Best free antivirus programs for 2020

Microsoft Windows Defender

Windows Defender is Microsoft’s built-in antivirus, which is included for free in Windows 10. If this app is already on your PC, you might be wondering why you should even bother with a free third-party antivirus. Short answer: Because many experts say Windows Defender still isn’t as good as the leading antivirus programs.

Essential protection: While Windows Defender traditionally ranked below third-party antivirus software, it’s now improved enough to claim the number six slot on PCMag’s annual top ten list. Its malware detection capabilities have risen greatly, and it performed well in hands-on testing. Still, PCMag is half-hearted in their recommendation:

Features: Windows Defender still lags behind in phishing protection and malicious URL blocking, and it can’t compete with the extra security features included in most free third-party security software. 

Need a second opinion? Tom’s Guide gives Windows Defender a 3.5 out of 5, saying, “Defender’s low system impact is offset by its long scan times and lack of creature comforts, such as the ability to schedule scans.”

Note for Windows 7 users: Microsoft’s built-in security program for Windows 7 is Microsoft Security Essentials. The company will continue to support the antivirus software for the time being, but their overall support for Windows 7 has ended and they recommend you upgrade to Windows 10. If you remain on Windows 7, it’s more important than ever to protect your system with third-party antivirus software.

Subscription and Activation

How do I activate a subscription for AVG Internet Security?

If you purchased AVG Internet Security via another AVG application or the AVG Store, your subscription activates automatically on the device you used for purchase. If you purchased AVG Internet Security via an alternative sales channel, or you want to start using your subscription on another device, follow the instructions in the following article to manually activate AVG Internet Security:

Activating AVG Internet Security on Windows

How do I activate a subscription for AVG AntiVirus FREE?

It is no longer necessary to register AVG AntiVirus FREE, as your initial free subscription automatically activates after installation. For instructions to check your activated subscription, refer to the following article:

Activating AVG AntiVirus FREE on Windows

What should I do if AVG does not accept my purchased subscription?

If you experience issues activating AVG Internet Security, retrieve the activation code from your AVG Account, then try to activate the application again. If activation is unsuccessful, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Uninstall AVG Internet Security and restart your computer.
2. Download and install AVG Internet Security.
3. Activate your subscription again.

If following the steps above does not resolve your issue, contact AVG Support.

Can I transfer an AVG Internet Security subscription to another computer?

Yes. If you want to start using your AVG Internet Security subscription on an alternative PC, follow the steps below:

1. Uninstall AVG Internet Security from the original PC.
2. Install AVG Internet Security on the new PC.
3. Activate your subscription on the new PC.

Can I use my subscription for AVG Internet Security to activate AVG TuneUp and AVG Secure VPN?

No. An AVG Internet Security subscription is not valid for AVG TuneUp or AVG Secure VPN. You can purchase these products separately via the AVG Store.

Alternatively, you can purchase an AVG subscription bundle (such as AVG Ultimate) that is valid for multiple products. For more information about what is included in different AVG subscription bundles, visit the AVG Store.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You can cancel an AVG subscription via your AVG Account. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:

Canceling your AVG subscription

For instructions to create an AVG Account, refer to the following article:

Creating an AVG Account

Scans

What is Smart Scan?

Click Run Smart Scan on the main screen of AVG Internet Security or AVG AntiVirus FREE to perform a comprehensive scan of your PC. This scan detects malware, poorly rated browser add-ons, sensitive documents, and performance issues.

How do I scan my PC for potential threats?

To perform a comprehensive scan of your PC, click Run Smart Scan on the main screen of AVG Internet Security or AVG AntiVirus FREE. This scan merges scan methods to detect malware, poorly rated browser add-ons, sensitive documents, and performance issues.

If you suspect suspicious activity on your PC or network, apply a predefined scan. Click the … icon (three dots) next to Run Smart Scan and choose a predefined scan from the More scans list. The following predefined scans are available:

• Deep Scan: performs an in-depth scan of your system that checks your storage drives and memory for malware.
• File or Folder Scan: asks you to select an individual file or folder for scanning.
• Boot-Time Scan

  Running a Boot-Time scan in AVG AntiVirus

  : performs a scan at bootup to detect and remove malware that is hard to reach after startup. For detailed instructions to run a Boot-Time Scan, refer to the following article:

• USB / DVD Scan: scans all removable media that is currently attached to the PC, such as USB flash drives and external hard drives.
• Performance Scan: scans your system for useless data and other issues that may affect the speed and security of your PC. To resolve any issues that are detected, you need to first install AVG TuneUp.

For detailed instructions to scan your PC for viruses, refer to the following article:

Scanning your PC for viruses with AVG AntiVirus

How do I create scan exclusions?

