Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8

9/28/2019
Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8 Average ratng: 3,6/5 1017 votes

Updated List Top 7 Best Free Antivirus for Windows 10 and 8.1 in 2019 1) Avast Free Antivirus for Windows 10: 2) Avira Free Antivirus: 3) AVG AntiVirus Free. 4) Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. 5) Comodo Antivirus 2019. 6) Sophos Home Free Antivirus. 7) Panda Free Antivirus. Top 5 free antivirus softwares for Windows 8. Avast Antivirus. AVG Antivirus. Panda Antivirus. Avira Antivirus. Comodo antivirus. 10 Best Free Antivirus for Windows 7, 8.1 & 10 in 2018. However, Microsoft provides an inbuilt malware protection called Windows defender which work well in detecting and removing different kinds of virus and malware but such virus, malware and adware are getting smarter and becomes undetectable by Windows defender. 5 Free Best Antivirus For Windows 8.1 1). Microsoft Security Essentials. Microsoft Security Essentials has always been one. Avast Antivirus. Avast has always been one of the best antivirus and it is one. Kaspersky Antivirus. Kaspersky has been one of the best antivirus and now it is.

  1. Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8 2019
  2. Best Free Windows 7 Antivirus
  3. Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8

Best 2015 Free Antivirus for Windows Best free Antivirus is the anti malware software which is used for the computers to prevent the system from being effected, this anti virus detects and prevents the computer viruses like torjan, worms, root kits etc. So as soon as the installation of any operating system, the device must and should have the Antivirus mainly for the Windows PC. Jul 16, 2019  The Best Free Antivirus Protection for 2019 Avast Free Antivirus. Kaspersky Free. AVG AntiVirus Free. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (2017). Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+. Avira Antivirus. Sophos Home Free. Adaware antivirus free 12. Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center.

Contents List

  • 1 Best Free Antivirus For Windows 10 2019 Edition
    • 1.1 1. Bitdefender
  • 2 System Requirements for Avira

Installing a good antivirus is essential for every computer to ensure the safety of their data. There are many best free antivirus available out there which will keep your data virus free and also protect you from several online threats ensuring complete protection.

Due to increased cases of virus and ransomware attacks in the year 2019. It is essential to install and configure a powerful antivirus program. If you don’t want to burn a hole in your pocket, then you can try some free options. We have tried some and came up with the list of top free antivirus programs which you must install on your Windows PC.

Also Read:-Best Antivirus For Android

Best Free Antivirus For Windows 10 2019 Edition

1. Bitdefender

Bitdefender is a Romanian based antivirus, which doubles effective anti-malware. It comes with an autopilot feature, so you need not worry about custom scans. Bitdefender has a great antivirus and anti-malware database which protects your pc against viruses and malware and vulnerable internet threats in real time. It is free and can be installed on multiple devices with one account. It comes with handy features like URL blocking, phishing protection, on-demand custom scans, etc.

Also Read:- Best Antivirus for iPhone

System Requirements

  • Operating system: Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
  • Hard disk space: 2 GB available free hard disk space (at least 800 MB on the system drive).
  • Memory (RAM): 1.5 GB
  • Intel Core Duo (2 GHz) or equivalent processor.
  • Software requirements: Internet Explorer 10 or higher.

2. Avira Free Antivirus

Avira has been the leader of proving best free antivirus solutions for a long time.It was founded in 1986 and made it ranked itself higher in top free antivirus lists. The best part of Avira is that its user interface is clean and it doesn’t bother you about upgrading to pro. It has malware protection, antivirus protection along with cloud protection. It also has extra security features such as automatically scanning all media device upon connecting. There are many add-on features in the pro version, but for a primary user – free version works like a charm.

System Requirements for Avira

Operating Systems:Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or higher with the newest updates, hotfixes, and service packs installed
RAM:2 GB of RAM or more
Disk space:Minimum 2 GB of free disk space (additional space for temporary and quarantine files needed)
CPU Type:Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 Processor or faster (with support for the SSE2 instructions set)
Browser:Internet Explorer 8 or newer
Additional requirements:To install, you’ll need administrator rights, an internet connection, and a web browser. For automatic antivirus updates and optimal malware detection, you’ll need an internet connection.

Also Read:-How to Create a Virus in Few Minutes

3. Avast

You might have heard this name many times when talking or discussing antivirus products. Its robust and straightforward antivirus solution for ones PC. Its installation process is relatively simple. It comes with configurable add-ons for browsers such as google chrome and firefox for an added layer of security. Which protects you from malicious websites and malware threats.

