Free Anti-Virus For Windows 7
Free anti-virus programs for Windows 7 abound online, but if your anti-virus software has not been updated since 2009 it may have some incompatibilities with Windows 7. You should update to the latest version of your anti-virus program, at least. While you're at it, you may want to try one of these popular free anti-virus programs for Windows 7... |
Five Free Windows 7 Anti-Virus Programs
It's important to have anti-virus protection to stay safe online. And fortunately, it doesn't have to be expensive, either. In fact, some of the best internet security tools are free! Here are my top 5 free antivirus programs for Windows 7 computers:
- AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is by far the most popular free anti-virus program for all editions of Windows 7. Running in background, AVG detects known malware by its signature and keeps an eye on applications' behavior to block suspicious activity. You also get real-time protection against Web infections from AVG's SmartScanner technology, which scans incoming Web traffic to block potential malware or attempts to hijack your Web browser.
- Avast! Free Antivirus provides basic anti-virus and anti-spyware protection on multiple levels. It guards you against threats attempting to enter your computer via email, Web browser, removable media, and other channels.
- Avira Free Antivirus is another Windows 7 antivirus program rated highly by users and reviewers. It operates in scan-only mode, lacking the real-time defenses of the premium edition. But it is lightweight, fast, and very good at rooting out malware infections.
- MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) offers a free edition that eliminates threats as they are reported in the wild. Its malware signature database is updated several times a day to keep ahead of the ever-mutating and new threats that appear.
- Microsoft Security Essentials compares surprisingly well to third-party anti-virus software for Windows 7 and earlier Windows versions. With MSE, Microsoft seems to finally take security seriously. This free anti-virus program scores high in tests of its ability to detect and remove threats, and it is user-friendly.
UPDATE: SEE Microsoft Security Essentials: EPIC FAIL
What's Better Than Free?
Free is good, but so is gratitude. The developers of free anti-virus software for Windows 7 (or any freeware, for that matter) should not be taken for granted; without your registration fees they may go out of business, leaving the free software landscape smaller. Most free anti-virus software developers offer prices and upgrade terms that much cheaper than purely commercial programs such as Norton Antivirus and McAfee. So when you find a free anti-virus program that is right for you, remember to "tip" the developer. Registration also provides enhanced anti-malware features, as well.
Free anti-virus programs may provide only basic, after-the-fact protection. If your computer gets infected with a virus, the free program will root it out. But registered editions actively guard your machine's vulnerable points constantly, detecting malware in email attachments, archived files, and other sneaky channels by which bad guys try to infiltrate your machine. Some of these advanced features are enabled in some free anti-virus editions, but you get all of them when you register.
Do not try to get complete anti-virus coverage by running several different free anti-virus programs at once. That slows your system down, generates conflicts between programs that can lead to false positives or system crashes, and can render some of your favorite applications inoperable.
My recommendation: Choose one good anti-virus program for real-time protection and register it to unlock all of its power.
Which free anti-virus software do you use for Windows 7? Post your comment or question below...
|
|
|
This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 28 Feb 2011
| For Fun: Buy Bob a Snickers. |
 |
Prev Article: Discount Toner Cartridges - A Real Bargain? |
The Top Twenty |
Next Article: Free Internet Faxing With FaxZero |
 |
Post your Comments, Questions or Suggestions
|
Free Tech Support -- Ask Bob Rankin Subscribe to AskBobRankin Updates: Free Newsletter Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved About Us Privacy Policy RSS/XML |
Article information: AskBobRankin -- Free Anti-Virus For Windows 7 (Posted: 28 Feb 2011)
Source: https://askbobrankin.com/free_antivirus_for_windows_7.html
Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Free Anti-Virus For Windows 7"
Posted by:
Rod
28 Feb 2011
So many programs work for Win 7 32 bit but not Win 7 64 bit. Do your choices above all work on 64 bit machines?
Please discuss software for 64 bit machines.
Posted by:
Ted Vaver
28 Feb 2011
Can you run AVG (Free Edition), Malwarebytes, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Spyware Blaster on the same computer without them comflicting with one another?
Posted by:
Tom S.
01 Mar 2011
I have been using the free version of Avast! for years and I can honestly say that I have never been hit with a virus. Even the free version sometimes gets updated 2 to 3 times a day! Great price (free) and an even greater product!
Posted by:
Jorge
01 Mar 2011
What about Panda AV?
I´ve been using it by years.
Posted by:
Joe
01 Mar 2011
I had been an AVG user for ten yeras or so until Avast was recommended by a knowledgeable friend. I switched and after about a year, I received an email from a friend which I opened and got infected. It was an old Dell desk top so it was way past do so I bought a new Toshiba lap top and when my trial Norton was up , I opted for Avast again but now you've got me thinking AVG. I also have AdAware,Malwarebytes and Spybot anti spyware programs.The geek at BestBuy did not speak too highly of the free antispyware products particularly Spybot. Joe
Posted by:
chesscanoe
01 Mar 2011
Microsoft Security Essentials actually has several components under its covers. My Windows 7 Pro x64 version shows per MSE Help:
Security Essentials Version: 2.0.657.0
Antimalware Client Version: 3.0.8107.0
Engine Version: 1.1.6603.0
Antivirus definition: 1.99.290.0
Antispyware definition: 1.99.290.0
Network Inspection System Engine Version: 2.0.5854.0
Network Inspection System Definition Version: 9.1.0.0
Policy Name: FEP clean-up policy
I've yet to see a detailed technical explanation of these components, and no one I know of seems to have thoroughly tested the efficacy of these components. Yet I believe this is the best free product of its type currently available.
