Quality free antivirus software can be challenging to find for a variety of reasons. Many of those you find online will scan your computer for free, but require you to purchase the software in order to remove viruses. With the numbers of false positives involved with these scanners, their methods are suspect. There are programs that actually install viruses, so it isn?t wise to download a program on the basis of the website. Find out more about the programs you find by checking out what others have to say about it. Regardless of the issues involved in downloading free antivirus software, there really are some free antivirus programs that will do the job sufficiently.

The Personal Edition of AntiVir 8

This free program has a rating of 5 stars at Download.Com. It is well-reviewed all over the internet as the best antivirus software available for free because of its scanning capabilities and ease of use while running other applications on the computer.

The conveniences of AntiVir Personal Edition Classic include its small size, the ability to manually scan individual files and folders, a drag and drop feature that lets you scan files before opening them, the ability to run in safe mode, and the ability to specify reporting. This software has the typical features of virus scanning in that it has automatic updating and scheduled scanning capabilities and scanning options.

This is not the best program for spyware detection in spite of its antivirus capabilities. The little spyware it does detect cannot be removed without purchasing additional AntiVir software. It is often criticized for slow connections while downloading updates.

Number Two: Avast! Antivirus v4.8

Avast is rated highly by both Download.Com and CNET. It has fantastic detection and protection from viruses. As far as spyware is concerned, it only detects about 33 percent of problems although it does remove what it finds for free.

Avast! Is not feature-restrictive and is not a “free trial” program. It is growing in popularity as a decent antivirus program. It downloads detections and definitions without faltering and installs them quickly.

The worst things said about Avast concern the need to register if you wish to use it beyond 60 days and keep registering every year after that. When you realize that paid programs are virtually the same only you have to pay for your subscription, this negative doesn’t seem too inconvenient.

You simply can’t have an internet connection without installing antivirus software. It will only be a matter of time before you are infected. If your are unable or unwilling to pay for virus protection, AntiVir Personal Edition V8 and Avast Antivirus v4.8 are intelligent alternatives you can download and use for free. Defend your computer against viruses by using one of these free programs. Visit the official site of each of these antivirus programs to download each. There are warnings about false sites that sell the free versions or infect your computer with a bad download. Don’t let it happen to you!