It’s entirely free with no hidden charges. Furthermore, you can install it on multiple devices with one account.

Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8

4. AVG antivirus

AVG ranked top for best free virus protection awards back in 2015. It comes with a sturdy scanner which goes deep into archived files and installed programs junk files. AVG has a variety of customization options which most antivirus lack at the moment. You can customize the user interface as you like. Also, it’s not a massive program, so your pc won’t slow down even when AVG is performing a system scan. It also comes with smart gaming mode which ensures smooth gaming experience.

5. Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky is a whole suit when it comes to best free virus protection software. Kaspersky comes with award-winning features of best firewall solution, powerful antivirus scanner, robust parental controls, malicious sites blocking, phishing & scam protection and at the end malware protection. The user interface is also comfortable with significant options for full system scan, custom scan, and update options. While you can go into advanced mode and find all the features and decide which to enable. Kaspersky is a silent antivirus, means it won’t bother you about random error messages and custom scan pending messages. It has a powerful and quiet firewall which intelligently blocks any malicious programs to run into.

6. Sophos Home

You might not have heard fo this underrated program but its one the best free antivirus for Windows 10 PCs. With its latest update, it got more simplistic and powerful. It provides premium grade security to your pc. Along with a powerful and silent scanner, it has built-in web protection which automatically blocks phishing and scam sites to load into your browser. Als, it won’t bother you about upgrading to paid version every single day. Sweet!

Conclusion

We have come to the end of the best free virus protection programs list. We hope you will choose one of them and protect your PC against ant malicious activities. Consider sharing this article with your friends and family and help them secure their PC too!

PRODUCT DISCLOSURE $

A good antivirus program is essential to a secure system, and you most definitely do not have to pay for one to get great protection. Below is our hand-picked list of the 11 best free antivirus programs that you can download for Windows today.

All of these programs perform definition updates automatically, are always running to make sure your files are protected from malware and your personal information remains private, and can start scans on-demand whenever you like.

HDD Unlock - HDD Unlock is a powerful, easy to use application that enables you to unlock IDE and SATA hard disk drives. For an 80GB hard disk drive the program will required approximately 25 minutes to unlock it and slightly more time for a 2.5 inch notebook drive.HDD Unlock requires the drives to be attached directly to the motherboard. The program is capable of removing an unknown User or Master Password and restore access to your hard drives.During the unlock process, HDD Unlock will erase and re-certify the drive. It doesn’t support FireWire enclosures and external USB. If you need a data-safe unlocking solution, we recommend A-FF Repair Station.HDD Unlock is currently capable of unlocking desktop drives, 2.5-inch laptop drives and X-BOX drives. Hdd unlock tool.

However, each of them do have a few prominent differences that make them stand out, so pay attention to those as you decide which one to use.

If you're looking for protection on your other devices, check out our list of free antivirus apps for Android and best Mac antivirus articles, too.

If you just need a spyware cleaner, and need it right now without waiting for one of these full AV programs to install, use one of the (preferably portable) applications from our Best Free Spyware Removal Tools list. There are also free on-demand virus scanners you can install. Also consider installing a Windows Firewall alternative from this list of Free Firewall Programs.

If you can't even log in to Windows to install an antivirus tool, access a computer that does work and then use it to make a free bootable antivirus tool that you can then run on the infected computer.

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Avira Free Security Suite

What We Like

  • Password manager included.

  • Optional additional downloadable protection layers.

  • In-the-cloud antivirus process.

What We Don't Like

  • Additional features can be annoying.

  • Only protects Chrome and Firefox browsers.

  • Add-on components often require fee to be fully functional.

The main component in Avira's free software suite that makes it stand out is the optional 'in-the-cloud detection' feature called Protection Cloud. This scanning method lets Avira's antivirus tool identify and stop threats before they get out of hand.

This is how it works: When a suspicious file is detected on any computer running Avira, a fingerprint of that specific file is generated and uploaded anonymously to Avira so that they can scan it and report its status (whether it's safe or dangerous) back to every Avira user so that the program can take appropriate action.

Avira can scan and remove existing threats as well as automatically detect and stop new ones. It protects you against ransomware, Trojans, spyware, and other kinds of malware. You can even choose which ones to actively watch out for, and disable others (though it's not recommended) like dialers, jokes, adware, etc.

