Finding a lightweight antivirus for Windows 7 and older versions of this OS is considered a fairly popular topic today, because not every user has a powerful PC capable of “coping” with intensive applications. Every gadget and device needs an antivirus, since without it the risk of the device becoming infected with malware increases significantly. Various companies offer fast, lightweight, yet extremely reliable antiviruses that are ideal for budget computers.

As mentioned earlier, not all people have the opportunity to buy a PC with the latest configuration, a powerful processor, a solid amount of RAM, the latest video card, and so on. Therefore, many people opt for lightweight antiviruses for computers with medium and low configurations.

To finally determine whether a particular security program is suitable for a weak computer, it is necessary to analyze a number of aspects by type:

• simultaneous work with demanding utilities;
• downloading information from the Internet;
• threats from dubious resources;
• speed of copying or transferring information to the HDD;
• background functioning.

The best lightweight antiviruses for Windows 7

Many users have already been able to understand that on weak PCs, powerful antiviruses eat up almost all system resources, which is why the computer begins to slow down. Some companies took care of owners of budget devices and offered lightweight antiviruses for weak computers, which guarantee data protection without slowdowns or system overloads.

Comodo Internet Security

It is a well-proven free antivirus designed for budget PCs and consumes a minimum of RAM and other resources. It is able to provide protection both from threats from files and from the Internet. This program includes an antivirus with a firewall and a behavioral blocking system, so the virus will not penetrate the user’s PC in any way.

The following advantages of this utility can be highlighted:

• one service capable of monitoring all devices;
• full protection from spyware applications and Internet attacks;
• blocking dubious resources and downloads;
• assistance in locating devices that have been stolen or lost;
• ability to work on a PC with minimal requirements.

The above-described advantages distinguish this program from all others.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2016

The main feature of Trend Micro Internet Security 2016 is its extremely specific design. The antivirus interface and transitions between windows are considered animated. It is possible to choose one of the proposed design themes or even set absolutely any image as the background of the program.

The antivirus works quite smoothly on weak computers and includes a number of the following features:

• online scanning. We are talking about a file antivirus that monitors the file system around the clock;
• deb filtering. A special web screen created to filter HTTP traffic opens. Despite the fact that the above program automatically installs its extensions, even without them web protection works fine;
• checking the computer's performance. The utility checks for the latest updates for Windows OS, analyzes account and firewall settings, allows you to edit the list of software that downloads automatically, finds “garbage” in your PC and clears history;
• privacy scan. In this case, the social systems account is configured to make personal data available exclusively to friends.

G Data Internet Security

This antivirus uses Bitdefender's custom engine along with the new cloud-based CloseGap system to ensure immediate and ongoing protection against viruses, spam, online threats, and more. Regional threats are also taken into account, the firewall works in the background and does not bother the computer in any way, even when playing games. The presence of parental controls allows you to protect the younger generation from sites with dubious content.

Among the main advantages of the antivirus are the following:

• high level of detection of infected files;
• protection against theft of personal information in the form of passwords, e-mail, etc.;
• the ability to freely surf the web, do online banking and make online purchases;
• ease of installation and use;
• fairly fast startup;
• delete confidential information with one click.

F-Secure Internet Security

It is a comprehensive software that includes protection against threats on the Internet. The program runs on the Bitdefender engine, uses cloud technologies, proactive protection, anti-phishing, has the possibility of parental control and safe work with Internet banking.

The antivirus itself:

• protects against infections and spyware. E-mails are scanned regularly;
• There is a Firewall, advanced network protection, application analysis, intrusion elimination and network connection monitoring.

Internet protection is also offered:

• allows you to restrict children’s access to dubious sites;
• thanks to protection when surfing the network, pages with questionable content are blocked and security information is displayed;
• Banking transactions are protected, which protects clients from malicious actions when using online banking and making transfers.

Total Security

This is a free anti-virus program, which in its functionality is no worse than many paid programs, and in certain parameters even surpasses them. The program includes a free antivirus, PC acceleration, system cleaning, device scanning and a number of other additional features.

