Top Free Antivirus Software for PCs and Laptops - Current Best Picks

In today's digital age, the safest method to secure your computer information is by using antivirus software, especially for those who frequently use the internet or download software from online sharing platforms.

Antivirus software has been a key online security factor for many years. With increasing scams, hacks, and a growing number of malware, ensuring that your PC or laptop is protected by effective and reliable antivirus software is more critical than ever. Here are the top 10 antivirus programs for your computer that you can confidently choose.

I. Compilation of the Best Antivirus Software

10. Qihoo 360 Total Security Antivirus

Advantages:

360 Total Security, also known as 360 Safeguard, is a free antivirus software for computers developed by Qihoo 360. This antivirus software utilizes engines similar to Avira and BitDefender, while offering its own set of useful features. Qihoo 360 Total Security provides various antivirus tools such as cloud scanning, anti-phishing, and anti-malware. Additionally, it includes the ability to counter viruses that track users through the computer's keyboard and webcam.

=> Link download 360 Total Security

9. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus and Firewall for PC

Advantages:

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus and Firewall is a versatile antivirus program featuring a robust firewall, online backup functionality, daily credit monitoring services, and anti-identity theft protection. Download ZoneAlarm Free antivirus software to install this free program, and you also get ZoneAlarm Firewall – a way to block network attacks and control what your installed applications can do online. The firewall is smart enough to handle most situations on its own, but users can also customize it to suit their needs.

=> Link download ZoneAlarm Free

8. Kaspersky AntiVirus - Best Antivirus Software

Advantages:

Kaspersky AntiVirus maintains a solid position in the list of top antivirus software for computers today, with the ability to detect real-time malware. This means it identifies and blocks malicious software files before they have a chance to download and infect your computer, rather than only acting after malware attacks your computer. Kaspersky AntiVirus can swiftly prevent ransomware, Trojan, rootkit, worm, and many types of viruses with most threats being scanned clean from the system.

=> Link download Kaspersky AntiVirus

7. Panda Antivirus Free - Effective Virus Removal Tool

Advantages:

Panda Antivirus Free also utilizes advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and cloud computing, to achieve the highest level of protection while using minimal system resources. When downloading Panda Antivirus Free, users are provided with 3 layers of overlapping protection. The program's scanner checks new files for signs of known malware. A heuristic monitor watches code and behavior. Anything suspicious is uploaded to the company's online lab for analysis, and many times a day, Panda sends back confirmed detection signs for millions of users.

=> Link download Panda Antivirus Free

6. BKAV Home Edition - Free Antivirus Software

Advantages:

The list of the best antivirus software for laptops and PCs would be incomplete without BKAV. This is one of the most popular antivirus software for Vietnamese users. BKAV offers a comprehensive antivirus solution with advanced technology, multi-layered protection, automatic detection, and virus elimination without the need to update virus signatures. It establishes a real-time monitoring system that records all features, signatures, and abnormal behavior of applications and executable files on the computer system.

=> Link Download BKAV

5. Comodo Antivirus - Data Protection Against Viruses

Advantages:

Comodo Antivirus is the best free antivirus for laptops, powerful and free. It employs multiple security layers to keep you safe from harmful threats. Comodo Antivirus is nearly 100% effective in detecting threats as it advances cloud-based analysis and sandbox threat detection before they reach your regular files.

=> Link Download Comodo Antivirus

4. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

Advantages:

Another notable name in the top free antivirus software is Bitdefender Antivirus Free. Bitdefender Antivirus Free utilizes malware blocking technology similar to the paid version. The program has a web filter to block malicious websites and protect against scams and spam. It also monitors the system to detect hidden malicious behaviors. Simply download this antivirus software to your computer, and users can be assured of the safest protection.

=> Link download Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

3. Avira Free Antivirus - Best Free Antivirus Software

Advantages:

Avira Free Antivirus is among the best free antivirus programs for computers, consistently scoring high in the rigorous tests by AV-TEST, eliminating 99.7% of the tested threats. Overall, it doesn't impose a significant burden on the system hardware. Avira Free Antivirus takes free protection to a new level, providing VPN, password management, ad blocking, and many other features.

=> Link Download Avira Free Antivirus

2. Effective Virus Protection with AVG AntiVirus Free

Advantages:

One of the must-haves in the list of the best antivirus software for computers and laptops is AVG AntiVirus Free. AVG AntiVirus Free uses the same malware scanning technology as Avast Free Antivirus, scanning files and memory to detect known malware and searching for initial signs of attacks by unidentified malware, such as encrypting essential files. It has the ability to protect on a large scale and is customizable, capable of blocking malicious websites, and includes a file shredder tool. Downloading AVG AntiVirus is a popular choice for virus protection.

=> Link download AVG AntiVirus

1. Avast Free Antivirus - Widely Used Antivirus Software

Advantages:

Think free antivirus software only comes with the most basic protection, while advanced features are reserved for paying customers? In reality, many of the best free antivirus tools today provide comprehensive protection along with a plethora of additional features. Avast Free Antivirus is one of them. When you download this antivirus software, besides its excellent virus-fighting capabilities, it also includes a network security scanner, password manager, browser protection, and more. It's a fantastic collection of security features in a free product. 

=> Link download Avast Free Antivirus

II. Which antivirus software to choose?

Here is the list of the top 10 renowned and best antivirus software currently used by many people. However, each antivirus software comes with different supplementary features. Therefore, you need to verify the most essential features for your computer.

Avast Free Antivirus is a quite suitable choice for all computer and laptop users because it is a free antivirus software with the most features, while other software requires additional fees to unlock advanced features.

III. Should you use free or paid antivirus software

The biggest advantage of free antivirus software is that it is completely free for users. This means you don't have to pay any fees. However, most of these free antivirus programs can only provide 'basic' protection for users' computers and devices.

On the other hand, although it involves a fee, users can have complete peace of mind with paid antivirus software. Paid software is equipped with premium features, enhancing security layers, and providing better device protection.

Therefore, for users concerned about security issues and wanting to ensure the 'absolute safety' of their data, considering the use of paid antivirus software may be a good choice.

IV. How to use Avira Free Antivirus software

Avira Free Antivirus features a user-friendly interface, making it very easy for users to navigate. Options and functions are categorized for clear user guidance.

- After downloading Avira Free Antivirus and completing the software installation process, you can click on Smart Scan to perform an immediate computer scan or click Remind me later to scan later.

- When you click on Smart Scan, the application will proceed to scan the device, and you can monitor the scan status in the Status section.

Protecting your computer with Avast Free Antivirus software

After the intelligent scanning process is complete, you can view the issues listed in the Show details section and then proceed to resolve the problems by clicking the Fix issues button.

The main screen of Avira Free Antivirus also includes 3 other sections: Security, Privacy, and Performance. Each section provides you with various settings and functions as follows:

Security

Privacy

Performance

With this usage guide, you can easily eliminate viruses to protect your computer from potential threats while browsing the web or downloading unofficial software.

Here is the list of the Top 10 best free antivirus programs compiled by Mytour based on user reviews. You can refer to choose and download the antivirus software that suits you best. Also, do you know how to manually remove trojan viruses without using software? If not, you can check out the article on Manually Removing Trojan Viruses on Win 7,8 that we have shared.

Read more: How to Remove Trojan Viruses