Here in the states, when you sign up for internet, the internet provider gives the subscriber a FREE anti-virus. I currently have Norton, free. McAfee is good too and free with another provider...I've had it in the past.

I just checked my computer and I have Windows Defender that was installed at the factory. I did a quick scan and all is good. Maybe that's all I need.

If you have Windows 10 that's all you do need, Jasdip. Per my son who is a software engineer.

Forgive me for repeating what I've said before, but PCMag is a website (and former leading magazine) that for decades has been a trusted source for unbiased and independent expert advice on various PC and other digital device topics. They annually test (both themselves and using independent labs) antivirus products and present the ratings and results. The links below lead to their most current results.

Based on independent testing, Windows Defender has been mediocre at best over the years compared to its competitors. It's improved (according to independent ratings) but there are limitations. Other products are available even in the free category that are more capable and more highly rated. There are disadvantages of using it and no apparent advantages.

Not Free Antivirus

Free Antivirus

PS for Nicole - I too have benefited from free top drawer antivirus programs from internet providers but both of the ones I use have discontinued the practice recently. Comcast (Xfinity) discontinued offering Norton as of 1/1/2021. Spectrum discontinued offering McAfee 6-12 months or so ago and substituted its own no-name product of unknown source called "Security Suite for Windows".

I bought a 5 device Norton license for the PCs we use most and have one of the better rated free packages on a few others we use infrequently. I don't remember the exact cost but it wasn't much, less than $20 per device. I've been very satisfied using Norton for a number of years now and didn't want to change.

I have the free Avast, but it keeps wanting me to buy something,. I'd love to find something better without all the sales popping up

When I last had Avast it kept telling me I was covered when I checked at the same time that unprompted desktop popups were telling me I was quite vulnerable. One year I doubled my tab to about 80 bucks worth of supposedly enhanced protection in response to this urging only to have a worsening parade of alarmist popups follow thereafter.

A computer expert renting a room across the hall during this period clearly thought all this security software stuff was silly, said they had none on their machine. However they also said if it ever picked anything up they would just go in and extract it themselves afterward.

So again we see that if a body has in depth knowledge of technology they are using it is a whole different experience than it is for the rest of us. Be that technology a computer or a car.

"However they also said if it ever picked anything up they would just go in and extract it themselves afterward."

Wishful thinking.

So this request is for Windows only?

If not, I have a Mac and use Avira.

Avast-free version. Never had an issue--other than their own begging which I ignore.

Embothrium, how can you be sure that those pop-ups aren't sent by hackers to recommend useless protectors who'll leave your door unlocked for nefarious intruders?

ole joyful

Is Bitdefender as bad as my friend's daughter said?

Emsisoft, but it’s not free.

I use Kaspersky in L.A., but I have McAfee on my laptop, which I use mostly in Cathedral City. One is allowed three devices on either one, and so for Kaspersky, I have my phone and my tablet. Since I have four devices, I decided to keep McAfee, which came with the laptop, as it was easier to keep it than to change. We used McAfee at work, and so I trust it, but I really think I like Kaspersky better.

I use the free anti virus that comes with my internet provider. I haven't used any other program in probably 20 years and have never had a virus

I agree about checking the ratings by PCMag. You don't need a subscription to see them - just google "PC Mag best free antivirus".

I liked Kaspersky (paid) when I had it, but after the kerfuffle about its Russian origin, I switched to Avast Free. I found the Avast Premium not worth it - and caused a few problems too. The popups from Avast trying to get me to upgrade are annoying but I just close them as soon as they appear.

Also in the past I used AVG without complaints. I felt that McAfee was slowing my computer down when I had it (long ago - like well over a decade) and did see an improvement after I removed it. That may not be an issue now.

"I felt that McAfee was slowing my computer down when I had it (long ago - like well over a decade) and did see an improvement after I removed it. That may not be an issue now."

That's been my experience, not an issue now and hasn't been for a very long time. I've used Norton for about 10 years, and simultaneously McAfee on some PCs for about 3 years and I found them very similar. Nearly invisible, very light footprints and light resource utilization, never interfered with responsiveness or hogged resources while using the PC for other things users do. Both also do periodic scans when the PC is on but idle and suspend scans when use resumes if not finished.

Wishful thinking

I wouldn't know. But you are dismissing out of hand a pretty highly qualified person.

When I first saw the header for this thread, I immediately thought: Pfizer, Moderna, J&J...

"Wishful thinking

I wouldn't know. But you are dismissing out of hand a pretty highly qualified person."

Does the person do work that involves any of the following: malware/virus research/antivirus-hacker- intrusion prevention and protection?