The antivirus offers several scanning modes (we are talking about fast, full and selective):

• quick scanning allows you to check system settings, running programs, startup software and basic system information in just a couple of minutes;
• a full scan differs only in that it also includes files stored on the PC. Therefore, the analysis completion time may vary - it all depends on how many files are stored on the user’s HDD;
• Selective scanning involves the ability to select files, folders or drives that are scanned for malicious elements.

Also, using this program, you can significantly speed up your computer by optimizing startup, scheduled tasks, utility utilities, critical system services and network connections. All this is done automatically.

The computer cleaning function involves searching for temporarily stored files created while surfing the Internet. All garbage that appears while watching a video and other unnecessary information is also removed.

A few more reasons to choose Qihoo to download antivirus for a weak PC

There are a number of main reasons why you should choose Qihoo to download a security application on a weak PC:

• the ability to simultaneously operate several engines at once (one of them is Bitdefender);
• the presence of additional functionality with which the program makes the operation of a weak PC faster;
• special plugins that are built into the browser and monitor dubious sites, as well as other signs of threats;
• work in background mode, so the user is not distracted from performing key tasks due to the constant pop-up of windows.

Important! It should be emphasized that it is recommended to download everything for weak computers exclusively from official resources. Only in this case will it be guaranteed that you will receive a full-fledged antivirus without code changes that could harm personal information and Windows 7 itself.

Antivirus installation instructions

Let's look at detailed instructions for installing an antivirus using the latest example, 360 Total Security from Qihoo. The installation of other antivirus utilities is similar, the only difference can be in the installer menu, with which you can easily and quickly install any antivirus.

Important! If your device already has an antivirus, you should remove it before installing a new one.

1. Go to the official website of the utility developer using the link: https://www.360totalsecurity.com/ru/.

   

2. Left click on the “Download for free” button.

   

3. Run the downloaded installation file from the “Downloads” folder of your browser.

   

4. Check the box to accept the license agreement, additional items if necessary, click “Install”.

   

5. Wait for the installation process to complete. After the installation of the program is completed, offer to download additional software, click “Start” or close the window by clicking on the cross in the upper right corner.

   

   

6. After installation, the antivirus will open automatically. Select the function you need from the list and click on it. We recommend performing a full test of the device by clicking on the large “Test” button.

   

Video - How to install 360 Total Security antivirus

All the antiviruses presented above are free!

Thus, to start using the antiviruses described above, all you need to do is download them to your computer and install them. After installation, you will need an Internet connection to update the anti-virus database - thanks to this, the protection will always be up to date. At the same time, weak PCs use a minimum of the system's potential and often miss viruses that are very difficult to detect.

Video - Top antiviruses. Choosing the best

The Internet is the main sphere of activity and leisure of modern people. It is online that we now communicate, order food, buy equipment, etc. But, unfortunately, a huge number of scammers are developing malicious software for the purpose of extorting money or espionage.

You may not even plan to click on unreliable links or install dubious software; modern programming allows you to introduce viruses using the “play” button in the video player. Nowadays there are many different tricks that can infect your PC without you even suspecting it. Vigilance alone is not enough; you need to protect yourself with antivirus software.

In this article we will try to figure out which free antiviruses are the best. After all, not every application can be completely effective and capable of protecting your computer from infected files. When installing any program, you would like to be sure of its quality.

Antivirus selection criteria

It is worth understanding that the task of these applications is not only to identify and remove viruses. In addition to the main goal, antiviruses can significantly secure surfing the Internet by blocking malicious sites, as well as advertising. In general, it is worth noting the main tasks that the software you choose should perform:

Protective monitor- this function directly examines the folders and files you use while working.

Scanner- this function can be considered the basis, because it allows you to scan the entire memory of your PC (both RAM and hard drive), thereby identifying infected files, and you can also scan removable media, which is also important.

Self-defense- this feature is aimed at preventing attackers from disabling installed antivirus software. After all, many infected objects are aimed precisely at disabling the protection of the computer being used.

