Panda Free Antivirus

Main Window

Where most antivirus utilities use a simple white or dark gray background, Panda Free Antivirus displays its status and features against an inspiring nature scene.

All Features

The main window shows five icons representing five feature areas. Scrolling down reveals five more.

Scan Choices

Panda recommends you just scan critical areas for malware, leaving ongoing defense to its real-time antivirus. However, we advise that you always run a full scan right after installing a new antivirus, to root out any lurking nasties.

Scan Complete

A full scan on a clean test system took about twice as long as average. Scanning a second time brought that time down to just a little more than the current average.

Scan Schedule

You can create one or more scheduled scans, configured for a quick, full, or custom scan on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Antivirus Settings

On the main antivirus page, you can launch a scan, work on scheduling, view quarantined files, or scan an overview of recent protection events.

Downloads Blocked

Since our last review, Panda removed the component that blocks access to dangerous and fraudulent URLs. In our malicious download test, it caught a few recent and prevalent samples, but its overall score was dreadfully low.

Limited VPN

Every Panda product now includes VPN protection, licensed from AnchorFree. However, in all but the most expensive product, you can't choose the VPN server location and you can only use 150MB per day.

Smart Shopping

Panda's Smart Shopping browser add-on watches as you shop online and displays what may be better deals at other sites.

USB Vaccination

The USB Vaccination feature gets ahead of malware that tries to spread using USB drives by allocating and locking the resources needed to set up USB autoplay.

54 Rescue Kit

If malware prevents Windows from booting or keeps you from installing antivirus, you can use the Rescue Kit on a clean system to create an antivirus USB or DVD that boots into an alternate operating system.

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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