Why isn't Kaspersky Free on this list? It removed a couple of threats from one of my machines that has both the paid versions of ESET Internet Security & Malwarebytes Premium (formerly MBAM Pro)? Tge PC, a Optiplex 780 DT with a Core 2 Quad Q9650 is well able to hold it's own, but got infected somehow. I believe when a guest used our network, because there was another PC infected in the same time frame, only I didn't boot this one at the time.
Seems like all of the sites conveniently leaves Kaspersky off of their best free lists. I discovered by total luck that they have a free version & included a VPN good for 200MB of data (don't know if it's per week, month or day), removed when no more data would come through. In hindsight, should had disabled it for when needed.
Here it is, doesn't slow down my secondary computer down in the least.
https://usa.kaspersky.com/free-antivirus
The editors at Tom's should give them a shot & determine if it's better than any of the others. has lots of controls under the hood (to include a Advanced Disinfection) & rarely do I get a popup from then wanting to sell anything (maybe once weekly). Far better than daily popups by Avast. Also performs rootkits scans at least once daily, as well as idle & short scans that's not noticed on most modern computers unless one hovers over it's Task manager.
IMO, it's at least an 8.5 out of 10, if not higher, based on the fact that it does a great job for being free software. And as stated above, there's 200MB of a secure VPN for when needed. Just make sure to disable when not, otherwise, one will go through 200MB with Windows Update alone. No reason to fear, Kaspersky has no ties with the Kremlin, if so, then their Internet Security & other paid offerings wouldn't be moving (nor recommended by many of these same editors).
Cat