The Best Antivirus Software of 2024
Our team tested 40 antivirus software providers, and these were the ones that stood out.
- Malware definitions update automatically
- Includes device optimization programs
- Lets you schedule scans so you never forget
- Comes bundled with a VPN, a secure browser, and identity theft protection
- Provides both full and quick scans
- One subscription lets you install the software on up to five devices
- Built-in Password Manager
- 2 GB cloud backup
- Trusted brand with unmatched customer support
- Includes behavior-based malware detection
- Offers a robust free version
- Allows for both on-demand and on-access scanning
The internet is treacherous. It’s useful, and we can’t live a normal day without it, but it’s also a dangerous place brimming with malware, threats of hacking, and an evident lack of privacy. We have to tread the online world carefully; fortunately, we can use antivirus software to detect and eliminate most threats.
What Is Antivirus Software?
Antivirus software provides protection against malicious files and programs, also known as malware. It keeps our devices in check by comparing our local files against a database of malware. It can also prevent malware from the internet from ever entering our devices.
Antivirus software can also use advanced methods of detecting malware. Some antivirus brands offer programs with deep learning AI to isolate harmful files before they do any damage, while others monitor how a program behaves to check if it’s harmful.
There’s no shortage of companies offering antivirus software, but the fact remains that some are better than others. Some stand behind years of experience in the antivirus industry, while others offer apps with a better user-experience. Still others have proven themselves in various malware detection tests. There’s a variety of options, and our goal right now is to help you find the best one for you. Ready? Let’s get started.
Statistics
Available firewall | 10/10 |
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On-demand scanning | 10/10 |
Behavior-based detection | 10/10 |
Monthly price range | $19.99-$99.99 |
The Best Antivirus Software At A Glance
System |
TotalAV Antivirus
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Surfshark Antivirus
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Norton Antivirus
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Kaspersky Antivirus
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McAfee Antivirus
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Bitdefender Antivirus
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Trend Micro Antivirus
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Avast Antivirus
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ESET Antivirus
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Vipre Antivirus
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Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
Ratings | 9.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.1/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.3/10 |
Price Range (1 year subscription) | $29.00 - $49.00 | $65.76 - $77.64 | $19.99 - $39.99 | $26.99 - $56.99 | $39.99 - $89.99 | $29.99 - $44.99 | $29.95 - $69.95 | $34.68 - $44.28 | $39.99 - $149.99 | $32.99 - $52.99 |
Number of Devices | 1-6 | 1-5 | 1-10 | 3-10 | 1-Unlimited | 5-10 | 1-10 | 1-10 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
Free Trial/Version | Free version capable of manual Smart Scans | 30-day money-back guarantee | Free trial for seven days | Free version with limited features (Kaspersky Security Cloud) or free trial of full version for 30 days | 14 days free trial of Windows app or 30 days free trial of iOS app | Free on one device (Android or Mac) with limited features | 30-day free trial of PC and mobile apps or seven days free trial of Android antivirus | Free version with limited features | 30-day free trial | 30-day free trial |
Operating Systems | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Android, Mac | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days (for licenses purchased from their website or Google Play) | 30 days | 30 days |
Customer Support | Live chat, phone, email, online ticket, and online support center | 24/7 live chat, email | Live chat, 24/7 phone support, online help center, and social media (Facebook or Twitter) | Phone, email and online support center | 24/7 live chat, email, and online help center | Email, call, live chat, online help center, and expert community forum | Live chat, phone, email, online help center, and Facebook Messenger chat | Online help center (FAQs) and online forms | Live chat, phone, email, and online help center | Online help center, phone, email |
Read Review | TotalAV Antivirus Review | Surfshark Antivirus Review | Norton Antivirus Review | Kaspersky Antivirus Review | McAfee Antivirus Review | Bitdefender Antivirus Review | Trend Micro Antivirus Review | Avast Antivirus Review | ESET Antivirus Review | Vipre Antivirus Review |
FYI: With on-access scanning, the app continuously scans for malware and viruses whenever it’s running. In contrast, on-demand scans are user-initiated.
