Depending on what you have saved to your local drives, this can be well over an hour. The biggest frustration I discovered of all Bitdefender programs is virus scans take a long, long time, nearly three times longer than other programs. However, compared to other free software, I didn't find it overly intrusive or annoying.

The only way I knew it created any slowdown is because I timed it, and the lag was less than a tenth of a second.Īs with all free antivirus programs, Bitdefender does have popup ads that encourage you to purchase its paid security program. Plus, there is hardly any effect on my computer. It's like Bitdefender knows a threat when it sees it and doesn't bother me to double-check.

I'm always amazed at how well Bitdefender stops malware files before they start the download process, and most threats get automatically scrubbed from my computer without ever needing to hit the quarantine folder. Unless you're in gamer mode, these ads do become bothersome as they pop up and do create a bit of slowdown. However, Avast will keep monitoring for any malware trying to sneak in and stop it.īecause it is a free program, Avast does have a lot of ads that try and entice you to upgrade to one of its paid programs. This includes popup messages or other notices that tend to interrupt gameplay. When you visit a known gaming site, Avast places it on its gamer list and automatically suspends all non-essential processes, so you have all the resources you need while playing. My favorite feature of all Avast computer protection programs is the automatic gamer mode. That way, they can't be swiped by keyloggers as you sign into online accounts. It also has a password manager that keeps all your usernames and passwords secure. That makes it difficult for adware and internet trackers to target you with ads or sell your browser history. This includes a VPN that blocks your computer's IP address and location while you're online. It is chock-full of features that even basic paid antivirus software doesn't include. Avast is on the top of my list for the best free antivirus programs.

Best free mac antivirus software 2021