Is it safe to download a trial version of free antivirus software?

Answer 1

Don't use free trials. You only use a trial to test out whether or not you want to buy it. There is plenty of free and/or open source software out there, there is no need to try and use free trials.

Now you can get decent protection for free.

Free AV, there are lists of them, but i like avast ( http://avast.com ). It has good real time protection, pre-boot scanner, auto-sandboxing, and the scan detection/removal rate isn't bad. Could try MSE or Avaria as those are 2 other good ones.

Free malware scanner, malwarebytes ( https://malwarebytes.org/products/malwar… ). Its a scanner the can detect/remove pretty much anything. viruses,malware,spyware,adware. And has the highest detection/removal rates in the category. Even paid AV support has been known to tell you to download this to get rid of infections.

Free firewall, comodo ( https://personalfirewall.comodo.com/ ) make sure you are getting just the firewall and not the av. The firewall is free.

If you can take it a step further and get sandboxie ( http://www.sandboxie.com/ ) to choose to run programs in a virtual environment, so they cant do damage to your computer. You can run programs you don't trust in it. Also you can run your web browser in it, so you will be unaffected by any drive-by downloads that can infect you.

To also help I would suggest browser addons.

WOT (tells you website ratings based on peoples feedback. can help you avoid shady/phishing sites).

Adblocker plus (blocks ads/popups, which can help you not end up going to bad sites by mistake).

browser protect (helps prevent browser hijacking/redirecting)

Most all infections are gotten from either just plain ignorance or through file sharing. Well eliminating file sharing eliminates majority of possible infections.

Answer 2

It is generally safe to download trial versions of the more popular anti-virus software provided that these come from the legitimate sources. Make sure that the download originates from the official website and accredited mirrors. Eschew downloads from unknown or shady sources.