Windows: Best Anti-virus Software

Xah Lee, 2009-08-08, …, 2013-01-23

This page lists the best anti-virus software for Windows.

Anti-virus Software

Here's a list of good anti-virus software.

• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

I recommend the Microsoft Security Essentials. Use that.

Don't run multiple anti-virus software on your machine. Run just one. However, you can install several, and use them to manually scan for viruses periodically.

Here's 2 others, but i haven't used them.

• AVG
• ClamWin

I do not recommend Norton AntiVirus or anything from Norton, nor McAfee.

Rootkit Detector

“rootkit” is the most nasty virus software. Once a rootkit infected your system, normal anti-virus software may not be able to detect it. Here's the tools to detect and remove them.

• GMER. download at http://www.gmer.net/.
• Kaspersky Lab's Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller. Download at http://support.kaspersky.com/5350

PC Diagnostics, Registry Cleanup, …

The software from Piriform are excellent.

• Piriform CCleaner (clear cache, etc.)
• Piriform Recuva (Data recovery)
• Piriform Defraggler
• Partimage (disk cloning)
• Windows Memory Diagnostic. Source oca.microsoft.com.

For other excellent software for Windows, see: List of Great Software for Microsoft Windows.

Fake Antivirus Ware (Ransomware)

See: 〔Hunting Down and Killing Ransomware 2013-01-07 By Mark Russinovich. @ blogs.technet.com…〕

See also:

• Windows: How to Remove “Win 7 Antivirus 2012”
• Windows: How to Remove “Antivirus Action” Malware