  • Scan on a schedule
  • Check files with any file extension or just the ones you manually choose from
  • Disable the ability to stop active scans (so that viruses can not stop the program from finding them)
  • Adjust the scanner's priority level
  • Scan master boot sectors
  • Follow symbolic links to scan the actual files
  • Search for rootkits before starting a scan
  • Scan the Windows Registry
  • Ignore files on network drives
  • Automatically repair, rename, quarantine, delete, or ignore threats when they're found
  • Use heuristic scanning
  • Add files, folders, and processes to the ignore list
  • Manage Windows Firewall settings
  • Password protect the program's settings
  • Block autorun on removable devices
  • Make the hosts file read-only

The Avira suite offers more than just a very extensive antivirus application. It includes several other 'layers' of security that will install automatically, and they might take a while to download since there are several. However, you don't have to use them and they won't bother you unless you open them.

These separate modules include a VPN that encrypts all your traffic (up through the first 500 MB each month); password manager to securely store complex passwords; and software updater that identifies outdated programs and gives you the download links to update them.

In addition, Avira can speed up your computer and reduce boot time with its tune-up tool, help you find the best deals as you shop online, and warn you of malicious websites or software bundles before you download them (with its SafeSearch add-on).

These extra features can be annoying if you're strictly after an antivirus solution, but again, you don't have to use them; just keep them tucked away where they are and you won't have to worry about them.

Avira Free Security Suite is intended to run on computers with Windows 7 SP1 and newer, including Windows 10 and Windows 8.

There's also Avira for macOS that's similar, but not exactly the same, as Avira for Windows. Namely, the Mac edition is only on-demand, meaning that it doesn't check for viruses automatically like the Windows version.

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Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition

What We Like

  • Drag-and-drop file and folder scan.

  • Minimal, uncluttered design.

  • Simple to set up and run.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited customization if you're looking for that.

  • Large initial program download.

If you want an antivirus program that's not only free but easy to use and not cluttered with lots of buttons and menus, you should definitely try the free version of Bitdefender Antivirus.

You not only get instant protection against viruses, worms, rootkits, spyware, and other threats, but also anti-phishing and anti-fraud protection to carry security with you when you're browsing the internet and entering passwords.

It's remarkable how well Bitdefender runs despite its minimal design. Drag and drop folders and files directly into the program to run a scan against them, as well as start a full system scan or scan select objects from the right-click context menu—all of which can run at the same time.

Regardless of how they're started or how many scans are running simultaneously, a history of those scans are recorded for you on the primary window of the program as well as within the Events area of the settings.

The obvious downside to a program that lacks many customization options is that there isn't much you can change about it. That might be something you want but it might not be available—all you can do with this edition of Bitdefender is start and stop scans.

Another downside to this software is how long it takes to become ready for you to use. The initial installer for Bitdefender is quite small but that's just what's used to then download the full program, which is hundreds of megabytes and could take a while if you have a slow internet connection.

It's also unfortunate that you can't pause scans (it just lets you stop them) or set up file and folder exclusions before starting scans like some AV programs allow. With Bitdefender, you can only mark files or websites as safe after they've been identified as potentially malicious.

Ads asking you to purchase Bitdefender's professional programs and scheduled scans not being supported (but they're not necessarily needed since Bitdefender is always checking for new threats) are a few other not-so-greats.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition runs on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. You can also get this free antivirus software on your Android or Mac.

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Adaware Antivirus Free

What We Like

  • Lightweight antivirus program.

  • Can run as a supplement to other antivirus programs.

  • Silent mode mutes notifications and limits resource use.

What We Don't Like

  • Some useful features are only usable with paid version.

  • Limited configurability.

  • Real-time email scanning not included.

Adaware Antivirus installs in minutes, is light on system resources, and can be used in one of two ways. The first is in regular mode where it checks for threats as they happen, but the other lets you use it in addition to your primary antivirus program.

What this so-called 'second line of defense' does is disables real-time protection but still lets you use Adaware Antivirus to manually scan for existing threats. This feature is helpful if your primary AV software doesn't seem to find malware that you know is infecting your computer.

Whichever way you use it, Adaware Antivirus provides a defense against ransomware, spyware, viruses, and other forms of malicious software. You can find those threats through a quick, full, or custom scan.

