- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 7/XP 64-bit/32-bit/Vista 32-bit/64-bit
- Date added: April 22, 2010
- Total Downloads: 101,084,550
- Downloads last week: 607,282
- Product Ranking: #3 in Antivirus Software
- See full specifications
- CNET Community
- This product is on 81 member lists. Add to my list Add to my Watch List
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 3375 votes
See all user reviews - CNET Editors' ChoiceApr 09
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on March 22, 2010
Avira's AntiVir has been a player in the security world for some time; however, in 2008 its status boomed because of its remarkably strong detection rates. It still remains near the top of independent antivirus efficacy tests, but while the 2009 version more or less kept pace with the competition, the 2010 edition isn't quite as good as it could be.
Both longtime and new users alike will note the pop-up ad that appears whenever a program update is downloading; it has been the unaddressed focus of critical and user dislike for several years. While the occasional ad that interferes with a user's work flow used to be considered tolerable for effective free security, that's no longer the case. Avira's lack of a silent-running entertainment-gaming mode is also noticeable, since so many free and paid competitors now offer the mode.
Except for the most cosmetic of changes, the app's interface is unchanged from version 8. There are new icons on the program's toolbar, a new static image background, and that's about it. The main window offers a left-side navigation menu with drop-down menus and a central pane to see more detailed information. AntiVir opens to the Status menu, informing you of your last scan, your last definition file update, whether the real-time guard is active; however, Avira removed the premium upgrade link in this version. The Events screen logs changes to the program and the Reports tab keeps a history of threats--information from both sections can be exported.
New features are a bit thin in the free version of Avira 10, too. A new generic-repair mode really just takes the choice out of how Avira tells you about the threats it has discovered. In version 9, you could be informed about them in the middle of a scan or at the end; however, now only the latter is available. Windows 7 users now have the capability to run a scan as an administrator directly from the interface, which is a smart, but minor improvement. Avira's installation sequence has been revamped, and now only takes users through five windows. Theoretically, this means it's a five-click installation, but new users will have to complete the registration form. However, its installation file unpacking process appears faster, and you no longer have to reboot after the install.
This isn't to say that AntiVir Free 10 isn't stuffed with robust features. The program offers a wide selection of scan customization, letting users fully scan both internal and external hard drives, run a preloaded scan--for rootkits, for example--or customize a scan. On a real-world computer, the full scan took about 1 hour and 12 minutes, which is average. Avira includes antispyware protections, scanning tech that can crack open "locked" files, improved internal security to prevent AntiVir's files from being maliciously altered, and one-click threat removal--baby-sitting was taken out in the last version.
The Local Protection and Administration navigation options reveal the Scanner, Guard, Quarantine, and Scheduler features. Combined with the Configuration button located at the top of the central pane, users can customize scans as necessary. When Avira quarantines a file, its information is on display along with options to scan it again, restore, delete, and e-mail the file to Avira. The apps rebuilt heuristic engine retains the same choices from the previous version had, and it can be turned on or off in part or in full and offers three intensity levels. Not counting the lively user forums, Avira's included help features are good for a free antivirus app, with mouse-over information on each feature. The scheduler, once a major Avira selling point because it was light-years ahead of other free security suites, has now been caught up to by its competitors.
AntiVir 10 doesn't require a special uninstallation tool, unlike many competitors do. In the end, Avira's free suite makes for an excellent backup suite, but its competitors have since caught up with or surpassed what it can do.
This review will be updated with CNET Labs benchmarks and third-party efficacy scores as they become available.
Watch the CNET video review of Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus:
Publisher's description
From Avira :If you don't have virus protection, your PC will be infected with malware in a matter of minutes. Avira AntiVir Personal offers basic protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, adware, and spyware that has been tried and tested over 100 million times worldwide. What's more, it is available free-of-charge. It not only protects against these types of malware, but offers as well, in case of an infection, the possibility of removing viruses very easily and repair the system automatically.
Functions: AntiVir stops all kinds of viruses; AntiAd/Spyware protects against adware and spyware; AntiRootkit detects hidden rootkits; QuickRemoval removes viruses at the push of a button; NetbookSupport support for computers with low resolution; AHeADTechnology detects even unknown viruses by their profiles; AviraSupport there for you in person when questions arise.
