10 Best Free Antivirus Download For PC 2024

The Best Free Antivirus software is the most important part of Windows, and every Windows PC needs it now because online threats are always changing.

Without an antivirus, you could lose your files, money from your bank account, debt, and a lot of other personal information.

From what we’ve talked about so far, you might have guessed that we’re going to talk about the best free security software for Windows in 2024.

So, first, let’s talk about what antivirus is, why it’s so important, and what it does.

So, we chose the top 10 best security programs for your computer.

We all know that even though it’s free, every Windows computer needs the best free security software.

So, Microsoft makes the Windows Defender security software, and it comes pre-installed with Windows 10. The most interesting thing about this security tool is that it works well.

But it still can’t match the security and features of the most important paid security tools or free antivirus software for PCs.

As per the information that we have got after searching the web properly nowadays, thriving ransomware attacks occur every 14 seconds.

While other research reveals that the average data breach costs organizations more than $3.8 million.

Hence in this type of situation, it is unlikely impossible to run a successful and productive business long-term or use the internet securely without any paid or free antivirus software. 

But the main thing is that everyone does not have the budget to compensate for costly antivirus programs.

so several people focus on free solutions and clarification only. Well, through this post, we will show you the 10 best free antivirus software 2020 for Windows.

Now you must be thinking that if these antiviruses are free, then will they be helpful or not?

If you are worried about this, then don’t worry, though they are free, but, the fact is that all these tools are incredibly useful in protecting against most cyber attacks.

Table of Contents

Key Advantages of Free Antivirus Software 2024
Protection from Malware, Viruses, Spyware, and Cookies:
Protection From the Theft of Personal Information or Identity theft:
Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly
Why do We Need Free Antivirus Software?
Best Free Anti-virus Software
Kaspersky Total Security
Trend Micro Maximum Security
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020
Norton AntiVirus Plus
F-Secure Antivirus SAFE
ESET Smart Security Premium
McAfee Internet Security
Panda Dome Essential
Comodo Windows Antivirus
Avast Antivirus
Conclusion

Key Advantages of Free Antivirus Software 2024

We all know very well that downloading paid or free antivirus software programs nowadays has become quite essential, just like you are making any decision to acquire a desktop or laptop computer.

The power of threats on the web nowadays is ubiquitous internet security issues.

Hence, a free antivirus program is one of the best solutions to take the proper measures to avoid and minimize all these threats. 

There are several levels of protection available for computers and they depend on the best free Antivirus program offered by one of the many vendors.

However, there are some common benefits that all antivirus programs offer and they are:-

• Protection from malware, viruses, Spyware, and cookies
• Protection from the theft of personal information or identity theft
• Keep your computer running smoothly

Protection from Malware, Viruses, Spyware, and Cookies:

Undoubtedly, it’s the biggest and most obvious advantage of having antivirus software on your PC.

If you already have antivirus software then let me clarify that it will simply prevent viruses like Trojans, malware, and spyware, ransomware, rootkits, adware from entering or attacking your PC. 

Moreover, viruses are generally classified by the rigors from harmless to total wickedness in the system.

The most important thing is that a virus can not only destroy all the valuable data present on your PC but, it can also make it completely useless by infecting and destroying all the essential processes that are important for the proper functioning of a computer or PC.

Protection From the Theft of Personal Information or Identity theft:

Generally, we all know very well that hackers or attackers simply release viruses to loot users, and not only that they spread very rapidly as well.

Hence, to mitigate these types of situations, a good antivirus program is a must and essential for protection while surfing the internet.

Along with that it also helps us to prevent hackers from accessing personal things like credit card information, access to bank accounts, passwords, and much more. 

Moreover, the firewall feature generally comes pre-inbuilt in most Free antivirus software or tools, which helps us to block all unauthorized incoming connections.

Hence, it prevents malicious hackers from putting their hands on your data and PC.

Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly

Generally, a computer that is open to viruses and hackers usually shows early signs of use and significantly lowers the speed of your computer or PC, which simply makes normal computing tasks much slower and irritating.

In short, if your PC is infected by a virus, then without any proper antivirus tool you would be at the mercy of the virus.

Yes, it means you would have to spend your crucial time finding the virus, then erase it and then you have to restore if it has made any damage.

If you have an appropriate free antivirus software activated on your PC, then you will simply receive a notification that will show you that a virus has been detected and will ask you if you want to delete it or not.

All these notifications usually appear as soon as the virus is detected by the antivirus software that you have installed on your PC, and once it detects any malicious activity or file, it simply stops it from causing any damage to your PC.

