The news is full of stories of millions of users’ Internet devices being compromised or hijacked. Although a large part of these hacks are a result of the hacker’s skills, there are also other factors at play, including the lack of security tools. Fortunately, there are plenty of free antivirus software to choose from that offer robust protection against the most commonly-spent threats.

Search for a free anti-virus with a robust malware detection. The ability of an antivirus to distinguish malicious intruders, such as viruses and worms, phishing attacks and ransomware from innocent software is the primary test of its efficiency. Find a scanner that can identify all types of malware, including rootkits and trojans, and that has perfect or near-perfect rate of detection for viruses.

Also be sure to look for programs that don’t slow your system excessively. In the course of a scan, or any other activities that require a lot of power, certain programs can seriously affect your computer experience disable avast while gaming which makes it difficult to stream video or play games. Look for a lightweight antivirus that is simple to install, operates quickly and requires minimal resources.

Additional features are also crucial. Some antivirus programs include cleaning tools that can boost OS performance, speed up time to start up, and also remove junk files. Others provide a virtual private networking (VPN) that allows you to cover your online activities in order to protect your privacy from scrutiny. Most paid antivirus suites offer live chat or email support. However it’s not always the case with free antivirus products.