There are numerous stories in the news about millions of Internet devices being compromised. While the majority of these hacks can be blamed on the hackers’ expertise however, there are other factors at play as well such as the lack of appropriate security tools. There are numerous free antivirus programs that offer comprehensive protection against commonly-spread threats.

If you’re looking for an antivirus to download for free, make sure you look for a strong malware detection. A program’s ability to distinguish malicious intruders such as viruses or worms, phishing attack and ransomware from harmless software is the primary indicator of its effectiveness. Find a program that can detect all types of malware, including rootkits trojans, phishing attacks and more, and has 100% or near-perfect rate of detection of viruses.

Also look for programs that won’t slow your system too much. During a scan or other tasks that require a lot of effort, certain applications can drastically impact your computer performance, making it difficult to stream videos or play games. Choose an antivirus that is lightweight, easy to install, and uses minimal resources.

Extra features are also important. Certain antivirus programs come with cleaning tools that boost OS performance, speed up startup times, and get rid of junk files. Some offer virtual private network (VPN) that allows Discover More Here you to hide your online activities in order to protect your privacy from scrutiny. The majority of paid antivirus software offers 24/7 email or live chat support. However it’s not always the case with free antivirus products.