There are a number of anti virus software’s available in the market today. Some of the software’s are available for free, some others have a price associated with it and a few of them come with a trial version of the software for a short period of time, so that the users can try using the software before purchasing it.

Note: For any anti-virus program that you download, it should include an update or auto-update feature to download profiles of new viruses so that it can check for new viruses as they are discovered. For effective defense your anti-virus program should be running in the background at all times.

Following are some of the free anti-virus software’s..

1) avast! Home Edition

This is a free anti virus program that is suitable for home users that do not use their computers for profit. A license key is provided for free by avast in order to renew your subscription from time to time, that helps keep your software up-to-date. Helps in scanning disk, CDs, in E-mail, HTTP, NNTP, IM and P2P.

2) AVG Free Edition

Provides anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for Windows. ‘Link Scanner Active Surf-Shield’ is a special feature which provides real time protection against web pages that contain threats.

3) Clamwin 0.94.1

ClaimWin is used for Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/2003 and Vista. Provides high detection rates for spyware and viruses. Removes virus-infected attachments automatically from Microsoft Outlook.

4) FPROT Antivirus

Provides a free version for Linux, BSD and Solaris work stations, but only a trial version for Windows. Has a command-line scanner as an additional feature.

5) Handy Bits Virus scan Integrator 5.5

The Virus scan Integrator allows to scan a file with several anti-viral programs. Increases the strength of each anti-viral program that resides on your system.

6) Hijack This

This program enables you to save a log file of the system scan which you have performed. It enables the user to save the scan log in a text file for later reference.

7) Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal Pro

Provides reliable data-integrity control and protection against macro-viruses. Checks for viruses in the memory of running programs.

8 ) MWAV 11.x

No need to install this software, simply download and run. This utility can be added to the startup list of programs so that the scanning is done each time you start your system.

9) Nanoscan

Occupies less space on the system and scans within 1 minute approximately. Does not download virus signature files.

10) PC Tools

A feature called Intelliguard protects your system in real time. It is free and has no time limitations.

11) McAfee Stinger

Utility used to remove specific threats from the system. It is not a complete anti-virus solution, but a tool to assist administrators to work with an infected system.

12) StopSign

The threat scanner protects your system from all kinds of threats, including keyloggers, browser hijackers and all forms of malicious code. If any persistent threat is found, a custom-made cleaner is written specially for your PC.

13) Tenebril’s Spycatcher Express

Detects and removes all kinds of known and unknown spyware for Windows. Free upgrade of the software is available.

14) ThreatFire

It does not use the traditional signature based technology to detect threats. Instead it uses the ‘behavioral analysis’ method to find out threats and make them inactive.