Several antivirus vendors make free antivirus software available for home users. Best of all, free antivirus is available whether you use a Windows or a Mac. Following is a list of the best free antivirus software for Windows and Mac users.
Avira AntiVir Personal is not only my personal favorite for free antivirus software, but also the overwhelming choice of About.com readers. In the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards, a whopping 62% of voters selected Avira AntiVir Personal as their personal favorite for best free antivirus.
Need antivirus software and a firewall? Comodo Internet Security was the overwhelming winner of the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Internet Security Suite. Unlike most free antivirus which is free for home use only, Comodo Internet Security is free for both home and business use - and it even includes 90 days of free tech support.
In addition to standard scanning modes, Avast Home Edition also provides scans on bootup. This can greatly increase the chance of removing stubborn infectors, particularly those that use resuscitators to thwart removal attempts. Supports workstation only versions of Windows 95/98/Me, 2000, XP, and Vista.
Microsoft Security Essentials has consistently performed admirably on third-party antivirus certifications and detection tests. MSE is not only free for home use, it's free for small businesses with up to 10 computers to protect. Microsoft Security Essentials runs on XP, Vista, and Windows 7, but can only be installed on genuine Windows installations (i.e. those that are properly licensed).
Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition offers business-grade protection free for home use. And the protection literally is business-grade - the free version is based on the same Mac virus scanner Sophos uses in their Endpoint Security line. Best of all, Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac Home Edition detects both Mac and Windows malware.?
PC Tools iAntivirus guards against Mac only malware, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware and adware. Unlike some Mac antivirus software, PC Tools iAntivirus doesn't cover Windows-based malware, which helps keep performance costs and system impact low but may not be the best bet choice in a mixed Mac/Windows environment.
PC Tools iAntivirus is free for home (and home office) use and currently supports Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.5 only. An unobtrusive and efficient Mac antivirus software option that dedicated Mac users will want to try.
AVG Free Edition is a classic, one of the longest running free antivirus packages available for Windows XP/2000/NT/ME/98. Installing only 30Mb of files and 4 running processes, AVG Free Edition is the smallest antivirus scanner we've tested and may well be the best choice for an older PC with limited system resources.
Panda takes free antivirus to a whole new level with Panda Cloud Antivirus. The only free cloud-based scanner, Panda antivirus software takes all the processing off your PC, giving you a lighter, faster, and more proactive antivirus protection. Or for for a very low price you can upgrade to Panda Cloud Antivirus Pro and gain additional features as well as 24/7 tech support.?
PC Tools AntiVirus guards against Windows only malware, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware and adware. With a simple, straightforward interface, PC Tools AntiVirus is as easy on the eyes as it is easy on the system resources.