Recommend best free antivirus for Windows 7 PC?

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Which one would you recommend?

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As Fred Langa has said: Microsoft Security Essentials is free, in widespread use, and it has proven itself in the real world. And on most systems, it has little effect on system resources.

That said, no software is ideally suited for every configuration. If one anti-malware tool doesn’t work well on your specific setup, then it makes perfect sense to try some other AV app. You have lots of options.

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A Google for best free av programs will give you a number of links such as http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm of which MSE is only 12th on the list of 18.

MS recommend that <=Win 7 users use an alternative AV program to MSE as it now only looks for the main "culprits" if I remember the article correctly, but I wouldn't recommend MSE anyway from posts I've seen where MSE has let things in.

It's true that no AV program is 100% effective because of what is out in the wild and depend upon spotting the Heuristics of such Malware, but some are better at it than others.

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Best describe skill level, PC usage, whether multi user or not, infection history/types of infections removed etc. Only with further details can we be expected to give some reasonably accurate suggestions.

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Good point.

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Best describe skill level, PC usage, whether multi user or not, infection history/types of infections removed etc. Only with further details can we be expected to give some reasonably accurate suggestions.

Satrow, you make a good point.

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I personally use AVG 2014 Free. It’s fast, easy to use (for me anyway), updates virus signatures fast, is rated high by computer magazines (higher than MSE), and comes in 32 and 64 bit flavors. I’ve been using AVG Free for years and have no complaints at all. Be careful though, the free version may try to install an AVG security bar to IE. Make sure you uncheck it if you don’t want the bar. Hope this helps.

Being 20 something in the 70's was far more fun than being 70 something in the insane 20's

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I recommend Avast if you want something free. It’s been several months since I researched it, but last year it was at or near the top of the reviews.

Microsoft has admitted that they aren’t putting much time and effort into MSE. It’s better than nothing, however, and it’s basically set and forget, so if I know that a user is not going to do anything in terms of upkeep on their antivirus program, I install MSE. It’s better than nothing.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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Ya, I think Avast seems to be very decent at that moment…the best A-V of course is organic and located above your neck.

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Try AVG or Immunet 2014 – Below are the download links for these free antivirus softwares:

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage
http://www.immunet.com/free/index.html

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One of my nephews swears by AVG.

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Try AVG or Immunet 2014 – Below are the download links for these free antivirus softwares:

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage
http://www.immunet.com/free/index.html

One of my nephews swears by AVG.

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Avast is excellent, and very configurable.

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I personally have had excellent luck with AVAST combined with Malwarebytes’ Antimalware. Both of these are the free versions. (In fact, AVAST just detected malware in a website I was visiting.)

Before you make a decision, I’d recommend checking pcmag.com, pcworld.com, and cnet.com. Occasionally, they mention other sites–so far these, for example Major Geeks, have been safe to visit.

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In the most recent edition of Computeractive Magazine published here in UK they thoroughly recommend Kaspersky and say that Microsoft Essentials simply isn’t a competitor any more. Now, I hold no brief for Computeractive or Kaspersky, but I pass this on as it seems to be what the original questioner wanted to know, and the rest might like to think about it !

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Have a look at the latest Summary report from av-comparitives.org. It shows that the top anti-virus performer is Kaspersky Lab. However, Kaspersky Lab is a paid-for product. The ‘top rated products’ are Bitdefender, ESET, F-Secure, Avast, BullGuard, Fortinet and Avira.

I used to use the free version of Avira but gave up when the adverts became too much. I changed to AVG but found the detection rate dropping in the last 18 months. I currently use the free version of Avast and find it meets my needs.

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I also use Avast, and have for years – but!
There is a good article about security at
http://krebsonsecurity.com/tools-for-a-safer-pc/

and that’s all free too!

ps I find that Krebs often alerts me to Windows updates the day before my computer program. Then I go to the update site and do a manual. Otherwise Windows update doesn’t kick in until the next morning.

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I’d give Bitdefender a try: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html
Microsoft’s solution is okay and does run light, but as others have mentioned may not provide the best protection. Be sure you have your firewall turned on as well.
You can also run a “companion” anti-virus along-side Microsoft. For example:
http://www.immunet.com/free/index.html Immunet’s free product. The “pro” version is discontinued, but they still offer the free one. I run it and it is not obtrusive.
Malwarebytes is also a good companion tool, and runs alongside most A-Vs: https://www.malwarebytes.org/

