Verdict
Part of Gen Digital , Avira Free Security carry on to allow highly efficient free malware protection , although its extra feature of speech focalize more on system optimisation than protection .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Avira Free Security has a longstanding report as a lightweight antivirus cortege that will break away on almost anything .
Although it was bought out by NortonLifeLock , which then blend withAvastto produce the Gen Digital parent company , Avira retains its own blade and , most importantly , its own sleuthing engine and research team .
However , its lack of a silent mode or dedicated ransomware protection means that its overall feature set is a fiddling less useful than that of some free challenger .
Malware detection performance
The Avira malware detection engine ’s operation has recovered in the late Ab - TEST outcome , scoring 100 % truth across the board , with no untrue positives .
Over at AV Comparatives , it was also in the top flight of performance , with a 99.8 % accuracy military rank when it came to detect malicious software and just two false positive .
SELabs obtain that it protected against 100 % of test malware sampling , but that not all of these were obstruct – some were instead neutralised after they ’d really infected the test system .
Features
Avira Free Security ’s interface is distinctive for a modern AV suite : a greyscale ground with large ikon to make it easy to sail its various features . It give on a Status Scan tab , which scans for and removes unwanted filing cabinet , mostly from memory cache folders , and registry entries . It will extend to fix your privacy options , speed up start - up time , and update superannuated apps for you – if you upgrade to the premium version of Avira .
More utile is the second pill , Security , with which you’re able to lead up on - demand scan , chink quarantined file cabinet , scan for apps in need of updating , get at the Windows firewall , and enable and disable Avira ’s unlike auspices modules .
This demonstrate that gratis user only get access to the literal - time trade protection mental faculty , which monitors your PC at all times and scans any potentially malicious programme that attempts to make changes to your machine .
If you tap the dedicated web , email and ransomware protection module , you ’ll be incite to sign to Avira Prime . This is less generous than many of Avira ’s free contender , but it ’s deserving bearing in mind that tangible - time shelter is the most critical component of any modern anti - malware tool for day - to - daylight defence force .
Avira ’s companion Password Manager has a free variant ; but , although free users can sync across machine , you ’ll have to yield for password surety checking and it is n’t as polished as rivals such asBitwarden .
A file shredder catch free of files and overwrite them so that they ’re irrecoverable , while the Privacy configurations peter helps you tweak Windows and installed applications ’ configurations so that they do n’t inadvertently share more than you want them to .
You ’ll find even more tools under the Performance tab , with service program to locate and delete duplicate files , a performance optimiser , a gadget driver update chequer , and a creature to tweak your laptop battery options , in gain to a selection of organization stop number and screen background optimisation tool .
If you produce an Avira story , you may sign your email address up for a breach monitoring serve .
It ’s worth noting that an interruption - free game / film / fullscreen modal value is only available in Avira ’s paid - for offerings , however .
Best Offers
Should you buy it?
If you ’re an existing Avira Free user running an onetime version of Windows , then stick with it , by all means . It ’s Light Within on system resourcefulness and fills an of import gap in Microsoft ’s financial support . RivalAvasttends to do a piffling better on malware protection , though .
In the late test data point , Avira was n’t as effective asAvast , and it ’s not as hassle - detached asMicrosoft Defender . If you like its user interface and features , stick with it – it ’ll keep you safe , but I prefer both those free antivirus choice .
Final Thoughts
Avira Free Security ’s redundant features are unusually generous for a complimentary anti - malware suite , and it will go mirthfully on Windows 7 and 8.1 . However , for Windows 10 and 11 organisation , current trial run show that it ’s a little less efficacious at keeping malware off your PC than rivalAvast , whileMicrosoft Defenderis a beneficial zero - maintenance selection for Windows users .
Although its malware signal detection public presentation was absolutely hunky-dory in the late tests , the lack of a silent detection mode feel like an oversight in the modern antivirus grocery .
Trusted Score
How we test
We use every antivirus software system suite ourselves , so we can check out the various features , as well as overall functionality and rest of manipulation .
For malware detection , scheme encroachment and false confident performance , we habituate data point from reliable third - political party testing house , including AV - Test , AV Comparatives and SE Labs .
FAQs
Yes , it ’s perfectly safe to habituate and can be swear .
Yes , Avira Free Security is spare to use for as long as you desire . Although sealed feature are lock behind the premium grade ’s paywall .
