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(1 745 ratings, average: 4,53 out of 5)
Antivirus is a utility for detecting malicious objects that penetrate the computer system via the Internet and removable storage media. During excessive activity hacker attacks and the constant emergence of new viruses and spyware, antivirus software developers are improving and optimizing their products for device security and secure web surfing on the Internet. Competition in the antivirus market is high.
Some utilities create protection for the entire system and automatically recognize and quarantine viruses, others protect individual PC components, ensure safe browsing on the Internet, and some conduct a one-time scan to identify “pests” and are portable. In the article we will look at the most popular and worthy antivirus utilities with various functionality and computer protection.
Programs |
Russian language |
License |
Always-on protection |
Rating |
Online updates |
Wi-Fi protection |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Trial | Yes | 9 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 10 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | No | 5 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 6 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | No | 5 | Yes | No | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 7 | Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Free | Yes | 8 | Yes | No | |
| No | Free | Yes | 7 | No | No |
A popular antivirus with more than 230 million fans. Works on Linux, Windows, Mac OS, for PDAs on the Android platform, Windows CE, Palm. The program's tools protect the Wi-Fi network in mobile devices while maintaining passwords and confidentiality. Four types of scans quickly detect and respond to embedded malicious junk. Protective screens carry out comprehensive checks of unknown sites, opened files, P2P connections and received messages.
A popular program that scans not only the computer system, but also removable media connected to the PC. The utility shows statistics on spam and malicious infiltration, monitors the file system, has a “parental control” mode, blocks dangerous websites and checks email.
A utility from the well-known company Kaspersky Lab with basic tools for reliable computer protection. Blocks unknown sites, applications and malicious scripts. Has fast, full, selective and external device scanning. Can work together with Kaspersky Security Network. It does not protect personal data, so an antivirus will not be enough for financial and confidential work.
A program that scans the system in a few minutes, providing a detailed report on the threats found and their location. It is possible to schedule the next inspection indicating the day of the week and start time. Parental controls block inappropriate content.
A competitive antivirus that provides consistent and adequate protection for your computer without loading the system. The program modules detect and eliminate advertising trolls, rootkits and spyware, provide email protection and identify dangerous links. Theft of personal information is kept to a minimum.
A powerful utility that provides real-time computer protection. It has customizable options for network security, checks downloaded files and scans the Facebook wall before downloading unknown links from it. The antivirus scans letters and can be protected with a password.
A high-quality anti-virus utility with a large protective base against more than 200,000 types of viruses. The program module monitors the movement of suspicious files, an innovative scanning method protects against previously unknown macro viruses, and later versions of the antivirus block advertising spam and spyware.
An anti-virus scanner for scanning objects that enter your computer from removable storage media. Automatically checks flash drives, tablets, multimedia players, SD cards, smartphones and digital cameras for threats, and if detected, offers to quarantine or remove viruses. It has forced verification and guarantees the protection of confidential data from interception. Additional features include scanning potentially dangerous URLs, removing dangerous and temporary files, and restoring damaged objects.
A powerful utility that protects the system even in minimized mode. Has full, selective, quick and rating checks. It is possible to schedule scanning and set the depth of file scanning. Scan removable media, protect email, and keep versions up to date to keep your device protected.
A powerful free antivirus with five optimized engines and protection against various types of viruses. The program protects web surfing, checks Wi-Fi and removes programs without a trace. In offline mode, two engines are turned on and the antivirus continues to work. It is also possible to check software, restore the system after attacks and failures, analyze media and protect the webcam. The anti-virus product analyzes the operation of suspicious files and has an anti-virus sandbox.
An anti-virus program with a unique heuristic mechanism that detects unknown threats and activates the utility even if it is blocked. Blocks malicious sites, anti-rootkits and spyware attacks. Does not conflict with other programs and antiviruses and constantly updates the database.
A program that detects advertising applications, malicious plugins and unwanted software on websites. Detects objects that have entered the system during the installation of some programs, blocks unwanted toolbars and “pests” that change the home page in the browser. Does not require installation on a computer and can be used portablely from removable media.
