Best Free Antivirus For An Older Laptop

Greetings everyone, I have a friend with an older laptop which I am fixing up a bit and will be getting it fully up to date with the latest Windows 10 updates and drivers. He currently has an expired BitDefender Antivirus Plus(which he wont be renewing), and he would like to replace it with a pretty decent Free Antivirus that will not slow the laptop down too much. Specs of the laptop are below

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Specs:
Acer Aspire 5252-V419
Windows 10 Home 64bit
CPU: AMD V140 2.3GHz
RAM: 6Gb

 

Why not replace the existing BitDefender with the free version? The AV engine will be the same, but without features bloat. BitDefender AV has maintained excellent comparative ratings over many years.

First use the Bitdefender Uninstall Tool to remove the current version. I found running it in safe mode works best. Get it here http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/bitdefender_uninstall_tool.html

Then download and install the free version. Get it here http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/bitdefender_free_edition.html Be sure to check out Tim's video for it. GL

 

Use Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft's free antivirus. It regularly updates its database, and uses reasonable amount of system resources.

 

Microsoft Security Essentials doesn't run on Windows 10.

 

MSE has become Defender in Win 10 and for safe surfers is a good solution. Those who behave less sensibly are going to get their system messed up whichever AV solution they use.

 

Yes, Thanks for the correction!
Microsoft Security Essentials can’t be installed on Windows 8 or later because it replaces with Windows Defender. Windows Defender might be a decent antivirus software, but if you have any other third-party antivirus software installed, you won’t be able to use Windows Defender at all.
Also, it only supports to Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.

The best out of it is FARONICS ANTI-VIRUS for endpoint protection. Mostly used for enterprise level but you can try the free version.
SteadyState Software Alternative will work with your an older Laptop without affecting your machine speed and be leveraged to use multiple software with a simple reboot.

 

There are plenty of safe, tested and well-reviewed AV and Malware programs hosted here on MajorGeeks and that's why when linking we use them.
I never heard of Faronics and looked at reviews. The ones hosted on MG and tested by AV comparatives still leaves MG programs as the best.

 

The only part of Windows Defender that does not work in other browsers is SmartScreen Filter, the system that warns you when visiting a site known to be infected. Otherwise it is equally effective in other browsers.

 

4.5 Rating with 70 Reviews from Spiceworks for your reference -
https://community.spiceworks.com/products/6554-faronics-deep-freeze
I guess Faronics is the patented and oldest player in these technologies. The one is not hosted in MG doesn't mean to be the bad one. There are plenty fishes in the sea. While working with SKYWEST AIRLINES we completely reliable on Faronics for IT administration, security and support and definitely is best ever used. I don't think that any of "safe, tested and well-reviewed AV and Malware programs hosted here on MajorGeeks" solution for airline IT security solution. Pretty Simple

 

The fact Faronics AV is not free is the thing. There is no need for anyone to have to pay for an AV program. The fact that on AV Comparatives it does not perform as well or better than the free programs hosted on MG means I would never recommend it, since this thread is about Free AV.