There are numerous stories in the news about millions of Internet devices being hacked. While a majority of these hacks can be attributed to the hacker’s experience, there are also other factors to consider, such as the absence of security tools. There are a variety of free antivirus programs that offer solid protection against the most common threats.

If you’re looking for an antivirus to download for free, be sure to look for malware detection that is strong. The capacity of a program to differentiate malicious attackers like viruses, worms and ransomware attacks from innocent software is an important indicator of its effectiveness. Choose a scanner that can detect all kinds of malware, including rootkits and trojans and has 100% or near-perfect rate of detection for viruses.

Also, look for a program that does not slow down your system in any way. Certain programs may significantly impact the performance of your computer when it is scanning or performing other tasks that require a lot of effort. This makes it difficult to play games or take a look at the site here stream videos. Choose an antivirus that is lightweight, easy to install and uses little resources.

Extra features are also important. Certain antivirus programs come with cleaning tools that improve OS performance, accelerate startup times, and remove junk files. Others offer a virtual private network (VPN) that allows you to mask your online activity to shield your privacy from scrutiny. The majority of paid antivirus programs offer 24/7 email or live chat support. However it’s not always the case with free software.