Hey everyone, I am trying to level up the security on my laptop and wanted to ask for some advice. What is the best antivirus for Windows 11 right now? There are so many options out there that it is kinda hard to tell which ones are actually good and not just full of ads or bloat. I am also wondering if there are antivirus services that let you pay monthly instead of dropping a big yearly fee all at once. If you have any recommendations or setups that have worked well for you, I would really appreciate the help.
What are some recommendations for good anti-virus software that’s free for windows?
what is the best free antivirus software for Windows
What's The Latest On Antivirus for Windows? - Bogleheads.org
Please recommend the best free virus protection
What Is the Best Antivirus Software Now?
Which antivirus should you choose? While you have many options, two stand out from the rest. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus holds perfect and near-perfect scores from three independent antivirus testing labs, with more features than some security suites. Norton AntiVirus Plus likewise offers many suite-level features, and it gets excellent scores from all five testing labs we follow. We've named these two our Editors' Choice winners for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only antivirus apps worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top-rated programs, then make your own decision.
Editors’ Note: Given that the US government has banned new sales of Kaspersky security products, we no longer recommend them.
What Is the Best Free Antivirus Software?
You’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for free antivirus protection. Our list here covers the very best antivirus tools, and they’re not free. On the other hand, the best free antivirus apps beat out many of their commercial counterparts. Consider Avast One Basic or AVG AntiVirus Free if your budget just doesn’t stretch to paying for antivirus protection.
Which software is best for antivirus?
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Running Windows 11 and mostly relying on Windows Defender right now, but I've used Avast and Bitdefender Free in the past. I know Defender has improved a lot but I’m still a bit paranoid about malware and zero-day threats. What are some recommendations for good anti-virus software that’s free for windows and actually provides solid real-time protection without nagging for upgrades? Has anyone compared detection rates between these options lately?
Hi ElizabethFlorence1,
I am an independent advisor and a Microsoft user like you, and I would be happy to help you out with this.
Windows Defender provides sufficient antivirus and antimalware protection for most users. And the best part is it is free and already included in Windows 10! There is typically no need to purchase any third-party software, especially if you are cautious and careful on clicking on suspicious links/content.
For more information, please visit: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compreh...
Sometimes if there is malware that does get through, free versions of Malwarebytes anti-malware can help detect and remove the offending items.
I hope this has helped you. Please let us know if you have any further questions and we would be happy to help!
Regards,
-Ashton
There does not exist THE best free antivirus program.
Whether you want to use the in Windows 10 inbuilt Windows Defender Antivirus or want to install another AV depends on your own preferences and habits.
Personally, I prefer a third party product.
No matter which AV you use, there might be situations in which you want to use other Anti-Malware programs for occasional, on-demand scans.
Suggestion to read:
- Choosing an Anti-Virus Program
- Safe Steps for Replacing your Anti-virus - Why should you use Antivirus software?
- Supplementing your Anti-Virus Program with Anti-Malware Tools
Can anyone recommend a antivirus program for Windows? I baught a Dell and they keep pushing McAfee. I knows there is also windows defender built it but not sure about that option.