Discover free spyware protection & removal

Spyware was thrust back into the spotlight after the discovery of Pegasus, the advanced mobile spyware from the Israeli NSO Group. Using this powerful software, several states worldwide have extensively spied on and monitored the Android and iOS devices of journalists, politicians, opposition activists, human rights activists, and their lawyers. For obvious reasons, some authoritarian regimes love spyware. It helps them keep tabs on critics and anyone potentially seeking to undermine them. Many countries worldwide, including Germany, are allegedly using the Pegasus spyware for their own surveillance operations. NSO Group insists that its products are primarily used by law enforcement for legitimate crime-fighting purposes—and only to collect data from the mobile devices of specific individuals suspected to be involved in serious crime.  

However, spyware is not only used by government authorities and cyber criminals. Stalkers find it useful too. By installing spying apps on smartphones without the knowledge and consent of the user, they can monitor internet searches, location history, text messages, photos, videos, voice calls, and more. Often these are harmless apps, like parental monitoring apps, being misused by people wanting to keep tabs on others, like their spouse. To help you protect your online privacy, Avira offers free spyware protection with its spyware scanner. The company has also joined the Coalition Against Stalkerware, which aims to hunt down stalker and tracking software and help protect against domestic abuse. Find out more about Avira’s commitment to ending stalkerware in this blog.

Protect your data from online spies and intruders

Avira’s spyware detector freeware is available for Windows and Mac computers, plus mobile devices. Avira Antivirus Security for Android provides online protection against many types of mobile threats, including spyware, and checks the system for other types of malware. In addition to the spyware scanner, this freeware for smartphones offers other security features: The Permissions Manager shows you which apps have access to your personal data and information. Use the Applock feature to PIN-protect apps that may contain confidential information, such as chats, calls, and Skype.

Reading this in a coffee shop or at the airport? If you’re using public Wi-Fi, a VPN offers essential security and comes free (up to 100 MB/day) with the Avira anti-spyware app for Android. VPNs create a virtual tunnel through which your online data travels, keeping it more secure from prying eyes. Additional privacy-boosting features are at your fingertips too, including a breach monitor that checks whether your email address has been leaked, and a network scanner, which displays all devices connected to your home network.

Not content with simply keeping your phone more secure, Avira Antivirus Security also offers a cleanup and optimization tool to help speed up your smartphone and free up more storage space. In addition to web protection, which helps block malicious and phishing websites, the Avira Pro version includes camera and microphone protection. So, you can help prevent unauthorized access to your camera and microphone.

How else can you protect yourself from spyware—for free?

Look out for trusted antivirus software that comes with an integrated spyware scanner—like Avira Free Antivirus. But don’t stop there. There’s more (and you still won’t need to spend a penny). Since malware can sneak in via security vulnerabilities in outdated software, regular updating of your programs and drivers is important too. A software and driver updater like Avira Software Updater alerts you to outdated programs and provides secure download links so you know that the software you’re getting is clean. Love online shopping and browsing? You need Avira Browser Safety (for Opera, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge). This extension helps protect you from spyware hidden in harmful advertisements. It also highlights malicious and phishing pages in search results, so you don’t even go there.

Thankfully, Avira Free Security takes the headache out of choosing what you need, making staying safer online even simpler. Not only does it come with anti-malware and a software updater, so you can tick those boxes, but it cunningly blends in more: A VPN for more secure, anonymous surfing, a PC cleaner for a faster machine, and a password manager. All for free (of course).  

The integrated Avira Password Manager can generate and securely store your passwords for you and provides spyware protection. How is that possible? Read on. If you enter your details manually, keylogger spyware could record your keystrokes and pass on your details to cyber criminals. Password Manager comes with an autofill function, so your details are automatically entered as you log in to your online accounts. As there’s no typing, there’s nothing for the keylogger to record!

Upgrade to cross-platform, all-round protection for your devices

If you’re prepared to invest in a monthly subscription, it’s time to meet Avira Prime: It’s the Avira VIP program that grants you access to all Avira premium solutions for a single fee. Security is vital—so is shielding your privacy. That’s why Prime offers trusted protection, privacy, and performance.

• Go beyond malware protection: Stay safe from other security vulnerabilities, like outdated software and weak passwords. The ‘Pro-version’ tools let you unlock greater functionality. E.g.: Avira Software Updater Pro automatically updates software and drivers. Password Manager Pro alerts you if your personal data has been found in a data breach. 
• Protect your privacy: Use unlimited VPN to surf privately wherever you are.
• Speed up: System Speedup Pro comes with advanced, deep cleaning tools (including registry cleaner), as well as backup and restore options.

Nobody likes being spied on, tracked, or having their data stolen. Thankfully, there are a range of options to protect you from online threats—and many trusted solutions are free.