14 Free And Low cost Software That Protects Your Privacy

We live in a world where our every move is monitored and recorded. This isn't some dystopian future; it's the reality of life in the early 21st century. The loss of privacy doesn't just apply to big corporations and the state spying on your emails, phone calls, and web browsing. It also applies to the way we interact with each other. Social media platforms are designed to track your every interaction and use that data to predict what you're going to do next. Online advertising companies routinely track your browsing habits and use that information to show products you might like.

Thankfully, there are tools available to help us fight back against this relentless invasion of privacy online. Here are some free software tools that can protect your privacy:

1) Microsoft Security Essentials-

Why should you trust our top choice, Microsoft Security Essentials? Because it’s the only antivirus software that earned certification from AV-Test–an independent research organization that conducts regular tests of security products. The one downside? Some users complain about its sluggish performance.

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2)Avast Free Antivirus-

Both Kaspersky and Avast earned six points overall in their evaluations by AV-Test, but they each picked up perfect scores for protection against malware during specific periods. However, while Kaspersky has a 14-day free trial available, there’s no way to try Avast before installing it. But if you do install this product, be sure to turn off Avast’s toolbar installation during the setup process.

3)AVG Anti-Virus Free-

AVG’s Anti-Virus software offers good protection against malware, and it was one of the quickest products to earn certification from AV-Test. However, as with Avast, you can’t try it out before installing it. And AVG also installs a toolbar by default during the setup process.

4)Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition 2012-

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is a great product, but–like many other free antivirus solutions–it nags you to upgrade to a paid version sooner rather than later. You can live with the nag screens for a while, but eventually, you’ll get tired of them and want to upgrade.

5)ClamWin Antivirus Free-

You’ve probably never heard of ClamWin because we couldn’t find any independent lab tests that reviewed the product (though founder and lead developer Gregory Duck is hoping to change that). Still, ClamWin did reasonably well in our own hands-on malware blocking test. Plus, it supports nearly a dozen different languages.

6)BitDefender Free Edition-

Along with Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Avast Free Antivirus, Bitdefender earned six points overall from AV-Test for security protection–but perfect scores for usability during specific periods. However, while there’s a 7-day free trial of Bitdefender Antivirus, there’s no such trial for Bitdefender Internet Security.

7)Comodo Internet Security-

Comodo’s free security suite is one of the most comprehensive you’ll find, and it earned certification from AV-Test. However, during installation, it tries to upsell you on other Comodo products, which can be overwhelming for first-time users.

8)Emsisoft Emergency Kit-

This freebie from Emsisoft is a barebones but practical malware scanning utility. It doesn’t include all of the bells and whistles of some of the other entries on this list, but it will keep your PC safe from viruses, Trojan horses, and other malware.

9) Spybot Search & Destroy-

Spybot Search & Destroy is a venerable old product around 2002. It’s been updated regularly, and it still does an excellent job of keeping your PC free from spyware and other unwanted software.

10)Sophos Anti-Virus Free Edition 2009-

Sophos is one of the most respected names in the antivirus industry, and its free product has earned praise from numerous sources. But it recently went through a significant interface redesign that many users complained made it more difficult to use. We recommend skipping Sophos’s latest version for now–go with this older edition instead.

11)Symantec Norton Antivirus Basic-

Norton is easily one of the best-known PC security names, but Symantec’s products aren’t always our favorite. This edition scored well on AV-Test‘s hands-on malware elimination test, but some competing products did better at blocking attacks in live environments.

12)Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Free-

Trend Micro’s Titanium AntivirusFree product is a good choice if you’re looking for an antivirus solution that also offers some essential protection against online threats like phishing and spam. But it doesn’t include features like parental controls or a firewall.

13)Windows Defender-

If you’re running Windows 8, you already have Microsoft’s free Windows Defender security software installed. It doesn’t offer the same level of protection as some of the other products on this list, but it will protect your PC from the most common malware threats.

14)ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Firewall-

ZoneAlarm is undoubtedly one of the better free antivirus products out there, and it includes a simple firewall. However, ZoneAlarm’s primary business is selling its cyber threat solutions to enterprises rather than consumers. As such, its product will only appeal to those looking for essential protection–not those who want Web content filtering or parental controls. 

Conclusion:

 So there you have it: our picks for the best free antivirus software currently available on the internet. All of these products will keep your PC safe from the most common malware threats, and most of them offer additional features like firewalls and parental controls.