Avira Free AntiVirus Review

Avira Free AntiVirus (version 14) is one of best free antivirus software programs out there for various reasons, the least of which is just because it's free.

My favorite feature of Avira Free AntiVirus is the wide range of malware threats that it protects you from. I also like how simple the interface is.

Important: Avira Free AntiVirus provides free on-access or resident protection, meaning it's keeping an eye on things all the time. Because of this fact, Avira Free AntiVirus can completely replace any antivirus software that you might be paying for, like popular products from McAfee and Norton. Some of those programs might be offering you other services but as far as malware/virus protection is concerned, Avira Free AntiVirus does the same job... for free.

Pros

• Protects from many types of malware, not just traditional viruses
• Contains advanced heuristic tools
• Works on Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP
• Virus definition updates are automatic

Cons

• Only home use allowed
• Configuration wizard could be intimidating
• Installation program makes browser changes unless unselected
• The download portion of the installation process took longer than with other programs
• Asks to install a toolbar during setup

Description

• Avira Free AntiVirus protects you from viruses, adware, spyware, back-door programs, dialers, fraudulent software, phishing, and more.
• An ability to choose when to start the antivirus program during the boot process is a valuable addition that I haven't seen elsewhere.
• Avira Free AntiVirus has an advanced heuristic engine (detects malware that it's not already aware of) which is a feature not always seen in free antivirus tools.
• Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP are all supported operating systems.
• Automatic updates keeps Avira Free AntiVirus updated with the latest threat information.