Is it worth installing Kaspersky free? Free Antivirus Kaspersky Free: review

The main Russian developer of antivirus solutions, Kaspersky Lab, presented its first completely free antivirus with a simple name.

The main advantage of this program is that, in fact, Kaspersky Free is a simplified version of the multiple winner of various competitions, Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS). The latter has almost everything: parental controls, technical support by phone, protection of Internet payments, protection from Trojans, screen blockers and boot viruses. It can be installed on Windows, Mac and Android - all using one box.

But Kaspersky Free is devoid of any additional functions. This is an antivirus that is necessary and sufficient for the modern user. Strictly speaking, it has everything that was in Kaspersky Lab programs 5-6 years ago: the antivirus itself with a scan scheduler, a file monitor with a browser add-on, an email antivirus and scanning of IM clients (messengers). If you wish, you can separately download a free antivirus for Android devices. In addition, the free version of the antivirus includes Kaspersky Security Network - a cloud service that is a database of all existing viruses and reflects the reputation of files, Internet resources and programs. The database is constantly updated, which allows us to improve our already good protection.

To install, you will need to go to the Kaspersky Lab website and download the installation file. When launched, the program will prompt you to read the license agreement and begin downloading the necessary files from the Internet. After installation, all that remains is to select a program in Windows to protect against virus threats by default.

Kaspersky Free requires registration. To do this, just click on the “Register” button, after which the program will offer to notify friends on social networks about the installation and begin working. Later, during use, the antivirus will again prompt you to register, but this time it will send the user to the site to create an account (which, however, does not oblige you to anything).

Although the antivirus is stated to be completely free, in the lower right corner you can see information about the license period - 365 days. What this means is unknown. There can be two options: either this product is a kind of annual promotion to attract additional customers, or it was left behind when the full version was converted into a free one. Most likely, the latter, since the program’s start screen always offers to purchase the full version.

The antivirus has quite a wide range of configuration options. You can enable automatic operation mode, and you can specify whether to delete questionable files. If necessary, one of the components can be disabled. Moreover, disabling is available both for automatic checks of files that are permanently stored, and for additional components separately, including a monitor that checks open files in real time, IM, mail or web antivirus.

As in the full version of Kaspersky Internet Security, a game mode is available in Kaspersky Free: when you run certain programs, the antivirus is automatically turned off to reduce the load on the processor. Priorities for working in the system are also available for configuration.

The menu has security levels familiar to many: low, medium, high with the ability to configure each profile in detail and select an action when a threat is detected and external devices are scanned.

Due to the absence of unnecessary functions, Kaspersky Free works much faster than the paid version of KIS. However, with the priorities set correctly (so that the system was fast enough), scanning my 32 GB drive took almost two hours. On the other hand, in the background the program is practically invisible. So it has every chance of becoming the best antivirus program of the year, repeating the long-term success of KIS in comparisons of paid antiviruses.

Hello friends! I decided not to write boring instructions today, but to talk a little about the topic of antiviruses, we will try to find out whether a licensed antivirus is needed, or whether we can do without it.

Looking ahead, I’ll say that it’s possible to get by, but not necessary. I've seen a lot of other people's computers and not just picked them out, but repaired them. I came across them with free antiviruses installed, without antiviruses at all, and with licensed antiviruses. Is there a difference between these methods of protection? Yes, most likely there is. And now we will try to figure this out.

Now I will try to tell you in my own words what is what, and which method of protection to choose for your computer.

These are antivirus programs that are distributed free of charge, and anyone can download and install such an antivirus. Free ones include AVG, Avast and Avira Free Antivirus. I believe that these are the most worthy and, in principle, good antiviruses.

They are enough to protect your home computer, and it is better to install a free antivirus than to leave your computer without any antivirus at all.

Licensed antiviruses

As you already understand, these are paid antivirus programs that will provide maximum protection and support from the antivirus company. Among the paid ones, I would highlight ESET NOD32, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Dr.Web. These are not all paid antiviruses, but I consider these three to be the coolest. I myself use and recommend NOD32 to everyone, here, of course, you can argue for a long time, but this is my choice, I have been using it for a long time and am very pleased.