Why do We Need Free Antivirus Software?

Now the question arises as to why antivirus is needed.

Thus we have mentioned above that an antivirus helps your PC from different attacks and keeps your files, data, and folders safe.

Generally, an antivirus does different work to protect your computer, like:-

• Examining the well-being of your device.
• Browsing all your existing files and links to identify any signs of ill-disposed activities.
• Scheduling and conducting scans automatically.
• Recognizing and expelling malware.
• Defending your computer from downloaded executable files or wicked processes.

So, now without wasting much time let’s get started and simply explore the list that we have mentioned below, where we have discussed all the different free antivirus software 2024 available for Windows and their features.

Note: The list is just a compilation and is not based on any preference.

Best Free Anti-virus Software

Free Anti-virus Software	Key Features
1. Kaspersky Total Security	1. Cross-platform protection 2. Compromised password 3. Document storage. 4. Backup location. 5. File shredder.
2. Trend Micro Maximum Security	1. Antispam 2. Parental control 3. Advanced AI learning. 4. Ransomware protection. 5. Pay guard.
3. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020	1. Antispam 2. Parental control 3. It stays or remains anonymous on the web. 4. Always allows you to secure your Wifi hotspot. 5. It provides unlimited encrypted traffic.
4. Norton AntiVirus Plus	1. Wifi-security monitor 2. Virus scan 3. VPN client 4. Security monitor. 5. Virus scan.
5. F-Secure Antivirus SAFE	1. Valuable Features 2. Antispam. 3. Parental control. 4. Firewall. 5. Antivirus.
6. ESET Smart Security Premium	1. Browsing and banking protection 2. Spyware protection 3. Ransomware protection. 4. Family rules. 5. Browsing and banking protection.
7. McAfee Internet Security	1. Browsing and banking protection 2. Spyware protection 3. Ransomware protection. 4. Family rules. 5. Browsing and banking protection.
8. Panda Dome Essential	1. Ransomware shield 2. UEFI Scanner 3. Ransomware shield. 4. UEFI Scanner. 5. Exploit blocker.
9. Comodo Windows Antivirus	1. Web Protection 2. Spyware scanning 3. On-demand scan. 4. Boot-time scan. 5. Sandbox.
10. Avast Antivirus	1. Virus detection 2. Gaming mode 3. Virus detection. 4. Gaming mode. 5. Malware scanner.

10 Best Free Anti-virus Software 2024

• Kaspersky Total Security
• Trend Micro Maximum Security
• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020
• Norton AntiVirus Plus
• F-Secure Antivirus SAFE
• ESET Smart Security Premium
• McAfee Internet Security
• Panda Dome Essential
• Comodo Windows Antivirus
• Avast Antivirus

1. Kaspersky Total Security

Core Features:

This antivirus is for those users who only just want antivirus protection and not a full security suite.

Hence, for those users, Kaspersky is one of the best and most well-known Free antivirus software for them.

Kaspersky is a stripped-back protection package that concentrates on the core security essentials.

Thus, its web filtering blocks unsafe URLs, an authentic engine identifies and eliminates the threats, and intelligent monitoring technologies track, and invert malicious actions.

Hence, we have found that Kaspersky is one of the best at blocking malware and extracting it from an infected system.

Moreover, it’s one of the top anti-virus tools that always got high marks at sites like AV-Comparatives.

Thus this tool is straightforward to use because it provides plenty of on-screen directions to demonstrate how everything works. 

key Features

• Kaspersky Total Security features a sophisticated antivirus engine for detecting and removing viruses, malware, ransomware, and other dangerous software from your computer or mobile device.
• It includes a firewall, which monitors and controls network traffic, assisting in the prevention of illegal access to your devices and network.
• While accessing the internet, Kaspersky protects you from dangerous websites, phishing attempts, and other online risks.
• This feature improves online transaction security by enabling safe connections to financial websites and preventing potential threats while banking or shopping online.

What Could Be Better?	What Could Be Better?
Effective Protection	Privacy Concerns
Comprehensive Security Suite	Resource Usage
User-Friendly Interface	Price
Real-Time Updates	Limited VPN

2. Trend Micro Maximum Security

Core Features:

Next, we will discuss another best paid free antivirus software, Trend Micro maximum security, it has the most reliable reputation for powerful antivirus prevention, with expertise in spam and ransomware, hence it is easy to use.

Moreover, the major antivirus labs have provided high marks in their testing sets.

Furthermore, Trend Micro Maximum Security runs slower and needs more resources than some other products.

Therefore it makes this a less favored choice for an older system.

