Avira is a well-known name in the security market. For years it has offered robust free solutions, recognized more than once. Anyone wanting to download the classic Avira antivirus already knows where to find it, but now we discover the 2017 version of its Free Security Suite, which includes a system optimizer and a VPN with 500 megabytes free per month.
With the advance of ransomware and new attack mechanisms, experts continue to debate the usefulness of modern antiviruses. Logically, security companies seek to respond to doubts by adapting their products and adding secondary functions, but beyond this arms race between malware and protections, the classic recommendation of "not going naked" on the web remains firm. Free offers are not scarce, and a name that still inspires some confidence is Avira. I used its antivirus for years before moving to Bitdefender Free and Windows Defender (on Windows 10), but anyone wanting to download a copy of Avira should also know that the company has launched its Free Security Suite 2017.
Besides the antivirus, the package includes the System Speedup module to improve PC performance, Browser Safety in the form of extensions, and thirdly Phantom VPN, a free VPN connectivity alternative with 500 MB per month. In truth, the only free thing is the antivirus. System Speedup is a trial, and from what I've been able to verify, the benefits on the computer once optimized are not so great. VPN usage depends purely and exclusively on the user's needs. Maybe 500 MB are enough for casual browsing on open networks, but any activity above that will exhaust the quota sooner than we think.
Two aspects to criticize about Avira Free Security Suite 2017 are the installation process and CPU cycles consumption. The installation during my test was silent, with no progress indicators beyond the icons that began to appear on the desktop. As for CPU usage, I suppose that factor could be optimized over time, but at the end of the day no one wants to see a security solution reducing computer performance. As always, the recommendation is that each user does their own test, although personally I would give Free Security Suite 2017 a couple of months' advantage, and download the antivirus separately.
