Bitdefender antivirus software consistently earns top marks for its antivirus protection and usability from the respected AV-Test independent testing lab. The free antivirus version covers one Windows PC. Malwarebytes does protect your PC from a virus or malware attack, scoring reasonably well in recent independent testing for guarding against malware threats. But that's not really what Malwarebytes is known for.
If you find yourself in trouble, the go-to disinfectant for many is Malwarebytes. To get the antivirus company's free antivirus version, download this trial version , which "downgrades" to a no-fee on-demand cleaner with fewer features that detects and removes viruses and malware when you run an on-demand antivirus scan after 14 days. In addition to the four antivirus apps we recommend above, a handful of other anti-malware tools are worth considering among the best antivirus protection if you find them at a better price or just prefer to use one over our picks above.
It feels like McAfee Antivirus has been around forever, first on its own in the '80s, then as part of Intel starting in , and then again on its own when Intel spun it off in And it's been around forever because quarter after quarter it creates solid, modern antivirus software that protects your PC.
In recent evaluations by AV-Test, it had high scores on both protection and performance. Maybe this antivirus provider is not as well known to consumers because of its focus on enterprise security, Trend Micro antivirus quietly brings its business expertise to the home with its Trend Micro Maximum Security tools. Trend Micro's software earns high marks from AV-Test -- consistently scoring well for detecting zero-day attacks and widespread viruses and malware.
And Trend Micro does a good job of not taxing system resources. It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. The free antivirus version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs -- using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool -- plus a day trial of the company's malware-removal tool. Test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performs well for malware detection. And we've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
But Avast was in the news for several months for its non-antivirus business, so we looked at the company, specifically reports at the end of that Avast allegedly collected user data with its browser plug-ins and antivirus software and then sold data it collected through its Jumpshot subsidiary in early In response to the reports that his company gathered and sold the details of its customers' online activities, Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek said in a statement that he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company.
To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January and closed its operations because the data collection business wasn't in line with Avast's privacy priorities. These newer reports follow another in from Avast that its internal network was breached , possibly to insert malware into its CCleaner software, similar to an earlier CCleaner hack that occurred prior to Avast's acquiring the Windows utility.
Avast is now saying the right things about taking its customers' privacy seriously , but it only came to that point after reacting to investigative reporting that revealed the Jumpshot practices.
The CCleaner revelations, while concerning, were self-disclosed, which is important to building user trust. We hope Avast's more privacy-friendly policies mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and it returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software.
In the meantime, we'd recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm listed above. Because the company has been in the news the past few years, let's talk about Kaspersky Lab -- specifically about the federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using Kaspersky Antivirus products. Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the best antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers.
But in the US government prohibited Kaspersky software on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government. Notably, the ban does not apply to its consumer products. But as with China-based Huawei , the question remains: If the federal government doesn't think the products are safe enough for its own devices, should consumers avoid them as well? In a statement sent to CNET, the company said, "Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never, nor will ever, engage in cyber offensive activities.
Kaspersky Lab maintains that no public evidence of any wrongdoing has been presented by the US government, and that the US government's actions against Kaspersky Lab were unconstitutional. And after all that, we learned that most people should neither pay for a traditional antivirus suite, such as McAfee, Norton, or Kaspersky, nor use free programs like Avira, Avast, or AVG.
But ultimately, relying on any one app to protect your system, data, and privacy is a bad bet, especially when almost every antivirus app has proven vulnerable on occasion. No antivirus tool, paid or free, can catch every malicious bit of software that arrives on your computer. You also need secure passwords , two-factor logins , data encryption, systemwide backups , automatic software updates, and smart privacy tools added to your browser. You need to be mindful of what you download and to download software only from official sources, such as the Microsoft App Store and Apple Mac App Store, whenever possible.
You should avoid downloading and opening email attachments unless you know what they are. For guidance, check out our full guide to setting up all these security layers. In contrast, antivirus is an out-of-date term that software makers still use because viruses, Trojan horses, and worms were huge, attention-getting threats in the s and early s.
