- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista 32-bit/64-bit
- Date added: November 24, 2009
- Total Downloads: 81,401,935
- Downloads last week: 763,981
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 3136 votes
See all user reviews -

CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on March 17, 2009
Consistently at or near the top of independent efficacy testers, Avira's AntiVir remains one of the best freeware security solutions around. Its scans are flexible, allowing the user to fully scan both internal and external hard drives, run a preloaded scan--for rootkits, for example--or customize a scan. The latest version introduces 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--no more baby-sitting.
There are few interface changes in version 9, and older users are not likely notice anything different in the interface besides a refreshed banner logo. The main window offers a left side navigation with drop-down menus and a central pane for 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, and premium upgrade link. Events logs changes to the program and the Reports tab keeps a history of threats. Both are exportable.
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 their scans as necessary. Quarantined file information is on display, with options to scan it again, restore, delete, and e-mail the file to Avira. The rebuilt heuristic engine retains the same choices from the previous version's, and can be turned on or off in part or in full and offers three intensity levels. The scheduler offers much that other free antivirus programs don't, and the help features are excellent, with mouse-over information on each feature.
Savvy users will notice the removal of the on-demand e-mail scan, and AntiVir is still challenging to fully uninstall. Despite these hang-ups and the nag screen that follows definition file updates, AntiVir offers such effective protection and a well-rounded set of features that as long as the updates keep coming, it'll be our first line of defense.
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Publisher's description
From Avira :Avira AntiVir Personal Free Antivirus is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program, designed to offer reliable free of charge virus protection to home-users only. Avira offers: Extensive Malware Recognition of viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, worms; Automatic incremental updates of antivirus signatures, engine and entire software; Permanent virus protection, with Virus Guard real time monitoring; Install and configuration in just a couple of steps, setup to protect your PC in minutes; Virus protection against known and unknown threats, using an advanced heuristic system; Scheduler where you can set the scanner to make automatic virus scans or updates on your system; Forum and phone support; Knowledge Base with virus descriptions available on web site; Rootkit Detection and Removal; A modularized AV-search engine for improved scan performance.
Version 9 introduces a quick-removal button for eliminating viruses with a single click, enhanced anti-spyware and anti-adware engines, and support for low resolution netbook screens.
What's new in this version:
Version 9.0.0.415 is a maintenance release.More popular Antivirus Software downloads
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 3136 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 268 user reviewsSee all 268 user reviews
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415
"This is the one I am currently using!"
Pros: Awesome no nonsense can just set it and forget it and adjust your protection to your level of comfort.
Cons: I am happy and there really is nothing wrong. Don't complain about a pop-up that asks to go premium when updating..... It closes with a click. And why shouldn't they ask you when you get awesome protection for free.
Summary: Avira and AVG and Avast are three top contenders and you can do no wrong in choosing any of them, but that being said my least favorite was Avast but not by much. Just like the UI of the other twop better I guess.
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415
Pros: Hell yeah! All the dirt, the parasite and the electric-born virusly disease are terminated
Cons: The scan not really fast tou..
Disturb me when there is a new 'crap'... (when playing games)Summary: Ive been trying a number of antivirus products... Some of them can scan virus really good but at the same time they make my pc crash (cuz the virus infect the system thus the antivirus delete the system in order to delete the virus)... Some are hang... read more >>
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415
"the best anti-virus i ever been use."
Pros: fast in scaning all file type and easy to update if you already free register.
Cons: nothing to comment.
Summary: i guarentee you will not regret to use this anti-virus software.
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415
Pros: easy to use
Cons: none really
Summary: Easy to use, effiicient and free!
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus 9.0.0.415
"I didn't notice any changes after i ran it."
Pros: downloaded well.
Cons: didn't notice any improvement in my computer, just wanted to keep updating.
Summary: didn't like it and took it right back out of my computer.
- See all 268 user reviews Write review
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