Windows has more antivirus programs than we can count, and none of them are quite perfect. Right now, we recommend BitDefender Free for the best balance between protection, ease of use, and cost.
Windows has more antivirus programs than we can count, and none of them are quite perfect. Right now, we recommend BitDefender Free for the best balance between protection, ease of use, and cost.
Virus definitions update automatically in the background
Virus Shields monitors activity on your computer to identify threats in real time
Top-rated protection according to AV-Comparatives
Where It Excels
BitDefender has topped AV-Comparatives’ rigorous testing for the last two years in a row. It won Product of the Year in 2014 and tied with Kaspersky for the same top slot this year (though AV Comparatives won’t award the Product of the Year to a product that has won before). It also distinguished itself in the areas of file detection, proactive protection, and malware removal. In other words, if you want solid protection from as many threats as possible, BitDefender is your app.
BitDefender has also performed well in AV-Test’s analysis. In 2015, it received the award for best performance, and in 2014 it was in the top three for protection, performance, and usability.
BitDefender Free is also the simplest, no-worry antivirus aroundThe app is aggressively hands-off. When you first install it, BitDefender will perform an initial scan. After that, it automatically schedules periodic scans. It also continuously monitors the files you use in real-time to protect against any threats as they happen.
I really like BitDefender and Panda Free. They are my “go to” free antivirus solutions.