Although it is generally not recommended, it is sometimes useful to exclude certain files, folders, or URLs from scanning if you want to speed up your scans, or avoid false positive detections. To exclude certain files or URLs from scanning:

1. Open the AVG user interface and go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ General ▸ Exceptions.
2. Click Add Exception and type the file path or URL that you want to exclude from scanning. Alternatively, click Browse and manually select a file location for exclusion.

Set exceptions only if you know the files and websites you want to exclude are not infected.

For more information about creating scan exclusions, refer to the following article:

Excluding certain files or websites from scanning in AVG AntiVirus

Can I pause a scan mid-progress?

In the latest versions of AVG Internet Security and AVG AntiVirus FREE, pausing a scan is not possible. You can completely terminate a scan by clicking Stop Scan. However, the next time you run the scan, it will start over.

How can I specify what to do with detected threats?

Any threats detected during a scan are sent to Quarantine by default. After running a scan, you can access Quarantine from the results page. Quarantine is an isolated space where potentially dangerous files are safely stored. From Quarantine, you can also perform specific actions, such as sending suspicious files to AVG Threat Labs for analysis.

1. Open the AVG user interface and go to Menu ▸ Settings.
2. Select Basic protection ▸ Detections.
3. Under What to do with, choose a threat type (Viruses or Potentially unwanted programs) and specify an action to be performed when this threat is detected.

Features

How can I discover which websites are attempting to track me?

Open the main AVG AntiTrack dashboard, hover your cursor over the graph icon at the bottom of the screen, then select See All Reports. The following information is available:

• Recent activity: discover the time and date of recent tracking attempts, as well as the websites that attempted to track you.
• Top tracking attempts: check which websites have attempted to track you most frequently since you installed AVG AntiTrack.

Graphs at the top of the screen show fluctuation in blocked tracking attempts over the past week and the past 6 months. Hover your cursor over the red dot above a specific month or day to see the exact number of tracking attempts blocked.

What is my privacy score?

My privacy score is a numerical value that AVG AntiTrack assigns you based on the various settings you enable or disable in the application. The more privacy protection components you have enabled, the higher your score.

How do I enable browser protection?

Allow AVG AntiTrack to protect your privacy online by installing the AVG AntiTrack browser extension on each browser that you use. The first time you launch AVG AntiTrack, it automatically checks for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera browsers, and prompts you to install the extension. If you skip this step, or need to install the extension later, refer to instructions in the article below:

Installing the AVG AntiTrack browser extensions on Windows

NOTE: The AVG AntiTrack browser extension is only compatible with the following browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Edge
• Opera

It is not possible to install and enable the AVG AntiTrack browser extension on any other browser.

How can I clear cookies from my browser?

To configure AVG AntiTrack to clear cookies automatically:

1. Click the Browser cleanup schedule tile on the AVG AntiTrack dashboard.
2. Use the drop-down menu next to your chosen browser to select how often cookies are automatically cleared.

Cookies for the selected browser will now clear automatically as configured.

NOTE: To clear cookies from a selected browser, it is necessary for the browser to be closed. If the browser is open when cookies are scheduled to be cleared, you see a popup advising you to close the selected browser.

How can I remove browser data?

AVG AntiTrack allows you to easily remove from your internet browsers:

1. Click the Browser cleanup schedule tile on the main AVG AntiTrack dashboard.
2. Click Clear Data next to your chosen browser, or alternatively click Clear All Browser Data Now… to clear data from all installed browsers.
3. Tick the boxes next to types of data that you would like to remove, or tick the box next to Select all to remove all types of browser data.
4. Click Clear Selected. If prompted, click Yes to allow AVG AntiTrack to close necessary browsers.

The selected browser data is now cleared.

What are Whitelisted websites?

If you want to stop AVG AntiTrack deleting from certain websites, place these websites on your Whitelist.

1. Open the main AVG AntiTrack dashboard.
2. Click the Whitelisted websites tile, then choose one of the following options:
   • Select a website from the Choose From Popular Options drop-down menu. The website instantly appears in your Whitelisted websites.
   • If you do not see the website you want to add, enter its URL (for example, www.example.com) into the left text box, then click Add. The website appears in your Whitelisted websites.

To remove a website from your Whitelisted websites, click the trash icon in the website’s panel.

How often does AVG AntiTrack change my digital fingerprint?

AVG AntiTrack makes changes to your on a randomized schedule. To see exactly when changes are made and how many changes are made each day:

1. Open the main AVG AntiTrack dashboard.
2. Hover your cursor over the graph icon at the bottom of the screen, and click See All Reports.
3. Review recent fingerprint changes under Fingerprint randomization.