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I have used MS Security Essentials for years, per Fred’s recommend ‘way back when. I was disappointed to read AV-Test.org’s 2014 testing results (http://www.av-test.org/en/home/) for Windows 7. Click on the header of the protection column to sort on that column and you will see that Panda Cloud Antivirus (free) ranks very well by itself and actually competes well with the better-known for pay programs tested. MS Security Essentials was used as a baseline and is at the BOTTOM of the list for protection. I have been replacing MSSE with Panda Cloud AV free 2.3 on all my XP clients’ machines who were being hounded by the MS and MSSE pop-up messages that XP support has ended. Well, my support for MSSE has also ended; I am impressed by the UI and the fact that you don’t have to update virus definitions, as they are fetched from the “cloud” automatically when needed. A useful IE toolbar comes with it, checking for bad sights and there is a link to Panda Active Scan, a free on-line scanner. There is minimal advertising for the “pro” version. Download from http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/. Try it; you might like it! I do.

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… replacing MSSE with Panda Cloud AV free

Is there a link other than via CNET?

I’ve seen people have a lot of trouble with malware from downloading stuff from CNET — I suspect they just get suckered into clicking a prominent download link with malware toolbar crap, instead of finding a little gray download button for just what they want, I’ve seen that happen. But I don’t trust CNET enough to poke around trying their links.

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I started using MSE 2.5 years ago when I got my new laptop. I had been relatively happy with it until last week when it wouldn’t update. After looking for a replacement, I came across this review of free av products (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2388652,00.asp). I settled on Bitdefender. So far, so good.

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My house has 2 desktops and 3 laptops all running Win 7 Pro. I have them all on MSE active protection and Malwarebytes Premium 9formwerly PRO) with active protection. I rarely encounter a problem. When I do it it typically something my kids downloaded on the 2 computers they use.

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Yup, AVAST Free is pretty good. They have more little popup messages these days urging us to upgrade, but you can minimise the annoyance. Somewhere in AVAST’s settings there’s a window where you can adjust the number of seconds that various popups are displayed. Reduce the promo popups to a minimum time, but keep the malware blocked!! alert messages long enough to read them. Also, MalwareBytes is a great second opinion scanner and cleaner that only runs when you tell it so it never conflicts or competes with your regular anti-virus.

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Malwarebytes Premium version adds excellent real time protection against malware and plays nice with most anti-virus programs

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Which one would you recommend?

Silly question as everybody has their own favourite. Suggest you check out here http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-anti-virus-software.htm and make your own decision.
For the record I have Security Essentials on both my PC’s and a paid one one my desk top PC working with it. Seems to work OK while I run down my paid version. Have had no problems in the couple of years with MSE or 20 odd yers with the paid version.
BUT, I also always work within a sandbox.

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Hi,

I’ve seen numerous systems, supposedly protected by Microsoft Security Essentials, full to the gills with maleware.

My recommendation is to use Avast Free, coupled with weekly Malewarebytes scans.

Whilst recommending Avast, I do have some reservations regarding the current version9 and definitely recommend going into Settings to turn off these tools:
Browser CleanUp, Software Updater, Grimefighter – the Nanny State gone mad!

The Avast Browser CleanUp tool in particularly has become suspect as it insists on changing your homepage to Yahoo or Bing – ‘for safety’! Since when was Yahoo safe? Ask the millions of Yahoo users, worldwide, who have repeatedly had their email addresses hijacked over the last four years!

Cheers, Chris

P.S. Oh, and I’d also turn off that bird with the annoying and curiously inflected English accent!

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http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/

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As Fred Langa has said: Microsoft Security Essentials is free, in widespread use, and it has proven itself in the real world. And on most systems, it has little effect on system resources.

Heh.. MSE also has little effect on prevention as well imo. 🙂 Take a look at the monthly “Real-World Protection Tests” they do here;

http://www.av-comparatives.org/dynamic-tests/

Microsoft’s Anti-Virus protection offerings score so low that AV Comparatives generally don’t even bother including MSE results in their published result charts. I’ve been a follower and fan of Fred Langa’s recommendations for a long time, but on this issue (as well as automatic software updating software) I think he’s got it completely wrong. Guess we can’t all agree on everything hey? 🙂

Which one would you recommend?

For a Free AV, Avast would be my personal recommendation.

Though I mostly install the Pro or EndPoint Protection versions of their software because I install to machines that are often used for both personal & commercial purposes, the definition files the Free version uses are identical and the product has served me (and several clients / companies I look after) well for quite a few years now. My only minor beef with it is that it can sometimes be a bit pedantic in thinking things are a Virus when they’re not (False Positives) but it’s not that big of a problem where frequently annoys me.

If you can manage to spend a few bucks for a commercial AV instead, take a look at a few of the monthly reports at the AV Comparatives link I’ve provided above and make your own mind up. The subscription costs for most are very reasonable and renewal fees are pretty much trivial, especially when purchased in 2 or 3 year blocks.

