How to Choose an Antivirus For Free

The news is filled with stories his response of millions of users’ Internet devices being compromised or taken over. While the majority of these hacks can be blamed on the hackers’ expertise but there are other elements that are at play — including the absence of adequate security tools. Luckily, there are a variety of free antivirus software to choose from that offer strong protection against the most prevalent threats.

Choose a free antivirus with a robust malware detection. The ability of a software to differentiate malicious attackers such as worms, viruses and ransomware attacks, and innocent programs is a crucial metric of its effectiveness. Choose a scanner that can detect all kinds of malware, including rootkits and trojans and that has 100% or near-perfect virus detection rates.

Also look for programs that don’t slow down your system excessively. When you perform a scan or other activities that require a lot of power, certain programs can significantly affect your computing experience which makes it difficult to stream video or play games. Find a lightweight antivirus that is easy to install, operates quickly and requires few resources.

Additional features are also crucial. Some antivirus programs offer cleaning tools that help boost OS performance as well as speed up startup times and eliminate junk files and others also include a virtual private network (VPN) which allows you to hide your online activities from scrutiny. Most paid antivirus suites also provide 24/7 live chat or email support, however this isn’t necessarily the case for free software.