CNET Editors' review
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 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. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program, designed to offer reliable free of charge virus protection to home-users only.
Version 7.06.00.268 adds support for Windows Vista 64 Bit edition.
What's new in this version: Version 7.06.00.268 adds support for Windows Vista 64 Bit edition.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 3,998 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 223 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Craped out 1st time went to use it."
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
craped out 1st time used
Cons
Came up with the following, couldn't determine what to do next.
ERROR 537 - WININET LIBRARY
CAN'T OPEN WINDOWS FILES TO CHECK
C:\pagefile.sys
C:\hiberfil.sys
Now what do I do? -
"Nice free virus protection"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
It is very fast, has a low false/neglegible detection rate and is updated regularly. I feel safe using this as my virus protection enough to not even think about ever paying for such a program. The last thing I love about it is how little system resources it takes up, even with the guard on, it uses less than any instant messenger.
Cons
I hate how when it finds a virus it stops everything and waits for you to decide what to do about every single higher risk one instead of giving the quarentine all option. There are very limited settings, you can't select for it to not start up with windows and the guard comes back on every reboot even if it was disabled before...
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"It works great, and it's free !!"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
This is the best free antivirus I have seen in a long time. I was a long time user of Symantec, and it kept getting more and more expensive. While looking around for something cheaper, I came across this. Consistently rates within top 5 in tests run by AV Comparatives, and I haven't had a single issue for more than a year.
Cons
Free version doesn't include anti-spam or firewall or anti-spyware. I use PC Doctor (comes free with Google Pack) for anti-spyware, and Zonelabs firewall (free) for comprehensive protection.
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"Happy. So so Happy."
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
Can match-up with the latest Enterprise/Corporate/Professional editions of other much popular Anti-Virus software.
Would choose rather than those "Most Downloaded" Anti-virus Freewares.
Cons
I am not so sure if this feature is already available in the PRO edition of Avira, or maybe I just can't find it:
Customizable, Automatic Actions for virus detections (No user intervention.).
(Ex.: Set it to "Quarantine and then Delete" for every time it detects a virus.)
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"GOOD"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
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"amazing"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
this software was success to protect my PC&laptop from trojan
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"super antivir"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
i like the ware
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"terrific"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
It keeps the virus's out of my system.
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"avira update"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
to update my home pc
Cons
for this time, i dont have think negative about this product.
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"Its free"
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.268
Pros
I feel secure to have some kind of protection and I am prepare to review your advertisers
Cons
what do I miss out by being free, do I really need to spend more money to feel secure?
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