However, the AV-Comparatives state that it provides a high number of false positives, which could be real trouble.

Moreover, the AV-Test reports high levels of efficiency and no issues with false positives at all.

The protection level of Trend Micro Maximum Security is quite similar to the Bitdefender.

Hence the false positives are only marginally higher. Moreover, the system doesn’t slow down our system noticeably more than anything else.

However, if you are unconcerned about its high levels of exposure and attractive bonus features, then Trend Micro Maximum Security is a good choice.

Key Features

• Trend Micro Maximum Security protects against viruses, malware, spyware, and other dangerous threats in real-time.
• This function assists in preventing ransomware attacks from encrypting or holding your files and data hostage.
• Trend Micro protects your web browsing experience by limiting access to harmful or phishing websites, keeping you safe from online scams.
• The program may contain an email scanning capability that looks for harmful attachments or links in incoming and outgoing emails.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Effective Protection	Price
Comprehensive Security Suite	VPN Limitations
Ransomware Protection	User Interface
Light on System Resources	Mixed Test Results

3. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2024

Core Features:

First, we will discuss the Bitdefender free antivirus Plus 2024, as it’s one of the top antiviruses available on the internet, possesses over 500 million users, and offers a full-featured package.

Thus it’s completed all tests successfully from AV-Test to AV-Comparatives, and not only that even the Bitdefender antivirus results score high ratings in every test.

Its primary function is to protect and remediate, privacy tools, VPN, and Safepay.

Thus Bitdefender manages to be truthful and authentic in its virus-detecting, swelling web filtering to block access to wicked sites.

Moreover, its secure browser simply holds your online banking and shopping activities safe.

There’s a password manager as well that auto-completes the credit card particulars in web forms.

Apart from all these things, it also scores high for its outstanding anti-phishing module, which informs you about the ill-disposed links in your search engine results and prevents access to dangerous sites.

key Features

• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other online dangers in real-time.
• This feature identifies and blocks undiscovered or emerging threats by using behavioral analysis and machine learning algorithms.
• Bitdefender may contain a safe browsing mode that alerts you to potentially hazardous websites, phishing attempts, and dangerous links.
• It protects you from phishing attempts by preventing access to bogus websites that attempt to steal your login credentials and sensitive information.

What Could Be Better?	What Could Be Better?
Excellent Detection and Protection	Price
Real-Time Threat Detection	VPN Limitations
Minimal System Impact	Initial Scans Can Be Slow
Comprehensive Security Suite	Pop-Up Notifications

4. Norton AntiVirus Plus

Core Features:

Next, we will discuss Norton Antivirus Plus, It is one of the oldest and also available with free antivirus software version present on the internet, and not only that it also has a very easy-to-use user interface, and this security tool is highly rated.

Thus this antivirus constitutes a full-blown firewall, hosted online backup, and spam filtering feature.

So, the current edition adds online banking security, script control, Wi-Fi security, and many more.

As it’s efficient free antivirus software, that’s why it offers you full tech support,

But in case Norton can’t kill a malware infestation even after you comprehend all the recommended steps, then a specialist will have to log into your computer remotely and fix the problem.

Moreover, Norton AntiVirus Plus offers some customization options to manage the settings.

Therefore we like the URL blocker that can defend from even obtaining malware by defending users by blocking visits to known websites.

Hence, this antivirus program or tool is ever observant and runs continuously, with scanning, additionally available on demand.

Key Features

• Norton AntiVirus Plus protects against real-time viruses, malware, spyware, and other dangers.
• A firewall that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic may be included in the program, protecting your device from illegal access and potential assaults.
• Norton AntiVirus Plus can protect your web browsing experience by restricting access to malicious websites and alerting you to potentially dangerous links and downloads.
• This feature guards against phishing attempts and suspicious websites that may attempt to steal your personal information.

What is Good?	What Could Be Better ?
Effective malware protection	Resource-intensive
Frequent updates	Limited free version
Real-time scanning	Cost
User-friendly interface	Pop-ups and notifications

5. McAfee Internet Security

Core Features:

Next, we will discuss McAfee Internet security this application has a good number of valuable features in its standalone antivirus product.

Well in this year’s edition, it has added ransomware protection and a PC speed booster.

Now you may think there’s not much left to add to specify its security suite.

Admittedly, while the added features in McAfee Internet Security are welcome additions, they don’t add content for everyone. 

Thus Password management is a worldly need, but McAfee’s contribution isn’t one of our top choices.

Not every user needs parental control or spam filtering. And these elements haven’t significantly improved or emerged since last year.