Daily, weekly, and monthly scheduled scans are supported, and you can even run a scan to just check certain things, like only rootkits or just tracking cookies and boot sector viruses, for example.

Adaware Antivirus also lets you choose a custom performance setting to use more system resources to run the scan (to make it faster), exclude files/folders/file extensions from scans, and decide how often to check for new definition updates (every 1/3/6/12/24 hours).

For real-time protection, you can toggle on or off the following options:

  • Scan archive files
  • Scan email databases
  • Deep scan that checks CHM files and executable files
  • Smart scan that skips previously checked files
  • Scan boot sectors
  • Scan files as they move throughout the network
  • Skip scanning files that exceed a custom file size (e.g., 10 MB to skip video files)

You can also protect the program's settings with a PIN as well as enable gaming/silent mode to suppress notifications.

Adware Antivirus definitely has its advantages but because there's also a non-free version you can upgrade to, many additional options are not supported.

For example, parental controls and advanced network, web, and email protection are only available in Adaware Antivirus Pro. These options are visible within the free edition but they're not actually clickable/usable until you enter an Adaware Antivirus Pro license key.

Adaware Antivirus Free works with Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

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Avast Free Antivirus

What We Like

  • Add-ons allow you to increase protection.

  • Great customizability.

What We Don't Like

  • Password manager and some other tools included are trial only.

  • Additional features require purchase.

Avast is used by hundreds of millions of people and ranks high in nearly every 'best list' of antivirus programs, and for good reason. If you want a solid program that is sure to block new threats but is still easy enough to customize, you should consider using it.

Avast Free Antivirus is similar to Avira; supplemental modules enhance the virus shield and provide additional services related to security and privacy.

The antivirus portion has lots of options you can change but it's still easy enough for anyone to use since there are information blurbs next to most items so you're not left wondering what will happen if you enable them.

Plus, both definition and program updates are performed automatically (a manual option is available, too), meaning you can install Avast and let it do its thing without worrying whether you're running the latest and greatest version.

Avast is customizable and lets you make changes to everything from whether to make a sound when threats are detected and how long notifications should remain on the screen, to the kinds of file extensions that should be scanned.

Here are some more features supported in Avast Free Antivirus:

  • Scheduled scans
  • Custom scans that can check only the memory, rootkits, auto-start programs, etc.
  • Checking all files or just certain file extensions
  • Identifying files by their content instead of their suffix
  • Fine-tuned heuristics sensitivity
  • Scanning for potentially unwanted programs
  • Follows shortcuts to scan the real file
  • Can scan within lots of archive file formats like self-extracting DOS and Win32 executables, CHM, ACE, 7Z, RAR, TNEF streams, Mac archives, ISO, and more
  • Windows Explorer context menu integration
  • Folders, HDDs, and URLs (but not specific files) can be excluded in advance from scans
  • Custom scans are easy to save for use in the future
  • A Rescue Disk utility lets you use the Avast scanner even if you can't start your computer
  • Particular areas of the program can be protected with a password
  • Enable Do Not Disturb Mode to deny notifications from other apps while you're using one in full-screen mode

Before Avast is installed, you have the option to include over a dozen different tools: file, behavior, web, and mail shields; software updater, browser cleaner, rescue disk, Wi-Fi inspector, security and SafePrice browser extensions; password manager; junk file cleaner; and Game Mode.

Technically, if you only want the antimalware protection, you can install just the shields from the start of that list; the others are add-ons that aren't necessary but could be helpful at some point.

For example, the software updater is a nice tool that will not only check for and report outdated software but also install the newer versions for you (even in bulk).

Wi-Fi Inspector scans the network for devices that could be vulnerable to attacks. For instance, it might identify that a computer is running a file sharing service that has been known to facilitate the spread of a certain kind of worm.

You can install these tools (it takes less than five minutes) and then disable or completely remove them later. Or, you can ignore them during setup and just install them later, or not at all.

However, the password manager and Cleanup tools are only trial versions that will expire after a time-limited trial. There's also a firewall, file shredder, and sandbox feature that's unusable in this free version.

Avast Free Antivirus is compatible with Windows 10, 8, and 7.

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Best free antivirus for windows 8

Panda Dome

What We Like

  • Light impact on system resources.

  • Minimal, uncomplicated design.

  • Security news about the latest reports of breaches and threats.

What We Don't Like

  • Resets browser home page and default search engine unless specifically deselected during installation.

  • Contains advertisements.

