Windows users need a powerful antivirus program to protect themselves from malware attacks, keep their computers running, and protect their online identities and personal information. The Best-paid antivirus suites offer many features to protect children, manage mobile devices, and monitor a computer’s firewall, software updates, and other features. But some users do not want, or can not afford, to pay for these additional features and may need a free antivirus program.

If that describes you, you are in the right place. We evaluated the best free antivirus programs for malware protection, system impact, ease of use, and additional useful features.

Click here to download Free Antivirus

What happens if a virus infects a computer without an antivirus?

If a virus infects a computer without an antivirus program, it can delete files, prevent access to files, send spam, spy on you, or perform other malicious actions. In some situations, a computer may not meet the requirements of a virus, and the computer is only used to help spread the virus to other computers that can meet the requirements.

If your computer is infected with a virus without an antivirus program installed, you can commit a number of malicious actions.

What is Antivirus Software?

Antivirus programs are designed to protect your computer from malicious software, a term used to describe malware. And malware, including viruses, trojans, and keyloggers, can delete your files, slow down your computer and steal your personal data. Therefore, it is very important to choose a good antivirus program. Also, there are many antivirus programs available in the market, so it may be helpful to understand some of the functions performed by antivirus to be able to compare them.

Most antivirus programs include automated and manual scanning capabilities. Not only automatic scanning but also files downloaded from the Internet can be checked by the disks inserted in the computer and the files created by the software installers. This is because an auto-scan allows the entire hard disk to be scanned regularly. Also the manual scan option allows you to scan individual files or your entire system only when you feel the need.

Types of Antivirus software

1. Malware antivirus signature

The malware installs viruses and spyware on your computer or device without your knowledge. It can steal your login information, use your computer to send spam, crash your system, give cybercriminals access to your devices and the information stored in them, and even the ability to monitor and control your online activity.

2. Antivirus for system monitoring

This is where the antivirus software for system monitoring comes into play. This antivirus protection can monitor software and computer systems looking for suspicious or atypical behavior of the user.

For example, alerts are created when a user connects to unknown sites or tries to access a large number of files, or when there is a significant increase in data usage.

3. Antivirus machine learning

Another form of protection is machine learning techniques, which monitor the “normal” behaviors of a computer or network. The automatic learning antivirus software is able to limit the activities of programs or computers if they seem suspicious.

More specifically, machine learning detection implements algorithms that make it easier to detect malware that is broader in scope. This type of antivirus protection is advantageous because it works in conjunction with other antivirus applications to provide multiple layers of protection.

Free Antivirus Software for PC

We recommend that you use a complete antivirus solution to protect your Windows PCs. Although Windows Defender is built into Windows 10, its anti-malware capabilities may not be enough to tackle the constantly evolving threats. Download our full, free 30-day trial of RAM Ultimate Protection.

How to Install Antivirus Software

Step 1 – Purchase Antivirus Software

Before attempting to install antivirus software on a computer, you must purchase the software. Antivirus software can be purchased from an IT retailer or any online point of sale selling antivirus software, including free software. RAM Antivirus will give you the greatest flexibility in terms of installation options. Moreover, it contains all the features you need to rid your computer of harmful viruses.

Step 2 – Read the installation instructions

After purchasing the antivirus software, follow the installation instructions and take the time to review them to make sure you understand the system requirements for installing the antivirus software. When purchasing, you must have verified that the purchased software meets the operating system, microprocessor, and other requirements compatible with the computer you own. Otherwise, replace the software with software compatible with your computer.

Step 3 – Install the software

If the software was purchased in a package, remove the installation disc (s) from their package and place it in the CD or DVD drive. Follow the installation instructions that appear on the screen.

If the software has been downloaded from a website, follow the instructions provided for installing the antivirus software. Note the destination folder indicated during the initial phase of installation and note it in case you need to refer to it later.

Step 4 – Repeat the installation

Repeat the software installation on the second computer as soon as the installation is completed on the first computer. And to install antivirus software on another machine or on the following machine follow the same instructions on which you plan to install the software.

Features of RAM Antivirus

Real-time protection

RAM antivirus programs offer real-time protection. This means that the antivirus program protects your computer from incoming threats. Therefore, even if a virus has not infected your computer, you should consider acquiring an antivirus program to prevent further infections.

Threat Detection

RAM antivirus offers threat detection. This means that the antivirus program will scan your entire computer for viruses. Not all antivirus programs are created equal and some have a higher detection rate than others.

Automatic updates

Alerts

Most antivirus programs can warn you when a program tries to access your computer. An example would be an online application. Most programs that attempt to access your computer are harmless or downloaded voluntarily. Therefore, the antivirus program will give you the ability to allow or prevent access.