PC Magazine: The Best Free Antivirus Protection of 2016

Even if you're running Windows 10, you shouldn't rely on Microsoft's security tools. Free third-party apps are much more effective at keeping you safe. We've tested 14 no-cost AV services to help you find the right one for protecting your PC.

By Neil J. Rubenking
Nov. 30, 2016

Early adopters, daredevils, and purchasers of new PCs are mostly running Windows 10 at Microsoft by now. Those who are cautious, or whose IT departments forbid them from upgrading, are probably still running Windows 8 (or even Windows 7). Whichever Windows version you're using, your computer is theoretically under the protection of the built-in Microsoft Windows Defender. However, our hands-on tests and independent lab tests show that you're better off with a third-party antivirus solution. Fortunately, you've got plenty of free protection choices, and the best of them are better than many competing commercial products. Which one is best for you? We've rounded them up to help you choose.

Quite a few of these products are free only for noncommercial use; if you want to protect your business, you have to pony up for the paid edition. At that point, you should probably consider upgrading to a full security suite. After all, it's your business's security on the line. And if you've grown beyond SMB status, investing in a SaaS endpoint protection system will let you monitor and manage security across your entire organization.

Your antivirus should definitely have the ability to root out existing malware, but its ongoing task is to prevent ransomware, botnets, Trojans, and other types of nasty programs from getting a foothold. All of the antivirus programs in this collection offer real-time protection against malware attack. Some take the fight upstream, working hard to ensure you never even browse to a malware-hosting site, or get fooled into turning over your credentials to a phishing site.

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