- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: February 13, 2008
- 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 is a comprehensive, easy to use antivirus program, designed to offer reliable free of charge virus protection to home-users only. Avira offers: 1.Extensive Malware Recognition of viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, worms, etc. 2.Automatic incremental updates of antivirus signatures, engine and entire software. 3.Permanent virus protection, with Virus Guard real time monitoring. 4.Install and configuration in just a couple of steps, setup to protect your PC in minutes. 5.Virus protection against known and unknown threats, using an advanced heuristic system. 6.Scheduler where you can set the scanner to make automatic virus scans or updates on your system. 7.Forum and phone support, Knowledge Base with virus descriptions available on web site. 8.Vista Support. 9. Rootkit Detection and Removal. Version 7.06.00.270 adds Rootkit Protection.
What's new in this version:
Version 7.06.00.270 adds Rootkit Protection.
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User reviews of Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
- Average user rating: 3.9 stars out of 2875 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 125 user reviewsSee all 125 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
Pros: this found everything kaspersky found. impressive! can't tell when it's running. this is the only free security program i've ever recommended. when an infection is found it is delt with immediately, unlike avast or avg this will not lock up your computer for over 5 minutes to get a simple file quarantined.
Cons: even the little pop-up for the full version doesn't get a negative comment considering how good this words. i just never imagined i would ever rate a free security program over 1 star.
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5 out of 6 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
"#1 On Demand Single Engine Virus Detection AV Comparitives"
Pros: Hey it's not perfect but it's free. Yeah It takes a long time to do a complete scan but the resources it pulls to do the scan are moderate so you can multitask. I am scanning right now as I am typing this there is no slow down for me. Go to AV comparitives web site or Virus Bulletin web site and check out the info on it. It's detection rate is outstanding. The only drawback it has more than average false positives.
Cons: Nothing. I could complain a little but heck it's free. Germans make pretty good software.
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6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
Pros: I mostly rely on Avira to protect my PC from viruses, even though I pay for another program I have installed, This new version seems to be more improved.
Cons: I have nothing negative to say about Avira.
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0 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
Pros: ok
Cons: it slow scanner
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10 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Version: Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic 7.06.00.270
"It's the Alpha anti-virus in the free catagory."
Pros: Looking for a dependable, free anti-virus program? look no further. This one is a great performer. Solid detection and removal, trustworthy, no freaking on old c:system/volume/information (those are old restore points and nothing to be concerned with). It's light and loads fast, it's recognized by MS security center. Plainly put, it's an outstanding free anti-virus program.
Cons: Nag screen but who cares? Deal with it for what you get or look elsewhere.
- See all 125 user reviews Write review
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