Top 5 Best Free Windows Antivirus 2023

Compare the Best Antivirus Software for all your Devices

2024 Editor’s Pick

1

Available on:

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9.9

outstanding

4.9/5

2

9.2

excellent

4.6/5

3

9.1

Great

4.5/5

4

8.8
4.3/5

5

8.4
4.2/5

#1   2023 Editor’s Pick

9.9

FREE

Available on:

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apple-icon
android icon
apple-icon
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2

9.2

$29.00

3

9.1

$19.00

4

8.8

$34.99

5

8.4

$44.99

What is an Antivirus Software?

An antivirus is a software program designed to detect and remove malware from a computer or mobile device. Traditional antiviruses scan your files against a built-in malware database, flagging unsafe files that match the database. More advanced antivirus programs use machine learning, heuristic analysis, and cloud-based malware directories to detect and remove zero-day threats and very sophisticated malware. All of the best antiviruses offer real-time protection, so they scan every file before it executes to ensure malware never even starts running on your device.

Why do you need an Antivirus?

In recent years, people have become increasingly reliant on electronic devices. It is crucial now, more than ever, to have adequate security to protect your personal information from viruses and hackers. That’s where antivirus software comes in. Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware, is a computer program used to prevent, detect, and remove malicious software from your computers, tablets, and mobile devices.

There are many different types of malware, viruses being the most well-known. Here we have highlighted some of the lesser-known types of malware that all security-conscious users should be familiar with. To learn more, follow our blog for the latest updates and information.

Disclaimer

AntivirusAdviser’s reviews are the honest opinions of our team of expert cybersecurity professionals. Our reviews are neither paid for nor sponsored by antivirus providers, although we may earn an affiliate commission through some of our referral links.

At AntivirusAdviser, our goal is to provide transparent, informative, and easy-to-understand reviews of antivirus solutions for all devices and operating systems. We hope these reviews will give you the insights needed to make an informed decision about your antivirus purchase.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford Not To Use Windows Antivirus Software

Browsing the web has become such a normal part of our everyday lives that we sometimes forget that there are people out there with less than honorable intentions. Think viruses. But that’s not all the evil that’s roaming the internet.

Criminals are becoming more and more creative in their ways to make your online existence miserable. They can block your device, harvest your data, or worse yet – steal your identity. And in a mobile-first world, people seem to forget that a Windows device is hardly a challenge for these predators.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to put an end to all of this. By using Windows Antivirus Software, you kill several birds of prey with one stone.

Let’s have a look at all that Windows XP antivirus software can do for you.

1. Avoid Viruses With the Best Antivirus Windows 10

Through the files you download on your computer, you always risk downloading a piece of malicious software without even noticing. This doesn’t only happen through visiting unknown websites, you can also pick something up by reading a simple email from a friend whose computer is infected. Or by using a public WiFi network. And even through USB sticks. It happens every day.

The best antivirus for Windows 10 makes frequent updates based on recently acquired knowledge of circulating viruses. And more importantly, great software takes action immediately – the moment the malicious file enters the system and before it can do any damage.

2. Don’t Give Spam and Phishing a Chance With the Best Free Antivirus for Windows 7

It’s an ever-increasing trend: criminals who terrorize people online by telling them they’ve won a smartphone. This is just one of the many, many examples of phishing. Spam is the more classic variant, which is done by email.

Unnervingly, these scammers are becoming more and more cunning. The time of serious grammar flaws and unprofessional designs is long gone. Consequently, fewer people recognize these scams and fall into their cleverly designed traps.

Now more than ever, it’s essential that these messages don’t get a chance to reach you in the first place. Sooner or later you might fall for them. The best Windows antivirus software keeps messages out of your inbox and sends them straight to spam. It also blocks malicious pop-ups.

3. Learn to Recognize Risky Websites With Free Antivirus for Windows XP

It happens faster than you think. Unaware of the impending danger, you’re just browsing the internet, minding your own business, looking for tips on how to fix a clogged pipe. Or maybe creating an itinerary for your next holiday. You click a link from the search results and arrive at a website that looks just like the websites you’ve visited earlier – except that it’s not.

It may look trustworthy, but while you’re entering your details to receive an offer on a holiday home, behind the scenes criminals are working hard to steal your identity and making your life a living hell.

Yes, that is possible. In fact, they don’t even need you to enter your details to be able to steal your identity.

The easiest way to avoid a situation like this? Simply avoid these sites. Great Windows antivirus software has access to a database with all the sites that are harmful for your device. The software will simply keep you from ever accessing these sites – avoiding the impending danger you never knew existed.

4. Optimize Performance With Best Free Antivirus Windows 10

Surely, you’ve experienced it. As time goes by, the speed of your device goes down. Starting your laptop, loading up programs, even visiting websites – it all takes up more and more of your time.

But it doesn’t have to be so. A quality antivirus program for Windows benefits you even if there aren’t any threats. The software cleans your device at set times and deletes files you no longer need – saving you lots of space. This process doesn’t take long at all, and can even clean your device while you’re sleeping.

5. Parental Controls and the Best Free Antivirus for Windows 10

In this day and age kids of all ages are using smartphones, laptops or tablets. And you might not always be aware of it, but this practice can lead to some undesirable situations.

A child-friendly browser is a good start – in combination with a great password for the sites and programs your kids shouldn’t touch.

A great feature that makes Windows antivirus software all the more valuable is the ability to remotely check on your kids. This is infinitely helpful for the smallest children – and perhaps most important for the teenagers under your roof. You can see what sites they’ve opened and who they’ve talked to. You can see it all.

This feature also enables you to block certain apps and websites your kids know are off-limits – but doesn’t always stop them.

What Is the Best Antivirus Software for Windows?

Now you might wonder what’s the best free antivirus for Windows 10, or if a free antivirus for Windows exists at all. These are all good questions and if you have a look at this page, you’ll find several different options for antivirus for Windows XP and beyond.

The best antivirus software is the one that works best for you and that offers the specific features you are looking for. Make sure that the program you choose:

  • Is compatible with your device
  • Offers great customer service
  • Runs non-intrusive scans that don’t negatively impact the speed and performance of your device.

Many programs we have reviewed offer a free trial and/or a money-back guarantee. This is especially useful if you’re not completely sure yet of what you’re looking for.

You can find a great summary of several excellent programs at the top of this page. Be sure to check it out!

Looking for antivirus software for Mac instead? Have a look here.