How to get Kaspersky Free antivirus

There’s big news in the antivirus world and that’s because Kaspersky has announced its first ever free edition. Here’s everything you need to know including the release rollout, features and how to download the software.

“I’ve some fantastic, earth-shattering-saving news: we’re announcing the global launch of Kaspersky Free, which, as you may have guessed by the title, is completely free-of-charge! Oh my giveaway!” said the official blog.

Make sure you read our guide on the best antivirus for 2017.

Kaspersky Free release date and rollout

The new free edition of Kaspersky antivirus has already been launch, on the firm’s 20th birthday which falls on 25 July.

However, it’s not simply available worldwide straight away so, to begin with, it’s only out in countries like Russia, Ukraine, China and Sweden.

Those in the US and Canada won’t have to wait long as the schedule is ‘July/August’ but anyone in the UK or Ireland will have to wait until ‘Early October’. You can see the full rollout schedule below and below that, we’ll tell you how download it now, no matter where you are in the world.

How to download Kaspersky Free now

Although the software isn’t due for release in the UK until October, you can get Kaspersky Free right now. Just like watching Netflix in another country, you can use a VPN to browse from a place where the application is available to download.

For example, we installed Express VPN, selected to browse from New York, then downloaded Kaspersky Free from this page.

Read more about how to use a VPN and see what ones are available in our best VPNs chart.

Kaspersky Free features

It’s no surprise that the free edition of Kaspersky antivirus doesn’t come fully-featured. Otherwise, there would be no incentive for anyone to spend money on the paid Total Security version.

Kaspersky says, “In our paid-for versions there are many extra features, like: Parental Control, Online Payment Protection, and Secure Connection (VPN), which easily justify the ~$50 for premium protection.”

So you’ll get basic protection with the ‘bare essentials’ much like other free antivirus software. Kaspersky Free includes file, email and web antivirus, automatic updates, self-defense, quarantine and more.

All of which mean you can surf the web safely, use USB sticks without worry and get protection against phishing or infected files, according to the firm.

Kaspersky adds that the free version is lighter on system resources and therefor runs faster than the full version. There’s also good news if you dislike free stuff coming with annoying add-ons.

“At the same time Kaspersky Free doesn’t come cut with all the usual nonsense like advertising-oriented user-habit tracking and confidentiality infringements – which free AV normally suffers badly from in order to make it financially worthwhile to its manufacturers,” said the firm.