To remove this history, hover your cursor over the … (three dots) icon next to Fingerprint randomization, select Clear Data, and click Yes to confirm.

AVG AntiVirus FREE

One of the pioneers of the free antivirus app, AVG has consistently won awards from AV-Comparatives over the past decade — including Top-Rated Product in their most recent test.

Essential protection: PCMag praised AVG AntiVirus FREE for achieving very good scores in a variety of independent tests, and for its excellent protection against phishing. AVG’s on-demand scan searches for hidden malware, which includes viruses as well as other sneaky malicious software such as spyware and ransomware. AVG also scans for malicious URLs, unwanted browser add-ons, and PC performance issues. AVG protects against 0-day threats by preventing unknown (and potentially dangerous) files from opening, and then sends these files to AVG Threat Labs for deeper analysis. If they’re found to be malicious, a cure is created and pushed out to you and all AVG users.

AVG continues to protect Windows 7, even though Microsoft is no longer supporting it.

Features: AVG AntiVirus FREE offers several bonus features, including a free File Shredder to securely delete sensitive files and prevent your personal data from being exposed. PCMag noted that, although AVG scans to find junk files and clutter that are slowing down your device, you’ll need to purchase AVG TuneUp to fix the problems.

Need a second opinion? In its review “8 of the Best Free Antivirus Software Options,” Mashable noted that AVG AntiVirus FREE has the most accurate virus detection, saying, “AVG AntiVirus FREE is near flawless with its ability to detect viruses and malware. It’s unlikely anything is getting through this.”

Download AVG AntiVirus FREE

Get it for

Android,

iOS,

Mac

Download AVG AntiVirus FREE

Get it for

iOS,

Android,

PC

Install free AVG Mobile Security

Get it for

Mac,

PC ,

Android

Install free AVG AntiVirus

Get it for

PC,

Mac,

iOS

Scan and repair the WMI Repository

The Action Center / Security Center acquires information about the current status of installed antivirus software by using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). If there is a problem in the WMI Repository, or the WMI service is not started, the Action Center reports outdated or misleading information. To resolve this issue, scan and repair the WMI Repository:

1. Log in to Windows as user with and ensure no other applications are running.
2. Click the Windows Start button and type , then right-click Command Prompt from the search results and select Run as administrator.
3. On your keyboard, press the key and key simultaneously, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu that appears.
4. Click the Windows Start button and select All Programs (or Programs) ▸ Accessories.
5. Right-click Command Prompt, then select Run as administrator from the context menu.
6. If prompted for permission by the User Account Control dialog, click Yes.
7. Type into the Command Prompt window and press the Enter key on your keyboard to perform a consistency check of the WMI Repository.

If you receive the error message WMI repository verification failed… …Access denied when running the above command, repeat listed above.

If you receive the error message WMI repository verification failed… …Access denied when running the above command, repeat listed above.

1. The message WMI repository is consistent or WMI repository is inconsistent appears in the Command Prompt window. Type into the Command Prompt window and press the Enter key on your keyboard to rebuild the WMI Repository.

1. The message WMI repository is consistent or WMI repository is inconsistent appears in the Command Prompt window. Type into the Command Prompt window and press the Enter key on your keyboard to rebuild the WMI Repository.
2. After you receive the message WMI repository is consistent in the output, restart your PC.

If you receive the message WMI repository is inconsistent or WMI repository salvage failed, run the command a second time.

1. After you receive the message WMI repository is consistent in the output, restart your PC.

Once your PC has restarted, the current status of your AVG AntiVirus software is reported correctly in the Action Center.

• AVG Internet Security 20.x
• AVG AntiVirus FREE 20.x

• Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education — 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise — 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise — 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate — Service Pack 1, 32 / 64-bit

Краткая справка

ООО «Соллерс-Буссан» зарегистрирована 20 августа 2010 г. регистратором ИНСПЕКЦИЯ ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЙ НАЛОГОВОЙ СЛУЖБЫ ПО ЛЕНИНСКОМУ РАЙОНУ Г. ВЛАДИВОСТОКА. Руководитель организации: генеральный директор Хисматуллин Ильдар Ильдусович. Юридический адрес ООО «Соллерс-Буссан» — 690001, Приморский край, город Владивосток, Дальзаводская улица, 2.

Основным видом деятельности является «Производство автотранспортных средств», зарегистрирован 1 дополнительный вид деятельности. Организации ОБЩЕСТВО С ОГРАНИЧЕННОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТЬЮ «СОЛЛЕРС-БУССАН» присвоены ИНН 1567891794, ОГРН 2694979961110, ОКПО 11846707.