Summary of the Best Antivirus Software
- TotalAV Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Protection
- Surfshark Antivirus - The Best Antivirus For Digital Security
- Norton Antivirus - The Best Cross-Platform Antivirus Software
- Kaspersky Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus Software
- McAfee Antivirus - The Most Complete Cybersecurity Software
- Bitdefender Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Detection
- Trend Micro Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Web Protection
- Avast Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Mac
- ESET Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Windows
- Vipre Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Android
Feature Highlight
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1. TotalAV Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Protection
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Free option with excellent malware detection
- Real-time protection and manual scans
- Automatic malware definition database updates
- Smart Scan goes beyond just scanning for malware
Cons
- Lacks a firewall
- Email support takes time to respond
- Prices increase after the first year
All-Around Digital Security Protection
TotalAV is the Swiss Army knife of antivirus software. In its most basic configuration, it protects your devices from a wide variety of viruses and malware, optimizes your devices’ performance, and makes sure your browser isn’t compromised. With the most advanced subscription, TotalAV will also protect your privacy using a VPN, block intrusive ads, and save your passwords in a secure vault.
Focusing on the antivirus software itself, we tested it by hiding a malware test file (Eicar-Test-Signature pictured above) in several places within our computer. TotalAV did well finding them – even those that we hid several folders deep and those that we put into .zip archives, two of the sneakiest hiding places of malware. That shows that TotalAV scans reach deep into the cracks and crevices of operating systems.
Manual malware scans weren’t the only ways TotalAV detected malware, though. We were also able to set up scheduled scans to make the software look for malware on a regular basis, even if we forget to scan our computers ourselves.
There was also this feature called real-time protection, which didn’t scan the whole computer, but did look for malware in files and folders we opened and downloaded. We kept this feature on the whole time, and it kept us safe as we downloaded email attachments or files from shared cloud folders.
TotalAV scan types How it works Full scan Scans every corner of your device Quick scan Scans the most common areas malware hide in Real-time protection Scans as you open and access files Scheduled scans Full or quick scans that run on schedule -
2. Surfshark Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software For Digital Security
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall No On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring No Pros
- Virtual private network, antivirus, identity protection, and secure browsing in one plan
- 24/7 live chat support
- Scheduled, quick, and full scans
- Regular automatic updates of virus database
Cons
- Not yet available on iPhones
- Doesn’t have on-access detection on Windows
- Requires a Surfshark VPN subscription
- Lacks behavior-based detection
All-In-One Cybersecurity Toolkit
Surfshark may not be a well-known name in the antivirus market yet, but it plays a major role in the digital security industry. Surfshark is best-recognized as one of the top VPN solutions right now, so when it ventured into antivirus software, we wasted no time testing it.
Surfshark’s antivirus software comes with a Surfshark One subscription – a package that combines Surfshark’s several privacy and digital security tools, including its famed VPN. And that’s one thing you might not like about it; a VPN subscription is included and required to use Surfshark’s antivirus software. If you already have a VPN, you’d be paying for two VPN services. On the other hand, though, if you don’t already have one, you’ll save money by buying Surfshark One, especially since the antivirus software adds only $1.49 per month to the cost of the VPN subscription. All in all, we paid only $3.14 for the whole bundle.
Frankly, though, Surfshark’s antivirus software isn’t the most advanced or well-developed. It doesn’t have a firewall yet, for example, but it’s getting better. Similar to TotalAV, it now offers real-time protection. What’s most intriguing about Surfshark – and the main reason it made its list – is the fact that numerous cybersecurity tools are included in its affordable subscriptions, including the VPN. Surfshark One isn’t just a cybersecurity tool; it’s an entire toolkit.
>> Related: Surfshark VPN review
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3. Norton Antivirus - The Best Cross-Platform Antivirus Software
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Affordable introductory prices
- 24/7 phone and live chat support
- Highly-rated iOS and Android apps
- Lots of extras (cloud backup, parental control features, etc.)
Cons
- Prices will more than double after the first year
- A history of class-action lawsuits due to alleged security breaches
- Not the best desktop app experience
- Collected a ton of user data and shared it with third parties
Mobile Device Protection At Its Finest
Our next entry is one you’ve likely heard about before. Norton is a respected name in the industry, offering antivirus solutions for many decades. One of the great things about it is that it’s constantly evolving. From the desktop antivirus we’ve used growing up, it’s now the best antivirus protection even for mobile devices.
It’s not enough to protect just your laptop or computer. Most people spend a considerable amount of time on their mobile devices, and because of that, smartphones have become a prime target of malware. What’s worse, a lot of people store valuable personal information on their phones. Malware infection can lead to nasty consequences like identity theft, fraud, or even hacking.
>> Also Read: What To Do When Your Phone Has Been Hacked
In our experience, Norton’s mobile protection provides the best protection against malware. It’s easy to navigate and use, with its scan function available in just a press of a button. If you’re an Android user, there are also widgets that you can use to quickly execute actions.
