PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition Software

PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition does a remarkably poor job of keeping a PC safe, largely because it holds to a now-archaic distinction between spyware and other forms of malware. It came in at number five (out of six contenders) in our rankings of free antivirus software.

Read entire article

Microsoft Security Essentials (Beta)

Microsoft has a new free antivirus utility coming to replace its now-defunct OneCare suite. And while it was still in beta as of this writing, Microsoft Security Essentials shows much promise: In our tests it was decent at detecting malware, particularly in proactive tests that simulate the handling of new, unknown malware. It took [...]

AVG 8.5 Free Antivirus Software

AVG Technology’s AVG 8.5 Free antivirus app has solid features and a generally polished interface, but its relatively lackluster showing at malware detection pulled it down to third place in our rankings of free antivirus software.

Read entire article

Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus Software

Avira AntiVir Personal’s excellent malware detection, disinfection, and scan speed earned it the top spot in our ranking of free antivirus software. Its interface could be better, though, and using the app means putting up with daily pop-up ads.

Read entire article

PC Tools Threatfire 4.5 Antivirus Software

Unlike most of the other pieces of free antivirus software that we tested recently, PC Tools Threatfire is not a stand-alone antivirus program. Instead, Threatfire supplements your existing security app with highly effective behavioral analysis that can stop malware based solely on what the file tries to do on your PC.

Read entire article

[...]