You can also use a firewall, either on the modem or each computer, and be sure to protect each of your online accounts with a unique, complex password. Stay proactive with your cyber security and be vigilant while using the internet. These are some of the best ways to help ensure malware protection across your devices. Your second line of protection against malware is to install a strong anti-malware software program. Even downloads from seemingly reputable websites or known senders could have malware embedded.
All security software products are not created the same. Different anti-malware programs protect at different levels, and free malware protection is often inadequate.
Here are a few of our top recommendations for features to look for when deciding on the right anti-malware security software for your needs.
One form of malware is ransomware, which can allow a cybercriminal to encrypt and steal the data stored on your device. How do you get ransomware? You may install ransomware unwittingly by downloading a program you thought was safe, or clicking on a link embedded with malware.
Robust anti-malware software such as Norton Security will run regular, scheduled scans across your whole computer. These scans will help provide an additional layer of protection against malware harming your system by checking for infections on a regular basis.
If you do end up with a virus, you can use the free Norton Power Eraser to help remove malware. These updates will equip your devices with the latest patches to recognize and protect against new threats. Your anti-malware software should detect and flag suspicious websites.
For example, some fake websites are specifically designed to look like real sites with the goal of phishing, or tricking you into sharing your passwords or account numbers.
A strong anti-malware program should use email spam-filtering technology to help protect against suspicious messages that try to entice a user to click on malicious links. Part of this filtering involves isolating these potentially malicious emails in quarantine, which then allows you to determine if those messages are safe.
Another form of anti-malware analysis is known as heuristics. Heuristics can spot malware by looking at its behavior and characteristics as opposed to relying only on its knowledge of malware definitions, or signatures. Heuristics can provide an extra layer of security by enabling an anti-malware program to detect and eradicate threats that were not detected in prior scans.
If your security software detects a potentially-malicious program, it can perform a test by running that program in a protected, enclosed space on your computer known as a sandbox.
There is a day free trial. Norton with LifeLock keeps improving on its history as a top antivirus option with its PC maintenance features, making it the best for Windows computers. Norton introduced its first antivirus software in under the Symantec umbrella.
Symantec purchased LifeLock in , and in , after the enterprise division of the company was sold, the name was changed to NortonLifeLock. The company is based in Tempe, Arizona. Norton with LifeLock won best antivirus for Windows because of how it has continued to build on its history of protecting Windows machines. The identity theft protection capabilities of LifeLock alone give this product an edge.
There are several versions of this product, so users can pick the features they need, but even the lowest level offers PC maintenance utilities including the ability to produce a faster bootup and 2GB of cloud backup. The amount of cloud storage increases based on the package level.
Webroot SecureAnywhere for Mac offers excellent phishing detection and fast scanning ability specifically designed for Macs. The company was founded in and introduced its first antivirus product in OpenText acquired the company in Webroot SecureAnywhere for Mac is our choice for antivirus protection that's best for Mac computers. There is still a belief that Mac computers are safe from cyberattacks, and while most viruses are targeted at Windows computers, Macs are vulnerable to other malware, ransomware, phishing attacks, and even Apple-targeted viruses.
Offering an email address when installing Webroot gives users alerts for new threats. This price covers one device. There is a day money-back guarantee. McAfee Antivirus Plus is our top choice as best for multiple devices because its subscriptions offer protection for every device in the home for a reasonable cost. McAfee Antivirus Plus is the one antivirus platform that recognizes the growing number of devices used in a single household, which could include four or more different operating systems.
The basic package supports up to 10 devices, support, secure web browsing, and antivirus. The MTP 10 Device plan is for one year for 10 devices, but also includes features such as full protection for the home network, password manager , encrypted storage, and identity theft protection. Unlimited device protection is also available in one-year subscriptions.
Plans come with one to five VPN licenses. Trend Micro was founded in in the U. The company operates worldwide and has many partnerships in the tech industry. Password management and protection are only offered in the product family's highest tier.
This version is Windows-only, but Trend Micro does offer a Mac version too. The highest tier plan supports mobile operating systems as well. The company offers a day money-back guarantee. Our top choice for malware scanning, Malwarebytes, is the best at removing malware on demand among any providers. Malwarebytes was founded in Santa Clara, California, in and specializes in protecting home computers and mobile devices. The free version of Malwarebytes is limited but powerful.
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