Program activity control- This task monitors all installed programs and detects increased activity or changes made that may be caused by infected files.

Network control and web antivirus- this component ensures safe operation on the Internet by blocking malicious sites and scripts on them.

Constantly updating databases with information about malicious files- it is worth understanding that more and more new viruses are created every day, and it is very important that anti-virus databases are regularly updated, otherwise even a very good application may simply not recognize a recently created painful file.

Low resource consumption- also an important factor by which the quality of antivirus software is determined. The fact is that many such samples can significantly reduce the speed of your machine. this is because this option consumes too much RAM resources. Therefore, it is very important that the software you choose consumes as few resources as possible.

It is also worth paying attention to the popularity and reputation of the samples in question, because if it is good, then most likely it will have many users.

Video: antivirus for PC

Description of programs

Let's look at each antivirus and find out how to choose security software for any computer.

Dr. Web is a very popular antiviral product that is produced in Russia. There are 2 versions of this software: the first is standard - Dr.Web, and the second is aimed directly at protecting work on the Internet - Dr.WebSecuritySpace. This software has some drawbacks related to the number of functions, however, its resource consumption is quite low, which appealed to a large number of users.

Avast- the Czech version of protection against malicious files is also quite popular; it can be noted that this application has a large number of awards in different categories. It is one of the fastest representatives of protection against malicious files. Its resource consumption is quite low, but there are some shortcomings in functionality, but its free version is very easy to find, and in principle it is quite suitable for use.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus- perhaps one of the best options made in Russia. It is very powerful and functional, its database of malicious files is updated regularly, but it is only suitable for fairly powerful machines due to its high resource consumption. But with such protection, you can be absolutely calm.

AVG Anti - Virusfree- one of the very popular “defenders” that can be comfortably used at home. It has low system requirements, and the database is updated regularly. It will provide you with secure computer operation and you won't have to pay anything. Of course, the free version has some limitations, but overall it is very reliable.

AVIRA AntiVir Personal- an excellent antiviral proposal for non-commercial use. With it you can easily protect your personal computer system from all known types of viruses. A fast and reliable application, perfect for any computer and absolutely free.

This is of course not the entire list of existing free offers, but it forms its basis.

The best free antivirus for Windows 7

It is difficult to say definitely which is the best antivirus for Windows 7, however, by analyzing the proposed options, you can identify the three leaders: Avast, Kaspersky and Dr. Web. These options are also the most popular among users, if you carefully analyze downloads and consumer reviews, in general, it all depends on your personal preferences and the capabilities of your personal computer.

Component comparison table

There are many such applications, in general, most of them are quite similar, however, there are also differences. Basically, they differ in the virus base (the number of studied viruses that the program can detect during scanning), as well as in the impact on the performance of your PC.

First, let's look at the list of TOP 5 offers:

1. Dr Web
2. Avast
3. Kaspersky Anti-Virus
4. AVIRA ANTIVIR PERSONAL
5. АVGAnti-VirusFree

To understand in more detail the capabilities of the applications under consideration, we present a comparative table where they will be rated on a scale from 1 to 5 according to such characteristics as: performance, interface and functionality.

NAME
FAST
INTERFACE
FUNCTIONAL
Dr Web
4
5
4
Avast
5
5
3
Antv. Kaspersky
3
5
5
AVIRA ANTIVIR
4
3
4
AVG
5
4
3

Of course, the five options presented are very effective and popular. Despite all the assessments presented, it is worth understanding that any of the representatives of antivirus programs will do an excellent job of protecting your PC.

The purpose of this article was to familiarize readers with the main options for antiviral protection. First of all, we strongly advise you to never neglect the protection of your computer. Try to choose the most suitable protection for your specific case.

Take into account all the factors considered, because if you miss even one, the reliability of your PC will immediately decrease.

Make sure that the virus database is constantly updated, because every day attackers create hundreds of viruses for their own profit. Scan your hard drives and RAM regularly. Do not visit dubious sites, and especially try not to click on suspicious links. Do not forget to check removable media, they are very often infected.