Every year, several independent laboratories around the world conduct comparative testing of antivirus solutions to determine which of them is this year worthy to be called a leader. Based on data from German analysts from the company AV Test, who tested products from 28 development companies in the first half of 2013, the following deserved an excellent rating:
- Bitdefender Internet Security 2014 – the product of the Romanian vendor Bitdefender, based on test results, was recognized as the best antivirus solution of the year, as it showed the highest efficiency;
- Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 – domestically developed antivirus , got to the top of the ranking due to efficiency and high loading speed;
- Norton Internet Security 2014 from the world famous American company Symantec was in third place.
- Avast! Free Antivirus, G Data Internet Security And F-Secure Internet Security share the fourth position on the leaderboard.
Tests were carried out on different operating systems, including Windows XP, so those who find it difficult to choose can be advised to rely on the opinion of experts and entrust the protection of their PC to one of these products. Moreover, the free antivirus avast!, already popular among Russian users, also became one of the leaders. Next, we will take a closer look at the capabilities of each of these applications.
Bitdefender Internet Security 2014
A heavy-duty security system that consists of an antivirus program, a firewall, and a means of protecting user personal data. In essence, it is a multi-level security tool with web control functions.
Distinctive Features
- Adaptive scanning technology – scanning algorithms are calculated based on the computer configuration, which ensures optimal program performance.
- Protection of confidential data “Wallet” – protection of personal information that is transmitted over the Internet.
- “SafePay” is an isolated environment for conducting Internet banking operations.
- A cloud-based antispam module that does not load computer resources and has a high level of detection of mail junk.
- Multifunctional parental control system.
- A lot of other features - anti-spyware, password storage, anti-phishing protection, safe Internet search and what all antiviruses have - detecting and removing malware.
- The trial period is 30 days.
- Fully compatible with Windows XP.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2014
A highly effective product that reliably protects your PC from any damaging actions: infections by viruses and Trojans, Internet attacks, spam, phishing, etc., and also provides protection for monetary payments.
Possibilities
- Hybrid protection technologies of Kaspersky Antivirus allow you to quickly detect unknown types of threats.
- The Safe Programs Mode feature creates an isolated environment and prevents the user from running potentially dangerous programs.
- Parental controls with many flexible settings.
- The “secure payments” function works in all known browsers.
- The anti-banner module prevents the screen from being blocked by malware of the Trojan.WinLock class.
- “System recovery after a virus attack” allows you to fix broken Windows functions.
- Careful use of PC resources - the antivirus does not slow down the system and programs.
- The trial period is 30 days.
- Support for Windows XP of any version.
Norton Internet Security 2014
Symantec antivirus is one of the most popular antivirus solutions in the world. This is a means of effective protection against all types of Internet attacks and malware, capable of preventing their hidden downloading to a PC, as well as reliable protection of confidential data.
Functionality
- Determine the security of files based on their reputation.
- SONAR is an intelligent behavioral protection that determines the degree of danger of a file based on its behavior.
- Checking the reputation of web resources and preventing downloading files from suspicious ones.
- Antispam, antispyware, antiphishing and other things that an antivirus should have.
- Trial period – 30 days.
- Full support for Windows XP.
Avast! Free Antivirus
A popular free solution, multiple award-winning antivirus software. Even in the minimal free version it provides a very high level of system security.
Advantages
- The “Enhanced Protection Mode” feature prevents the launch of any software that is not in the Avast whitelist! Antivirus.
- Intelligent technology DeepScreen, which, based on a heuristic analysis of the file, decides whether it can be launched.
- Browser plugin Avast! Online Security, which conducts a comprehensive assessment of website security and protects user personal data.
- The function of creating an emergency boot disk to unlock Windows and treat particularly persistent infections.
- The Remote Assistance feature allows you to connect to the desktop of other Avast!
- Screens for protecting the file system, mail and web resources.
