Hidden errors slow down system performance - FACT.One of the most important aspects of securing your computer from hackers, viruses, and spyware is through installing an antivirus. It’s also, perhaps, the most difficult choice as there are many antivirus software out there, including paid software such as Symantec Norton Antivirus or NOD32. Most of the paid antivirus have yearly subscription prices which makes them an unviable option for lite computer users. On numerous occasions I have been asked which is the best free antivirus or which antivirus will not slow down my computer etc and this article seeks to answer these questions.
Any of these 4 free antivirus will be able to protect your computer from viruses and hackers though you should keep in mind that you will need to update your antivirus every couple of days so that it stays effective.
1. Avast
Avast provides both free and paid antivirus solutions. From their feature rich free version, I would think that lite users would be adequately protected. The free version of Avast provides real-time protection which is a must for any antivirus solution though many free antiviruses don’t provide this feature. Avast also has favorable reviews which adds to its reputation of being reliable. It also protects protocols such as P2P, IM, Network and Web Shields. In my opinion, it is the best free antivirus on the market right now. It supports Windows 7, Vista, 2000 and XP (both 32 and 64 bit).
Avira AntiVir released version 10 just 2 days ago which adds cloud-based detection meaning it should perform much faster than before. Avira is frequently featured on top of every free antivirus list and that is because it performs to a high degree of standard for home users. Version 10 of this free antivirus adds many new features which puts it on top of AVG Free in this list. It also includes adware and spyware protection. It supports both Windows and UNIX.
AVG is a pioneer of free antivirus solutions. AVG offers both paid and free versions of its antivirus and although many people criticize the great amount of features slashed in the free version, it is still undoubtedly one of the best free antivirus right now. I have personally used it for many years and have been very satisfied with its performance. It provides excellent virus detection with real-time capability to block any virus from entering your system. One of the key advantages of AVG is that it is light on resources and has automatic updates. It is also probably the most popular free antivirus solution to date. It also provides spyware protection which is an added benefit. It supports Windows 7, Vista, 2000 and XP.
Panda Cloud Antivirus is a relatively new free antivirus solution and works on cloud-based detection. The prime advantage of it is the short time needed for it to fully scan your computer for viruses. Users have reported scanning time to be as low as 5 minutes. It offers real-time virus protection while not using a lot of system resources. This antivirus would be great for low-powered computer systems. It supports Windows 7, Vista and XP.
Any of the above four antivirus solutions should provide sufficient protection for home users while keeping a check on system resources and providing timely updates to new viruses.
I use Immunet Protect (http://www.immunet.com/user/new), and it’s great. You can either run it alone or side by side with existing AV software, which I came across on Immunet’s support page: http://support.immunet.com/index.php/Immunet_Protect_Software_Requirements_%28Beta%29
As far as I can tell, they are the only ones who have a community-centric approach to AV– meaning if anyone within the Immunet community encounters a virus, it is detected by Immunet and members are automatically protected. Pretty neat approach.
I think I’ll stick by avg
It uses an amazingly low amount of cpu power just to operate and i always find it warning me when i go on a website that has some kind of malware. It just works., which is awesome. 
informative stuff, thanks
It is not necessary to install an antivirus, I am living without it for ages from now.
And Microsoft Security Essentials. If you haven’t tried it I suggest you get it as it’s so smooth plus really fast and it really does get the job done… Microsoft Rocks
Microsoft Security essentials is the best free antivirus, software available real time security with super-fast scans you can’t beat it Microsoft Rocks. software security online security is a must for today computers without any antivirus software your computer system is already compromised. online virus scan, keep the hackers out of you system with top of the range antivirus software for your system.
Yeah I must even admit that…. it is such a good rather best AV program since i installed it on my PC, the whole machine was clean and efficient download it ITS FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PROMISE!
I think all your recommendations are decent choices for free AV protection but in my opinion, Avira stands head and shoulders above the rest. I say this because it has great detection rates and is low on system resources. I actually use this on my own home PC even though I work for a computer repair company and get discounts on commercial software!