The Windows operating system, unlike GNU/Linux, cannot fully protect against malware with its own capabilities. No matter how much the developers praise Windows Defender, it is far from ideal, so you have to use external software. This article reviews the 2019 antivirus ratings.

Which antivirus to choose

Each antivirus product offers users, in addition to the function of detecting and eliminating viruses, a set of additional features. Typically, they are related to advanced PC management, network security, Wi-Fi protection, etc. The most important criteria for choosing an antivirus include:

• cloud analysis. Ability to scan files in an isolated environment;
• firewall Blocking unwanted Internet resources;
• protection of personal information. First of all, these are banking data and some other personal information.

If an antivirus lacks any of these points, this does not mean that it is bad. The effectiveness of a program is discovered in practice when it performs its main function well. The rest depends on the additional needs of the user.

Antivirus rating 2019

There is a large number of software offering their services to combat viruses and Trojans. Each of them has its own pros and cons. Depending on your needs and capabilities, you should choose the most suitable product.

Top antiviruses 2019
Name	Cloudy analysis	Protection personal data	Firewall
	Yes	No	Yes
	Yes	No	Yes
	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Yes	No	No
	Yes	No	No
	Yes	No	No
	Yes	Yes	Yes
	No	No	No
AVG	Yes	No	No
ESET NOD32	Yes	Yes	Yes

Short review

Let's look at each of the antiviruses presented in the table, comparing their advantages and disadvantages.

In addition to the standard security function, the antivirus offers a built-in security gateway when connecting to open Wi-Fi networks and a special password storage for saving personal data in the cloud. There is also a gaming mode that turns off program notifications and reduces the load on the processor during a gaming session.

Advantages

• Wi-Fi protection;
• the presence of a game mode;
• password container.

Flaws

• no firewall;
• lack of protection against interception of input data.

A free version of well-known antivirus software created specifically for users in post-Soviet countries. The program provides online protection and has the necessary functionality to ensure PC security from the introduction of malicious code.

Advantages

• powerful core;
• checking attachments in instant messengers;
• built-in VPN service.

Flaws

• lack of protection against interception of banking data;
• high consumption of PC resources.

Product from Chinese manufacturers. It has become widely known in the Russian-speaking segment due to the combination of the capabilities of anti-virus software and an optimizer. It runs several engines. A key factor in its spread and popularity is the large amount of advertising.

Advantages

• wide functionality;
• there is a firewall;
• several antivirus engines work;
• optimized consumption of computer resources.

Antivirus in a minimalist style. It has a small number of settings and a simple menu. Additional functions of the program include only the ability to force scanning of a specific folder. Suitable for those new to using a computer.

Advantages

• simple settings;
• Convincing virus detection rate.

Flaws

• limited functionality;
• lack of Russian localization.

The first product with a free license that implements a cloud analysis algorithm. When scanning files in an isolated container, the collective scanning method is enabled, which means that the scan results of other users are taken into account.

Advantages

• efficient collective verification algorithm;
• minimum number of notifications;
• pre-analysis of flash drives.

Flaws

• small functionality;
• Dependency on internet connection to work effectively.

Unusual anti-virus software that is most effective when connected to the Internet. The ClamAV offline kernel is used for scanning, in parallel with which suspicious objects are analyzed by twelve VirusTotal engines. SecureAPlus works easily on a PC with other security software.

Advantages

• highly efficient cloud scanning;
• software analysis based on a trusted list;
• works in parallel with another antivirus.

Flaws

• the proactive core is not powerful enough;
• lack of protection of personal data.

A very effective free tool. It has the ability to protect personal data, a built-in firewall, and even a task scheduler. It stands out for its high efficiency of cloud analysis.

Advantages

• convenient functionality;
• availability of plugins for data protection in browser forms;
• built-in firewall and task scheduler.

Many manufacturers of security products produce free versions of antiviruses, which can be completely freely downloaded from the official website of the manufacturer and used on your computers.

