Best antivirus solutions (and more) for Windows computers

Security

21. 5. 2020

Back in the 1990s, antivirus programs were almost synonymous with computer security. With the development of operating systems, web technologies and all kinds of electronic communication, entirely new types of computer threats emerged alongside the category of viruses, and traditional antiviruses initially offered no protection against them at all.

Rootkits, ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, trojans, viruses and worms are all today collectively referred to as malware. Users understandably do not want to install a dozen different protections against each individual threat, which is why the once simple and small antiviruses have turned into bulky and computationally demanding software packages covering dozens of different types of protection.

This alone has contributed to dividing the general user public, which was once widely served by antiviruses, into two camps. Those who prefer speed and convenience over security simply avoid them, even knowing the potential risk. These are mainly home users, often gamers, and undemanding internet users. By contrast, companies and people who use the computer as their main work tool still consider an antivirus program an essential part of their wider security strategy. This group in particular is the target of the following overview of the best antivirus solutions for the Windows platform, many of which, however, also support other operating systems.

Anyone who is more interested in computer protection will probably know the Virus Bulletin website, which regularly publishes comparative tests of dozens of antivirus solutions for Windows and Linux systems. You can find the results of these tests here: https://www.virusbulletin.com/testing/dates/vb100-antimalware

TIP: Before you start looking into antiviruses, also read the article Secure communication with an AI DNS resolver, where you will learn how a household communicates.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus (30-day trial version)

By far the most popular security solution among Czech and Slovak customers, with more than 110 million users worldwide. Much of the credit goes to its often-praised malicious code detection technology, which is not only very accurate but also very fast. It holds the world record for the number of VB100 awards from Virus Bulletin magazine. Thanks to its DNA signature feature, it can detect various mutations of a single piece of malicious code, including new and as yet unknown ones. The latest version introduces protection against attacks that use scripts to exploit Windows PowerShell. It also includes detection of JavaScript attacks in the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge browsers.

Operating system: Linux, Windows XP and later
Czech language: YES
Installation required: YES

Avast Free Antivirus (freeware for non-commercial use)

A very popular antivirus from a Czech manufacturer (recently taken over by competitor AVG) provides continuous free protection for home users and non-commercial organisations against viruses, spyware, rootkits and other types of malicious code. It also protects users from threats in instant messengers and P2P networks. The program additionally includes a shield for detecting dangerous scripts and a feature for blocking potentially dangerous web addresses. The solution also includes a browser extension that informs users about the trustworthiness of websites they are about to visit. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Windows XP and later
Czech language: YES
Installation required: YES

AVG AntiVirus FREE (freeware for non-commercial use)

This popular tool from another Czech manufacturer does a lot more than just search for viruses and remove them. It provides both anti-malware and anti-spyware protection. Both modules protect the PC and the user's personal identity without limits on all devices, including Windows. The "AVG Do Not Track" feature lets you allow or block which websites may collect and use your data. Other advantages include warnings about dangerous internet links, blocking of dangerous e-mail attachments and quick scanning. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Android, Mac OS X, Windows XP and later
Czech language: YES
Installation required: YES

Norton Security Standard (30-day trial version)

The Norton brand is well known among users not only thanks to its popular file manager, but also as a versatile security solution that protects the computer and operating system against all kinds of malware in real time. The user is also warned about dangerous and malicious websites. The advantage of this package is not only the combination of different types of protection, but also support for various platforms (so once you have bought it, you do not need to worry about whether you will install it on Windows, Mac OS X, iPhone, Android, etc.), and it is available for several devices at once. It also includes protection of children from harmful content on the internet and secure management of user names and passwords.

Operating system: Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows XP and later
Czech language: YES
Installation required: YES
Download from: https://cz.norton.com/downloads

360 Total Security (freeware for any use)

This little-known Chinese program includes an antivirus scanner running on 3 engines (360 Heuristic Engine, 360 Cloud Engine and Bit-Defender), as well as tools for cleaning and optimising the system. It offers real-time protection, secures the internet browser, protects users from downloading malicious files, sets up privacy protection, including control over permission to use the webcam or USB port, as well as a Sandbox environment for testing software, which lets you isolate PC processes from the system. After the program is first launched, an analysis runs that reveals weak spots. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Android, Mac OS X, Windows XP and later
Czech language: NO
Installation required: YES

Avira Free Antivirus (freeware for any use)

This security solution from the German manufacturer includes not only an antivirus but also a firewall and antispyware, so you get protection against both viruses and attacks from the internet. It also partly runs in the cloud, so it does not put much strain on the PC's system resources. However, even when the PC is not connected to the internet, it keeps working. It includes standard features such as real-time protection, regular updates and the option to schedule automatic computer scans. The program lets you set three detection levels. Once set up, it also works completely automatically on its own. This antivirus program does not provide e-mail scanning. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows XP and later
Czech language: YES
Installation required: YES

Panda Free Antivirus (freeware for non-commercial use)