What is the essence of a paid antivirus? You install the program itself, you can even download it from the antivirus company’s website, then activate it with the code that you actually need to buy. For example, ESET NOD32 for two years and for one computer costs 1,620 rubles.

By the way, I have already installed licensed ESET NOD32 more than once, I liked it, it was fast and without unnecessary problems. I haven’t had to install a license for other antiviruses yet, but I think everything is just as smooth there. Making the installation and activation process simpler is in the interests of the antivirus company itself, so there shouldn’t be any problems with this.

Paid antiviruses with free activation

This is the third type of protection, if you can call it that. What does it mean? Yes, everything is very simple, you install a paid antivirus, for example the same NOD32, or Dr.Web and activate it not with a license key that you need to buy, but with all sorts of different cracks, activators, or keys that can be found on the Internet. This is a kind of hacking of an antivirus program. In principle, it works, it is updated and all that, but how it works is another question. And if something happens, there will be nowhere to turn, because there is no license and, accordingly, no support either.

Now this is probably the most popular way to protect your computer. Everyone wants a good antivirus, but no one wants to pay, and that's it.

So is it a license or what?

If it is possible, then definitely yes. Just if you can afford to spend, for example, 1620 rubles on the same ESET NOD32, then do it and live in peace for two years.

It’s just that if you install a paid antivirus and activate it with the left keys, then you need to change them often, look for new ones, in short, there will be a lot of problems. If this is already the case, then it’s better to install a free antivirus, which in principle is also not bad.

But you must install an antivirus program, at least some kind. Otherwise, you will have to repair your computer often, and in two years you will spend a lot more money on repairs than 1,620 rubles, for which you can buy a licensed antivirus. And software failures of computers, as a rule, occur after infection with various viruses.

It is also worth remembering that no antivirus, even a licensed one, can protect a computer 100%. Therefore, you should not always rely on an antivirus program; if you see a strange site, or want to download some strange file, it is better not to do this, otherwise the consequences may be different.

I hope that my post today will be useful to you, and you will decide for yourself how to protect your computer. If you decide to save money, it’s better to install a free antivirus, it will be better. If you decide to buy a license.

Surely every user of a smartphone or tablet running on an operating system from Google has wondered: is an antivirus needed for Android? Is the system vulnerable to such attacks in the same way as Windows? If a threat does exist, what steps should you take to protect your personal data and finances? Which antivirus is the best?

Do you need antivirus software for Android?

In fact, there are two completely opposite opinions about whether you need to install an antivirus on Android. Supporters of the first, which most often include the developers of such programs themselves, believe that it is impossible to do without them. Others, on the contrary, are inclined to think that antiviruses are of no use, and only those from dubious sources are enough. However, part of the truth is present in both opinions, and it itself, as always, is in the middle. Separately, you may wonder whether an antivirus is needed for an Android tablet. After all, most of them do not have the ability to connect a SIM card, which means it is impossible to steal money from the account and even contact information. But do not forget about the possible harm caused by stealing account passwords or banking data.

Reasons to install antivirus programs

Google itself tried to solve the security problem, and it turned out pretty well. Starting with version 4.2, Android has a function to scan applications during installation, which monitors internal threats well. However, this does not protect against external threats, such as malware coming from a personal computer, from the network, or masquerading as an application. As you can see, the question of whether an antivirus is needed for Android 4.2 and higher or only for earlier versions is quite relevant. Note that the need to install the appropriate software exists for everyone who wants to protect their device. There are several fairly compelling reasons for this:

1. The presence of a huge number of malicious programs on various sites and even in the “App Store”.

2. Reliable backup and storage of data.

3. Protect your gadget in case of loss or theft.

4. Scanning the external and internal memory of the device for viruses that came from outside.

5. Many sites that are unsafe to visit from mobile devices.

In a word, it is quite advisable if you want to protect your gadget from threats. So do you need an antivirus for your Android smartphone? Let's look at the most popular applications designed to provide protection and figure it out.

Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus

The application has a wide range of security features. Here, in addition to the antivirus itself, there are options for remotely blocking a device, searching for it on a map, spying on a thief using the front camera, and prohibiting voice calls and text messaging. There is also application blocking with the ability to restrict access to mobile networks and Wi-Fi.