Except this combination of factors perfectly fits your needs, you’re better off holding with the less expensive McAfee AntiVirus Plus.

Moreover, after performing internet searches exploring search engines like Google or Yahoo, McAfee set an icon next to the effects so we could see which sites were safe to visit and which were unsafe.

Also, in Microsoft Edge, which doesn’t typically run well beside internet security programs, McAfee did an excellent job blocking sites, holding search results, and preventing malicious downloads.

Key Features

• McAfee Internet Security provides real-time virus, malware, ransomware, and other malicious software scanning and protection.
• To secure your device from unwanted access and potential invasions, the program contains a firewall that monitors and manages incoming and outgoing network traffic.
• McAfee protects you when you browse the internet by restricting access to fraudulent and phishing websites and alerting you to dangerous connections.
• Email scanning may be included to prevent malware and other risks from being sent via email attachments.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Comprehensive protection	Resource usage
Real-time scanning	Cost
Firewall protection	Limited free version
Safe browsing	Additional software

6. Panda Dome Essential

Core Features:

Now, we will discuss the Panda Dome essential antivirus Panda doesn’t play a role in every lab test whose results we use, so its malware security is a bit complicated.

However, it doesn’t mean that it is unsafe, as many users like Panda Free Antivirus‘s high degree of customization choices and its appealing interface.

But some users didn’t like the regular ads for other Panda products, the efforts to hijack your web browser, and the point that, unlike every other antivirus company, Panda won’t let you opt out of the automatic system-data compilation.

However, Various security companies populate their output lines with a common pattern. 

They begin with an uncomplicated antivirus, add features to create it into a security suite, and store even more features to build a mega security suite.

This antivirus has “Antivirus” in its name with an efficient Security Suite.

However, apart from all these things, the fact is that Panda has been moving away from that model for some time.

Hence, the current product line has some variations on the theme of Panda Dome.

Therefore, the Panda Dome Essential controls the antivirus spot in the Panda Pantheon, Not only this, but even the app’s user interface is exceptionally polished and handy to use.

Key Features

• Panda Dome Essential provides real-time virus, malware, spyware, and other dangerous software scanning and protection.
• To safeguard your device from unwanted access and potential dangers, the software may contain a firewall that monitors and manages incoming and outgoing network traffic.
• Panda Dome Essential protects you when you browse the internet by restricting access to rogue websites and alerting you to potentially dangerous links.
• This function scans and prevents possibly infected USB devices from propagating malware to your computer.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Malware protection	Limited features
Real-time scanning	Potentially fewer extras
USB protection	Pop-up ads and promotions
Wi-Fi security	Limited customer support

7. F-Secure Antivirus SAFE

Core Features:

Now we have the F-secure antivirus SAFE, and it is an award-winning internet protection suite that has gained the AV‑TEST Best Protection award of 2018.

Thus SAFE shields you from viruses like trojans and ransomware.

Moreover, it also guards your online banking connection and transactions; and not only that you can also set limits for internet practice, especially for children.

You and your family can use it safely both on desktop and mobile. 

Thus the packages typically receive maximum marks for security from AV-Test and generally score highly with AV-Comparatives.

People also say it can produce significantly more false positives than most of the competition.

But how that influences you will simply vary and depend on how you use your computer.

However, the interface is a major benefit, as it’s remarkably easy to use, and lightweight, moreover, you can also leave the app to work alone viewing after your PC.

Key Features

• F-Secure Antivirus SAFE protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other sorts of dangerous software in real time.
• Access to harmful and phishing websites may be blocked by the software, safeguarding you from online scams and risks.
• F-Secure Antivirus SAFE may provide a secure surfing environment for online banking and shopping to protect your financial transactions from potential assaults.
• This function assists in preventing vital files and data from being encrypted or kept hostage by ransomware assaults.

What Could Be Better?	What Could Be Better ?
Strong malware protection	Limited features
User-friendly interface	Additional costs for premium features
Real-time scanning	Limited customer support
Browsing protection	Mixed test results

8. ESET Smart Security

Core Features:

ESET Antivirus appears with real-time malware protection, some of the best detection around, as it offers an anti-ransomware layer, general protection, URL filtering to obstruct ill-disposed websites, and modules to block strikes using PowerShell and ill-disposed scripts.

Hence, a device control module narrows the risk of harm from other devices by regulating access to USB sticks and their external hard drives, optical storage media, also devices joined by Bluetooth and FireWire. 

Now if we talk about the UI (user interface) of ESET then let me clarify that it is cumbersome, even Sometimes some features are very advanced, and at that point, even the Help isn’t always helpful, therefore it will not be handy for beginners.

