If you want full protection against viruses, spyware, adware, malware, worms, Trojans, etcetera etcetera, the easiest way to get that is to be willing to spend a few bucks. There are some great programs out there in the ten to twenty dollar range that will give you everything you need to keep your computer safe.
However, you do want to shop around, and you don’t want to leave yourself vulnerable in the meantime.
So, the good news is that there are literally hundreds of good antivirus programs out there that don’t cost a dime. From free scans run through javascript, to downloadable virus scanners, you’ve got a lot of options for keeping your computer squeaky clean while shopping around for your virus protection of choice.
The bad news is that there are literally hundreds of good antivirus programs to choose from, and it can be overwhelming trying to pick one!
You could look on the bright side and say “Well if they’re all free, I’ll just keep trying until I find one I like!” and that’s exactly what you’d have to do… if we hadn’t gone ahead and found three of the best free antivirus programs out there for you.
Avira AntiVir
Avira has a couple of great things going for it. First off is that the program is updated every day. Secondly, when it’s updated, you don’t have to reinstall everything, you don’t have to reboot your computer, it simply… updates, simple as that.
Antivir is also a pretty impressive package for a free program, offering anti-spam and pop up blockers as well as the virus scanner.
AVGFree
AVGFree is a little short on features in comparison to Avira, so we recommend using it in conjunction with a spam blocker of your choice. However, a lot of people prefer AVGFree simply for its ease of use. Much like Avira, it does get regular updates, as well.
Avast Home Edition
Avast Home Edition is free for non-commercial home users, and while the site really pushes the professional edition, you might actually find this free program to be all you need. Web shield, huge, constantly updating database of known viruses, and a simple, easy to use interface.
Go ahead and pick one of the above and give it a try, you could be happy with any one of the above listed free antivirus programs. Or heck, try all three of them, they’re free, after all.
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