List of Anti-Virus Software Compatible with Windows 7
Our Recommendation
If you want something that’s going to work really well, and is totally free, you should check out the free Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus solution, which isn’t going to slow down your PC.
Windows AntiVirus Detection
When you first install Windows 7, you’ll get a popup balloon message telling you that you need to find an antivirus program online… notice the wrench on the balloons that will let you turn them off easily.
Once you’ve installed a compatible package, the message will go away and you’ll see a message in the Action Center telling you that “Virus protection” is On:
The packages should also hook into the Windows 7 update mechanism and let you know when your virus definitions are out of date.
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AVG Free is the most popular anti-virus software out there, and not only does it work just perfectly under Windows 7, but it’s on the list of a small number of software packages that are officially compatible per Microsoft.
You’ll notice that it also offers Anti-Spyware protection, and Windows recommends that you only run a single Anti-Spyware application:
Avira AntiVirus Personal Edition
Avira is a popular freeware antivirus solution that seems to be a hit on our forum, with a number of the regulars in favor of it. This software works without any issues.
Norton AntiVirus
Hardly needing an introduction, Norton AntiVirus works just fine. They are also on Microsoft’s list of compatible software for Windows 7.
You’ll notice that this provides anti-spyware protection, so you’d likely want to disable Windows Defender for performance reasons.
Kapersky Anti-Virus
This antivirus software package is also on the Microsoft official list of Windows 7 compatible software.
