It's always worth remembering: security should never be neglected when it comes to the internet. That's why having a good antivirus is essential to protect our computers and personal data from the constant threat of malware in all its forms. Fortunately, there are many free antivirus programs available for Windows 10 for our peace of mind.
Among the wide range of options available, we can choose the integrated Windows Defender solution , developed by Microsoft, or the numerous external options. Many of these are completely free. We analyze them all in this post.
The first question to ask yourself is what you need from an antivirus. It's useless if it's free but doesn't meet your expectations. A good way to measure its effectiveness is to look at the results published periodically by AV-Test . This German website analyzes different solutions by subjecting them to numerous tests and attacks, then compiles a list of the best antivirus programs.
Some of the criteria used by AV-Test to develop its ranking of the best antivirus are the following:
- Protection level against different updated forms of malware.
- Impact on computer performance, that is, browsing and download speed when we use the antivirus program.
- Generation of false alarms, since a good antivirus should only act when necessary. Otherwise, it becomes more of a hindrance than a help.
- Additional functions and other extras.
While it's true that, initially, a paid antivirus will be better than a free one, the truth is that many free antivirus programs offer excellent results and are more advisable if you don't plan to use your computer professionally. It's also important to remember that, being widely used, they have a large user base and an extensive malware database.
In the selection that we present below we have only taken into account the free options.
Windows Defender
This is the first option any Windows user should consider. Windows Defender is the antivirus that comes integrated into Windows 10. It's a very sophisticated tool that Microsoft has invested a lot of effort in to make it the only antivirus its users need.
It is worth noting the perfect integration of its interface within the operating system (it is logical that this is the case, since it is a part of it), although its excellent performance in threat detection is also worth mentioning. Also, unlike other free products, it does not include any kind of advertising. On the other hand, it is constantly updated without the need for us to do anything.
Regarding the degree of trust, suffice it to say that in recent years Windows Defender has entered the Top-20 best antivirus made by AV-Test, along with many other payment options.
Avast Free Antivirus
Considered one of the best free antivirus programs for Windows 10, Avast also features prominently on our list. In fact, following its acquisition of AVG, it is now one of the leading antivirus companies.
Avast's free antiviruses are the only ones in their category that AV-Test classifies with the TOP Product label. In addition to the functions typical of these products, they incorporate other practical features such as the do not disturb mode, the malware analysis of newly installed applications or the detection of intrusions in our home WiFi network.
Link: Avast
BitDefender Free Edition
Bitdefender also offers a free version of its antivirus. It's true that it's a very limited version, containing only the bare essentials to protect your computer, but it can be very useful for certain tasks, such as quick malware scans. Simple, but sufficient for those who simply want standard protection.
Link: BitDefender
Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Another major global name in antivirus software. Despite past scandals, many businesses and individual customers continue to trust Kaspersky and are very satisfied with its offerings.
Its free version, which is the one that concerns us here, is very effective for detecting malware and barely interferes with the good performance of our computer. Of course, its range of tools is quite imitated compared to the paid version. For example, it does not incorporate parental control, online purchase protection or password manager, although it may be more than enough for a normal user.
Link: Kaspersky
Free Panda Antivirus
Our latest proposal is the free version of the popular Panda antivirus. It is an option to take into account, since it offers some functions that we will not find in similar products, such as its VPN (only 150 MB, but something is something), guarantee of total privacy when we browse the Internet.
Panda Free Antivirus is very easy to use and has minimal impact on the normal operation of your computer. The downside is that it has some limitations and contains a lot of advertising.
Link: Panda