Panda Security's free antivirus program, Panda Dome (previously called Panda Free Antivirus), installs in minutes and has a minimal design like Bitdefender. However, even though it's not a CPU or memory hog, and doesn't appear to be customizable, all of its many options are tucked away in the program's settings.

Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8 2019

From there, you can do things like set up both on-demand and automatic scans to check compressed files and scan for potentially unwanted programs.

The automatic, permanent scanner includes some additional options, too, like behavioral and analysis scanning options, the ability to ask you before neutralizing a virus, and blocking files from running for so-many seconds until results on whether it's safe or harmful are obtained from the cloud.

Best Free Windows 7 Antivirus

Something entirely unique to Panda Dome is its security news and alerts sections that can show you critical, warning, and informational messages like when a popular vendor experiences a data breach that could affect your personal information. You can, however, turn those off if you want to.

Complete a scan in just a few minutes if you only want to check for actively running threats, like browser cookies, processes, and things currently loaded in memory. However, there's also, of course, an option for a full system scan or a custom scan.

Here are some other things you can do with Panda Dome:

  • Password protect the entire application
  • Have the quarantine emptied every three days, every week, every month, or never
  • A gaming/multimedia option disables all notifications if you're using a full-screen application
  • Exclude particular files or folders from scans, as well as specific file extensions of your choosing
  • Enable USB protection to scan removable devices as they're attached, to make sure that they don't spread anything to the computer
  • Monitor running processes as well as any URLs accessed by them, and have them terminated if Panda Dome deems them a threat
  • Record everything in event reports that you can browse through and even print or export to a TXT or CSV file
  • Optionally install Panda Safe Web during setup to protect you from malicious websites

The Panda Dome antivirus software does a really good job at keeping the important buttons up front and hiding the additional options within menus so that you're not constantly bombarded with options or alerts.

However, the program will change your home page and the search provider in your web browser, unless you uncheck those options during the initial setup.

Panda Dome works in all versions of Windows from Windows 10 through Windows XP.

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AVG AntiVirus Free

What We Like

  • Installs in a few minutes.

  • Choose what to enable during setup.

  • Updates automatically (definitions and the program).

  • You have full control over how things work.

What We Don't Like

  • Shows features you can't enable in the free version.

  • Always advertises AVG Internet Security.

  • Doesn't officially support Windows Vista or XP.

AVG's free antivirus program is easy on the eyes and even easier to use. The scan button is right in the middle of the screen, turning features off is dead-simple, and all the advanced options are tucked away from view in the settings.

Like most antivirus tools, this one lets you schedule scans, check for threats in archives, remove viruses right when they're found, scan USB drives, exclude files/folders/websites from scans, and run boot-time scans.

AVG AntiVirus Free is highly customizable. You can either install it and leave the settings alone to have regular protection, or go into the settings and make adjustments to nearly anything.

Choose how to scan files— include only content that might include malware (like executable data), only files that use a file extension considered potentially dangerous (like EXE), or all files regardless of content type or file extension.

Enable rootkit detection, hardcore mode, and CyberCapture technology, which helps detect threats in unrecognized files.

During setup, you have full control over which components should be enabled or disabled after AVG is installed. Options include File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, Email Shield, SafePrice browser extension, File Shredder, Cleanup, and Do Not Disturb Mode.

AVG AntiVirus Free includes a file shredder tool as well, which you can use from the right-click context menu to overwrite files using the Random Data, Gutmann, or DoD 5220.22-M data destruction method.

Windows 10, 8, and 7 are supported. It also runs on Mac (10.10 Yosemite or above) and Android (5.0 or above).

You're asked during setup to also install AVG's web browser, AVG Secure Browser, but you can uncheck that option if you want.

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COMODO Antivirus

What We Like

  • User interface can conform to your comfort level.

  • Lots of settings can be customized.

  • Run programs virtually.

  • Automatic updates for the program and virus definitions.

What We Don't Like

  • Settings sometimes don’t save after editing them.

  • Includes other programs and tools you might not want.

COMODO Antivirus excels in a few ways: it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be depending on your experience level with antivirus tools, it supports cloud-based scans to detect new threats, and the built-in sandbox technology can isolate programs so that they can’t affect your files even if it they do turn out to be malicious.

Right after installing this free antivirus program from COMODO, a scan starts to make sure your computer is safe. You can also run scans at any time, either quick scans, full scans, scans of commonly infected areas, and custom scans.

