Downloading and installing the free version took under five minutes (including the download of the antivirus engine), and we did not notice RAM usage spikes during this process. The initial scan was relatively quick, but the upsell tactics used made the entire experience feel like a marketing ploy. We understand…

The company’s baseline product is Anti-Malware Home, a capable offering that utilizes two engines (Bitdefender’s and Emsisoft’s own) to detect and fend off viruses, ransomware, ‘potentially unwanted programs,’ and more. In terms of pricing, the package is available in a free version (for non-commercial use), which gets you on-demand scanning,…

Indeed, the free version of the software offers access to important features like virus detection, PC performance checks, a firewall and network guard, as well as expedient security updates. That said, upgrading to a paid AVG product will get you a few very handy extras, such as protection against webcam…

As for endpoint detection and response (EDR), Sophos responded to market demand with Intercept X, a platform that’s definitely a cut above regular antivirus scanners. Among other things, Sophos claims it uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect both known and unknown variants. Furthermore, it uses behavioral analysis and file recovery,…

Enter Comodo, whose free firewall is designed to make sure your PC doesn’t become a statistic. It blocks malicious software from getting onto your PC, and if there’s already malware on your PC it stops it from communicating with villains over the hills and far away. Comodo Firewall offers safe…

There isn’t a need to download anything and most tools, especially malware protections, are already enabled. There is some setup necessary for optimizing particular tools to be at their highest strength, but even if you don’t touch anything, you’ll be protected from threats, including ransomware. Indeed, some of Microsoft Defender’s…

But looks aren’t everything, as they say – which is why a deeper look is highly warranted. First up is Malwarebytes Free, the basic malware removal offering we recommend for infections already cozied up in your computer. That’s about all it does, though it certainly has enough merit to find…

We’re less impressed by the platform support: Bitdefender Antivirus Free is strictly Windows only, a problem when Avast and Avira have free products for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. But if the focus on Microsoft isn’t a problem, could Bitdefender Antivirus Free be the best malware removal and protection suite…

Rather than leading with threat counts and detection percentages, Moonlock frames itself as security software that treats users like adults, explaining what malware is, why it matters, and what to do next, instead of firing off opaque alerts. The marketing centers on a ‘care, not scare’ approach, essentially promising to…

And while its free version doesn’t actively scan for viruses – that’s reserved for the paid Home and Professional versions – it still does a decent job of finding and fixing adware, malware, and spyware. Indeed, Spybot’s offering arrives in three versions for consumers – Free, Home, and Professional –…