The antivirus part itself works mediocrely, allowing some infected applications and phishing text messages to pass through. However, the application has decent functionality, which can also be expanded for an additional fee.

Kaspersky Internet Security

Is antivirus needed for Android? Kaspersky Lab answers this question in the affirmative. It released a single application for smartphones and tablets based on the Android OS, combining all the main antivirus functions in it. The program vigilantly monitors all attempts of malicious content to get onto your device, but to expand the functionality you will have to fork out money, because protecting the Internet browser and checking files is not included in the basic functionality.

The application contains all the main features: determining the location of the device using connected networks, secretly photographing the thief, and the ability to leave instructions on the lock screen for those who want to return a lost gadget. PIN code protection of certain contacts and blocking of communication functions will also become popular.

Norton Mobile Security

Norton is known to many users for its security software. The mobile application is good at monitoring attempts of viruses to break through the browser, and offers extensive anti-theft and other functions. A special feature is the scanning of content installed from the Application Store.

However, call blocking is not very easy to use or effective enough, and the factory reset feature only clears some personal files and contacts. The advantage is that all functionality is available absolutely free.

Dr.Web Security Space

The anti-virus solution from Doctor Web contains all the features that users can expect from a quality application. Firewall, protection against spam, theft, checking the device for malicious code - all this is present in the development of a well-known company and works perfectly. The advantages include a constantly updated anti-virus database and very fast system scanning.

The anti-theft function has wide functionality at the Avast application level. Here you can even set a list of trusted people to whom messages will be sent if the SIM card is replaced. We can conclude that this antivirus for Android offers good protective capabilities. Do you need a nice bonus - a convenient widget for your desktop? If yes, then feel free to install the application.

Avira Antivirus Security

Avira antivirus has long been installed on a device running Android. It boasts a wide audience not only on computers, but also on mobile gadgets. The functions that the application offers are in no way inferior to those of its main competitors. The antivirus copes well with its main tasks thanks to the constant updating of its databases. The scanning is quick, and after it is completed you can view a detailed report. This will allow you to understand whether an antivirus is needed for your Android smartphone.

Fans of frequent installation of applications will certainly like the function of limiting access to personal data without a corresponding request. The disadvantages of Avira include the low accuracy of determining the current location of the device, the lack of Russian localization and paid premium functions.

AVG Mobile AntiVirus

Among programs designed for antivirus protection, AVG deservedly occupies a leading position. There is scanning of all files on the device, a firewall, blocking of sites containing suspicious and dangerous content, geolocation of a lost gadget and a loud sound signal to search for it. For a fee, you can unlock premium features: taking a photo of a thief, blocking when trying to remove a SIM card, completely disabling the ability to install third-party applications, and data backup.

The disadvantages include the presence of useless elements, such as fake optimization of energy saving and performance. As you can see, the capabilities of the free version are meager compared to the offerings of competitors, but the application provides basic protection against viruses at a high level.

Other antiviruses

Antivirus solutions from McAfee, which offer good basic functionality, also deserve attention. Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus can please you with the lack of built-in advertising and the presence of good security features. ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus boasts a convenient and pleasant interface, but the application does not offer the highest level of virus protection.

Whether it is necessary to install an antivirus on Android, everyone decides for themselves. The mobile platform itself, with a billion users, is a tasty morsel for hackers and just hooligans, and they will always find an opportunity to penetrate the device. However, rational use of the gadget can practically nullify all these attempts, even in the absence of a security program. On the other hand, is it worth the risk? Moreover, there are a sufficient number of solutions on the market from which everyone can choose the right one for themselves. You may want to install a free antivirus on Android. Decide for yourself whether you need paid functionality.

For a long time, products from Kaspersky Lab were paid and sold through subscriptions. However, not so long ago the company released a free version of the antivirus – Kaspersky Free. It protects your computer from malware, but how well?

Program functionality

Kaspersky Free is a stripped-down version of Kaspersky Internet Security. Most of its features are grayed out and have a crown icon, which means they are not available in the free version of the program. To access them you need to purchase one of the paid versions.

