Battle Bitdefender Free vs. Avast Free vs AVG Free vs Panda Free

[ifacedown]

Hello!

I have tried AVAST Free before (before acquiring AVG), AVG Free(before being bought by AVAST) and Panda Free. I was never infected because I am a careful user.
Now I am using Bitdefender Free and found it to be strong in protection and light. However, it becomes suddenly heavy and stalls my old netbook when it finds malware to clean. Also, even if I turn off its shield, its AVC will still take action - this irritates me so much (Sometimes even if exclusions have been set.)
What free antivirus could you advise which is light and effective, even those not included in the list? thanks.
Running Windows 10, Creators Update

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Rhetorical question...just to make sure if scan durations shorten

Rhetorical answer: Honestly, I have not inspected whether Avast!'s scans become quicker with the passage of time!

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Hello!

Actually I have no grunts against Avast, it is one of the companies who respect most your privacy (with Emsisoft), great protection and lightness.

I have only one negative comment for the new software.....

GUI Glitches!

Sometimes the Main Screen is almost blank.....only showing the placeholders for the images and texts...experiencing now on my old netbook (after 30 mins of fresh install), and have seen this too on our desktop...the GUI goes blank sometimes

Sadly, so called "Glitches" can often be the bane in many new updates of software, and very frustrating too!

 

[ifacedown]

Sadly, so called "Glitches" can often be the bane in many new updates of software, and very frustrating too!

Yes, this new GUI glitch is never present during their Nitro days....after some time after acquiring AVG then this glitch occurred. But of course it has nothing to do with AVG

 

[legendcampos]

Avira Free + Avira Browser Safety, good!

 

[ifacedown]

Avira Free + Avira Browser Safety, good!

Thank you!

But Avira Free is heavy on my old netbook!

 

[legendcampos]

Thank you!

But Avira Free is heavy on my old netbook!

For me it doesn't leave slow system depends on how configures, but it is fact Avira has many processes and general consumption revolves around 300k

 

[JakeXPMan]

3 Engines including Avira and Bitdefender?

AVG or Comodo Firewall / Avast free

I also liked using Comodo Cloud AV. It seemed light enough.

 

[JakeXPMan]

For me it doesn't leave slow system depends on how configures, but it is fact Avira has many processes and general consumption revolves around 300k

I had opposite experience, my Avira was extremely light, and no slowdown at all. (lack of behavior block compared to others) and if it was heavy at all it was a bit of CPU during the start up but calmed to 0 to 4 percent.

 

[ifacedown]

I had opposite experience, my Avira was extremely light, and no slowdown at all. (lack of behavior block compared to others) and if it was heavy at all it was a bit of CPU during the start up.

When it finds malware, Avira immediately starts a system scan - then my system halts.

 

[JakeXPMan]

When it finds malware, Avira immediately starts a system scan - then my system halts.

I guess laptop/netbook is different. As my old single core PC was able to use Avira very well, with no conflicts, even when removing 2 minor threats.

Can you try Comodo Cloud? it has a nice sandbox, or maybe Avast ?

 

[leguan]

Bitdefender free + bitdefender trafficlight + zonealarm firewall free + cyberason ransom free

 

[Kwan ST]

3 Engines including Avira and Bitdefender?

yes, and third is their cloud engine. I'm currently using 360TS+Crystal Security+Windows Firewall

 

[Kwan ST]

360 total security shows ad !!! just for your information

Just block in your firewall PromoUtil.exe from installation directory

 

[Kwan ST]

Really, is it bugless?

But it has ads as one commented here. Also, its BitDefender signatures do not update frequently

for ads block PromoUtil.exe in your firewall, Bitdefender signatures update frequently. I believe that was a problem for 360 TSE

 

[Kuttz]

Bitdefender Free simply a fuss free AV with absolutely no ads. BD Free is a bit heavy on RAM but not necessarily a slow AV by any mean. General usage scenarios like opening apps, folder navigation etc BD Free is more responsive than WD despite the latter consuming much less RAM.

The other thing which is a personal opinion is that Avast runs their Free AV as a business by selling user data to 3rd parties for advertisement purposes and there is always the possibility of Avast classifying files as good adware/spyware and bad adware/spyware. BD, Kaspersky on the other hand maintains Free AVs to promote their paid AVs and also to strengthen their intelligence collection network in order to capture zero day threats even better a debatable topic indeed.

 

[Hector1]

Stability: Windows Defender
Protection: Avast free
Easy of use: Bitdefender
Ads and unwonted promoted and useless app: Avg

 

[212eta]

1. 360 Total Security
2. Bitdefender Free
3. Kaspersky Free AV

 

[Sathya]

Bitdefender free uses the same engine for scanning as the one used in commercial one. No difference at all. You miss some features thats it. We all know of bitdefender reputation. Kaspersky and all other av use poor scanning engines.

 

[ifacedown]

Bitdefender free uses the same engine for scanning as the one used in commercial one. No difference at all. You miss some features thats it. We all know of bitdefender reputation. Kaspersky and all other av use poor scanning engines.

Well I think Kaspersky has good scanning engine.

About Bitdefender, it has good engine and good behavior blocker for a free product.

 

[ifacedown]

Bitdefender Free simply a fuss free AV with absolutely no ads. BD Free is a bit heavy on RAM but not necessarily a slow AV by any mean. General usage scenarios like opening apps, folder navigation etc BD Free is more responsive than WD despite the latter consuming much less RAM.

The other thing which is a personal opinion is that Avast runs their Free AV as a business by selling user data to 3rd parties for advertisement purposes and there is always the possibility of Avast classifying files as good adware/spyware and bad adware/spyware. BD, Kaspersky on the other hand maintains Free AVs to promote their paid AVs and also to strengthen their intelligence collection network in order to capture zero day threats even better a debatable topic indeed.

I read in some articles before that in many AV today, the two that respect most your privacy are:

Emsisoft and Avast.

Correct me if I'm wrong.