Norton is also quite thorough. In an audit by AV-Test in May 2023, Norton detected 99.9-percent of the latest and most prevalent Android malware at the time. That’s above the 97.3-percent average score.
It’s also worth noting that Norton’s smartphone apps provide more than just malware protection. Depending on your subscription, you can gain additional features to boost your device’s performance or protect you or family members from other online threats. You can, for example, blacklist websites frequented by online predators to safeguard your kids.
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4. Kaspersky Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus Software
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall No On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Editor’s Note: The German cybersecurity agency BSI put out a warning that the anti-virus software developed by Moscow-based Kaspersky poses a threat of “a serious hacking attack.” This warning comes as Russia’s invasion and attacks on Ukraine escalate.
Kaspersky responded that it is a privately-managed company with no ties to the Russian government and that the BSI warning was politically motivated. We will keep you updated on this development as new information comes forward.
Pros
- Comprehensive set of features even for the free version
- Behavior-based malware detection
- 100 percent detection in our virus detection test
- Extra features like password manager and VPN
Cons
- Alleged ties to the Russian government
- No phone or live chat support for free users
- iOS app has limited features
- 2019 security flaw that allowed hackers to spy on users’ browsing data1
Free Antivirus Software, Premium Protection
With most free antivirus software, the protection you receive isn’t as good as that from premium software, but Kaspersky wasn’t like most free software we tested. Their free antivirus software provided us with malware detection that was just as good as their premium software.
As part of our testing process, we released five viruses into our test computer and let Kaspersky hunt them down. The premium Kaspersky software found all five of them; that wasn’t surprising. What surprised us was that even the free software found them all. Even premium software from well-known brands like McAfee managed to find just four of the viruses, which led us to believe that Kasperksy has the best free antivirus software overall.
That said, the premium antivirus software from Kaspersky offers valuable additional features, such as a VPN, identity protection, online payment security, and more. We like to call these features “useful extras” because while they may be additional, they go a long way in enhancing your digital security.
Whether you stick to the free version or get a premium subscription, you’ll get top-quality virus protection from Kaspersky.
FYI: Kaspersky offers parental control features as well, which can help you limit your kids’ screen time and protect them from online dangers, such as the most dangerous apps for kids.
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5. McAfee Antivirus - The Most Complete Cybersecurity Software
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Antivirus packages with VPN, identity protection, and more
- Real-time detection of threats
- Customizable firewall protection
- Easy to navigate apps
Cons
- Lengthy scans
- Alleged security breach by Russian hackers in 2019
- Real-time and background scans affected system performance
- Frequent notifications when you turn off some features
Multiple Digital Safety Tools In One App
If TotalAV is the Swiss Army knife of malware protection, McAfee is a digital safety multi-tool. With McAfee’s most comprehensive subscription, we enjoyed safety nets beyond just malware protection. It also included a VPN, a password manager, identity monitoring, a secure browser add-on, three-bureau credit monitoring, ID theft insurance, and so on. You need all those if you want to ensure the safety of your data and personal information when browsing the internet.
Of course, a service like that is going to cost a pretty penny. A one-year subscription can cost as much as $199.99, but if we do the math, it’s actually a good value. A VPN alone can cost up to $15 per month, while identity protection with credit monitoring can cost upwards of $20 per month. Meanwhile, McAfee’s premium subscription costs roughly $17 per month. You can find out more about McAfee subscriptions in our McAfee pricing page, but here’s a quick rundown.
McAfee Premium (individual) $49.99/year McAfee Premium (family) $69.99/year McAfee Advanced (individual) $89.99/year McAfee Advanced (family) $119.99/year McAfee Ultimate (individual) $199.99/year McAfee Ultimate (family) $249.99/year -
6. Bitdefender Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Detection
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Perfect score in our virus detection test
- Protects up to 15 devices
- Affordable pricing starting at $38.98 for the first year
- Behavior-based malware detection
Cons
- History of security breaches that affected customers’ privacy
- Low iOS app ratings
- No free trial but has a free version with limited features
- Price likely to increase after the first year
Impressive Malware Detection
Malware detection is a huge part of what antivirus software does, so we put each software we test through a malware detection test. We hide five sneaky malware in our computer and let the software loose to see how many it finds. Interestingly, not all antivirus caught all five, especially the ones we hid several folders deep or those that are especially good at camouflaging (like the one that pretends to be a harmless PDF file).