However, qualified users will enjoy ESET’s power and reconfigurability, thus the Above-average protection does an excellent job of holding you safe, and the lightweight design guarantees the package won’t slow you down.

Moreover, one of the current features in the latest update is the UEFI Scanner, which shields you from different threats that attack your PC before Windows has started.

Key Features

• ESET Smart Security protects against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other sorts of dangerous software in real time.
• To secure your device from unwanted access and potential dangers, the program contains a firewall that monitors and manages incoming and outgoing network traffic.
• ESET Smart Security protects you while you browse the internet by preventing access to harmful websites and alerting you to potentially dangerous links.
• Email scanning may be included in the antivirus to prevent malware and other risks from being delivered via email attachments.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Effective malware protection	Firewall protection
Low system impact	Potentially complex configuration
Real-time scanning	No free version
Firewall protection	Limited customer support

9. Comodo Windows Antivirus

Core Features:

Next, we will discuss the Comodo Windows antivirus, this antivirus is a more complex setup that makes this solution better fitted for a specialist user, rather than a beginner.

The main thing is that once this application is installed, it is very useful and efficient at virus exposure, and then holds them wholly detached with a feature called Auto Sandbox Technology.

Not only this, there is an additional feature which is the cloud-based antivirus scanning that can expose the latest viruses from all over the internet.

Thus it does not rely on local virus names being up to date.

Moreover, Gamers will also enjoy using the software’s Game Mode, which ensures that antivirus software alerts do not obstruct while playing video games on your PC.

Key Features

• Comodo Windows Antivirus protects against viruses, malware, Trojans, worms, and other sorts of dangerous software in real time.
• Comodo may employ a “default-deny” strategy, which means that unknown files are viewed as potentially malicious until proven safe.
• Sandboxing is a feature of some versions of Comodo Antivirus that allows suspicious or unknown files to execute in an isolated environment to prevent any potential harm to your system.
• This function monitors system activity and inhibits potentially dangerous program behavior.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Comprehensive protection	Pop-up ads and promotions
Default Deny Approach	Resource usage
Containment technology	Limited customer support
Free version available	Potentially aggressive firewall

10. Avast Antivirus

Core Features:

Lastly, we will discuss the Avast antivirus, This is one of the well-known and free Antivirus tools which is a pin down from the top.

However, it’s got the best collection of extra good features for a free antivirus application, counting a password manager, a tough browser, and a network scanner.

This application is also highly customizable and allows limited access to Avast’s VPN assistance.

However, it generated a pretty hefty system load in our testing.

Apart from all these things Avast now has more extra data to work with, and it also has its expanded active userbase as well.

Thus the most modern edition of Avast Free Antivirus adds an automated gaming mode to inarticulate popups and decreases the system load when you are hurling up a processor-hungry game, which is very handy surely.

Now if we talk about the UI, then let me clarify that the user interface is really clean and new overall.

Moreover, there’s a password manager, too, which is an amazingly good addition to your security profile.

It is one of the most comprehensive security suites with a powerful virus security engine, and not only this, even Avast is a lightweight application that can never expose the functioning of your system or break down your computer.

Key Features

• Avast Antivirus provides real-time virus, malware, ransomware, spyware, and other dangerous software scanning and prevention.
• This function analyzes the behavior of your computer’s apps and can detect and prohibit suspicious activities that may signal malware or harmful conduct.
• Avast may contain a web shield that monitors websites for malware and limits access to harmful or phishing sites, keeping you safe while surfing the web.
• Email scanning may be included in the antivirus software to look for malware and other risks in your email attachments and messages.

What is Good ?	What is Good?
Comprehensive protection	Pop-up ads and promotions
Frequent updates	Resource usage
Real-time scanning	Data collection concerns
Wi-Fi Inspector	Limited customer support

Conclusion – Free Antivirus Software

Well, through this article, we have tried our best to mention the top 10 Free Antivirus Software of 2024 for Windows.

As we all know very well nowadays, malware attacks are growing very fast, and therefore, they occur every second, as it is becoming much harder to maintain the security of our system and stay safe in the online environment. 

Hence, this is a situation where Free Antivirus Software programs are essential, so, that it can help you out.

However, the fact is that you still have to be careful and determine the most effective solution for your business or private use.

However, all the Free Antivirus Software that we have mentioned above is very effective and powerful.

So, we hope that you liked this post, and it must have been useful to you, so, if you liked this post, then do not forget to share this post with your friends, family, and on your social profiles.

FAQ

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