A custom scan in COMODO Antivirus lets you choose which files or folders to scan and enables a host of other customizations like whether to decompress and scan archives, use cloud scanning, automatically delete threats, enable heuristics scanning, check for threats running in memory, skip files over a maximum size, run the scan with full system resources, delete PuPs, and more.

The basic view for the program's settings runs scans, unblock applications, updates the program, and runs software in a virtual mode, while the advanced view reports more details about those areas of the program and displays logs as well as toggles various things like HIPS and VirusScope.

Check out the virtualization feature in COMODO Antivirus. You can run any program you want in a virtual space completely separate from the rest of your files. It’s an opportunity to test out an application to ensure that it’s real and not just a trick to get you to install a virus. Launch programs in this protected container from inside the COMODO program or by right-clicking an executable file and choosing the option in the menu.

  • Password protect the program
  • Show a floating desktop widget
  • Hide the upgrade advertisement
  • Choose which archive file types to unpack and scan
  • Enable real-time scanning of files on the network
  • Define heuristics scanning level (low, medium, high)
  • Schedule scans as frequently as every hour to as infrequently as once a month
  • Customize the HIPS rules
  • Turn on Silent Mode
  • Force the auto-containment of suspicious or malicious files
  • Use a unique password for the Virtual Desktop feature

During setup, you can also install Internet Security Essentials to protect against main-in-the-middle attacks.

COMODO Antivirus officially supports Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7. It's also available for macOS.

The COMODO Dragon Web Browser automatically installs during setup unless you tell it not to. After installation, pay close attention to the options you’re given—you can change your DNS servers to be the COMODO Secure DNS servers (which presumably improve security and speed up browsing), enable Cloud Based Behavior Analysis, send anonymous program usage to COMODO, and change the home page and default search engine to Yahoo.

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FortiClient

What We Like

  • Automatically downloads and installs updates.

  • Lots of control over the settings.

  • Simple user interface.

  • Comes with an application firewall.

What We Don't Like

  • Requires the internet during setup (it’s not an offline installer).

  • Slow to download and install all the components.

  • Unable to pause scans (only stop).

  • Lacks helpful documentation.

The FortiClient free antivirus program is unique for several reasons. Unlike many of the other AV programs on this page, this one includes parental control features, manually checks your programs for vulnerabilities, functions as a VPN client, and includes a firewall.

Installing this program lets you block websites by URL and site category, such as bandwidth-consuming sites, illegal sites, and ones flagged as including content relating to hacking, discrimination, erotica, games, advertising, shopping, child abuse, and plagiarism.

Sandbox files opened from a web download, email attachment, removable drive, or network drive. This feature is great if you’re cautious about opening those types of files, because they’re the primary entry points for malware.

Here are some other FortiClient features you’ll like:

  • Scan on a daily, weekly, and monthly schedule
  • Lock down the program with a password
  • Manually check for application vulnerabilities
  • AntiExploit is enabled for all your programs automatically, but you have the freedom to disable the feature on any of them

The program interface itself is easy to read, but it might be a bit too much for a novice user. There’s hardly any information regarding what each component and setting does when it's toggled, and a few of the features are really only useful if your computer is being managed remotely by an administrator.

Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7 are supported. You can also get this free antivirus program on Linux and macOS (but with fewer features). FortiClient has a similar tool for web filtering and VPN access, too, for Chromebook, the Chrome browser, iOS, and Android.

During setup, you’re asked if you want to enable the following along with the antivirus program: SSL and IPsec VPN, FortiSandbox detection and quarantine features, and Additional Security Features which include Antivirus, Web Filtering, Single Sign On, and Application Firewall. You can turn them on during setup or later once FortiClient is fully installed.

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Immunet AntiVirus

What We Like

  • Tons of customizable options.

  • No ads.

  • Automatic updates.

  • Helpful information built-in.

  • Small setup file; installs fast.

What We Don't Like

  • Runs on Windows only, and probably only newer editions (not XP).

Immunet offers real-time protection for Windows. It has a bit of an outdated interface but the software is still current, and even connects directly to the cloud for updates.

There are lots of options you can toggle on or off to customize how the software works, but you can also leave all the defaults and it will still check your computer for threats in real time.

