1. Ad-Aware Free Internet Security
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Windows
Our new Editors' Choice for free antivirus apps, Ad-Aware Free is effective at not only finding malware but also at blocking it (two things that don't always go together). Our reviews revealed it to be almost as good as the Pro version.
• Read PCMag's review of Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.0.
http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
Windows
Our new Editors' Choice for free antivirus apps, Ad-Aware Free is effective at not only finding malware but also at blocking it (two things that don't always go together). Our reviews revealed it to be almost as good as the Pro version.
• Read PCMag's review of Ad-Aware Free Internet Security 9.0.
2. AVG Anti-Virus Free
http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage
Windows
AVG Anti-virus Free gets top marks at independent labs, and in our tests, it does a great job of finding and removing malware, though it isn't the best at keeping an already clean system clean.
• Read PCMag's review of AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011.
http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage
Windows
AVG Anti-virus Free gets top marks at independent labs, and in our tests, it does a great job of finding and removing malware, though it isn't the best at keeping an already clean system clean.
• Read PCMag's review of AVG Anti-Virus Free 2011.
3. Comodo Antivirus
http://antivirus.comodo.com/antivirus.php
Windows
Comodo does a great job of keeping systems free of malware, but in our tests, it didn't handle the heavy lifting of scanning and cleaning an infected system.
• Read PCMag's review of Comodo Antivirus 5.0.
http://antivirus.comodo.com/antivirus.php
Windows
Comodo does a great job of keeping systems free of malware, but in our tests, it didn't handle the heavy lifting of scanning and cleaning an infected system.
• Read PCMag's review of Comodo Antivirus 5.0.
4. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org
Windows
This tool is so fast and worthy that support people from other antivirus vendors will even suggest a check with Malwarebytes. Stick with the free version, as our tests of the Pro version indicate the "real-time protection" it offers isn't worth the money.
• Read PCMag's review of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46.
http://www.malwarebytes.org
Windows
This tool is so fast and worthy that support people from other antivirus vendors will even suggest a check with Malwarebytes. Stick with the free version, as our tests of the Pro version indicate the "real-time protection" it offers isn't worth the money.
• Read PCMag's review of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46.
5. Microsoft Security Essentials
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
Windows
The latest version of Microsoft's free virus fighter adds some network-based attack protection, but overall it's much the same as the previous version. That means okay protection, and that's still better than nothing. And, of course, it integrates very well with Windows.
• Read PCMag's review of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0.
JQVBPMRGKMJShttp://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
Windows
The latest version of Microsoft's free virus fighter adds some network-based attack protection, but overall it's much the same as the previous version. That means okay protection, and that's still better than nothing. And, of course, it integrates very well with Windows.
• Read PCMag's review of Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0.
6. Panda Cloud Antivirus
http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/
Windows
It's no longer our Editors' Choice, but Panda still impresses with its ability to keep a computer clean from infection by using a cloud-based signature list of up-to-date viruses—all without a download to your computer.
• Read PCMag's review of Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.1.
http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/
Windows
It's no longer our Editors' Choice, but Panda still impresses with its ability to keep a computer clean from infection by using a cloud-based signature list of up-to-date viruses—all without a download to your computer.
• Read PCMag's review of Panda Cloud Antivirus 1.1.