G Data Internet Security
Another advanced complex for enhanced PC protection against various threats. Like other antiviruses of the Internet Security class, it adequately protects the user from external attacks from the Internet and loss of personal data.
Features of work
- Very high speed. CloseGap scans files almost instantly using cloud and hybrid technologies.
- The plugin for installation in browsers ensures the security of payments and online banking.
- There is a multifunctional parental control module with flexible settings.
- The built-in startup manager for convenient management of automatic downloading of programs allows you to speed up the start and operation of the system.
- The antivirus is not demanding on hardware resources and works without slowing down even on weak machines.
- Trial period – 30 days.
- Full support for Windows XP.
F-Secure Internet Security
A functional and convenient tool for comprehensive PC security, as they say, “on all fronts.” It has a modular structure that allows you to run only the tool you need at a given time, separately from the rest.
Functional differences
- The Computer Security component provides all types of computer protection against malware, as antiviruses should do, and also performs the functions of a scanner and firewall.
- The Online Safety module is designed to protect the user online. It includes, among other things, parental control and the function of protecting payment transactions.
- The Safe Profile component protects user profile data from unwanted viewing and ensures online privacy.
- The trial period of use is 30 days.
- Supports all versions of Windows XP.
The use of an antivirus in our time has become a prerequisite for ensuring system security. After all, everyone can encounter viruses on their computer. Modern antiviruses, which guarantee maximum protection, are quite resource-demanding. But this does not mean that weak devices should remain vulnerable, or even without protection at all. There is for them simple solutions, which will not negatively affect the performance of the laptop.
Not all people have the desire or opportunity to update their device by replacing some parts or the laptop itself. Undoubtedly, antiviruses effectively protect the system from virus attacks, but they can greatly load the processor, which will adversely affect your work with the computer.
You don't have to have an old device to wonder about a lightweight antivirus. Some modern budget models also require undemanding protection. The antivirus program itself must do a lot: monitor running processes, check downloaded files, etc. All of this requires resources, which may be limited. Therefore, it is worth choosing those antiviruses that offer basic security tools, and the fewer additional functions such a product has, the better in this case.
Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is a free Czech antivirus that does not overload the system. It has various auxiliary functions for convenient operation. This program can be easily customized to your liking by “throwing away” unnecessary components and leaving only the essentials. Supports Russian language.
As you can see in the screenshots, Avast consumes few resources in the background.
When checking the system, it’s a little more, but when compared with other antivirus products, this is a completely normal indicator.
AVG
Easy to use, AVG effectively combats various threats. Its free version has basic tools, which are enough for good protection. The program does not heavily load the system, so you can work calmly.
The load on the system in normal mode with basic protection is small.
AVG also doesn't consume much during the scanning process.
Dr.Web Security Space
The main function of Dr.Web Security Space is scanning. It can be performed in several modes: normal, full, custom. Also, there are tools such as SpIDer Guard, SpIDer Mail, SpIDer Gate, firewall and others.
The antivirus itself and its services do not consume many resources.
The situation is similar with the scanning process: it does not critically load the device.
Comodo Cloud Antivirus
The famous free cloud defender Comodo Cloud Antivirus. Perfectly protects against all kinds of Internet threats. The laptop doesn't load much. Compared to AVG or Avast, Comodo Cloud requires, first of all, a more stable Internet connection to provide full protection.
When tested, it does not critically affect performance.
Along with the antivirus, other auxiliary software is installed, which does not take up much space and does not eat up large number resources. You can delete it if you wish.
Panda Security
One of the popular cloud antiviruses is Panda Security. Has many settings, supports Russian. Takes up quite a bit of space and consumes minimal resources. The only negative, if you can call it that, is the need for a stable Internet connection. Unlike Comodo Cloud Antivirus, this product does not automatically install additional modules.
Even when scanning files, the antivirus does not load the device. This defender launches several more of its services, which do not consume many resources.