What's new in this version:
Version 10.0.0.567 is a maintenance release.More popular Antivirus Software downloads
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User reviews
- All versions: 4.0 starsout of 3375 votes
- 5 stars
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- 1 stars
- Current version: 3.8 starsout of 123 votes
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- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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4 stars
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Seems fine so far"
Pros: Recommended by the IT manager at work for home use. Also did some online comparisons and read reviews. Seems to work fine, but then I surf pretty safely.
Cons: None except the popup asking you to upgrade to the paid version, but can't hardly blame them for that.
Summary: It hasn't caught anything yet, but as far as I know it hasn't missed anything either.
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4 stars
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"i want to defeat viruses"
Pros: easy to download and easy to run it
Cons: it always like t get update
Summary: i like this because my friend using it but actually i did n`t really us this product because i had a bad spy ware that it does n`t allow to me to operate this product so i will format my H D and began using this products .
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN PROTECTION"
Pros: this is my favorite freeware security.! it can detect any virus though many false but at least it can detect and block the viruses, no need to scan PC! that's a good protection for me. scanning whole PC! is too hustle for me
Cons: many false positive well that's fine.
Summary: ONE OF MY FAVORITE
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"One of the best!"
Pros: It alerts you if there is a threat detected, and does so very well.
Has great definitions and heuristics.
Offers better protection than many leading anti-viruses.
I enjoyed using this program. Looks better than the older version.Cons: Gives you an ad when it updates, but still at least it updates automatically.
Summary: this is a really good program to use, And I've never had a problem with it, or it's previous programs, people should use use it!
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4 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Interestingly it chatches things that Norton is not"
Pros: It is a free version that is making me think I should look at the paid version instead of the Paid version I currently use.
It is free and worksCons: Some what slow in the scanning
Summary: I have not used long enough to comment much on the functions of this program. To date though I am impressed with it. Maybe after some time of use I will update. This is on a computer that is old and was not working when given to me. I updated AntiVir from version that was originally installed.
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5 stars
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Excellent protection and easy to use"
Pros: I like the ease of installation as well as the ease of use for me, especially since I am not very computer "savvy." A great program to protect my computer and help me feel confident that I have the best protection available.
Cons: There is nothing I dislike about this product.
Summary: I like this virus protection program. It is always updated (my prior "free" virus protection program (Avast) wasn't always updated in a timely manner and I had to manually update it quite often, leaving me feeling that the program didn't work properly.
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4 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Good program, and it doesn't hog my system's resources"
Pros: Seems to be doing what it's supposed to
It's not intrusive, so I hardly notice it's there
Fast when scanning and updating
Doesn't seem to hog all my memory or processor like others haveCons: Nagware--about once every 24 hrs a pop up ad asks if you want to upgrade to the paid version. I just click the "x" to close the window and it stays gone until the next day.
Summary: It was recommended to me by an IT security professional and has lived up to all my expectations for an antivirus program. I am pleasantly surprised to see that it doesn't use up a lot of my system memory, and I don't experience high cpu usage from it even when it's updating or scanning. Those were my chief complaints with my last AV software. The upgrade ad that pops up every day isn't as annoying as what I remember when my Norton was due for renewal.
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"For free software, it does a fine job."
Pros: It stops most viruses and that is a plus for free software.
Cons: It isn't top of the line, but it is free.
Summary: For reasonably good antivirus free software, this is great.
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5 stars
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Very easy to use and effective."
Pros: I like this program for it's ease of use.
Cons: Not much to dislike really.
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1 stars
17 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 10.0.0.567
"Latest Version Shuts Down By Itself"
Pros: Used to be great
Cons: The product stops and closes down a few minutes into the scan
Summary: Oh dear! I used to be a huge fan of Avira but it is now a liability and posiitvely dangerous. All editions of version 10 are a disaster, the very latest version released last week stops after a few minutes and closes itself down. I have since run both Avast and Microsoft Security Essentials and they both run fine. Aviira, what on earth have you done?
Over a month later and Avira have taken zero steps to remedy thiis appallling latest version of their product. Clearly they havs stopped caring about their free product clients. However it must be asked.. would you pay for a supposed premium product from these people? You only have to look at their own support forum. They are just telling anyone complaining to run Malwarebytes or Hijack This, they have so much faith in their product.
Updated on May 23, 2010 - Write review
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