Antivirus protection for personal computers is essential, irrespective of financial constraints. For those who may not have the budget for premium options, free antivirus tools are available. Among these, Avira Free Security stands out, offering not just antivirus capabilities but also features like a VPN, password management, and ad blocking. However, it is important to note that Avira does not provide a typical security suite experience; components such as firewall protection, backup, and spam filtering are notably absent. Moreover, many features are either fully or partially reserved for paying customers. For a more streamlined free suite, Avast One Essential may be a preferable alternative. For users primarily seeking basic antivirus protection, AVG AntiVirus Free is also a commendable choice, with both Avast and AVG being recognized as Editors’ Choice winners in the free antivirus category.
Avira’s Family History
Avira operates under the umbrella of Gen Digital, a conglomerate that also encompasses well-known brands like Avast, AVG, LifeLock, and Norton. This extensive collection of companies was not formed overnight; it began in 2016 when Avast acquired AVG, leading to the integration of their product lines utilizing a shared antivirus engine. Concurrently, Norton acquired LifeLock, and in 2020, Norton further expanded its portfolio by acquiring Avira. Shortly thereafter, Avira took over BullGuard, although Norton eventually phased out the BullGuard brand, transitioning its customers to Norton AntiVirus. The acquisition spree culminated in 2021 when Norton acquired Avast/AVG, establishing Gen as the parent company for this vast array of antivirus properties. Notably, these brands collectively utilize four distinct antivirus engines, with Avast and AVG sharing one, while BullGuard’s technology remains intact. According to sources within Gen, efforts are underway to develop a unified antivirus engine that amalgamates the best features of each technology.
Getting Started With Avira Free Security
The installation process for Avira is remarkably user-friendly. Once initiated, the installer suggests taking a brief pause for four to five minutes to allow for completion. Users can opt for a free installation or choose to purchase a license for Avira Prime. Following installation, Avira prompts users to run a Smart Scan, although this can be skipped for testing purposes. The main Status screen presents oversized icons for Security, Privacy, and Performance, with a straightforward menu on the left for navigation. A button allows users to initiate the all-encompassing Smart Scan, which will continue to remind users until it is executed.
The Smart Scan not only checks for active malware but also evaluates privacy settings, identifies performance enhancement opportunities, flags apps needing updates, and scans the network for potential security threats.
Excellent Lab Test Results
To complement hands-on evaluations of antivirus applications, I reference reports from four independent labs that conduct regular assessments. The inclusion of an antivirus in these reports signifies its relevance, and higher scores are indicative of superior performance. Avira has been tested by three of these labs, all of which awarded it perfect or near-perfect scores. The AV-Test Institute evaluates antivirus software based on three criteria: malware protection, usability (the ability to avoid false positives), and performance impact. In its latest report, Avira achieved a perfect score of 18 points, alongside several other tested applications.
AV-Comparatives, another testing lab, employs a different certification system, awarding Standard, Advanced, or Advanced+ ratings based on performance. In recent evaluations, Avira secured Advanced+ in two tests and Advanced in one, demonstrating commendable efficacy. Meanwhile, SE Labs employs a five-level certification system, where Avira has historically excelled but has not appeared in recent reports.
MRG-Effitas, based in London, assesses antivirus performance differently, focusing on near-perfect protection or total failure. Avira successfully passed tests for both banking Trojans and general malware defense. Overall, Avira’s aggregate score, derived from various lab results, positions it favorably among competitors.
Mixed Malware Protection Scores
Despite strong lab results, personal testing is equally crucial. I initiated my evaluation with a curated folder of malware samples. Avira promptly quarantined 73% of the samples upon recognition, a figure that falls short compared to competitors like UltraAV and ZoneAlarm, which eliminated 96%. However, Avira demonstrated its strength by successfully eradicating every ransomware sample on sight. Ultimately, Avira detected 97% of the samples, earning a score of 9.3 out of 10, placing it in the middle tier among tested antivirus tools.
Avira’s full scan, previously conducted in a separate window titled Luke Filewalker, has been integrated into the main application. A complete scan of a clean system took approximately 96 minutes, aligning closely with the current average scan time.
Excellent Phishing Protection
Phishing attacks, which trick users into divulging sensitive information, pose a significant threat. Avira’s web protection extends to identifying and blocking these fraudulent attempts. In testing, Avira achieved a perfect score of 100% in detecting phishing URLs, a notable improvement from previous evaluations. This performance places Avira among the top contenders in phishing protection, alongside other reputable antivirus solutions.
Security Features
Avira’s security features are accessible through a dedicated panel, offering virus scans, protection options, quarantine management, software updates, and firewall settings. Users can initiate quick or full scans, with the option to schedule regular scans. However, certain features, such as web protection and ransomware protection, require an upgrade to Avira Prime.
The Software Updater component identifies outdated applications needing security patches, although automated installation is limited to premium users. The firewall feature is similarly restricted, allowing only basic control over the built-in Windows Firewall.
Privacy Features
Avira’s privacy suite includes a browser safety extension, VPN, password manager, file shredder, and privacy settings management. The browser safety feature helps users avoid malicious sites, while the VPN offers limited functionality in the free version, capping bandwidth at 500MB per month. The password manager facilitates secure credential storage but lacks advanced features found in other premium offerings.
Additionally, Avira provides a file shredder to permanently delete sensitive files, ensuring they cannot be recovered. The privacy settings component allows users to manage over 140 settings related to data sharing and telemetry.
Performance Features
Avira includes various performance-enhancing features aimed at optimizing system efficiency. The optimizer identifies and removes junk files, while the driver updater scans for outdated drivers. However, many of these features are tied to the separate Avira System Speedup application, which is laden with upsell prompts for premium features.
Overall, while Avira Free Security offers a plethora of features, its limitations in functionality without payment and the separation of some performance tools detract from its overall effectiveness as a comprehensive free suite.