Microsoft Windows Defender
Windows Defender is Microsoft's built-in antivirus software. Starting with Windows 8, this software is installed by default as a means of protection against various threats, and is not inferior to other antivirus solutions. If you do not have the opportunity or desire to install other software, then this option is suitable for you. Windows Defender automatically starts after the system is installed.
The screenshot shows that the defender does not consume many resources.
During a full scan, it does not significantly load the system.
Other methods of protection
If you cannot or do not want to install an antivirus, then you can get by with a minimal set, which can also ensure system security, but to a lesser extent. For example, there are portable scanners Dr.Web CureIt, Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, AdwCleaner and the like, which can be used to check the system from time to time. But they cannot provide full protection and prevent infection, since they work after the fact.
Finding a lightweight antivirus for Windows 7 and older versions of this OS is considered a fairly popular topic today, because not every user has a powerful PC capable of “coping” with intensive applications. Any gadget and device needs an antivirus, since without it the risk of the device becoming infected with malware increases significantly. Various companies offer fast, lightweight, yet extremely reliable antiviruses that are ideal for budget computers.
As mentioned earlier, not all people have the opportunity to purchase a PC with latest configuration, a powerful processor, a solid amount of RAM, the latest video card, and so on. Therefore, many people opt for lightweight antiviruses for computers with medium and low configurations.
To finally determine whether a particular security program is suitable for a weak computer, it is necessary to analyze a number of aspects by type:
- simultaneous work with demanding utilities;
- downloading information from the Internet;
- threats from dubious resources;
- speed of copying or transferring information to the HDD;
- background functioning.
The best lightweight antiviruses for Windows 7
Many users have already been able to understand that on weak PCs, powerful antiviruses eat up almost all system resources, which is why the computer begins to slow down. Some companies took care of the owners of budget devices and offered lightweight antiviruses for weak computers, thanks to which data protection is guaranteed without slowdowns or system overloads.
Comodo Internet Security
It is a well-proven free antivirus designed for budget PCs and consumes a minimum of RAM and other resources. It is able to provide protection both from threats from files and from the Internet. This program includes an antivirus with a firewall and a behavioral blocking system, so the virus will not penetrate the user’s PC in any way.
The following advantages of this utility can be highlighted:
- one service capable of monitoring all devices;
- full protection from spyware applications and Internet attacks;
- blocking dubious resources and downloads;
- assistance in locating devices that have been stolen or lost;
- ability to work on a PC with minimal requirements.
The above-described advantages distinguish this program from all others.
Trend Micro Internet Security 2016
The main feature of Trend Micro Internet Security 2016 is its extremely specific design. The antivirus interface and transitions between windows are considered animated. It is possible to choose one of the proposed design themes or even set absolutely any image as the background of the program.
The antivirus works quite smoothly on weak computers and includes a number of the following features:
- online scanning. We are talking about a file antivirus that monitors the file system around the clock;
- deb filtering. A special web screen created to filter HTTP traffic opens. Despite the fact that the above program automatically installs its extensions, even without them web protection works fine;
- checking the computer's performance. The utility checks whether there is latest updates for Windows OS, analyzes account and firewall settings, allows you to edit the list of software that downloads automatically, finds “garbage” in your PC and clears history;
- privacy scan. In this case, the social systems account is configured to make personal data available exclusively to friends.
G Data Internet Security
This antivirus uses Bitdefender's custom engine along with the new cloud-based CloseGap system to ensure immediate and ongoing protection against viruses, spam, online threats, and more. Regional threats are also taken into account, the firewall works in the background and does not bother the computer in any way, even when playing games. The presence of parental controls allows you to protect the younger generation from sites with dubious content.
Among the main advantages of the antivirus are the following:
- high level of detection of infected files;
- protection against theft of personal information in the form of passwords, e-mail, etc.;
- the ability to freely surf the web, do online banking and make online purchases;
- ease of installation and use;
- fairly fast startup;
- delete confidential information with one click.
F-Secure Internet Security
It is a comprehensive software that includes protection against threats on the Internet. The program runs on the Bitdefender engine, uses cloud technologies, proactive protection, anti-phishing, has the possibility of parental control and safe work with Internet banking.
