There are a number of antivirus programs available these days and each of them have their unique advantages and features to offer to uses. Sometimes it gets difficult for average computer users to choose the software they should install.

The best antivirus software is one that can combat various kinds of Trojans, malware threats, viruses and other suspicious programs that attempt to enter your computer usually through the internet and in some cases by flash drives or other devices you attach to your computer for data transfer. The antivirus software should detect and protect both the entry and exit points of viruses that can potentially harm your computer. It can also control the viruses from spreading to your network of computers.

Since most viruses enter your computer through the internet, the best antivirus software you choose should have features such as emails scanning to check the files you downloaded from the internet. If there is a threat found, the antivirus software should be able to block or remove those threats instantly. It should also be able to provide protection layer to your computer against hackers and cyber criminals.

Another vital feature that the antivirus software you choose is less installation time. Most of the best antivirus software takes five minutes or less to install and should start to work automatically. There should also be smooth and easy installation process. Preferably the installation process should be done in just few clicks. If the software installs quickly, then it will occupy lesser space in the memory of your computer and it will function faster as well.

The best antivirus software also has the feature of installing automatic updates on your computer. It should get updated on a regular basis and should install updates automatically as well to keep your computer protected against new threats launched every day. It should also be able to scan unknown software in your computer to make sure it can recognize new forms of threats and viruses.

When you find the best antivirus software that has exactly all of these features, then you can ideally use it on your computer.

The Avast Free Home Edition is one of the best free antivirus soft wares and has excellent virus and spyware detection rates. Its user interface is simple, functional and also, customizable. Its protection feature monitors seven ways in which viruses could enter your computer including email, web browsing, and file sharing and more. If you suspect that your PC has been exposed to viruses or spyware then Avast also allows you to scan during start up so you can detect and remove these infections.

The Avira Free Personal Antivirus is one of the best free antivirus products as well although it is not as full featured as Avast. It has an attractive interface but you may need to do some tweaking if you want it to function like Avast. According to AV-Test.org, Avira does a little bit better than Avast for virus detection however, it does have one snag. The free version of Avira does not protect against spyware as they have reserved the spyware detection feature for the paid version.

The AVG Antivirus Free Editions is also a popular antivirus product. Its user interface is very polished while being easy and comfortable to use. The AVG antivirus free edition detects both spyware and viruses but it does according to AV-Test.org, its detection rate is lower than both Avira and Avast. AVG does have some disadvantages one of which is that there is a good deal of functionality left out in the free version as compared to the paid version. Also, though it provides your PC with the basic protection, Avira and Avast are better as they cover more pathways. All three are easy to install as well as uninstall so take your pick.

Some other free antivirus softwares are a personal favourite such as Webroot Spy Sweeper and Kaspersky. With the former you can fit the settings to suit your style and the latter is one of the few antivirus softwares that work even against certain viruses or worms that make other products useless. Of course, the best way to protect your PC is to buy antivirus software however, if you cannot afford it you can use any of the above mentioned softwares.