Best free antivirus - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AVG is almost up there with Avast in terms of the all-important protection. In both January and February 2013 it detected 99 percent of the known threats thrown at it by AV-Test.org. That is the industry average. Critically, it picked up 98 percent and then 100 percent of unknown threats. Avast is just on top there, but it's protection performance is excellent. AV-Test awards 5.5/6 for protection.
System performance better than that of Avast, however. AV-Test offers a decent score of 4.5/6, so if you have an underpowered PC this may be a good choice for you, given the protection score.
Finally, in terms of false positives AVG kicked up a handful over the two tests in January and February 2013, but nothing that would cause any concern. It's a great free product and we award 4 stars.
AVG Antivirus
The AVG Antivirus free 2013 software is the industry standard when it comes to free, easy-to-download antivirus software. It's exceptional at blocking malware, and the setup is painless; you can access the download and setup malware protection in under five minutes. AVG is compatible with most operating systems, from Windows to Linux to Mac OS.
The free package offers basic malware protection and is a phenomenal zero-cost option, but there is also a premium version if you want a more comprehensive Internet security system that protects your files, links, and personal data.
Operating System Compatibility
Choosing which Anti-Virus Software to purchase will depend upon a number of things, but the first thing to check is the compatibility with your operating system. The most popular modern operating systems are Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8 and also Mac’s OS X. Other operating systems on Linux and Ubuntu systems also exist but are less common. Software is specifically designed for a certain operating system and will fail to run on an unsuitable version, so always check this first.
Channels of Protection
Whilst internet downloads are certainly the most common channel of virus infiltration, a good Anti-Virus Software will protect your system against a number of methods. These can include, but are not limited to, web browsing, e-mail, social media, instant messaging, external storage devices and local networks.
Each type of Anti-Virus Software is different and there are certainly more features to look out for. The above listed are the most common though you should always consult the documentation of the software to discover the full extent of its capabilities and how best to use them to make your computer usage a safer experience.
