- Written by: Enemali Okwoli Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
Avira Overview
Avira has built a solid reputation as one of the most secure free antivirus software on the market. It offers excellent malware detection rates, a good number of features, and user-friendly apps for major platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Popular for its free antivirus software, Avira is one of the few free antivirus software with real-time protection that’s safe to use. It provides perfect 100% malware detection rates , decent web protection, and multiple device optimization features.
Most of Avira’s features are good and effective. While the free version is quite decent, I think the paid options don’t provide as much value as the competition. Want to check it for yourself? Avira offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. I recommend the Avira Prime plan for comprehensive protection from cyber threats.
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In a Rush? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary
- Excellent malware detection features — Avira protects you against malware and other threats free of charge. Find out more about how I tested Avira’s security features .
- Impressive suite of free features — Password Manager and Safe Shopping is free for all users, but you have to pay for important security tools like ransomware protection. Learn more about Avira’s additional features .
- Easy installation and intuitive design — User-friendly apps for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS, but it’s difficult to tell which features are locked behind a paywall. See how Avira performs on desktop and mobile devices .
- Decent support for paying customers — Phone and email support are available for paying users, but there’s only an online knowledgebase for free users. Check out Avira’s customer support options .
- Overpriced premium plans — Avira’s paid subscriptions offer additional features but aren’t worth the upgrade. Take a look at Avira’s different plans .
Security
Avira’s powerful cloud-based anti-malware engine makes it easy to get rid of malware. It scored perfect malware detection rates during my tests, putting it in the ranks of top AVs like Norton and McAfee. I was impressed that it even licenses its antivirus engine to TotalAV, another top contender in the industry.
Avira provides multiple scanning options for effective malware removal. The virus scanner can detect malware threats like viruses, trojans, and worms. Most of the features are free , but you will get many more if you pay for the premium service.
Virus Scanner — Cloud-Based Scanner With Perfect Detection Rates
Avira offers a cloud-based antivirus scanner that combines signature detection and heuristic analysis. The cloud-scanning abilities allow Avira to leverage remote servers to analyze and detect threats, thereby reducing the strain on your system resources.
Additionally, Avira employs heuristic analysis to identify zero-day threats . It analyzes files for unusual behavior when they’re not matched in its malware database. If a file is suspicious, Avira immediately flags it for further analysis. This combined effort in malware detention is the reason for Avira’s excellent detection scores.
During testing, my team and I planted thousands of malware samples on a dedicated test machine running Microsoft Windows 11 64-bit. Avira detected of malware samples in the last 4 weeks. Only a handful of antiviruses like Norton and Bitdefender can achieve such perfect rates, making Avira a top contender.