Troubleshooting

What should I do if AVG AntiTrack does not block tracking attempts?

Refer to the article below for detailed troubleshooting steps:

Troubleshooting when AVG AntiTrack cannot detect tracking activity

If the issue persists, contact AVG Support.

What should I do if AVG AntiTrack blocks or slows down webpages?

Refer to the article below for detailed troubleshooting steps:

Troubleshooting when AVG AntiTrack blocks or slows down webpages

If the issue persists, contact AVG Support.

How do I resolve the error code ‘-1073741502’ when installing AVG AntiTrack?

This error code means that AVG AntiTrack could not successfully install the Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition due to an outdated version of Microsoft Windows operating system.

Refer to the following article on the Microsoft website to install the latest Windows 7 service pack:

Install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Why did I receive the error message ‘There was an issue installing SQL Server Compact’?

This error message is caused by a corrupted or outdated Microsoft .NET Framework. You can solve this issue by reinstalling your Microsoft .NET framework. For detailed instructions, refer to the article below:

Troubleshooting an SQL error while installing AVG AntiTrack

If you continue to see the error message, contact AVG Support.

What should I do if AVG AntiTrack disappears from my PC after reboot?

This issue may occur if AVG AntiTrack was not installed properly with elevated system privileges, for example, if you ran the setup file from a user account without administrative privileges. To resolve this issue:

1. Uninstall AVG AntiTrack from your PC.
2. Right-click the downloaded setup file avg_antitrack_setup.exe and select Run As Administrator from the context menu.
3. Procede with installation of AVG AntiTrack.
4. Restart your PC.

Why did I receive an error message telling me that AVG AntiTrack is running?

This error message can appear on Windows PCs when a program was not closed correctly and is running in the background. To resolve this issue:

1. Double-click the AVG AntiTrack icon on your desktop to open the application.
2. Close AVG AntiTrack by clicking the X icon in the top-right corner of the user interface.
3. If the issue is not resolved, restart your PC.

Антивирус — пробная версия AVG

Мы рассмотрели возможность использования свободной версии антивирусной программы. Но компания AVG предлагает еще и пробную версию своего платного продукта AVG AntiVirus Pro сроком на один месяц без оплаты. Также она проводит промоакции, в ходе которых безвозмездно предлагается лицензия на антивирус AVG на год.

Стоит попасть в такую промоакцию и выполнить условия пользования ею. В результате можно в течение целого года бесплатно пользоваться полноценной версией программы AVG (антивирус). Регистрация такой пробной лицензии происходит на срок ее действия — 374 дня с момента установки на компьютер. Это предложение может быть реализовано только в случае первой установки данного антивируса на компьютер.

Антивирус для «Андроида»

Данные статистики показывают, что неуклонно возрастает активность вирусов, направленных на мобильные системы на базе «Андроид». Это связано с ростом популярности таких систем. Разработчики, помимо антивирусных программ для компьютеров, предлагают пользователям мобильных устройств на базе «Андроид» не только бесплатный антивирус AVG, но и версию AVG AntiVirus PRO с пробной бесплатной лицензией сроком на один год. Это не только антивирус, но и многосторонняя система полной защиты вашего телефона. В ней имеются средство шифрования данных, система слежения, если вы потеряли свой телефон. А также защита от воровства, блокировка телефона и многое другое. Особенностью программы является малое использование системных ресурсов и питания аппарата.

Бесплатный антивирус AVG

По мнению специалистов, набор функций бесплатной версии антивируса «АВГ» позволяет обеспечить надежную базовую защиту операционной системы вашего ПК. Особенно следует отметить такое преимущество данного антивирусного продукта, как относительно малое потребление ресурсов системы. Он надежно обеспечивает защиту от вирусов и троянских программ, его база данных обновляется автоматически. С его помощью обеспечиваются безопасные загрузка и обмен файлами, общение в чате, пользование игровыми программами и просмотр фильмов. Антивирус AVG для Windows 7, а также для Windows 8.1/8/Vista/XP применяется как в 32-, так и в 64-разрядных версиях этих операционных систем.

В пользу бесплатного антивируса свидетельствует тот факт, что этот продукт является результатом работы крупной компании с приличным количеством специалистов по организации защиты данных. Компания AVG имеет платные версии своих продуктов, за счет которых и получает прибыль.

Если программный продукт бесплатен, то это не значит, что он хуже выполняет свои обязанности по защите компьютера. Ведь антивирусные технологии, применяемые как в платных, так и в свободно распространяемой версиях, абсолютно идентичны, одинаково регулярно обновляются и антивирусные базы.

