Why do you need antiviruses? Top Best antivirus for PC and Mobile in 2020.

The antivirus program is designed to protect personal computers from various malicious programs that can steal and damage information that is located on hard drives. A variety of viruses and spies penetrate the computer from the outside.

The basis of any anti-virus product is a certain method for recognizing malicious software, for example, scanning, monitoring, etc. The operation of an anti-virus program is based on two components - proactive protection and signature protection. Proactive Defense tracks programs, files, and processes. If it is detected that any application or file is behaving suspiciously, the user will be prompted to block the process, which is non-standard. The work of signature protection consists in scanning data and comparing it with signatures (virus samples) existing in anti-virus databases.

Many free antivirus packages have functionality that is not much inferior to their paid competitors. The differences between different antiviruses are in the price of the program, package bundle, application functionality and system requirements. The following free anti-virus programs are quite suitable for home use:  Avast Free Antivirus , Avira AntiVir Personal, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, Comodo Internet Security. Get more information about Best antivirus for mobile and PC.

Avast free antivirus

One of the most popular free computer protection solutions is Avast Free Antivirus. Installation of this software product does not require much time. Immediately after installation, scanners begin to work. The program is also available in Russian.

The advantages of this antivirus are:

• fast working resident part;
• Web antivirus that monitors outgoing and incoming data packets by scanning everything that is downloaded using a browser, email client and instant messaging clients;
• simple and intuitive interface;
• low system resource consumption and high scanning speed.

Disadvantages of the Avast Free Antivirus program:

• increased growth in the consumption of system resources while setting the maximum security settings;
• not very good signature bases (with the lowest heuristic settings, false alarms are possible);
• antivirus scanner does not work with packed and executive files;
• To work with application statistics, you need to install Flash Player, which is very actively used for attacks on the browser, which, of course, makes the system more vulnerable.

This software product can be installed for users who do not visit sites with suspicious content. Antivirus copes well with its tasks, especially pleasing with the function of checking all network traffic.

Avira AntiVir Personal

Another free antivirus program that many users work with is Avira AntiVir Personal. This software product is very easy to install in the system, without requiring registration. After installation, the user needs to restart the computer. Immediately after rebooting the system, the application starts working. The Avira AntiVir Personal interface is simple. If the user has few available options, he can easily switch the interface to the experienced user mode.

This product is different in that it can often require a reboot of the computer after installing software updates, as well as a thorough file check. The fact is that the antivirus unpacks every file it finds, checks all its contents, and then proceeds to the next. There is no web scanner in this product, but the resident protection does a great job - the scanner very often displays information about all detected threats. The Russian language is not supported by the program.

Benefits of the Avira AntiVir Personal application:

• frequent updating of anti-virus databases;
• very powerful engines (heuristic and signature);
• the ability to fine-tune the scan;
• the application can detect rootkits and boot kits (malware);
• very simple program interface;
• insignificant use of system resources, which can increase when processing a large amount of information;
• very deep check of all found files;
• compatibility with other antivirus applications (the ability to install along with any antivirus program);
• thoughtful protection of the anti-virus application kernel does not allow malicious programs to bypass the main anti-virus process in any way.

The disadvantages of this antivirus product are:

• no Russian language;
• no web antivirus is provided;
• frequent false positives;
• regular reminders of the full version of the antivirus and offers to purchase it.

This antivirus can be installed by the user on the system as the main one. Even though Avira AntiVir Personal does not have a large set of functions, this product is still one of the best among free programs to protect your computer.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

The following is an AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition antivirus product. Installing this antivirus is inconvenient: first you need to download one file that will try to install add-ons in all browsers (programs for working on the global network), and then only the installation file will be downloaded. There is no need to register this program; it starts working immediately after a system reboot.

After rebooting the computer, the user will see a not very convenient interface of the application, and may also face the fact that the system will start to work noticeably slower. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition supports the Russian language. This antivirus is characterized by slow replenishment of antivirus databases, a rather weak heuristic and a well-functioning web antivirus that can repel multiple attacks on the browser.

