If you are diligent about treating your computer right, and by that I mean, not opening downloads from people you don’t know, not opening messages that are unknown and so forth, the free version of Avira’s AntiVir is probably all you need to keep your computer free of viruses. Consistently rated in the top five for effectiveness, AntiVir is also low-profile. It spawns only two background services and if there weren’t a system tray applet to access the program, you probably wouldn’t even know it was running. Basically, it is extremely light on your computer. Despite this, it offers just about every basic AV feature you’ll find in the major competition.
AntiVir’s interface is easy on the eye and easy to use for beginners. Unlike some of its competitors which make it difficult to access advanced settings, it also gives you all these with a simple switch to expert mode. Probably AntiVir’s neatest trick is auto-scanning directories as you navigate though them. You can turn it off and on when you need it, so you don’t have to leave it running all the time, but at least you know you have it available to you.
Obviously, you’re not going to get every neat feature with the free version of a pay program. Most notably missing in action is an e-mail scanner, though there is rootkit scanning. Rival free competitors provides usually provide the email scanner but not th erootkit scanning so you already have a leg up. The 20-Euro premium version of AntiVir adds the e-mail scanner as well as faster updates, anti-spyware features, and a browser add-in that helps guard against malicious Web sites and downloads. It also kills the nag screen you see when you download updates.
Although its major free competitor, AVG Anti-Virus Free, may offer one or two more features, Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Free has been consistently rated as better at detecting viruses by AV-Test.org. If you’re good about not opening strange attachments, AntiVir probably a slightly better choice.
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