Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials Review and Free Download

Security Essentials from Microsoft is definitely one of the best free antivirus programs available right now. Microsoft is relatively new to the antivirus game but don't let that scare you - Security Essentials is a fantastic antivirus program that protects you from all sorts of malware, updates automatically, and is incredibly easy to use. Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) supports Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. The anti-malware protection in MSE is part of the built-in Windows Defender tool in Windows 8.
Two of the biggest reasons I added Microsoft Security Essentials to this list of the best free antivirus software is because it's available directly from Microsoft and also because it's very easy to see if you're computer is secure from threats: if the icon next to your clock is green, you're good; if it's red, something is wrong.

Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2

Download Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2

Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2 protects you from several kinds of malware threats - viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, and more - just like all the other free antivirus programs in this list.
What makes Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2 one of the best free antivirus programs is that it does its job from "the cloud" meaning the hard antivirus work that typically slows down a computer is done on computers elsewhere on the Internet, freeing up your computer to work like it should and protecting you from malware even better.
Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2 supports Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
Tip: Panda Cloud Antivirus Free tries to install a toolbar and change your browser's home page and default search provider during the installation process. Uncheck those boxes before continuing if you don't want them. None of those changes are required to use Panda Cloud Antivirus.

avast! Free Antivirus 8

avast! Free Antivirus 8 Review and Free Download

AVAST Software's avast! Free Antivirus 8 most certainly deserves to be on any list of the best free antivirus
programs. avast! Free Antivirus has fully functioning antivirus and antispyware engines protecting your PC from threats from the Internet, your files, emails, and even instant messages.
avast! Free Antivirus 8 supports Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
One big reason I included avast! Free Antivirus 8 as a best free antivirus program is because of its "heuristics engine" which can detect previously unknown viruses and other malware. I also like the fact that AVAST has been making this antivirus product since 1988 and is often cited as the most installed antivirus product.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013 Review and Free Download

Anti-Virus Free 2013 from AVG is one of the best free antivirus software tools available and is probably my personal favorite.
AVG Anti-Virus Free is a full-fledged antivirus and antispyware tool, includes an email scanner, link scanner, scheduled scanning options, automatic updates, and more. There is no need to pay for an antivirus program when one this good is just a download away.
AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013 works on Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
The huge number of premium features, frequency of updating, and install-it-and-forget-it aspect of AVG's Anti-Virus Free 2013 really do make it one of the best of the best free antivirus programs available today.