Fortunately, the existing functionality is quite enough to protect your computer. To access it you only need to install the program. You will be asked to create an account on the Laboratory website, but you can refuse. If you refuse, then no restrictions will follow; however, if you decide to purchase one of the paid products, you will still have to register on the site.

Let's look at all the features of the program in more detail.

Interface

Externally, there are practically no differences between Kaspersky Free and Kaspersky Internet Security. The Start screen is a computer status bar (you can also see alerts from your antivirus here). Under the notification panel there are icons responsible for a particular function. Almost all of them, with the exception of the first two, are inactive.

At the bottom of the window you can see the settings gear and the support service icon, as well as links to “Personal Account” and other products from Kaspersky Lab.

Virus detection and removal

The main task of any antivirus is to search and eliminate malware. Kaspersky Free offers all scanning modes as in paid versions. That is, you can do a full scan of the entire computer, check the main Windows directories, or scan any third-party media connected to the computer.

Kaspersky Free was tested in several independent laboratories and showed results no worse than paid products from the same manufacturer. Also, some suspicious programs can be detected in the early stages, without turning on scanning, for example, when opening an archive.

There are also no problems with eliminating detected viruses. All suspicious software is entered into “Quarantine”, from where you can get it if you think that the antivirus has made a false recognition, or delete it. True, sometimes you come across such malware that it is impossible to remove it using the system or antivirus, but this is very rare.

To start scanning the system in Kaspersky Free, you need to click on the “Scan” icon. Then select one of the scan types. Depending on the selected type, the duration of the scan and the probability of detecting viruses will be calculated. On average, a “Deep scan”, that is, a check of the entire system and its components, takes no more than an hour.

Scan Settings

In addition to the scanning depth, you can configure other antivirus parameters; in the free version there are only four of them:

• File Anti-Virus. It performs a standard scan of the system and downloaded files for malware. It is the main component of Kaspersky Free. If necessary, you can disable it, but then you will not be able to perform any full scan of the computer;
• Web antivirus. Responsible for monitoring opened sites. If a site with a bad reputation is opened on your computer and/or a virus is detected on the site, the antivirus automatically blocks its opening. The same applies to downloading any files from the Internet. You can enable or disable web antivirus. If it is disabled, this will not have a significant impact on the performance of the entire antivirus;
• IM Antivirus and Mail Antivirus are two separate components of the program, but they perform similar functions - they protect the user from malicious emails, links and/or attachments in which may pose a threat to the security of the user's computer. You can disable one of these components, or both at once. If you disable only one of them, the security of your email traffic will be seriously compromised.

There are also about a dozen additional filters and barriers that are only available in the paid version. However, for the average user, the existing parameters are quite suitable.

According to the developers of Kaspersky Free, all these 4 protection components should process data in real time, but they may miss some threats. Therefore, it is important to regularly (at least once a month) schedule a full scan of the entire operating system.

If necessary, you can access the antivirus “Log”, where all its recent actions are recorded. For convenience, you can divide actions into categories or dates. Some of the previously performed actions can be undone.

Database update

Over time, more and more viruses and unwanted software appear, so it is important to regularly enter these “new items” into databases. In Kaspersky Free, databases are updated as regularly as in any paid product from Kaspersky Lab. Updates occur in the background without user interaction, but if you need to, you can check that they are up to date on your computer and install them manually if the need arises. To do this, you need to use a special button in the main interface of the program.

Protection against malicious links and programs

A good antivirus should prevent malicious programs or links from launching without user interaction. Kaspersky Free has all this functionality, but it does not always work. For example, when running some potentially malicious programs, you may not receive an alert about problems. However, this may depend on the settings of the antivirus, since it can neutralize running malware in the background.

If the antivirus settings indicate that it should contact the user for instructions, then when it detects the launch of a potentially dangerous program, you will see a notification with suggested action options: continue launching, place the program in “Quarantine,” or delete it altogether.

In the case of malicious links, protection works much better. When you try to open it in a browser, you will see a special notification from Kaspersky. If you think that the protection did not work correctly and the specified URL does not pose a threat to the computer, then you can follow it using the special button in the notification.

Alerts to users in case of problematic links may have the following names:

• "Dangerous URL". This means that at the current address you can get a virus on your computer;
• "Data Loss Threat". This alert occurs in the case of phishing sites, resources that engage in fraudulent activities or otherwise steal user data.

In almost 80% of cases, Kaspersky Free antivirus accurately identifies and blocks dangerous and unwanted sites. An exception may be some fraudulent resource that has appeared recently and has not yet been included in the “Laboratory” lists.

Additional functionality

Almost all additional functions, such as “Parental Controls”, “Safe Payments”, etc. available only in paid versions of Kaspersky. However, the developers left some additional functionality free:

• Screen keyboard. With its help, you can enter confidential data without fear of surveillance, that is, the keyboard is not susceptible to keylogger programs (special software that records keystrokes on the keyboard);
• Along with Kaspersky Free, a program for working with VPN – Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN – will be installed on your computer. It is also completely free, but has a daily traffic limit of 200 MB;
• Also, along with the antivirus, a database with information about the reputation of websites is installed on the computer. Thanks to this, almost all sites have a special mark in search results that allows you to find out whether they contain viruses or other threats.

Kaspersky Free is a decent free antivirus that is suitable for many users. However, if you need to protect several devices, then you can think about purchasing paid versions, as they provide certain advantages.

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Kaspersky Anti-Virus has excited the hearts of users for a long time. The horror and gray hair from the squeal of a pig when a virus is detected is an unforgettable experience, comparable only to the languid voice of the Avast antivirus, saying at one in the morning “The virus database has been updated.” But the pig was removed, the charm was gone, the software became faceless. Following the trend of releasing free versions, Kaspersky Free was born. Does it have a twist? I looked and share my impressions with you.

You can download Kaspersky Free on the official website: www.kaspersky.ru/free-antivirus

For what?

This question sounded in my head for several days while I walked through the most remote corners of the Internet in the hope that some of the downloaded files would be missed by the antivirus. No, Kaspersky did not make a mistake at the stage of downloading viruses from sites where you can supposedly find everything. After all, the antivirus database is large. If you download infected files via torrents, detection most often occurs after the download is complete, but this is completely normal. With flash drives, the situation is worse; Kaspersky Free will not detect self-written scripts that replace folders; this is a common problem with all antiviruses, and it is unfair to write down this particular software as a disadvantage.

The problem is that Kaspersky Free is toothless. There is nothing remarkable about it, as if it was made according to antivirus models from the early 2000s. He knows how to detect viruses included in the database, but that’s where his powers end, there are no “tricks”.

The saddest thing is that the “Application Control” module, present in the paid versions, is not present in the Free version. This narrows the scope of protection because, as the virus and Petya attacks have shown, classic antiviruses are useless when malware penetrates through operating system vulnerabilities. The only more or less effective way to block such an attack is to monitor the actions of all running programs and sound the alarm if one tries to encrypt or delete files.

This is somehow at odds with what I see. Taking into account modern threats, the antivirus does not seem to provide adequate protection at the level of its paid counterparts:

In my opinion, the inclusion of a module for analyzing program actions would make KFree an interesting solution compared to its analogues. Perhaps some semblance of this type of protection was nevertheless integrated into the heuristic analyzer of the file antivirus, so that at a critical moment, when another Vasya or Oleg appears, it could resist malicious actions... But I doubt it.

By the way, the Defender antivirus built into Windows 10 also does not control program actions. That's just him already installed with the operating system. Why change it to another product without competitive advantages? Will the user want to bother with installation?

Free cheese

Why was Kaspersky Free released? I have a theory about this.

The reason is the fight for users' computers. By including its own antivirus in Windows 8, and then 10, Microsoft entered a race in which all antivirus software developers are participating. Windows Defender not only tries to protect users from viruses, but also enables the company's virus analysts to quickly respond to virus outbreaks by tracking attempts to infect a PC.

Other security software developers hit the mark before MS. Free Avast, Avira and others have long been installed on the computers of users in different countries. Kaspersky joined this race a little late, but better late than never.

Like a panic button, antiviruses are not always able to instantly protect the user, but they enable experts to examine suspicious files and clarify infection statistics in order to later, for example, block botnet command centers from infected computers.