Cheers..

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Like Chris and several other contributors, I’ve had excellent results with the free versions of AVAST and Malwarebytes Antimalware. AVAST was recommended by my computer repair person. If one is considering running the paid version of AVAST with the paid version of Malwarebytes Antimalware, you may want to search the internet to see the experiences of other people.

Chris stated, “Whilst recommending Avast, I do have some reservations regarding the current version9 and definitely recommend going into Settings to turn off these tools: Browser CleanUp, Software Updater, Grimefighter….”
How does one turn these off? What the devil is “Grimefighter”? What programs does AVAST include as “bloatware”?

filehippo.com is another site to download programs; however, I go to the manufacturer’s site whenever possible for downloading programs.

Charles

Charles E. Smart, MD
Smart Biomedical Communications on time, on target, everytime
SmartBiomedical@gmail.com
2811 Charter Drive, Suite 206, Troy, MI 48083[/COLOR]

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…filehippo.com is another site to download programs; however, I go to the manufacturer’s site whenever possible for downloading programs…

Please excuse the mild divergence.

Reference: https://www.ghacks.net/2014/07/08/beware-filehippo-tests-adware-distributing-download-manager/[/url]

…I have just received word that FileHippo[/url], a website recommended by quite a few users as one of the remaining “clean” websites, has added a custom download manager to its site which — who would have guessed that — includes adware offers as well…

FileHippo.com was one of a dwindling few clean sites that archived old versions of application software. Pity. 🙁

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Thanks, Hank, for posting this. I followed the link you provided and a link “ghacks” provided, and then I found the following:

[INDENT]”What happens when I run the FileHippo Download Manager?

After launching the FileHippo Download Manager from your Downloads folder, just double click on the file that will be clearly named and then follow the instructions.

The Download Manager may show offers for other free applications and you get to choose whether you accept these or not. No offers are ever automatically installed without your acceptance.”[/INDENT]

When I use this site in this future, I’m going to be darned careful and use it only when I’m wide awake. This reminds me of the downloads from Adobe.

Charles

PS
“ghacks” mentions, “Update: Generic information about the use of a download wrapper are available here on FileHippo.”
What is a “download wrapper”?

Charles E. Smart, MD
Smart Biomedical Communications on time, on target, every time
Smart Biomedical@gmail.com
2811 Charter Drive, Apt. 206, Troy, MI 48083

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Everything you always wanted to know about avast! GrimeFighter, but were afraid to ask!

Hope this helps…

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Thanks, Rick.

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Everything you always wanted to know about avast! GrimeFighter, but were afraid to ask!

Hope this helps…

From my own standpoint, Grimefighter does anything but one of the claims on the website you pointed to Rick – specifically “Yes, GrimeFighter will speed your old laptop up ..etc etc..”

I’ve had clients not being able to restart their computers back into Windows after the thing installed, others have complained that it slowed their computers down to a crawl. I tell all my clients to always do a custom install and deselect it, not allowing it to install at all, or if upgrading and it installs itself automatically, go back into change programs and uninstall the thing as soon as possible.

Causes far more problems than it purports to repair in my experience and only recommended for highly tech savvy computer users in my experience(s) with it.

Avast should be ashamed of themselves for ever introducing the thing in the first place – especially making it a default install rather than providing an option to install it or not during an upgrade. Same with their software updater and browser cleanup garbage. They should just stick to what they’re good at – Virus, Trojan and Malware protection. Many a product has been totally ruined over the years because for the sake of increasing profit margins, the authors try to make it do what it was never designed to do in the first place.

Cheers..

Cheers..

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@Drewski – I have to agree with you… I was just responding to a request for information about what Grimefighter does (or is supposed to do).

I did a Google search for Grimefighter and found several posts about problems after using it (including some very angry users in the Avast forum itself). As a result I didn’t install it, even though I noted that Grimefighter can apparently be re-run and an option to ‘Undo All Changes’ used.

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avast Free Antivirus, or its Software Updater component, now incorporates the OpenCandy ad network.

“OpenCandy is integrated into SoftwareUpdater since a couple of months. We use it to offer additional software to our customers in avast Free under some conditions. It helps us paying for the traffic caused by Software Updater in Avast Free.” (June 2014)
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=150764.msg1099392#msg1099392

About OpenCandy: OpenCandy assigns your computer a permanent identifier, phones home information about your computer, software and geolocation, and offers you downloads based on that information and on its previous offers.

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@iTobaman – Many thanks for the info.

How to Remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy (Removal Guide)

Hope this helps…

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