The antivirus itself:
- protects against infections and spyware. E-mails are scanned regularly;
- There is a Firewall, advanced network protection, application analysis, intrusion elimination and network connection monitoring.
Internet protection is also offered:
- allows you to restrict children’s access to dubious sites;
- thanks to protection when surfing the network, pages with questionable content are blocked and security information is displayed;
- Banking transactions are protected, which protects clients from malicious actions when using online banking and making transfers.
Total Security
This is a free anti-virus program, which in its functionality is no worse than many paid programs, and in certain parameters even surpasses them. The program includes a free antivirus, PC acceleration, system cleaning, device scanning and a number of other additional features.
The antivirus offers several scanning modes (we are talking about fast, full and selective):
- quick scanning allows you to check system settings, running programs, startup software and basic system information in just a couple of minutes;
- a full scan differs only in that it also includes files stored on the PC. Therefore, the analysis completion time may vary - it all depends on how many files are stored on the user’s HDD;
- Selective scanning involves the ability to select files, folders or drives that are scanned for malicious elements.
Also, using this program, you can significantly speed up your computer by optimizing startup, scheduled tasks, utility utilities, critical system services and network connections. All this is done automatically.
The computer cleaning function involves searching for temporarily stored files created while surfing the Internet. All garbage that appears while watching a video and other unnecessary information is also removed.
A few more reasons to choose Qihoo to download antivirus for a weak PC
There are a number of main reasons why you should choose Qihoo to download a security application on a weak PC:
- the ability to simultaneously operate several engines at once (one of them is Bitdefender);
- the presence of additional functionality with which the program makes the operation of a weak PC faster;
- special plugins that are built into the browser and monitor dubious sites, as well as other signs of threats;
- work in background mode, so the user is not distracted from performing key tasks due to the constant pop-up of windows.
Important! It should be emphasized that it is recommended to download everything for weak computers exclusively from official resources. Only in this case will it be guaranteed that you will receive a full-fledged antivirus without code changes that could harm personal information and Windows 7 itself.
Antivirus installation instructions
Let's consider detailed instructions on installing an antivirus using the latest example, 360 Total Security from Qihoo. The installation of other antivirus utilities is similar, the only difference can be in the installer menu, with which you can easily and quickly install any antivirus.
Important! If your device already has an antivirus, you should remove it before installing a new one.
- Go to the official website of the utility developer using the link: https://www.360totalsecurity.com/ru/.
- Left click on the “Download for free” button.
- Run the downloaded installation file from the “Downloads” folder of your browser.
- Check the box to accept the license agreement, additional items if necessary, click “Install”.
- Wait for the installation process to complete. After the installation of the program is completed, offer to download additional software, click “Start” or close the window by clicking on the cross in the upper right corner.
- After installation, the antivirus will open automatically. Select the function you need from the list and click on it. We recommend performing a full test of the device by clicking on the large “Test” button.
Video - How to install 360 Total Security antivirus
All the antiviruses presented above are free!
Thus, to start using the antiviruses described above, all you need to do is download them to your computer and install them. After installation, you will need an Internet connection to update the anti-virus database - thanks to this, the protection will always be up to date. At the same time, weak PCs use a minimum of the system's potential and often miss viruses that are very difficult to detect.
Video - Top antiviruses. Choosing the best
After installing Windows, you should think about the security of your computer and which antivirus to install, for example, free or paid. The Internet is becoming one of the main spheres of human activity. However, many attackers develop programs for easy money making or for the purpose of espionage.
There are a huge number of tricks that can be used to infect a computer, and often the user is not even aware of the threat. Simple caution is no longer enough; mandatory protection with antivirus applications is required. The article discusses which is the most effective antivirus for Windows 7.
It should be noted that there is no absolutely perfect software to set and forget about threats, as one utility will never be able to identify all threats using one method.
Professionals say that even if you install the most “stuffed” antivirus program on your computer, this will not provide a complete guarantee of eliminating threats. New malware developments appear every day. What is the best antivirus for Windows 7? To answer this question, you will first need to find out what viruses are.
