2026 update: safer way to use online virus scanners
Online virus scanners are useful for checking suspicious files or URLs, but they should not replace real-time antivirus protection on your computer. For Windows users, start with Microsoft Defender and use an online scanner as a second opinion before opening an unknown download.
Use this cluster together: online virus scanner list, free antivirus software, spyware removal tools, and network scanning basics.
- Do not upload private documents, customer files, passwords, or confidential business data to public scanners.
- Use official vendor pages and avoid download mirrors when installing antivirus tools.
- For a badly infected PC, run an offline or boot-time scan before trusting normal Windows behavior.
- Check both the detection result and the source of the file; a clean scan does not always make unknown software safe.
Official references: VirusTotal and Microsoft virus and threat protection guidance.
Here is a best free anti virus software download list to protect your Windows computer. As viruses, trojans, malwares and spywares thread keep on attacking or infecting your computer system. Antivirus software has been essential security software that provides security shield protection for your computer to fight with viruses, trojans, malwares and spywares thread.Without installing antivirus software on your computer, the chances getting infected or attacked by viruses, trojans, malwares and spywares will be very high especially those computers are connected to Internet. Meanwhile, the damages that cause by viruses, trojans, malwares and spywares is unpredictable whether your computer files is corrupted or your computer will be slow as spammers and DDOS operators use your system as a platform for their unsavory business.So, antivirus software is must software to protect their computer. There is a lot anti virus software over the internet, which provides different levels of security protection from viruses, trojans, malwares and spywares. Over here, i have gathers a list of free Antivirus software that can be download freely and protected your computer.Best Free Antivirus Software Download List:
Avira Anti Vir Personal – Free Windows Anti Virus Software
Avira Anti Vir AntiVirus Free version can be used for personal and non-commercial use. It offers reliable security protection to your computer against dangerous viruses, worms, Trojans and costly dialers. Security modules that offer included are: Protection from virus worms and Trojans, Anti rootkit, Anti fishing and Anti dialer. Automatic incremental updates antivirus signatures, engine and entire software. Plus offer real time security monitoring for your computer.Reviews updates:1. Avira Anti Vir personal 92. Avira Free Anti Virus 2012
AVG Anti Virus Free Edition – Famous Free Anti Virus
One of the most popular free Anti Virus software with over 70 million downloads. Free for personal and non-commercial use. AVG anti virus free edition provides basic antivirus and anti spyware protection for Windows. Security features included in the free AVG edition: Anti virus, anti spyware and safe surf features. Plus more, offers real time security monitoring and updates virus definition daily.Other AVG Antivirus free edition review updates:
1. AVG antivirus 7.5 free 2. AVG Antivirus 8 free 3. AVG antivirus 9 free 4. AVG Antivirus free 2011 5. AVG Antivirus free 20126. AVG Antivirus free 2013
avast! Home Antivirus – Free Antivirus Software For Home User
Avast Home antivirus is one of my favorites anti virus software for personal and non-commercial use. Avast is free anti virus software available that provides a complete protection against security threats. This full featured antivirus security package has the following feature: Built in Anti spyware, Anti Rootkit, Web shield, Strong self protection, P2P and IM shield, Anti Virus kernel, resident protection, Network shield, Automatic update, System integration, Windows 64 bit support, Integrated Virus Cleaner.Other avast antivirus reviews updates:
1. Avast 5 antivirus free2. Avast 6 antivirus free
BitDefender Free Anti Virus Edition
Top antivirus software comes with on demand scanning and no real time monitoring. Free for personal use and non-commercial use. The free Bitdefender edition uses the same ICSA Labs certified scanning engines found in Pro version of BitDefender, allowing you to enjoy basic virus protection for no cost at all.Download BitDefender Free antivirus
ClamWin Anti Virus – Open Source Antivirus Software
Open source free AntiVirus come under GPL license. This free anti virus is compatible for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 and Vista. Security features include – high detection rates for viruses and spyware; automatic downloads of regularly updated Virus Database, Standalone virus scanner. It does not include an on-access real-time scanner.Download ClamWin
Comodo Anti Virus – Commercial Free Anti virus SoftwarePreviously is a commercial antivirus product and now converted free antivirus edition for home and commercial use. Comodo Antivirus provides as good as many of the paid Antivirus products.Comodo free antivirus software from which offers real time scanning and automatic updates provides you protection round the clock, email scanning, process monitoring and worm blocking to immediately start cleaning or quarantining suspicious files from your hard drives, shared disks, emails, downloads and system memory. Plus more, the virus definition is update daily and Host Intrusion Detection allows you to intercept viruses, spyware, and other malware before they infect your computer.Comodo Antivirus reviews updates:
– Comodo Antivirus is part of Comodo internet security.1. Comodo Internet Security2. Comodo Internet Security 43. Comodo Antivirus 2DriveSentry Anti Virus and Anti Spyware
PCTools Antivirus – Free Commercial Antivirus Software
PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition you are protected against the most nefarious cyber threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal information. It protects you from Virus, worm, Trojan and has Smart Updates, IntelliGuard Protection, file guard and email guard.Download PC Tools Antivirus
Blink Personal – Free All in One Anti virus Suite
Rising Antivirus – Free Anti virus Solution Software
Rising Antivirus Free Edition is anti virus solution provides the same level of detection and protection capability as RISING Antivirus 2008. It protects computers against all types of viruses, Trojans, worms, rootkits and other malicious programs. In addition, Rising Application Protection provides a full aspect protection to user account information, such as: online bank, online game, MSN, E-mail account, Yahoo Messenger and other private information. Plus more, Rising Antivirus is a china antivirus product.Download Rising AntivirusCloud antivirus software list:
Cloud antivirus software is another emerging antivirus solution, which utilize cloud computing and Internet connection to protect your computer against malware threads.1. Kingsoft Antivirus – Free Windows cloud antivirus2. Immunet Protect 2.0 – Free Cloud Anti virus Software3. Panda cloud antivirus4. Comodo cloud scanner5. Hitman Pro – Free cloud antivirusBesides that, below is best free antivirus through out the years:1. Best 2010 free antivirus software2. Best 2011 free antivirus softwareHope you enjoy this best free antivirus download list. If you know any free antivirus is free and nice protection for Windows platform. Please let us know in the comment section and share with othersRelated Techmixer hubs
Use these Techmixer hub pages to find updated guides, safer software notes, and related workflows.
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many anti virus make me nervous.which one is the best?
@BiFung,
Try AVG Anti virus free edition 8.5, the most popular free antivirus on the planet
better
This is an excellent list. I knew there were quite a few out there, but not there are a few here that are new to me (Blink, ClamWin). To figure out which to use, I’d recommend looking at which ones come from companies with some history and a reputation to uphold in the commercial ($$$) space.
I also avoid installing software, and especially security software, from countries with a lot of hacking and/or industrial espionage activity.
As for ease of use and quality, there are some pretty good sites out there with customer reviews. Fileforum (www.fileforum.com) is independent of any software company and has a very active community. Download.com is the biggest overall, and Softonic (www.softonic.com) is big in Europe.
Looking at Fileforum reviews, Avira and Avast! come out on top from this list.
Places to look for user reviews and downloads:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/browse/Security-Software/Antivirus-Software
http://download.cnet.com/windows/antivirus-software
http://en.softonic.com/windows/anti-virus
and for Macs:
http://www.versiontracker.com/macosx/security/antivirus
For does offered free anti viruses and free viruses protection please make a better and fast a solution.
Great blog interesting.
Awesome list.
avg is bad right now. aug 04/09 lots of errors, problems with windows installer, crappy solutions given by avg for fix, take a lot of time and don’t work. i think a hacker is involved, installed on 32 pc, all report problems updating or cannot be re-installed. looks like the end of the road for AVG. too bad, has been really good for years, like Norton was. too bloated now, trying to be everything for every body, looks like they’ve shot themselves in the foot, now the ship will sink. oh well, kaspersky anyone?
Just to know how anti virus works. what is the purpose of antivirus and its download lists.
Whilst free antivirus is, well, free. It works out much more expensive when things go wrong and you require support.
However great list, very useful.
I have been using Antivir at home for a while, but it seems Avast may be the new big boy on campus. I think these free programs are great as long as people realize that the reason they are free is that they typically come with less features and support. Still, a savvy and experienced user can enjoy a strong level of protection with these programs.
this software is so bad. no any on use this software bzc avast delete the exe files
norton internet security 2010 f.t.w
Just commenting to explain to everyone to update their antivirus software. There are plenty of trojans and malware going around. The very best antivirus to stop malware infections is microsoft security essentials. In truth many anti-virus applications purchased from the shops don’t prevent against malware and trojans well.
COMODO Internet Security 2011 is the best and is better than even Avira Antivirus! Try the latest updates. I use it Now.
My Testing:
After installing it, it used database version : 1. But After updating, it becomes : 7155. Then i scanned my system.
Results:
Before Updating: 10 viruses
After Updating : 148 viruses
That proves that comodo antivirus is the best.
Also Checkout:
http://www.matousec.com/projects/proactive-security-challenge/results.php
Well currently i think even microsoft antivirus is also rocking.. Currently using that i found it really good… less resource consuming and detecting almost everything… only interactive mode of firewall is missing…
Well currently i think even microsoft antivirus is also rocking.. Currently using that i found it really good… less resource consuming and detecting almost everything… only interactive mode of firewall is missing…
comodo internet security 2011 best and very good.
Thanks for providing the downloading links of free antivirus but you can also try out Immunet Free Antivirus. I have been using it from long time and it provides an overall protection to my computer. I would advice you to download the free version of it.