Most developers only include anti-virus scanners without real-time protection in their free editions, but there are developers who provide a full range of tools to protect your data in their free version.

Below is a selection of antiviruses that you can download and use absolutely free.

07/19/2018, Anton Maksimov

The ranks of free antiviruses with constant protection have been replenished by a new version of the Kaspersky Lab product called Kaspersky Free. If previously they only had a healing utility (antivirus scanner Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool), now they also release permanent file system protection and protection against malicious sites on the network.

06/12/2018, Anton Maksimov

Security is never enough. Many manufacturers of security systems think so. Including the developers of the free antivirus 360 Total Security, which includes as many as 5 engines. Yes, this antivirus has many different engines, each of which performs its own task. This includes virus detection mechanisms from Avira and Bitdefender, proactive protection QVM II, the 360 ​​Cloud cloud system and the System Repair system recovery system.

04/18/2018, Anton Maksimov

Avast Free Antivirus is a free antivirus suite with always-on protection. Perfect for home use. In addition to the anti-virus module itself, it has a number of additional tools that will help save data and protect you from online threats.

01/11/2018, Anton Maksimov

So we got our hands on the free Comodo Internet Security. This is a set of tools to protect your computer, which includes a firewall, antivirus and proactive protection module. I will not describe all the features of Comodo Internet Security, because, in my opinion, they are standard and are present in most similar programs. The main difference between this program and the others is that it is free and amazingly reliable. When configured correctly, the program allows you to secure your computer to the maximum. The other day I reviewed several comparative tests conducted by various companies, and the results of these tests quite surprised me. As an example, I will give the results of one of these tests.

10/05/2017, Anton Maksimov

AVG AntiVirus FREE is a world-famous antivirus program that is available free of charge to home users and is already used by millions of people around the world. Unlike many free scanners from large antivirus laboratories, AVG is a full-fledged product that can ensure the full security of your PC. AVG Anti-Virus FREE is easy to use and does not slow down the operating system (has low system requirements).

07/12/2017, Anton Maksimov

Today I will talk about another free antivirus, Avira Free Antivirus, which recently settled on one of my computers. The situation with it is special, since this antivirus is not a simple scanner; it does not need to be downloaded every time you need to check the system. This antivirus hangs in memory and does everything on its own. Independently downloads and installs updates, independently checks files accessed by the operating system and various applications.

A massive attack by the WannaCry ransomware (WannaCryptor, WanaDecryptor) led to the infection of tens of thousands of computers in organizations and public institutions around the world. The malware uses a known vulnerability described in security bulletin MS17-010 and a combination of EternalBlue/DoublePulsar exploits that allow it to attack other vulnerable Windows systems on the same network. As a result, infection of one computer can lead to the compromise of the entire corporate network in the organization.

Once it appears on a computer through successful exploitation of the vulnerability, the WannaCry ransomware encrypts all files and documents of certain formats, executing remote commands sent via the SMB protocol and spreading to other Windows computers on the network.

Perhaps you are too trusting and therefore have not installed an antivirus on your PC, or the license for your antivirus has already expired, or the antivirus you have installed does not provide maximum protection, and... maybe your PC is infected!

Dr.Web CureIt! - an antivirus that is noticeably different from the programs everyone is familiar with. This utility does not work constantly, preventing the appearance of malware on the computer. It allows you to cure an already infected PC from viruses, Trojan horses, rootkits, etc. This feature of Dr.Web CureIt! determines the scope of application of this product. It can be used periodically to check the reliability of the antivirus installed on your computer, as well as in cases where, based on indirect signs, you can suspect a PC infection. In general, I benefit from Dr.Web CureIt! difficult to overestimate.

06/26/2013, Anton Maksimov

Continuing the popular topic of free antivirus, I would like to mention another development that I became acquainted with relatively recently and which I have not yet had time to write about. In theory, it would be possible to add this information to the original message, but I decided to put everything in the form of a separate note. So, today we will talk about a free antivirus from Kaspersky Lab called Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.