An anti-virus is required on all Windows computers as a minimum security measure to protect against malware, computer viruses and web infections.
While the more prudent prefer to install professional antivirus, the more naive often rely on free solutions, but both categories of users end up weighing down their computers with often superfluous and useless tools and software that we can call bloatware .
By bloatware we mean big software and full of unsolicited functions, which surround the main one.
A bloatware antivirus is therefore the one that in addition to real-time protection from malware, the main function, also includes many other scan or security tools that may seem useful, but that in reality do nothing but weigh down the operations.
In addition, a defect of many free antiviruses is to offer the paid version continuously with advertising popups, to request registration via email, to display banners and ads or to be accompanied with sponsor software (often in the form of extensions and additional components for the browser).
While we have already seen which are the best free antivirus, in this list we are going to narrow down the field by reporting only free antivirus without advertising, bloatware and unnecessary additional tools .
In practice only antivirus that protect your computer from malware and viruses, without other outline functions.
1) Windows Defender on Windows 10
The first and most natural of these antiviruses is Windows Defender, the antivirus already included in Windows 10, which for most people is all it takes.
Windows Defender had some problems a few years ago, but today it has become a respectable antivirus, integrated into the Windows 10 system and including the most modern threat detection technology, even those not yet discovered.
Windows Defender is an invisible antivirus, it never disturbs the user, it does not have premium paid versions, it does not have advertising, it does not have popups, it does not have different versions for companies and home users.
In addition, Windows Defender updates itself through Windows Update, which is automatic in Windows 10.
Windows Defender is also included in Windows 8.1, albeit in a less powerful version.
Who has Windows 10 really has no reason to go looking further, the antivirus is already present and works very well.
2) Sophos Home
Sophos is not the most famous name when it comes to antivirus, but remains one of the most excellent products, above all because the free version is complete like the paid version of any other antivirus, clean, without traps and without bloatware.
The only thing required is to register an account before downloading the installer.
Once Sophos is ready, you can manage protection from a simple panel without advertisements.
This antivirus is useful in its web filter, if you want to exclude sites considered violent, those with gambling and for adults, by keeping children safe.
3) Immunet
Immunet is an open source, complete antivirus powered by the ClamAV engine.
Immunet has particular characteristics compared to other antiviruses: meanwhile it does not have a paid version, then it can coexist together with another antivirus, as additional protection.
It is also a community-based antivirus that means that if an infection is detected on a computer, it is automatically blocked on other Immunet users' PCs as well
4) Bitdefender Antivirus free
Those looking for a free "branded" antivirus, to be more sure of reliable and brand-guaranteed protection, can download and install the free version of BitDefender Antivirus, which works very well and is complete, without giving the feeling of having a product limited.
After installation, Bitdefender will ask you to log in to an account, indicating any email address.
After activating Bitdefender, you can click on the gear icon at the top of the window, go to the Account information and disable the option that shows advertisements and special offers to buy the paid version.
5) Panda Free Antivirus
Panda is a powerful antivirus that can be used without displaying advertisements.
To do this, just uncheck the three boxes of the special offers screen that appears when installing the program, avoid installing the unnecessary Panda browser extension and do not change the homepage and search provider.
Panda will ask for an email address to create an account at launch, but you can skip this step without problems.
Once Panda is installed, all the ads can be disabled in the settings to install the paid version.
From now on, Panda will be invisible and will run in the background without bothering you unless a threat is detected.
The key feature of Panda is that it is a cloud-based antivirus, therefore very light and taking up little disk space.
6) Avira Free Antivirus
Avira is the only one of the three great free antivirus that we mention in this article (the others are AVG and Avast) because it is, to date, the one with the least hassles.
Avira is light as antivirus, as long as you avoid installing unnecessary and unnecessary extra products that accompany it during installation (such as Avira Safe Shopping and Avira System Speedup and extensions).
Occasionally a popup may appear asking you to install the paid premium version, but not so frequently.
Avira is considered one of the best antivirus in the world, generally (not only among the free ones).
When downloading, choose the antivirus only version and not the suite that includes unnecessary stuff.
While Avira is at its limit, AVG and Avast (the free versions) cannot be included in this list because they include a lot of junk in their installation, are heavy and force users to view advertisements for paid versions.