Posted by:
akwiltex
01 Mar 2011
Avast Free Anti-virus 6 and the new version of Microsoft Security Essentials have beautiful and user-friendly environments and work fine. Avast also has a Windows start-time scanner which can be scheduled for next system start-up.
Posted by:
Matthew
01 Mar 2011
Hi Bob~ At the moment I use the new aVast, but I'm seriously thinking of using Microsoft's antivirus software, after their IE9 is no longer in the beta stage and I install it.
All the newsletters I get recommend Microsoft's antivirus software, including CloudEight's Info Avenue premium that usually plugs aVast. I have used AVG before, and I don't like it.
My wife used to have AVG installed in her PC. She took her PC to a repair shop here to have the tower fixed, and when we got it back, we noticed right off that he removed aVast, and installed AVG. Could kick-backs have been involved? Can that be done without permission?
I think AVG is bloatware and it uses too much system resources. The free version (never seen the premium version), constantly uses the dreaded nag-screens that nobody likes, wanting you to upgrade to the premium version, or add other AVG features to the toolbar, etc.
Posted by:
Janet Slivinski
01 Mar 2011
I use Microsoft Security Essentials. It works for me and it is easy to use.
Posted by:
Paul Bonython
01 Mar 2011
Hello! It's a long time I receive your newsletter about how to do this and that on my laptop. It is very helpful and full of good information. One question: What about ComboFix, used as , and some are saying it is better than MBAM. Is this true?
All the best and keep it this way.
Paul
Posted by:
Lee Strabel
01 Mar 2011
I have been using Avast free edition for years. It has caught every virus that tried to get on my system. I also use Spybot Search and Destroy. I will continue to use both of these. They are 2 great products.
Posted by:
murtyvonna
02 Mar 2011
I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials on 3 machines and so far it has been doing good service with windows 7
Posted by:
Mike
09 Mar 2011
AVG was very good until one of their minor version upgrades that caused me problems (long since fixed in later versions). In the meantime, I tried the other two, Avast and Avira, which were also good. BUT... although rare, there are occasions when I need to turn off it off, and such function seems to be no longer available. The only way I've found to turn them off is to completely uninstall the entire program. Very inconvenient, especially to go through reinstallation a short time later. With MSE, I can turn it off with a click, as needed, and start back up moments later with a minimum of fuss.
Oh, yeah, and later versions of AVG's constant badgering to upgrade just isn't worth the benefits, although otherwise it would be my first choice.
Posted by:
James
09 Mar 2011
Could you comment on Firewalls for Win 7, please?
EDITOR'S NOTE: See http://askbobrankin.com/free_firewall_protection.html
Posted by:
Dane
09 Mar 2011
at home I use avast! on one and MSE on another computer... both work fine - no viruses so far (or maybe I am lucky, or maybe I just don't know :-) ) at work we use McAfee because it has centralized management of the antivirus software on all 500 PCs. And we pay for it :-) . do you know maybe some free antivirus that do centralizied management?
Posted by:
onedeafeye
09 Mar 2011
I use Avast with all the settings maxed out. It acts a bit like a HIPS/firewall/smart UAC that way, and so far, no false positives. And one thing that isn't commonly know is that you can set the language to Pirate. :-)
Posted by:
Stu Berg
09 Mar 2011
One correction to your article: I've been using Avira Antivir free edition for a few years. Your statement "It operates in scan-only mode, lacking the real-time defenses of the premium edition." is incorrect. A difference between the free and paid versions is the pop-up advertising window in the free version each time the virus definitions automatically update. The additional capabilities of the paid version are listed here: http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus However, the free version has very effective real-time protection of all files read, written, opened, and downloaded. It also has a real-time Heuristic capability (called "AHeAD").
Posted by:
ifzal
14 Mar 2011
kaspersky internet security 2011.
i think its the best.
however its not free.
i just cant rely on just antivirus at all even if its free or purchased.
windows firewall sucks.
free antivirus is good enough if u are using pirated windows.
but when it comes to genuine windows i want genuine thing.
Posted by:
Garry
02 Apr 2011
I use microsoft Security Essentials and the Firewall I use is the Free Zone Alarm Firewall. This detects both in and out traffic. Can set each program you have installed to block calling home base if you wish. The Microsoft fire wall is rubbish and I disable it and use my preference ZA.
Posted by:
Tom Mills
31 Aug 2015
Tried to upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 without results, now says "This Copy of 7 is not genuine"