The advantages of this antivirus product are:

• the application can find rootkits;
• sufficiently large anti-virus databases;
• the program is able to find trojans and spies in the system registry;
• high-quality check of all available information;
• there is a system for protecting confidential data;
• ability to check email traffic.

Disadvantages of AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition:

• poor-quality translation of the program into Russian;
• system slowdown immediately after starting the antivirus;
• not very convenient application interface;
• weak heuristic.

This anti-virus program is suitable for those users who do not have to regularly transfer data from removable media to a computer, as well as for those who rarely visit pages with suspicious content. For comfortable work with this antivirus, you need to have a large supply of free computer resources and try not to load the system. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition can be used as an additional antivirus, checking files with it, disabling previously all real-time protection.

Comodo Internet Security

Comodo Internet Security - a free package to protect computers from viruses, which is a whole set of applications. The structure of this software product includes proactive protection, antivirus and firewall. The installation of this program is simple, after installation you should update the anti-virus databases, and the program is already ready to work. This software package also supports Russian.

Benefits of Comodo Internet Security:

• checking files with unpacking their contents;
• thoughtful behavioral control of antivirus components will not allow even the newest virus to penetrate the system;
• intuitive application interface;
• Scanning in the cloud (all files unknown to the program are automatically transferred to the laboratory, where their activity is analyzed);
• low consumption of system resources.

The disadvantages of this software product are:

• antivirus is characterized by weak signature bases;
• no web antivirus;
• it is difficult to configure all components (the standard settings of the anti-virus program provide high security, but to achieve an even higher level of protection, you need to configure each component of the anti-virus package).

Comodo Internet Security can be used as the main antivirus. This program guarantees a high level of security with frequent visits to dubious sites, and with the regular downloading of various information to your computer.

Choosing a free antivirus, you should carefully study user reviews about a particular software product, as well as familiarize yourself with the test results. Only by analyzing the information in detail can you download and install an antivirus product. Seriously approaching the choice of a program for protecting a personal computer, you can install and configure it and not worry about the security of your computer in the future.

Paid Antiviruses: An Overview

Some users are sure that modern free versions of antiviruses are slightly different from paid programs. This is not entirely true. Of course, a free antivirus may well be suitable for home use, provided that the databases of the antivirus program are regularly updated. But, in the event of a personal computer infection, it will be necessary to contact specialists or use the capabilities of various services of the global network, which is also not free. It is in order not to pay once again that it is better to implement high-quality and comprehensive data protection on a computer for a  fee .

Kaspersky Anti-Virus

One of the most popular tools for protecting various devices from malicious software is Kaspersky Lab products . Among them there are anti-virus programs for business (for example, Kaspersky Endpoint Security), and a program for protecting mobile devices (Kaspersky Mobile Security), and standard versions for personal computers (Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Kaspersky Internet Security).

A popular product among many users is Kaspersky Anti-Virus, which is not very expensive (a 1-year license for 2 PCs costs about 400 UAH). Another package that provides comprehensive protection, as it includes a web filter, a firewall and other useful add-ons, is Kaspersky Internet Security. It costs a little more - about 510 UAH. for 1 license for 2 computers per year. As for the program for protecting mobile devices - Kaspersky Mobile Security, - a license for 1 year for 1 device can be purchased for 110 UAH. More details about all the functionalities of the above programs can be found on the  official website  of the antivirus manufacturer.

One of the drawbacks of Kaspersky Lab products is that the user can rely on full protection only when purchasing the full version of the anti-virus package. In addition, antiviruses sometimes mark “clean” files as “infected” (so-called false positives). It is important to note that anyone can easily download a trial version of one of the antiviruses from the official website of the company, and only then decide on the possible purchase of their favorite software to protect devices.

