Guide to The Best Free Anti-Virus Software for Windows

In this world of Windows, anti-virus software needs no introduction at all. We all know they are the resident watchmen of our highly sensitive data inside the computer, protects it from all kinds of infection and more. Why spend money when you can get some of the best quality anti-virus software for free? What if I help you find more about the best anti-virus software available today and for free? Sounds interesting? You betcha.

Amongst innumerable free applications that proclaim to give us true protection in this threatening world of viruses, trojans and worms, only a handful of them actually do so. I will discuss key factors that separates a good anti-virus software from the wannabes, and see how our big boys fair in each of the category.

Virus Database Size & Quality

An old saying goes, “a man is as good as his enemies are”. I don’t deny. Same goes for the anti-virus too. An anti-virus software actually keeps the records of all the recent viruses, that are produced regularly throughout the world, in its Virus Database. In this section, all the goodies faired well. Avira Antivir, Avast, AVG, e-trust all of them had fairly receptive database. So all are winners here.

Virus Detection Algorithms

Virus detection technique is perhaps the most important feature of the anti-virus softwares. Though most of the reviewers tend to overlook or ignore this section in their columns, I decided to put it up for your own benefit.

Essentially a virus detection technique is signature (algorithm or hash-a number derived from a string of text) based. Every virus has different work processes but there is always a signature that uniquely identifies a virus. Anti-virus softwares try to find out just that.

A virus can be detected by many a ways. But to our utmost concern, none of them are perfect. After a lot of study, I sum up that there are mainly four types of virus detection techniques:

1. Generic Scanning Technique
2. Integrity Checking Technique
3. Heuristic Search Scanning
4. Interception technique

To discuss them here will be a mammoth task so I will come up with a detailed column on that issue soon. For now take a look at this report where most of these algorithms were used very precisely to detain some annoying polymorphic viruses. And if you are still not satisfied, here is the perfect food for you.

No points for guess the winner though. Avira came up with highest points and complete precision.

Virus Detection Response Time

A virus detection is a vast and varying process.That can mainly be of two types

• On Demand Scanner
• Real Time Scanner

In case of On Demand Scanner, as far as I have seen, Antivir and Avg both detect viruses fairly well and quick. Even Avast is not that behind but still, Avira Antivir and Avg are the best in this on demand scanning.Though Avg lags a bit behind as it doesn’t have an advance scheduling option.

In Real Time Scanning, Avira and Avg both detect viruses commendably but again Avira is a tad too advanced, especially with obvious culprits like removable drives , Antivir is the safest bet. One thing I like the most about it is its CPU generated sound (interrupt) while warning about a malicious script. That is something you can not avoid even if you are terribly busy.

So all in all Avira Antivir is the winner here.

Virus Removal

One can never be definite about removal of a particular virus by a particular Anti-virus software. Here from my personal experiences, I will recommend Avira or Avast, because I have seen AVG delaying quarantine process of detected viruses and that can be fatal if the virus is anywhere close to Chimera (remember MI- 2?)

So a Joint winner here , Avast and Avira.

Compressed/Archive Types Scanning

Many virus creators thwart signature-based scanners simply by repackaging a known virus using a different compression or archive type because all scanners can decompress the resulting files in order to scan them properly. According to tests performed in 2005, AntiVir is capable of scanning 30 different compressed and archive types, compared to AVAST at 28 and AVG at only 17.

So I need not to mention who is the actual front runner here.

Adware and Spyware

Sorry folks. No one wins here. All of them fail miserably in detecting and removing Adwares and Spywares. But again, how can we expect two-in-one facilities inside an already free product? Let’s be a bit more reasonable. I promise to discuss Anti-spyware sometime soon.

Though the best of them was AVAST with a 1/3 rd detection rate. Don’t ask about others.

Resource Consumption

Well here is a thing to be happy about. Gone are the days of Norton where a single AntiVirus could slow down a PC, that too big time. With these free wonders, the resource consumption is almost unnoticeable. Even the disk usage is not more than 40 MB for any of them. So even if you are hailing from an era of P-III processors, the antivirus can make its own living within limits.

The least resource hungry is Avast here followed by AVG and Avira is a close third.

Support Options

Even the best of the geeks need supports from the makers sometimes. So how do these freebies fair in that respect?

Well, every consultation comes with a cost. Its the same with them. You will have to either e-mail them or pay a charge to discuss your problems.

With all these points mentioned and scrutinized to sincere details, the clear winner is Avira Antivir with AVG not far behind and Avast following too. Even being completely free of cost they provide you with reliable security day in and day out. So saluting their generous approach, start using the best ones and I promise you will never be disappointed. Trust me, trust your Anti-virus. Ciao!

Here are the links to the antivirus software I discussed:

• Avira Antvir
• AVG
• Avast Home