While the more prudent prefer to install professional antivirus, the more naive often rely on free solutions, but both categories of users end up weighing down their computers with often superfluous and useless tools and software that we can call bloatware .
By bloatware we mean big software and full of unsolicited functions, which surround the main one.
A bloatware antivirus is therefore the one that in addition to real-time protection from malware, the main function, also includes many other scan or security tools that may seem useful, but that in reality do nothing but weigh down the operations.
In addition, a defect of many free antiviruses is to offer the paid version continuously with advertising popups, to request registration via email, to display banners and ads or to be accompanied with sponsor software (often in the form of extensions and additional components for the browser).
While we have already seen which are the best free antivirus, in this list we are going to narrow down the field by reporting only free antivirus without advertising, bloatware and unnecessary additional tools .
In practice only antivirus that protect your computer from malware and viruses, without other outline functions.
1) Windows Defender on Windows 10
The first and most natural of these antiviruses is Windows Defender, the antivirus already included in Windows 10, which for most people is all it takes.
Windows Defender had some problems a few years ago, but today it has become a respectable antivirus, integrated into the Windows 10 system and including the most modern threat detection technology, even those not yet discovered.
Windows Defender is an invisible antivirus, it never disturbs the user, it does not have premium paid versions, it does not have advertising, it does not have popups, it does not have different versions for companies and home users.
In addition, Windows Defender updates itself through Windows Update, which is automatic in Windows 10.
Windows Defender is also included in Windows 8.1, albeit in a less powerful version.
Who has Windows 10 really has no reason to go looking further, the antivirus is already present and works very well.
2) Sophos Home
Sophos is not the most famous name when it comes to antivirus, but remains one of the most excellent products, above all because the free version is complete like the paid version of any other antivirus, clean, without traps and without bloatware.
The only thing required is to register an account before downloading the installer.
Once Sophos is ready, you can manage protection from a simple panel without advertisements.
This antivirus is useful in its web filter, if you want to exclude sites considered violent, those with gambling and for adults, by keeping children safe.
3) Immunet
Immunet is an open source, complete antivirus powered by the ClamAV engine.
Immunet has particular characteristics compared to other antiviruses: meanwhile it does not have a paid version, then it can coexist together with another antivirus, as additional protection.
It is also a community-based antivirus that means that if an infection is detected on a computer, it is automatically blocked on other Immunet users' PCs as well
4) Bitdefender Antivirus free
Those looking for a free "branded" antivirus, to be more sure of reliable and brand-guaranteed protection, can download and install the free version of BitDefender Antivirus, which works very well and is complete, without giving the feeling of having a product limited.
After installation, Bitdefender will ask you to log in to an account, indicating any email address.
After activating Bitdefender, you can click on the gear icon at the top of the window, go to the Account information and disable the option that shows advertisements and special offers to buy the paid version.
5) Panda Free Antivirus
Panda is a powerful antivirus that can be used without displaying advertisements.
To do this, just uncheck the three boxes of the special offers screen that appears when installing the program, avoid installing the unnecessary Panda browser extension and do not change the homepage and search provider.
Panda will ask for an email address to create an account at launch, but you can skip this step without problems.
Once Panda is installed, all the ads can be disabled in the settings to install the paid version.
From now on, Panda will be invisible and will run in the background without bothering you unless a threat is detected.
The key feature of Panda is that it is a cloud-based antivirus, therefore very light and taking up little disk space.
6) Avira Free Antivirus
Avira is the only one of the three great free antivirus that we mention in this article (the others are AVG and Avast) because it is, to date, the one with the least hassles.
Avira is light as antivirus, as long as you avoid installing unnecessary and unnecessary extra products that accompany it during installation (such as Avira Safe Shopping and Avira System Speedup and extensions).
Occasionally a popup may appear asking you to install the paid premium version, but not so frequently.
Avira is considered one of the best antivirus in the world, generally (not only among the free ones).
When downloading, choose the antivirus only version and not the suite that includes unnecessary stuff.
While Avira is at its limit, AVG and Avast (the free versions) cannot be included in this list because they include a lot of junk in their installation, are heavy and force users to view advertisements for paid versions.
