And the winner is…Avast! Of course! ;D
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/free-antivirus-best-popular-most-effective-review,review-1788.html
Well according to the guide you posted Microsoft is the leader ???, there are also a few other free vendors that I know of that aren’t even mentioned on the guide and a particular free AV that I’m testing at the moment on one of my systems that also was not mentioned has 450 million users and growing very fast 
I really hate when people say avast is not for the risky users.I have ton of clients with avast and most can be considered dangerous users and still clean. ;D
No security suite will provide 100% security if you have crazy download skills :o
What guide? Did you actually read the entire article craig? Go to the end page where is clear says “Though it doesn’t finish first on all tests, Avast! wins this year with very similar performances in all sectors. It beats everything else on phishing and blocking dangerous websites. Still, this does not mean that it is the antivirus that best suits everyone.”
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/free-antivirus-best-popular-most-effective-review,review-1788-12.html
Why must everyone always have some negative comment when it comes to things like this. Avast also just got an “Advanced +” rating from AV Comparatives. Proving that its one of the best FREE antiviruses.
Negative as in when you yourself was negative against MCShield user opinions and you needed to have the last word and wouldn’t listen to anyone else : your a one sided fan boy who needs to open his mind and respect others opinions.
As far as the test results go and Toms guide!!! where are the rest of the free competitors ???
There is not really too many more FREE antiviruses out there besides Bitdfender. So the list used by Tom’s Guide is pretty accurate. Please stick to the topic at hand also and bring other threads into this. Thanks.
Free Antiviruses:
- Avast
- Avira
- MSE
- Panda
- Comodo
- AVG
- Bitdefender
That list is about the most known and popular free antiviruses. Kingsoft is not well known.
Here is a great video of the list of top free antiviruses.
Who mentioned Kingsoft ??? but that is another one for the list and is quite well known and have huge user base as well as Baidu and even bigger is 360Safe ( Qihoo ), another free is UNThreat.
There is no winner imo as they all have their attributes and deficiencies Avast best web and Phishing, MSE best system performance, Comodo best local protection and so it goes on and without testing all of them there can be no definite answer and what they test and how they test can give many different scenarios and results.
If we compare by itself the AV comparatives chart for July 2013 real world test that you referenced to earlier then Qihoo out did Avast yet you say these AV’s are unknown and not popular yet the Qihoo user base is more than double that of avast has so who is deciding popularity ???
Lol…You have so much to learn craigB. So much. First of all Tom’s Guide does mention Unthreat and tested it. Secondly the Qihoo that was tested by AVC is not the same as the recently released Free 360Safe. The Qihoo listed is the Chinese company version only and not the recent free version. The are entirely different programs. The list that Tom’s used is the most well known free antiviruses. When you ask people about free antiviruses the first thing that pops up is AVG. Then Avast and MSE. Google it yourself.
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=348585
Also why are you always putting down Avast when you are an Avast “Überevangelist”. I post things such as this to show forum members of how good Avast FREE is doing.
If you look at craigb’s signature he uses avast free, despite testing others. What bigger recommendation could he give?
I completely understand the differences between the two versions, one uses the avira engine and the other bitdefender to compliment there own cloud engine and QVM ( heuristics engine ) so they are basically the same other than the rules set in the licensing of the added engines for China and the BD version for the rest of the world.
Either of these versions have tested similar as each have been tested without their additional engines and the drop in detections was negligible at a fraction of a %
You need to read the former posts correctly as no where have I mentioned or put down avast so get your facts straight, I am simply looking at things with an open mind and objective opinions to which I have stated about your fanboyisim and your unwillingness to let anyone else have an opinion.
Think back to your last AV comparative thread you started where Pondus also put the results of another testing company with different results yet you couldn’t handle someone else’s opinion and stated that the testing company was Quote! “shady” maybe one day you might learn to respect other opinions and until that day comes you’ll not get any respect from users here :
Don’t worry about him mag, those that think they know everything actually know nothing
I will forgot more then you will ever know. Just cause your a Überevangelist does not give you the right to insult people. I post something which clearly shows how good Avast is and you argue it. Go figure.
But you apparently think you have that right ??? Insult, argue, belittle, make fun of, etc etc.
Open your mind. You may find that others besides yourself also have something to offer.
Once you learn those facts, your good suggestions will also be more appreciated.
Dementia maybe the cause of that ;D
Another point noted of where you need to get your facts straight once again, I didn’t argue it as I mentioned my objective opinion! you argued the point because of not wanting anyone else to have an opinion different from your own.
And lastly there was no insult, a fact is not an insult and if you cannot handle the facts it is probably due to some inferiority complex.
Of course here comes Bob with nothing to add except a needless comment. Stick to the subject at hand. This thread is title “Free Antivirus Software: The Best of 2013” or do you need glasses to read that? Try helping out around here for once Bob instead of making smart alack remarks.
Didn’t you just come at me with a smart alec remark with your will forget more than you will ever know comment, you give it out but cant take it back hence my reasoning for your inferiority complex and totally unable to let anyone else have an opinion.
You fired the first shot craig. You drew first blood. Its called retaliation.
:o
I fired no shot yet! and you will know it when I do, you need to allow others opinions otherwise you will constantly butt heads with everyone here as you have done for the last year so I’d suggest either smarten up or you will end up feeling less and less welcome.