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15 Microsoft Defender like Free Antivirus for Windows 10

Posted on by in Cyber Security

According to the Cybersecurity Ventures predictions, financial losses from cyber crimes could reach 6 trillion dollars per annum by 2021. If that is not good enough to ring alarm bells for you then, cyber security market report by Cybersecurity Ventures will open your eyes. According to the report, global spending on cyber security will exceed 1 trillion dollars from 2017 to 2021.

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With increasing number of cyber attacks, it is obvious why businesses are taking cyber security very seriously but what about individuals and personal users. They should also protect their computers from these attacks. The best way to do that is to install antivirus software. Although, Windows 10 comes pre-loaded with Windows Defender but it does not offer adequate protection.

Here are 15 free Windows Defender alternatives that you should download and install right now to protect your computers from cyber attacks.

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1. Avast Free Antivirus

Avast free antivirus is the undisputed king of free antivirus software as it provides protection equal to a paid antivirus software in a free package. Not only does Avast free antivirus user interface got a facelift to better compliment Windows 10 design but it also got a boost in functionality. Now you can use features like Network security inspector and password manager to name just a few. Running a quick scan is a matter of few clicks. Overall, Avast free antivirus offers a perfect package that combines many useful extras to keep your computers safe and protected.

2. AVG Antivirus Free

Not far behind in the race of the best antivirus software is AVG’s free antivirus for Windows 10. In tests conducted by many independent labs, AVG achieved higher scores in almost every test, which makes it one of the best free antivirus out there. The only thing that goes against is slightly poorer anti-phishing test scores and slower scans otherwise, it is best free antivirus software you can get your hands on. The latest version of the software got a redesign and the dark and simple interface adjusts perfectly with Windows 10.

3. BitDefender Antivirus Free

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Unbelievably, BitDefender free antivirus software offers equal protection as its premium version. You will not see many such examples like that but that is not the only factor that makes BitDefender antivirus stand out. Apart from high scores in tests from independent labs, it topped the charts with the highest score in anti-phishing test. It is excellent malware blocking capabilities and anti-phishing protection along with premium like protection in free versions makes it a must try.

4. Avira Free Antivirus

Another popular name when it comes to free antivirus software is Avira. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to the expectations with poor anti phishing scores, limited technical support and browser compatibility issues. On the brighter side, it scored well in independent tests and malicious URL blocking test. Moreover, the active Do Not Track feature is a welcome addition.

5. MalwareBytes Anti Ransomware

Your current antivirus might be efficient at blocking malware, Trojans or other kind of attacks but it struggle big time when it comes to ransomware, which was quite evident from the latest wave of ransomware that shook the world to its core. If you want to protect yourself against such attacks, then you need a software capable of fending these attacks and there is no better free option available than MalwareBytes anti ransomware. This free and lightweight software is capable of detecting ransomware based on their activities. It will not replace your antivirus software but will compliment it by detecting and eliminating ransomware that escape through your antivirus.

6. Panda Free Antivirus

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The biggest surprise about Panda Free Antivirus is that it outperformed some premium antivirus software in some tests, which is a big achievement for free antivirus software. The beautiful and easy to use interface coupled with high scores and useful features such as Rescue Disk, USB vaccination and process monitor made it a worthy contender of some of the big names like Avast, AVG and MalwareBytes. The only small letdown here is that the phishing protection scores dipped from previous version of software.

7. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus

The aspect where most free antivirus program fails is where ZoneAlarm free antivirus exceeds, at catching phishing attacks. The easy installation process and protection against outside attacks makes ZoneAlarm free antivirus a good free option to try. Unfortunately, there is no exploit protection, the antivirus lacks web monitoring, and cloud based scans, which might leave you a little vulnerable to latest attacks. It makes up for it by packing all the firewall and privacy features. Some important features from the pro version is also missing in free version.

8. Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free Antivirus

If the new and improved Lavascoft Ad-Aware free antivirus user interface does not impress you then, its feature`s will surely do. Although, in terms of raw protection, it falls behind not only the competition but even its older version, which is quite disappointing. The scores Ad-Aware antivirus got was a mixed bag, scoring high in some and performing poorly in others. Don’t expect any handy extras with this free antivirus software because it only offers basic protection.

9. Kaspersky Antivirus (Free Trial)

With two decades of experience, Kaspersky has made a name for itself in protecting the world against cyber attacks. In fact, it’s premium antivirus is one of the best in its class. Even though, its free trial version is no slouch either at protecting your data but it is not as good as the premium offering from the Russian cyber security company. With simple and easy online controls, it protects against viruses, malware, cyber threats and spyware. Not only does it safeguards against latest attacks but improves your PC performance as well.

10. Cybereason Ransom Free

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The recent ransomware attacks have forced security professionals to think beyond antivirus protection. This has led to the creation of specialized software that complement your antivirus software protects against these ransomware. The latest addition to this list is Cybereason Ransom free. It detects ransomware specific behavior to prevent ransomware attacks. What makes this software stand out is that it is capable of fending off dangerous ransomware in tests, which speaks volumes about its ransomware protection capabilities. The only downside is that it failed to detect simulated ransomware.

11. Sophos Home

Excellent scores in anti-phishing and malicious URL blocking tests backed up by clean and easy to use interface, solid remote monitoring and management features makes Sophos Home a powerful free antivirus. You cannot go wrong with Sophos Home. The User Access Control confirmation screen pops up every time you open the user interface, which is quite annoying. The installation process and scan speed is slow and requires users to be patient. Other than these minor glitches here and there, Sophos Home does a great job at protecting users from security threats.

12. Comodo Antivirus

Comodo Antivirus performed well in most of the tests but was left behind when it comes to malicious URL blocking and phishing protection. It overcomes this by offering features like virtual desktop, sandboxing capabilities and browser security, which is a big plus for a free antivirus. If you know how to maximize Comodo antivirus advanced set of features, then Comodo free antivirus is an ideal choice. For most normal users, that would be a far-fetched dream.

13. Norton Antivirus (Free Trial)

Are you looking for a anti malware program that offer protection for not just your computer or laptop but for all the other mobile devices? If yes, than Norton Antivirus is a great option. Although, the free trial will only last for a month but it will give you access to complete product. Whether it’s privacy protection, security against latest online threats, prevent identity theft, Norton has you covered. Browse the internet freely on any device without worrying about your security and privacy because a reliable antivirus like Norton is there to protect your data.

14. BullGuard Antivirus (Free Trial)

The award-winning antivirus protection from BullGuard has some of the best malware catch rates. From catching malicious codes to phishing attacks to efficient anti spam protection, BullGuard antivirus has what it takes to keep you protected. Unfortunately, the default configuration is not optimized for security which means that you will have to tweak the software for optimal protection against latest threats.

15. 360 Total Security Free Antivirus

What if you get an all in one solution for free? That is exactly what you will get from 360 total security free antiviruses. Apart from different security and privacy protection features, it also offers clean up and tune up utilities and many bonus features. With 360 Connect mobile app, you can remotely help friends and family members in solving their problems and using the product. Unfortunately, all these feature could not help 360 total security from being ranked so low on this list. The main reason is that it scored dismally in various security tests. Despite having many bonus features, it could not compete against the best free antivirus software when it comes to offering raw protection.

Author: Syed Muhammad Anwer

Syed Muhammad Anwer is a digital marketing specialist and blogger currently working at TaskQue, an online task management software. His unique personality traits, passion and thirst for knowledge has turned him into an digital marketing expert.

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