Best Antivirus Program for 2024

2019 has been a busy year for security products with the IT security industry is constantly bombarded by various security attacks. With such an unprecedented increase in the number of security attacks this year, the need for securing your computers using at least the most basic form of protection like an antivirus package is more than ever now.

This article takes a look at some of The Best Free Antivirus Programs of this year using which you can safeguard your PC(s) against the security threats which seem to be raining down on us at the moment. It tries to answer vital questions like what is best in the industry, why we've chosen them, whether free antivirus is better than the paid ones and so on. Read on to know more.

Free Antivirus Vs Paid Antivirus? Which Is The Best?

It is true that the competition among the IT security giants has increased and each one of them is trying to offer quality free antivirus packages to leverage their business and other security products which they may have on sale. Therefore the upside to being constantly bombarded by security attacks is quality free antivirus packages. Without a doubt, it can be said IT security giants are trying to appease users with their antivirus packages so that these users don't entirely lose trust in them.

Why (and When to Use) Free Antivirus Software?

Free antivirus packages are not always the answer. In certain circumstances users – especially enterprises – may need extra protection which may not be provided by free antivirus packages. To put it simply, antivirus packages are good as long as you want to secure your PC but not-so-good when it comes to safeguarding a network of computers. Because most of these free tools are free only for non-commercial use.

Moreover, come to think of it, it is indeed a bit too much to expect antivirus packages which are available for free to safeguard entire networks. Therefore when it comes to protecting enterprises, you have no choice but to opt for paid antivirus packages. Because, as we all know, nothing is available for free in this world.

Free Antivirus Packages That Can Be Considered To Rank Among The Top

This is a very tough question to answer because what's good today may not be so effective tomorrow. Time and security threats which constantly expose vulnerabilities existing in security software can change everything. But using some reliable statistics we've put up on this list which proves useful to you if you're someone in search of an antivirus package.

Comodo antivirus: Certainly one of the best in the IT security industry. Known for being innovative, Comodo antivirus package comes equipped with their proprietary Defense+ technology which considers all unknown files as potential threats. This is one of the biggest advantages of using Comodo because many antivirus software(s) assume unknown files to be safe, focusing only on those files which have proven to be a problem.

Some Features:

• Defense+ Technology which considers unknown Files as potential threats
• Auto Sand boxing, a virtual space for running unknown and malicious apps
• HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention System) to stop zero-day threats
• 24/7 On-access protection from viruses and other malware

Avast: This antivirus tool makes it to the list chiefly because it has been around for quite some time. Since 1988 to be more precise. A tool which lasts the test of time is obviously going to be a tool which serves users well. Having said that, Avast is also popular for its "heuristics engine" which detects previously unknown viruses and other malware.

Some Features:

• Heuristics Engine for detecting previously unknown security threats
• The long history of substantial virus protection
• Smart scanning capabilities
• Sand boxing capabilities

Avira: The wide range of malware threats this security tool handles is what places it at number three position in our list. Avira is a fully functional antimalware tool and undoubtedly one of the best free antivirus programs out there. Above all, just like the others in the list, it's available for free.

Some Features:

• Protects against many malware types and not just the traditional ones
• Is Equipped with advanced heuristic tools
• Works well with various Windows OS(es)
• Implements Easy-to-Use Interface

AVG Antivirus: AVG, which stands for Antivirus Guard is another free antivirus package which is a subsidiary of Avast software, has attracted a lot of attention in the security market. The free antivirus software tool is compatible with the following operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Android.

Some Features:

• Defense+ Technology which considers unknown Files as potential threats
• Auto Sand boxing, a virtual space for running unknown and malicious apps
• Spyware Scanning for scanning or detecting spyware in files and folders
• 24/7 On-access protection from viruses and other malware

Bitdefender: Simplicity is key when it comes to making software. And the developers of Bitdefender seem to know it better than anyone else. Their antivirus tool is incredibly easy to setup and configure and doesn't affect your computers. Highly recommended.

Some Features:

• Easier to use than other antivirus programs
• Does not affect system performance
• Compatible with most Windows OS(es)
• On-access protection from viruses and other malware

Kaspersky: The fact that US Government has decided to officially ban Kaspersky from its governmental, finance and other such organizations, does not make it any less effective. It has been around for a long time and is here to stay. Moreover, they offer antivirus package for free.

Some Features:

• Advanced malware detection techniques
• Comprehensive scanning tools
• 24/7 on-access protection from viruses and other malware
• Sand boxing capabilities

Sophos: Yet another free antivirus software tool which can prove useful for users. Comes equipped with a multitude of features that make its free edition appear really attractive.

Some Features:

• HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention System) to stop zero-day threats
• Comprehensive and sophisticated content filtering policy
• 24/7 on-access protection from viruses and other malware

Panda: Another free antivirus software tool which deserves a place on this list. This is a cloud-based antivirus tool which can be light on your network, meaning, it won't slow down your computers and at the same time protect them well.

Free Antivirus

Some Features:

• URL and web monitoring and filtering
• Automatic USB protection
• Light and easy on computer systems