Here are some other features you get with Immunet:

  • Detects and removes bots, viruses, worms, Trojans, keyloggers, and spyware
  • Three scan modes let you check just running processes (Flash Scan), any location of your choosing (Custom Scan), or the entire computer (Full Scan)
  • Schedule any scan type daily, weekly, or monthly
  • Start scans directly from Explorer on any folder or file
  • A timeline shows the history of threats on the computer, to 30 days in the past. There's also an extremely detailed history of events that have happened in the program that you can filter by date, keyword, and type (such as quarantines, cleanings, blocked processes, etc.)
  • Lets you run a FlashScan right after installation to check the registry and running processes for threats
  • Includes a special blocking mode that prevents all programs from being installed unless they first pass a security scan
  • Gaming Mode prevents notifications from the program while you watch movies or play games.
  • Automatically excludes certain folders and file types from scans, including temp folders and certain system32 folders
  • Manually exclude any file, folder, or threat (by its name)
  • Toggle scanning for archives and packed files
  • Runs alongside many other antivirus programs, such as security software from Comodo, Avira, AVG, and Norton.

Immunet AntiVirus has been tested on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7, as well as Windows Server 2016/2012/2008 R2.

Best Free Antivirus For Windows 8

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Kaspersky Security Cloud Free

What We Like

  • Clean user interface that’s easy to understand.

  • Unique features not found in other programs.

  • Protect your email. Install configuration manager windows 10.

  • Lots of options you can customize.

  • Set up a scanning schedule.

What We Don't Like

  • Must create a user account to activate the software.

  • Several features you see in the program aren’t free.

  • Can’t exclude scans by file extension.

  • Slow install.

  • Must renew the free license every year.

Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is a good choice for a free antivirus program if you want a simple program that boasts lots of features. It’s easy to use and offers many advanced options if you care to look into them.

This free AV program is also useful if your computer is low on system resources. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free can automatically postpone scans and reduce display animations if the CPU runs too high. It supports idle scans for when you’re away and lets you favor performance over protection by altering the overall security level.

It includes Self-Defense, which is a function that blocks all attempts to change or delete Kaspersky’s processes, registry items, and installation files.

  • Searches for rootkits and can delete malicious tools, adware, auto-dialers, and suspicious packages
  • Can password protect the program to protect its settings from being changed or to stop it from being uninstalled or shut down
  • Includes a file and web scanner as well as Network Attack Blocker, System Watcher, and Mail Anti-Virus
  • Supports gaming mode to suppress notifications while using any program in full screen mode
  • The antivirus scanner auto-pauses when specific applications start up or during certain times of the day
  • Choose what happens when a threat is detected: notify, disinfect, delete if disinfect doesn’t work, or delete
  • Auto-scan external drives or prompt you to scan them when they’re inserted
  • Schedule quick or full scans for every day, every weekend, every weekday, weekly, or monthly
  • Choose what gets scanned in a full, quick, and selective scan. Can include any of the following: system memory, startup objects, disk boot sectors, system volume information, email, all hard drives, all external devices, all network drives, any folder.
  • Skip items if the scan takes too long
  • Speed up antivirus scans by checking only new and changed files
  • Exclude files and folders from scans, and even prevent the scanning of specific threats
  • Define trusted applications so that they're not scanned

Kaspersky's free antivirus program runs on Windows operating systems.

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ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus

What We Like

  • Updates automatically.

  • Includes a free firewall.

  • Can run scheduled scans.

What We Don't Like

  • Heavy on system resources.

  • Slow installation.

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus, also called ZoneAlarm Security and ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall, is just what you think: antivirus software with a firewall tool built-in. You not only have protection against threats like spyware, viruses, Trojan horses, and bots but there are also firewall shields to block intruders from reaching your computer files.

Here are some other important features in this free antivirus tool:

  • Real-time, cloud-based security updates that relies on millions of other users to stop threats quickly
  • Gamer Mode blocks interruptions while gaming, such as scans, updates, and alerts; you can set all alerts to be automatically denied or allowed
  • Lock down ZoneAlarm's configuration with a password to protect its settings from being changed
  • Back up the program's security settings and restore them later
  • Run quick or full scans on a schedule
  • The network firewall can screen every single program with 'suspicious behavior' alerts that you have to explicitly allow or deny
  • The firewall lets you block fragments, trusted servers, and public servers, as well as enable ARP protection, filter IP traffic over port 1394, allow/block VPN protocols, and lock the hosts file
  • Set up notifications for suspicious credit activity

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall works on Windows 10, 8, and 7.