A lot of the best antivirus programs now work this way. You’ll pay a one-time fee to get the most recent version of that software, and all of its updates will be free. You can also find some very good free antivirus software, but these usually don’t have as many features as the paid ones.
If you pay for antivirus software, you may get extras like firewalls, password management programs, VPNs, and identity theft protection that free programs don’t have. If you need even more protection for your computer or smartphone, check out the best internet security apps. Extra security features are added to these enhanced versions of antivirus programs. They also cover more devices and cover more people.
Malware
Malware is short for malicious software. It’s used to describe a wide range of threats to your computer or smartphone. These include viruses and other types of harmful software and spyware and adware, for example.
Firewall
On your computer, there is a security device called a firewall. It monitors network traffic coming and going and stops any traffic that isn’t supposed to be there. Windows and Mac computers come with built-in firewalls, but many antivirus programs also have firewalls.
VPN
A virtual private network is the name of the term. These programs give you a way to stay anonymous online by encrypting your network signal and sending it to another server so that no one can see it. This stops websites from finding out where you are. They can also be used to get to the content that is only available in one place. It comes with some antivirus and internet security programs.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus: The best antivirus software all-around
We think BitDefender is the best antivirus software on the market, even though it was a close race. It comes with Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, which is the basic antivirus package. It protects you against viruses, spyware, ransomware, and almost any other kind of malicious software, like spyware and viruses.
Bitdefender backs up these claims by blocking between 99.5 and 100% of malware attacks when experts in the field try them. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus also comes with a VPN that lets you stay anonymous and safe online and Bitdefender’s Safe Files feature, which can protect specific safeguards and important files even more. The first year’s cover prices start at $19.99, which is a good deal.
Norton 360 Antivirus Plus: The best antivirus for speed
Many people thought Norton 360 Antivirus Plus was going to be the winner, but it was right behind them. So once again, you get a top-notch antivirus suite that protects you from all kinds of online threats like ransomware.
As a result, Norton can back up these claims with good results from antivirus experts, like AVTest and AV-Comparatives, who gave Norton 360 the best score in the most recent round of tests. If your home computer is hacked, your most important files could be lost, so you also get a password manager and 2GB of online cloud storage to help keep them safe.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus: The best protection against viruses
Many people use Kaspersky Anti-Virus, and for a good reason. It’s one of the best antivirus suites we’ve ever used. The only reason it doesn’t top our list is that there are not enough extras and add-ons. But when it comes to antivirus software, Kaspersky is the best.
From viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, Delaware, and a whole lot of other common hacking methods, you will be safe from them. When antivirus experts recently tested Kaspersky Anti-Virus at AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, it got a perfect score. It blocked every malicious file that was sent to it.
A VPN and a password manager are the only reasons to look for other programs. If you only need to protect a single device, you don’t need to look for other programs. Kaspersky Antivirus costs $29.99 for the first year to protect three devices. Still, there is no single-device option, so competitors are cheaper for single-device users because Kasperksy doesn’t have that option.
Avast Free Antivirus: The Most Comprehensive Free Antivirus
Would you believe us when we told you that one of the best antivirus software on the market costs no money? Nothing, nothing, nothing. This is true because Avast Free Antivirus is free of charge. People don’t have to pay extra fees or wait for bills. It’s free. That’s not good enough. Wrong. Avast Free Antivirus gives you the same level of protection as many other big names in the field.
It protects your devices from viruses, spyware, and other types of malware. It also does very well, blocking between 99.7% and 100% of attacks from experts during their most recent tests. The downside is that it doesn’t race as well as some more expensive antivirus software. Using an older computer, you might see a noticeable slowdown. A small cost to spend when you don’t have to pay for anything.
McAfee Total Protection: Best antivirus for technophobes
McAfee doesn’t have tiers as other companies do. They only have one antivirus program called McAfee Total Protection. Many people think of this as full-blown internet security software, but it also comes with antivirus protection, so we’d be wrong not to mention it.
McAfee has been one of the big names for a long time now when it comes to antivirus protection. It still has a good product, though some of the competition might have started to get ahead of it. This is great, but it doesn’t compare to some of the other antivirus programs on our list. The antivirus was able to stop between 97% and 98% of the attacks that experts put it through.
If you buy this, you get a lot of other things as well, like a firewall, password manager, file shredder, and a safe VPN. Even though these aren’t “free” or “extra,” they’re part of the security package you’re already paying for. Pieces start at $29.99 for a year’s worth of protection for a single phone or tablet. Not bad, but you can get better protection for less money elsewhere if you need an antivirus program.
