Windows: Best Anti-virus Software

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

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

Anti-virus Software

I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. Home page at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

For some virus, i also recommend Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Home page at http://www.malwarebytes.org/

But 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.

I do not recommend 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.

I've used the following around 2013. Not sure if the are still good.

PC Diagnostics, Registry Cleanup, …

I recommend all of the following.

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

Fake Antivirus Ware (Ransomware)

Hunting Down and Killing Ransomware By Mark Russinovich. At http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2013/01/07/3543763.aspx , accessed on 2013-01-07〕

See also: