Windows 7 virus and firewall protection

Comodo Firewall. Search for:. Anti-Spyware: Detects spyware threats and destroys each infection. Bot Protection: Prevents malicious software turning your PC into a zombie. But if you really want to keep running Windows 7 for whatever reason, there are a few things you can do to keep the unsupported OS as secure as possible until you upgrade to Windows 10, one way or another.

Windows 7 does have some built-in security protections, but you should also have some kind of third-party antivirus software running to avoid malware attacks and other problems -- especially since almost all victims of the massive WannaCry ransomware attack were Windows 7 users.

Hackers will likely be going after Windows 7 machines even more often now that Microsoft support has ended. Most of the major antivirus vendors are not yet ending support for Windows 7 devices , according to independent IT security research institute AV-Test. Read more: Everything you need to know about Windows 10 now that Windows 7 support is over. Getting rid of old or unused applications and files can help lower your chances of a privacy breach.

Select any programs you want to uninstall, and hit Uninstall. From there, choose whether you want to go through Documents, Pictures, Music or Videos, and delete files as needed.

To prevent malicious software and unapproved programs from running on your Windows 7 machine, you can whitelist applications that you consider safe, blocking others so that your banking application doesn't run while you're at a coffee shop, for example.

You'll see a list of your programs, and can check a box for Public or Private network. This will determine which applications can run on which type of network. Full review: Norton Deluxe. Firewall, real-time malware detection, speedy cloud-based scanning, URL filtering to block malicious websites: Panda Dome Essential antivirus has all the essentials — not to mention, the goodies — you'd expect from the best antivirus software.

And, that's just the beginning. The interface will be a little bit decisive, too. With so many weird and wonderful features included, Panda Dome does a very capable job of making sure that they can all be accessed and you can go as in-depth as you need.

However, on the other hand, this might put off users who just want a quiet, simple antivirus package. One undoubted advantage here is the price - Panda Dome Essential is one of the best value programs out there. And, you even have the option of paying a little more and upgrading to cover an unlimited number of laptops, phones, tablets and desktops with a single subscription.

Full review: Panda Dome Essential. Installation takes seconds, the program files barely use 2MB of your hard drive, RAM footprint is tiny, and there are no bulky signature updates to tie up your bandwidth. Considering this, there's no compromise on features, which makes it all the more impressive. Along with the core protection, there's smart behavior monitoring, accurate real-time anti-phishing, network connection monitor, enhanced anti-ransomware, and of course firewall protection.

It's not easy to compare Webroot's accuracy with the competition, as the big testing labs rarely evaluate the company's products. However, when they are reviewed, they generally score high, and our own tests show solid and reliable protection. If you're sick of overly complex and bloated engines, Webroot is a worthy contender for you.

ZoneAlarm has been one of the most popular firewall solutions for more than 20 years, and has been downloaded more than 20 million times. ZoneAlarm comes in both Free and Pro versions. What it will do is identify potentially unsafe traffic, hide open ports, and disable malicious programs. It also features a two-way firewall that monitors traffic coming into and going out of your network, makes your PC invisible to hackers, and stops spyware from broadcasting your personal data.

Furthermore, early boot protection will protect your computer from being booted from a dangerous rootkit aimed at taking over your PC. And it will remove malicious code from any files you download. GlassWire is one of the most attractive free firewalls available. GlassWire will also warn you of any changes to your PC or apps that were related to Internet activity. And it will monitor your network and alert you if unknown devices try to connect.

And if you ever find yourself getting overwhelmed by the amount of information available, you can clear the logs in a few seconds to bring them back to a more manageable state. For a free product, Comodo Firewall offers a healthy serving of features. If there is any suspicious activity, it will warn you immediately. TotalAV is also the most intuitive free Windows antivirus on this list, with easy-to-use and easy-to-understand features and functions inside a minimalistic, well-designed dashboard.

Kaspersky Security Cloud — Free is good at detecting and removing malware, and it also comes with plenty of extras — including:. All Kaspersky purchases include a day money-back guarantee. Download Kaspersky Free Now.

Malwarebytes Free is a good choice for users looking for a simple antivirus scanner that they can install and forget about. Apart from the scanner, Malwarebytes Free also comes with a browser extension that protects against a wide range of threats, including malware, ads and trackers, scams, and PUPs. Malwarebytes Free is a minimalistic antivirus scanner with good virus detection and removal rates.

It also comes with a browser extension that blocks malware, phishing sites, ads, and trackers. Download Malwarebytes For Free Now. Sophos Home Free offers pretty good free anti-malware protection. It also includes some helpful web protections and covers up to 3 PCs all within its free antivirus package. In addition to multi-device protection and remote management, Sophos is also a decent choice for families because it has free parental controls. Sophos offers pretty good antivirus scanning and remote management for up to 3 devices — which is pretty generous for a free antivirus.

Users looking for coverage on up to 10 devices, advanced malware and ransomware protection, and advanced web safety tools should upgrade to Sophos Home Premium. Download Sophos Free Now. There is no such thing as a truly free antivirus. Most antivirus companies limit the free version of their software to only offer basic protection. Windows Defender is not a bad antivirus — it even ranks a little bit better than some third-party free antiviruses.