This is a free antivirus solution from Panda Security. Thanks to its cloud technology, it communicates in real time with the manufacturer's internet servers and essentially behaves like a remote client that effectively protects the user's computer against viruses and other malicious programs. It can also be used for one-off virus scans, and one of the main advantages of the program is its very clear user interface. It will appeal especially to users who are looking for a simple and quick solution with basic functions and no extra frills. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Windows XP and later
Czech language: NO
Installation required: YES

Comodo Internet Security (freeware for any use)

This equally well-known and popular tool combines antivirus and firewall functions in one and protects the computer and operating system against attacks from the internet. It also offers monitoring of changes to important system files and registries. The application includes the Comodo Anti Malware tool for detecting and removing malicious software (spyware, keyloggers, etc.). It uses cloud elements and allows selected files to be run in an isolated environment, thereby preventing possible damage to the system. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Windows XP and later
Czech language: NO
Installation required: YES

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition (freeware for any use)

In its free version, this is a simple program for detecting viruses, worms, trojans and other dangerous programs on your computer. Unfortunately, it does not have a resident shield, so it will not catch threats posed by browsing websites in real time. You can schedule PC scans in advance, it has a virus vault and it provides scan statistics. Online updating of antivirus databases is, of course, also possible. One of the disadvantages is higher use of system resources than other similar programs. Besides the free version, an extended paid version is also available.

Operating system: Windows XP and later
Czech language: NO
Installation required: YES

Trend Micro Internet Security (30-day trial version)

A less well-known tool for protecting the computer against all dangerous programs, viruses and attacks from the internet. Alongside a classic antivirus, it also offers protection of e-mail correspondence, allows you to block websites with harmful content, or to monitor the activity of children and other users. It is reported to be one of the few that can also deal with ransomware, as well as other types of attacks, including protection against the latest variants of malware and attempts at identity theft. Besides computers, it also protects mobile devices, and it serves as a tool for managing passwords and other sensitive data. It makes it possible to check security settings linked to social network accounts, which helps prevent, for example, the unwanted publication of sensitive information.

Operating system: iOS, Android, Mac OS X, Windows XP and later
Czech language: NO
Installation required: YES

No antivirus will protect you from your own indifference

Whichever antivirus solution you decide to protect your personal data with, your efforts may ultimately come to nothing if you do not follow the basic user rules for preventing the loss or theft of data. For safer work on the internet, try to follow at least these few recommendations.

Do not turn off automatic updates for Windows and other programs that you often use. This applies especially to the web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer...), which is the gateway to your computer for malware hidden on various dubious websites. It should therefore be as up to date as possible, i.e. always use its latest version.
Avoid opening unknown e-mail attachments from unknown addresses. A large share of attacks now take place via e-mail, so be careful what you click on in a message. If you receive an e-mail written in a foreign language, or one that is obviously badly machine-translated into Czech, never open the links in it. They often lead to fraudulent or infected websites.
Be careful what you download and where from. If your web browser offers you (usually in a foreign language) a "necessary program or add-on" for running or viewing this or that content (especially on racy websites), do not thoughtlessly approve the installation. The essential tools for viewing parts of websites (Flash Player or the Windows Media Video plug-in) are already included in the system as standard, or you will be asked to install them in Czech. You need a clear overview of which websites are trustworthy (such as Windows Update, online broadcasts of Czech Television (ČT), ...) and which are not.
Where possible, do not download or run pirated programs on your computer, so-called warez. Even though users are often tempted to download commercial software for free and use it when they could not otherwise afford it, a cracked version available for download is far from certain to be "clean". Whether it is office software (typically Windows + MS Office), or tools for burning or editing images, you almost always have the option of finding a free alternative that is officially free and which you can be sure does not contain viruses, trojans or other malware. Many so-called cracks (=tools for unlocking/breaking the protection of commercial programs) are in fact well-disguised malware or contain hidden add-ons that can cause serious damage to your system. The best prevention is to consult more experienced users when choosing software.
Avoid unencrypted transfers of sensitive data. When paying by debit or credit card for online purchases, make sure the communication with the website is encrypted. You can easily recognise this by the address bar of your browser showing "https://" instead of "http://". In the top or bottom corner of the browser (depending on the browser), there is usually also a padlock icon, which is the sign of encryption.
Passwords are, as ever, one of the most neglected security rules. Many people use easy-to-remember, and therefore weak, passwords that can easily be guessed or broken by brute force. Some daredevils even use the same password for all their online services. The most reckless of all stick their password to the monitor or to the desk so they always have it in sight (and so does every passer-by). The point is that such a lax approach is only affordable if you are not protecting any sensitive data. Today, however, many widely used online services protect users even from themselves, so for example they will not allow a short password containing a primitive sequence of characters and numbers, or one that contains part of the user name or date of birth.
Back up your data. It will come in handy not only if your computer is infected with malware, but also if the hardware fails. A practical solution is to create one complete backup of the whole computer and then regularly back up only the most important data. For this you can use the built-in tool »Backup and Restore«, with which you can create a complete backup of the disk. Alternatively, you can use freely available applications such as True Image or Macrium Reflect.