Anti « of Dr.Web »

Another popular anti-virus product among users is  Dr.Web . The developers of this software have been dealing with antiviruses since 1992. Since then, the company's programmers have developed a lot of innovations to implement the highest quality scanning, treatment and removal of malware. The company also develops both business products (BMS kits, Dr. Web Enterprise Security Suite products), and anti-virus packages for home use.

For a personal computer, you can purchase Dr.Web Anti-Virus (a license for 2 PCs / 1 year costs approximately 370 UAH) or the Dr.Web Security Space antivirus package, which has more significant functionality (includes anti-spam, web anti-virus, and a remote control function for network, etc.). Security Space costs about 520 UAH. (for 2 computers and 1 year). In addition, a manufacturer of anti-virus software offers a program to protect against malware from mobile devices. When purchasing Dr.Web Security Space, a user receives a mobile application for free, and the cost of a separate license is about 105 UAH.

It is also worth noting that the distinguishing feature of Dr.Web antiviruses is the ability to "cure" infected files from viruses. This point just explains the popularity of the products of this company, given that most (including paid anti-virus packages) of such software can only delete files infected with viruses.

Another advantage of Dr.Web antiviruses is multi-threaded scanning, which makes it possible to scan hard drives and other devices very quickly. The best option for organizing anti-malware protection for a personal computer from the entire line is the Dr.Web Security Space software product. Users can not only study in detail all the functions and capabilities of Dr.Web software, but also download trial versions of antiviruses from the  official website .

As for the disadvantages of Dr.Web, there are also false positives, and manufacturers also release only trial or full versions of antiviruses. From this it follows that sooner or later, if the antivirus is like working, it will need to be bought.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 

ESET NOD32  is another paid antivirus software vendor that many users love because of its fast work. In addition to business products (ESET NOD32 Smart Security Business Edition, ESET NOD32 Antivirus Business Edition), the company offers everyone who wants to install and test one of the antivirus packages for home: ESET NOD32 Antivirus, ESET NOD32 Smart Security, ESET NOD32 Titan, etc.

The most popular is ESET NOD32 Antivirus, which costs about 425 UAH. (2-year license for 1 PC) and ESET NOD32 Smart Security, which features a secure communication function, WI-FI protection, USB-control function, built-in anti-spam, etc. The cost of this anti-virus package for 1 year for 2 computers is approximately 665 UAH . Given that many users today use various mobile devices to visit the resources of the global network, the developers of the company released the ESET NOD32 Mobile Security program, which can be bought for 310 UAH. (2 year license for 1 device).

The products of this company are distinguished by a clear and simple interface, regular updating of anti-virus databases and quick response to new threats. Very often ESET antiviruses are used as an alternative to Kaspersky Lab products. You can familiarize yourself with the solutions for organizing the protection of devices from malicious programs on  the manufacturer’s website , there is also the opportunity to download a trial version of a suitable product.

Of course, the software of this manufacturer is also not without a significant drawback - after the trial period it will need to be purchased. Nevertheless, the trial versions have no restrictions, which allows you to use all the functions of the antivirus immediately after installation.

Another drawback - many users have recently noted that ESET anti-virus packages do not cope with their basic responsibilities - they do not detect all threats. In other words, after scanning by other antiviruses, “infected” files are detected in the system. If this problem is not resolved by manufacturers in the very near future, there will be much less fans of this fast antivirus software.

Considering all the pros and cons of the three above-mentioned anti-virus solutions, we can conclude that the best programs to date are Kaspersky Lab and Dr.Web. They not only allow protecting devices from “infection” by malware, but also perform a number of additional actions aimed at ensuring the maximum degree of data protection.

In any case, whether to buy an anti-virus package or get along with a free version of an anti-virus is a decision that each user must make independently. The most important thing is to try not to visit suspicious sites, regularly update anti-virus databases, and not agree to dubious offers to download and install software of unknown origin. if you like this article and want to get read more stuff about the best antivirus for PC and mobile.