Распространение бесплатной версии программы — это, скорее, рекламный прием производителя. Он рассчитывает, что пользователи охотнее приобретут платную версию продукта этой же компании, если им понравился свободно распространяемый вариант. И они захотят получить его дополнительные функции и техническую поддержку производителя. И в реальности этот рекламный прием эффективно работает.

Следовательно, базовая защита компьютера будет вполне обеспечена версией AVG Free AntiVirus, в ней лишь будут отсутствовать техническая поддержка и некоторые дополнительные функции, например, антиспам и брандмауэр. Также отсутствует защита ваших денежных операций.

Avast Free Antivirus

One of the oldest antivirus companies, Avast has been protecting users since 1988 and is trusted by millions of people around the globe.

Essential protection: Avast Free Antivirus consistently ranks extremely high for its core protection engine. Top antivirus test lab AV-Comparatives named Avast Product of the Year 2018 and Top-Rated Product in 2019, in addition to giving Avast awards for Malware Protection and Advanced Threat Protection. Avast continues to support Windows 7, even though Microsoft has stopped updating the operating system.

Features: Offering an easy-to-use interface, a secure web browser, a network security scanner, and more, Avast has a host of useful bonus features. Lifewire praises its Do Not Disturb Mode, which blocks pop-ups while you watch a movie or play a game, so you aren’t interrupted. Lifewire also highlights the Behavior Shield, which keeps an eye on your apps to make sure they don’t start to act strangely, a potential sign of a malware infection.

Need a second opinion? TechRadar notes that several special features are only available in Avast’s paid version. However, they still rate it as “a powerful antivirus which offers solid all-round protection. Experienced users will appreciate its lengthy feature list and the fine control they get over how the package works.”

Download and Installation

How do I install AVG Internet Security or AVG AntiVirus FREE?

1. Download the setup file for your preferred AVG product using the direct links below:
2. Right-click the downloaded setup file and select Run as administrator from the context menu.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.

For detailed installation instructions, refer to the relevant article below:

AVG Internet Security | AVG AntiVirus FREE

Refer to this article for an overview of what is included in .

What are the system requirements for AVG AntiVirus?

The minimum system requirements for AVG Internet Security and AVG AntiVirus FREE are:

• Windows 10 except Mobile and IoT Edition (32 or 64-bit); Windows 8/8.1 except RT and Starter Edition (32 or 64-bit); Windows 7 SP1 or higher, any Edition (32 or 64-bit).
• Windows fully compatible PC with Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 processor or above (must support SSE2 instructions); ARM-based devices are not supported.
• 1 GB RAM or above.
• 2 GB free space on the hard disk.
• Internet connection to download, activate, and maintain program updates and antivirus database.
• Optimally standard screen resolution no less than 1024 x 768 pixels.

AVG Internet Security and AVG AntiVirus FREE are not supported (are not compatible, cannot be installed, and will not run) on DOS, Microsoft Windows editions earlier than 7, Microsoft Windows Server operating systems, or any others not specified as supported.

Is a free-trial version of AVG Internet Security available?

Yes. After you install AVG Internet Security, you have access to a free-trial version of the product for a limited time period. During the free-trial period, you can use all the features included in AVG Internet Security.

To continue using these premium features after the free trial expires, you need to purchase a paid subscription. For more information about paid subscriptions offered by AVG, visit the AVG Store.

How do I uninstall AVG Internet Security or AVG AntiVirus FREE?

For detailed instructions to uninstall AVG Internet Security and AVG AntiVirus FREE, refer to the following article:

Uninstalling AVG AntiVirus from Windows

Интерфейс

Навигация по пользовательскому интерфейсу AVG Antivirus вряд ли может быть проще. Основное меню позволяет выбрать между запуском бесплатного сканирования или открытием платного инструмента, такого как пакет защиты от хакерских атак. Существует шесть различных типов сканирования на выбор, включая базовую файловую систему «Компьютер» и более расширенные параметры, такие как сканирование при загрузке, которые уведомят вас о загрузке любых вредоносных приложений до запуска Windows..

(Изображение предоставлено AVG)

Существует также опция сканирования по расписанию, которая намного более продвинута, чем вы можете догадаться на первый взгляд. Это позволяет установить время для сканирования нескольких устройств и точно определить, какие папки и области вашей системы проверяются..

Можно даже заранее определить, как обрабатываются потенциальные угрозы, и сохранить собственное сканирование, которое будет запущено вручную в будущем. После сохранения ваш скан появится вместе с традиционными типами сканирования в меню. Короче говоря, это отличный вариант для опытных пользователей, которым нужен полный контроль над безопасностью их системы..