Kaspersky provides one of the best free antivirus.

To install the Kaspersky free version, user need to have the setup file.

Kaspersky free antivirus setup app download link : Kaspersky Free Antivirus

User should read the Kaspersky online help file to understand the features in details.

Kaspersky Online help: https://support.kaspersky.com/help

Kaspersky Free Installation

Installation is fast and easy.

During installation when asked for free trail version of Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium, click on Decline button.

Main Interface

The security tab in the main interface will show the active protection module.

• File Anti-virus
• Network attack Blocker
• Safe Browsing
• Mail Anti-virus

User need to activate the antivirus using a Kaspersky account.

Kaspersky Free antivirus features

File Anti-Virus

File Anti-Virus prevents infection of the computer’s file system. The component starts upon startup of the operating system, continuously remains in the computer’s RAM, and scans all files that are opened, saved, or launched on your computer and all connected drives. Kaspersky Free intercepts each attempt to access a file and scans the file for known viruses and other malware. Further access to the file is allowed only if the file is not infected or is successfully disinfected. If a file cannot be disinfected for any reason, it is deleted. A copy of the file is moved to Quarantine when that happens. If an infected file is placed in the same location where the deleted file with the same name used to be, Quarantine saves only a copy of the last file. A copy of the previous file with the same name is not saved.

Mail Anti-Virus

Mail Anti-Virus scans incoming and outgoing email messages on your computer. An email message is available to the recipient only if it does not contain dangerous objects.

Safe Browsing

Safe Browsing intercepts and blocks the execution of scripts on websites if they pose a threat. Safe Browsing also monitors all web traffic and blocks access to dangerous websites.

Anti-Phishing

Anti-Phishing allows checking URLs to find out if they are included in the list of phishing URLs. This component is built into Safe Browsing.

System Watcher

The System Watcher component rolls back the changes made to the operating system by malicious or other activity of applications.

The component protects against malware, including:

• Exploits
• Screen lockers
• Encryptors that encrypt data
• Ransomware that encrypts data or blocks access to files or the system and extorts ransom for restoring the files or access to them
• Disabling this component is not recommended.

Network Attack Blocker

Network Attack Blocker loads at operating system startup and tracks incoming network traffic for activities characteristic of network attacks. When an attempt to attack your computer is detected, Kaspersky Free blocks all network activity from the attacking computer that is aimed at your computer.

On-Screen Keyboard

On-Screen Keyboard prevents interception of data entered on the hardware keyboard and protects personal data against interception attempts that use screen shots.

Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI)

Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) allows a third-party application that supports AMSI to send objects (for example, PowerShell scripts) to Kaspersky for additional scanning and to receive scan results for these objects.

Kaspersky database Update Schedule

By default

Antivirus database update settings can be opened by clicking on settings icon as shown in the image below.

Open Database update schedule settings.

Database update can be scheduled to run at specific interval:

• Hourly , Daily, Weekly, Monthly, At a specific time, After Application startup.

User can schedule to run the database update to suit their needs.

Run Database update daily

Running the database update once every day is good enough for most people.

Run Database update on startup

The database update will run when the Kaspersky antivirus starts with a delay of 20 minutes.

Kaspersky protection Web browser extension

Kaspersky will show notifications for installation of kaspersky protection in web browsers.

Microsoft Edge extension

If the Microsoft Edge extension notification shows up, user should select Turn On.

Edge web browser will open and show the Kaspersky Protection extension page. To install the extension, user need to click Get button.

Additionally, Edge will ask for permission to Install the extension. Select Add extension to install the extension.

Google Chrome extension

If the Google chrome extension notification shows up, user should select Turn On.

Google chrome web browser will open and show the Kaspersky Protection extension page. To install the extension, user need to click Add to Chrome.

Additionally, Chrome will ask for permission to Install the extension. Select Add extension to install the extension.

Kaspersky Protection extension

Kaspersky protection extension module shows the list of web browsers that is installed on the computer and shows if the Kaspersky extension is installed on it or not.

The user have option to manually install Kaspersky extension from this window.

As shown in the above image, the Kaspersky protection extension needs to be installed on Firefox web browser. To install the extension on Firefox, click on Turn On button.

Firefox web browser will open and show the Kaspersky Protection addon page. To install the addon, the user need to click Add to Firefox.

Firefox will ask for user permission to install the Kaspersky addon in Firefox web browser.

Firefox will show notifications and ask for permission to let Kaspersky collect data from web pages.

Kaspersky Scan module

During scanning, the application searches for infected files and malware. There are several types of scans that vary in their search duration and scope. You can pause, resume or stop all scan types except Background Scan.

• Full Scan. Scans all areas of the computer. This scan requires a lot of time to complete.
• Quick Scan. Scans objects that are loaded when the operating system starts as well as system memory and boot files. This scan does not require a lot of time to complete.
• Selective Scan. Scans the selected file or folder.
• Removable drives scan. Scan of removable drives, such as hard drives and USB sticks connected to the computer.
• Instant File Scan. This option scans files from the context menu.
• Background Scan. Scan of system memory, the system partition, boot sectors, and startup objects, as well as rootkits search.
• Application Vulnerability Scan. Scan the computer for vulnerabilities in applications that malware can exploit to infect your system.

Weak Settings scan

When you are working with a computer, operating system settings can be changed as a result of your actions or the actions of applications that you run. Changing the operating system settings can pose a risk to the security of your computer. For example, if automatic sign-in with the current user name and password is enabled in the browser, a third-party website can intercept your password.

Weak settings in the operating system can be divided into two types:

• Critical settings. Such settings are equated with vulnerabilities of the operating system.
• Recommended settings. You are advised to fix these settings to improve the security of the operating system.

By default, the application scans for weak settings of the operating system at least once a day. If the application detects weak settings in the operating system, it prompts you to fix them to restore the security of the operating system. For details about each weak setting, click the link next to the relevant setting in the application window.

Kaspersky Settings