Microsoft Defender isn't bad, but it's not enough to fully protect your PC. You don't have to pay extra, though—just use one of the top free antivirus apps we've tested.

In 2025, most devices feature built-in antivirus software that scans files you attempt to download, blocking anything it deems suspicious. Antivirus tools also perform automated scans to remove ...

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Avira is a cybersecurity company known for its freemium ...

Security software is a real free-for-all these days. Sure a few strings might come attached — some free anti-virus software and online scanners are strictly for personal use and you might need to put ...

You get what you pay for. That’s what they always say, right? And while that can be true for many things, antivirus software is a little different. There are reputable free antivirus solutions out ...

There are times when you can get something that's really good for free. PC Magazine recently rated a whole bunch of free security software and they found a number of products that did a really good ...

Over 300,000 new types of ransomware and other malicious software are discovered daily, according to the IT security research institute AV-TEST. Computer viruses can slow your devices, create a slew ...

Company slates highly anticipated no-cost security offering for download in the morning; 4.7MB Security Essentials is the Microsoft's replacement for Windows Live OneCare Microsoft confirmed that it ...

Windows users essentially pay a Microsoft tax for every PC they buy — the cost of extra security software they need to buy every year, plus the time it takes to rid their PCs of “crapware” and other ...

Although one of the top consumer security vendors welcomed Microsoft’s Security Essentials to the market, another dismissed the new free software as a “poor product” that will “never be up to snuff.” ...

Dear PropellerHeads: My friend told me to stop paying for Windows PC security and use one of the free products out there. Is it safe? Answer: Safe is relative. So free anti-virus protection might be ...