,000. We also tested how well the antivirus copes with phishing attacks - when someone tries to gain access to confidential user data. A check was carried out for protection against ransomware that restrict access to the computer and the data on it in order to obtain a ransom. In addition, an online malware test is performed on the USB drive. It is needed to find out how well the antivirus copes with the search and elimination of viruses when it is not known in advance about the presence of malicious files or their origin.

• USB offline test

Detection of malware residing on a USB drive connected to the computer. Before the scan, the computer was disconnected from the Internet for several weeks so that the anti-virus packages were not 100% up to date.

• False alarm

We checked how effective the antivirus is at identifying real threats and skipping files that are actually safe, but that are classified as dangerous by the product.

• Auto Scan and On Demand Scan Test

We tested how efficiently the scanning function works when automatically checking a computer for malware and when launched manually. Also during the research, it was checked whether it is possible to schedule a scan for a specific time when the computer is not used.

This article describes what antivirus programs are and what they are, how they differ, and which antivirus is best to install on your computer. First of all, it should be noted that the safety of a PC is one of the main conditions for its effective and well-coordinated work. Any antivirus program is designed to detect malware and computer viruses that infect files and block the computer.

For smooth and accurate PC operation, you only need to install one anti-virus program. If you install two or more antiviruses, they will begin to conflict with each other, which will lead to failures in the computer. Before purchasing an antivirus, you can install the trial version offered by the developers. It can be calculated from 30 to 90 days. However, there are also free antiviruses that can provide good protection for your computer. The main difference between such antivirus programs and paid ones is a special scanner that finds and removes viruses only when you launch it. For those who cannot decide which antivirus is the best, first you need to consider Doctor Web and Avast products.

Pros and cons of the most popular antivirus programs

Kaspersky Internet Security is the most up-to-date antivirus for a computer, developed using the technologies of Kaspersky Lab. Perfect for basic PC protection in the event of an attack by major malware.

• High level of PC protection against malware;
• High speed of work;
• Quick check of PC files and program reputation;
• Preliminary check of the site by monitoring links, before going to it;
• Blocking inappropriate content with Anti-Spam and Anti-Banner;
• Excellent compatibility with Microsoft - Windows 8, with support for IT security innovations.

• Quite high cost of the program;
• It is heavy and takes up a lot of memory space, which affects the performance of the computer;
• When running a full PC scan, other programs need to be turned off to reduce the load. In some cases, this is not acceptable.

Avast! Free Antivirus and Avast! Internet Security

Avast! Internet Security is one of the best free versions of antivirus and thanks to technologies such as Internet Security Antispam, SafeZone ™, Sandbox, Firewall provides high protection for your computer when going to Internet pages, as well as when making various online transactions. Avast! Free Antivirus is very popular because free antivirus programs from this developer are almost as good as paid ones, demonstrating high protection and performance.

• There is a full free version of the program;
• Files are scanned at high speed;
• Suspicious programs are monitored;
• Blocking malicious sites.

• Free antiviruses do not detect some malware;
• Pop-ups and banners are not blocked.

Dr.Web anti-virus program is one of the first and is distinguished by the ability not only to detect and destroy those files that are infected, but also to completely restore them to their original state. This completely preserves information, possibly very valuable. The Dr.Web anti-virus rating is one of the highest among its analogues.

• The program has a free utility Dr.Web CureIt, with which you can work even on a computer infected with viruses without special installation;
• Archives of any level are scanned, thanks to which packaged malicious products are detected;
• High level of PC protection;
• A random check is performed (RAM, boot sectors, startup objects).

• The license cost for the full version of the program is quite high;
• If you register a new license, you must present the serial number or the old key;
• Curelt updates happen very often, so periodic downloads of the updated version are necessary, which is not always acceptable.

NOD32

Many advanced netizens are of the opinion that ESET NOD32 is the best antivirus for a computer, which in fact is characterized by some features in the settings of this program.

• Unnecessary letters and advertisements are blocked;
• Protection against hackers and fraudsters operating on the Internet;
• High level of security in social networks;
• Spyware and phishing sites are blocked.

• The antivirus program is not completely removed from the PC. On some elements, the program is saved and leads to a conflict when working with the new antivirus;
• Skips some malware;
• PC check takes quite a long time;
• High cost of a licensed product.

Which antivirus program to choose?

From the above description of the pros and cons of different antivirus programs, you can already roughly imagine which antivirus is the best for your computer. However, in order to make it easier to make the choice, you need to clearly know what you will use the computer for. If you only plan to play games on it, then it is better to install a free program such as Avast! If you are going to not only have fun, but also work, then it is better to install a paid antivirus, for example, Kaspersky Internet Security.

If you purchased a netbook, the protection system is slightly different. You can install a free antivirus for your computer Avast! and check your PC with the Dr.Web Curelt! utility about once a month. Such a protection system will not take a lot of resources from the computer, which is a big plus, because the netbook is not very powerful compared to many PCs.

Having considered all the pros and cons of different antivirus programs, you just have to make a choice in favor of the most optimal protection for your computer, taking into account the antivirus rating, its cost and capabilities, as well as based on the purpose of the PC and its power.