The same sensational epidemic of Wanna Cry, which encrypts users’ dear files, was stopped by virus analyst Marcus Hutchins, who works for the British company Kryptos Logic, specializing in cybersecurity. It is unlikely that he would have learned about the virus so quickly if statistics and examples of infection were not at hand.

So, I believe that the main reason for the existence of a free antivirus from a domestic laboratory is an attempt to expand the capabilities of searching and analyzing threats. This is indicated by a couple of points from the license agreement during the installation of Kaspersky Free:

Clauses 6.1. and 6.2. copy each other. As I understand it, if you refuse to participate in Kaspersky Security Network “in order to increase the level of information security,” there will still be something Maybe go to the developers' servers.

And here is a quote from the description of the “Kaspersky Security Network” function in the official help:

To increase the effectiveness of protecting your computer, Kaspersky Free uses cloud protection. Cloud protection is implemented using the Kaspersky Security Network infrastructure, which uses data collected from users around the world.

User participation in the Kaspersky Security Network allows Kaspersky Lab to quickly receive information about new threats and their sources, develop ways to neutralize them, and reduce the number of false positives. Participation in Kaspersky Security Network provides you with access to data about the reputation of programs and sites.

Cloud protection is used in many antiviruses, including paid ones. Is it bad that antivirus software collects information? I think it's more likely good, than evil, if this function can be configured. I myself have more than once sent the malware I found so that they would be detected more quickly. The trouble is that all developers pull the blanket on themselves. Antiviruses have different levels of protection, which is quite difficult to measure; users do not always benefit. Now, if only there was a truly common base of signatures and attack methods...

Disadvantages of Kaspersky Free

When, instead of one piece of software, you install a whole bunch of all kinds of interfering software, you lose the desire to use such product. There is only one program here - Kaspersky Secure Connection - but why is it running without my permission? After installation, there is a checkbox to run only antivirus:

Moreover, it is added to autoload!

I don’t know how paid Kaspersky Internet Security behaves, but if the situation is the same there, it’s sad. Dark UX patterns will not attract happy users. Fortunately, you can remove the program through “Applications and Features”:

"Your connection is not secure"

After installing Kaspersky Free, you may encounter problems opening protected sites in Mozilla Firefox. I had this problem on a computer with Windows 7. Sites using the protocol https, instead of opening they will report an error "Your connection is not secure." Text in detail:

*site address* is using an invalid security certificate.
Error code: SEC_ERROR_UNKNOWN_ISSUER

The thing is that any version of Kaspersky anti-virus intercepts protected traffic going from the site to you and back. This is done by replacing the site’s digital certificate with your own. The Firefox browser uses a separate certificate store, it is not always possible to penetrate there, hence the error.

Therefore, we simply disable interference with the content of visited sites: right-click on the antivirus icon in the tray - Settings - Advanced - Network and put a dot on " Do not check secure connections«.

I also turned off the option " Implement a script for interacting with web pages into traffic“, because extraneous scripts interfere with website development.

Intrusiveness

Another unpleasant moment is the requirement to register on the site. Well, I don’t want to register, what now? This window cannot be disabled in any way; there is no necessary option in the settings.

The window will appear every day, and, as usual, at the most inopportune moment.

What remains

There is nothing outstanding about Kaspersky Free. He does his job, but there is nothing to praise for.

• Checking the disk for viruses (file antivirus) - everyone has it.
• Checking downloaded files (web antivirus) is also a standard function.
• Checking mail and traffic in messaging programs - completely ordinary components, found everywhere.
• A secure on-screen keyboard is yes, a more or less interesting thing, but little known.

It might make sense to install it on computers with outdated Windows 7. The share of such PCs is still large (about 30%). But these are old computers with an established set of software; users could opt for another product.

There is no space on modern desktop computers and laptops either. They come with Windows 10 with Defender pre-installed. Sometimes it gets to the point of absurdity, as on Lenovo laptops, when an additional trial version of some another antivirus. With such a zoo, there is no point in placing a newbie.

Therefore, I’ll probably end with a brief summary: Kaspersky Free is an antivirus that simply exists.