Antivirus programs can be helpful however they’re not a guarantee of internet safety. They’re designed to prevent malware from infecting your computer and safeguard your data from being stolen by scanning for malware-ridden files on your drive and online. They can also scan archives and check email databases for attachments. They can perform deep scanning process that scans executables and CHM files.

Free antivirus programs do not offer features like advanced web protections or identity protection, which are available in premium security suites. It’s nevertheless important to know what you require from your cybersecurity program before choosing a free program.

The majority of free antivirus programs we tested How to prevent virus are very good at detecting malware and offer basic security. However some of the free programs come with several extras such as a free VPN service (up to 100MB per day) and a password manager storage optimization feature, parental controls.

Most free antivirus programs, unlike premium antivirus software, will collect information about your device and your online activities in order to encourage you to purchase their paid plans. This may include pop-up advertisements and messages that encourage you to buy their partners’ products and other strategies. However, this shouldn’t stop you from using a good free antivirus for Windows. The programs we tested are simple to use, feature user-friendly dashboards, as well as outstanding customer service.