Virus software
This computer programs, which can independently reproduce and damage computer data.
List of some types of malware:
- Keyloggers;
- Trojans;
- Rootkits;
- Spies.
Antivirus utility
A program that analyzes the system and, if malware is detected, notifies the computer owner about the threat, and also performs treatment or removal of the virus application. The anti-virus utility constantly monitors processes and analyzes the functioning of all programs on the PC. It is recommended to install only one anti-virus program on one computer at a time, otherwise they may conflict and as a result the user will end up with many errors and a slow-running Windows.
A significant number of antivirus utilities have been developed, which have their own pros and cons. For example, some cope well with the presence of viruses in the system, while others do not allow programs that pose a threat to be introduced into the computer or have the ability to effectively destroy them.
Conventionally, antivirus programs are divided into 2 types:
- free;
- paid.
They differ not only in price, but also in the effectiveness of protection.
Many will be upset by the fact that qualified programmers say that the best protection for Windows 7 will be provided if you install a paid antivirus. Free software can also provide basic protection, and we'll also look at the best of them below.
The best paid antiviruses for Windows 7
Kaspersky
It is the most popular of all antivirus programs in the Russian Federation. Professionals convince us that this is the best choice for Windows 7. Thanks to the most powerful algorithms and the largest database of viral content, which is constantly updated.
What is the main disadvantage of this utility? This is the need to stop applications when the antivirus system is fully scanned.
The creators of this utility made the paid version not much different from the free version, so they managed to get a significant number of Avast followers. But even the paid option often misses malicious utilities.
Dr.Web
One of the most common antiviruses among users. The main advantages include the ability to treat individual files. This is a significant advantage over other antivirus programs, because... allows you to restore the data required by the user. Disadvantages: the high price of a full-fledged version of the program.
This software is not very widespread in the Russian Federation. Has a Russian interface. Requires complex preliminary setup, so it is recommended only for experienced PC owners. In addition to basic functions, it provides protection against spam and fraud. Alerts about phishing. However, users are not happy with the verification process, which takes a significant amount of time and the high price of the product.
The best free antiviruses for Windows 7
According to the results of tests by specialists of free antivirus applications on PCs with Windows 7, “360 Total Security” and “Panda Cloud Antivirus” were recognized as the best. Good indicators were found for “AVG” and . Not significantly, but the results of Ad-Aware Free Antivirus are worse. The best software for Windows 7 turned out to be free software based on the Bitdefender engine.
What is the system resource requirement?
The best free ones were “360TS” and "Panda Cloud Antivirus". They had minimal impact on computer hardware thanks to the use of new cloud technologies that use the power of servers for verification.
What is the speed?
Those with the slowest operating speed: "Ad-Aware Free Antivirus", "Bitdefender Free Edition" and "Comodo".
The fastest among the free ones: “360 Total Security”, “Avast” and “AVG”.
What is the ease of use?
"Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition" does not offer Russian language during installation. Only “360 Total Security” can boast of a convenient and practical interface.
The article reviews only the most popular utilities. To ensure maximum security for your Windows 7 computer, we recommend following these tips:
- when using external storage media, preliminary scanning of their memory for the possibility of infection with malware is required;
- requires the use of regularly updated anti-virus software;
- It is not allowed to launch unknown applications from unverified sources;
- while surfing the Internet there should be constant monitoring of possible threats in real time;
Conclusion
It is absolutely impossible to conclude what the best software for Windows 7 is.
What conclusion can be drawn for paid programs?
Of the paid programs, based on the parameters considered, you can give preference to Kaspersky or Doctor. There are hypotheses online that Kaspersky Lab itself develops viruses that can only be detected by their program. However, the experience of most users proves the high reliability of this antivirus program.
What conclusions can be drawn for free programs?
For active Internet users, it is optimal to choose the free “360 Total Security”. And in case of good ownership English It is recommended to install the free version of Bitdefender.
