The internet has changed our lives in ways we never could have imagined. Now we are connected to the rest of the planet, and with a single click, we can get the answers to our questions, access all kinds of content, make purchases, or do paperwork without leaving our homes. The internet is also, however, full of dangers, and cybercriminals know full well that you share all types of personal and banking data from your PC. That is why over the last few years, viruses, malware, and spyware on the internet have increased exponentially.
Having good antivirus software is no longer optional, it’s a must if you want to surf the net without having a potentially bad experience. These programs are able to detect and block any threat that tries to access your computer either through your browser, downloaded files, or malicious emails. However, a lot of anti-virus software does so many things that it ends up dramatically affecting your PC’s performance. Does that mean you have to give up protecting your computer if you want your computer to run smoothly?
Fortunately, there are excellent antivirus programs on the market that balance complete protection of your computer with using few system resources. In today’s article, we are going to share the best antivirus software for older computers, so you can use the internet safely without affecting your CPU’s performance. Let’s have a look!
Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is one of the best options whether you’re a laptop user or your PC is a few years old. Its more than 400 million users and excellent results detecting and eliminating viruses are just a few of the many attractions of this antivirus software. Even though it’s completely free, it offers protection on par with the best antivirus programs on the market.
The free version of Avast offers a wide range of options to keep your computer protected at all times. You’ll find browser shields, real-time protection, custom scans, and a great, always up-to-date virus library. Avast Free Antivirus also offers extra options such as a game mode, a password manager, or the ability to scan your computer for malware.
The reason we have included the free version of Avast on this list is that it hardly affects your computer’s performance. In fact, you won’t notice much difference in the speed of your computer, whether or not you have Avast installed. Your computer, though, will be completely protected from any hacker attack. If you’re interested in downloading Avast Free Antivirus, you can get it quickly and safely below.
Norton Antivirus
Norton Antivirus has been protecting computers from hacker attacks for years and years. Its latest version is still as good as the first ones, although it obviously comes with some great improvements, keeping up with the times.
One of the biggest strengths of the latest version of Norton Antivirus is its outstanding protection of your browser. It has a smart firewall and is able to block any kind of threat you may run into online. Norton Antivirus also has a number of tools designed to perform maintenance tasks on your computer and, for example, significantly reduce boot time in Windows.
Norton Antivirus is one of the programs that uses the least resources without decreasing its virus protection in any way. In fact, it is rated number one in the PassMark rankings in terms of CPU use by an antivirus product. The only disadvantage (if it can be called that) is that it’s not a free program, although it’s worth spending a few euros for some peace of mind when browsing online. Below you will find the free trial version.
ESET Antivirus
ESET Antivirus may not be the best-known option in the antivirus industry, but that doesn’t make it any less efficient. This is an effective, highly customizable program with a variety of options to ensure that your computer is always protected.
If there is something that stands out about ESET Antivirus, it is precisely all of its options and modes for analysis programs to run on your computer. While comprehensive, it can sometimes be a bit complex for novice users who prefer fewer options with good results. However, users who prefer an anti-virus program that’s literally custom-made will love it.
In terms of resources, ESET Antivirus barely uses any CPU, so you’ll be able to keep it on and work or play your favorite video game while hardly noticing your computer slow down. There are three versions of this antivirus software (ESET NOD32, ESET Internet Security, and ESET Internet Security Premium) that only differ in terms of small extras. That’s why for the most bang for your buck, we recommend ESET NOD32. You can download the free trial version below.
Avira Free Antivirus
Avira Free Antivirus is a good choice if you’re looking for a solid free antivirus product with great results and a minimal impact on your PC’s performance. Avira is known around the world for its good results and it’s no wonder. This is because it is capable of detecting 99.97% of viruses and attacks your computer may receive, so you can go online carefree.
If you’re a first-time user or just don’t like cryptic or feature-rich antivirus products, you’ll be glad to know that Avira has a simple and easy-to-understand interface. You can use it to scan your computer for viruses and optimize your computer’s performance, something that’s really useful if it hasn’t been working as it should lately. It also has powerful phishing protection and offers the ability to browse through its integrated VPN. And all without slowing down your computer!
The only drawback about Avira is that, since it’s a free antivirus program, it has quite a few ads and pop-ups that can be frustrating. Also, be careful when choosing options when you install the antivirus software, since it will try to get you to install other Avira programs that you might not be interested in. If none of this bothers you, or if you just want to check it out, you can download this antivirus program for free below.
Bitdefender Antivirus
Bitdefender is another excellent option when it comes to protecting your computer without affecting its performance. It has a comprehensive virus database that is updated regularly and has achieved excellent results in the AV-TEST studies. But it doesn’t end there, because Bitdefender also offers a number of tools to improve your computer’s performance, making it one of the world’s most popular antivirus programs.
Depending on the features you want on your computer, you can purchase two types of Bitdefender Antivirus: Bitdefender Internet Security or Bitdefender Total Security. The first is a lighter version of the software, and as such, it has fewer options. In addition to offering you complete virus and malware protection, Bitdefender Internet Security also comes with the Safepay secure payment system, a password manager, and a computer vulnerability scan. Total Security adds a spam filter, a powerful parental control system, and an efficient firewall.
Regardless of which option you choose, Bitdefender Antivirus is perfect for protecting your computer against any attack over the internet without compromising the speed of your operating system.
I installed an antivirus product from the list, but my computer is still slow
If you have downloaded and installed one of the programs on this list but your computer is still slow, the problem is probably something else. There are many factors that directly affect your computer’s performance, and they’re not always related to antivirus software. The state of your hard drive, its fragmentation, an incorrectly installed program, an out-of-date operating system, or some malicious process that starts when the computer is booted could be the problem.
To figure it out, we first recommend scanning your computer for any viruses that might be affecting it. If your computer comes back clean, we recommend using some software to speed up your operating system. These programs scan your computer for system errors and unnecessary processes that are slowing down your computer. If you don’t know which one to choose, don’t worry. We have an in-depth article with the best tips and tricks to get your PC working like new.
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READ MOREWe hope this article has helped you to choose the perfect antivirus product for your computer’s CPU. Do you know of any that you think should be in our selection? Tell us in the comments section!
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