- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: May 25, 2007
- Total Downloads: 30,369,878
- Downloads last week: 658,460
- See full specifications
A newer version of Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 2875 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
For a free antimalware and antivirus app that also runs in your system's background, AntiVir works surprisingly well.
AntiVir's scans are flexible, allowing the user to fully scan all hard drives, choose a preloaded scan--for rootkits, for example--or customize a scan. Combining the antimalware with the antivirus is a luxury in a free scanner. After testing on several machines no viruses turned up, although several malicious hidden files did rear their heads. The heuristic scan can be turned on or off completely or partially, with three different intensity levels.
The quarantine is extensively thorough, too. The spreadsheet layout displays all relevant information about the quarantined file, and gives you options to scan it again, restore, delete, and more. The scheduler is fully customizable. However, the updater slowly chugs along, but thankfully updated definitions files are available at Avira's Web site. The help features in AntiVir were excellent, as well, with a description box relaying mouse-over information on each feature.
Initial concerns about the real-time Guard protection hamstringing system performance proved groundless. Although we could shut off AntiVir and its Guard, there was no way to remove the icon from the system tray or stop the occasional ad placement by Avira. The Complete Scan is numbingly slow, but it will stop midscan and let you know when it's found a threat. That's good for killing nasties, but it also means that you have to baby-sit it.
AntiVir's volume of features might take a while to get used to, but as long as the definitions file updates keep coming, this app's a keeper.
Watch the CNET video review of Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic:
Publisher's description
From Avira :Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic - FREE is a reliable free antivirus solution, that constantly and rapidly scans your computer for malicious programs (such as viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers etc.), monitoring every action executed by the user or by the operating system and being able to react promptly when a malicious program is detected. Actions include repair, delete, block, rename and quarantine programs or files. Version 7.00.04.15 adds Vista Support, new Rootkit detection and removal.
What's new in this version:
Version 7.00.04.15 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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User reviews of Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 2875 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 138 user reviewsSee all 138 user reviews
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40 out of 52 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
"Excellent, free anti virus application."
Pros: For a free anti virus application, it's outstanding. Some complain, that theres no email guard. For those, I recommend spending $27 dollars and getting the premium version. But this software is so effective at blocking all types of malware, email guard is not really necessary. Email viruses come in compressed and other email attachments, not in a written email. People should already know this and should be careful. If you try to download and open an infected email attachment, it will stop you in your tracks. It has the largest data base there is, runs light, though not real fast and is excellent at detecting and removing viruses, trojans, worms and even some spyware, It's also very user friendly. This is an exceptionally good, free anti virus application that runs great with "Vista" and "XP".
Cons: No cons at all with this application. This is the best, free anti virus software available.
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138 out of 211 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
Pros: I've used every free anti virus software ever made and none can out perform this one. Best detection and removal I've ever seen in freeware. I've been using it for over a year and have been virus and trojan free the whole time. To top it off, I have bad surfing habits. "Avast" is good too, and fun but this is the only free anti virus I'll use and recommend so strongly.
Cons: None at all. Whine about this program and your a troll.
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12 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
Pros: Now that AOL/AVS is being discontinued, it was time to start looking for a replacement. AntiVir had always been "my fave" but had to be uninstalled because of s/w-conflicts (???) but now it was time for a 2nd-chance. WOW... just as light & fast as ever, and their update-servers are faster than before (2 min. instead of 5-7). AND NO F/P'S ON FRESH-INSTALL OF XP.
Cons: Didn't need the root-kit detector but it is optional.
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23 out of 23 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
Pros: excellent in scanning for catching trojan/viruses, and thats important for your computer..
Cons: the ad popup makes it look a bit unworthy product marketing..remember it free
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14 out of 15 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.00.04.15
Pros: First of all, I want to say that Avira makes one of the best commercial antiviruses (Premium Edition). Personal Edition doesn't have an e-mail scanner and protection from adware, spyware and keyloggers (these functions are available only in Premium Edition). But the protection from viruses, trojans and worms is perfect!!! Like paid version this freeware has a very fast-scanning engine and large base of signatures. I strongly recommend this application to all users because its detection percentage leaves other freeware antiviruses eating dust.
Cons: Because Avira has no spyware protection you need to install any antispyware application like Spyware Blaster or Arovax Shield. It is not a serious disadvantage but I have to say about it.
- See all 138 user reviews Write review
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