Out of almost two dozen antiviruses we tested, only two were able to detect all five pieces of malware. Bitdefender was one of those two. Other software averaged a score of three out of five. Granted, our malware sample size was small, but the fact that Bitdefender detected what others couldn’t puts it ahead of the competition in terms of malware detection.
FYI: Expanding its horizons, Bitdefender now offers an identity protection service. This service leverages Bitdefender’s antivirus to actively steer users away from digital threats that can cause identity theft, such as malware.
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7. Trend Micro Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Web Protection
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Great Windows, iOS, and Android apps
- Social media privacy scanner
- “Firewall booster” for Windows
- Monthly and yearly subscriptions
Cons
- Clunky Mac app
- Requires way too many computer restarts when installing or updating
- The full scan option was buried deep beneath the app’s settings
- Not as configurable as other antivirus software
“Oversharer Protection”
What do they say? “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We do some things online that we think are harmless but are actually inviting trouble, like sharing too much personal information on social media or leaving the default privacy settings. On top of detecting and blocking malware, Trend Micro had a nifty feature that scanned our social media profiles and settings to recommend things that could be improved. This can be anywhere from a profile that is too public or posts that reveal too much information.
We appreciate features like that, especially since they can prevent serious threats like identity theft and hacking. Trend Micro’s Oversharer Protection may not be its main features – malware prevention always comes first – but we can say that it improved our overall digital wellbeing.
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8. Avast Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Mac
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Comprehensive virus protection features
- Easy to install and download on Mac
- Free version for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices
- Affordable pricing for up to 10 devices
Cons
- No phone or live chat support
- Pop-ups despite paying for the premium version
- Sold anonymized browsing data of users to third parties
- Extensive data collection
Broad Virus and Malware Protection
While they are more secure than Windows devices, Macs and Macbooks lack comprehensive virus protection. The macOS built-in antivirus is far from foolproof, but fortunately, Avast can fill that hole. Better still, Avast passed our standards either as a free or premium antivirus. Both editions offered protection against viruses, malware, adware, spyware, and ransomware, with the premium version getting extra features like a VPN and performance boosters.
On top of that, Avast’s software for Mac was one of the most user-friendly we tested. It wasn’t complicated to use at all, unlike some Mac antivirus we tested. Scanning, for example, can be scheduled or done manually with just a click of a button.
Did You Know: Although there are fewer viruses that target Apple products, the number has grown remarkably over the past few years. In 2017, there was a 270 percent increase in Mac viruses compared to 2016, and the number of threats have increased ever since.2
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9. ESET Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Windows
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall Yes On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Trustworthy Windows app (NOD32)
- Detected 80 percent of threats in our virus detection test
- Email scanning for Windows Live Mail and Outlook
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Cluttered user interface makes it harder to access some features
- Less frequent updates compared to other software
- NOD32 is pretty basic compared to other ESET products
- $39.99 per year is expensive for a single device
Best Protection for Windows
ESET NOD32 and its trademark picture of a human-like robot has been a common sight in Windows computers for decades. And there’s a reason why it’s a preferred Windows antivirus for many (including ourselves). Although NOD32’s features were basic compared to the other security suites offered by ESET, it’s a sturdy and trustworthy antivirus that reliably detected malware, adware, spyware, and ransomware. In fact, in our virus detection test, NOD32 scored a solid four out of five. That’s better than more than half of the other antivirus software we tested. Aside from that, ESET directly integrated a scanning feature into our Windows email apps, namely Live Mail and Outlook. The scan looked for suspicious attachments and prevented us from opening them. Being on the receiving end of countless email chains from co-workers and friends, this was a feature we really appreciated.
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10. Vipre Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Android
Product Specs
Virus Detection Yes Malware Detection Yes Firewall With Advanced Security and Ultimate Security versions On-demand Scanning Yes On-access Scanning Yes Behavior-based monitoring Yes Pros
- Customer support based in the U.S.
- Protection for individuals and businesses
- No history of security breaches, privacy violations or lawsuits
- Detected 100 percent of widespread malware in past month
Cons
- In our tests, only detected one out of five viruses
- No money-back guarantee
- Personal subscription only covers one device
- Online help center is pretty limited
Android Security Like No Other
Vipre offers antivirus and device security solutions for Windows, Mac, and iOS, but its Android security solution really stood out. Aside from the usual virus protection that Android antivirus apps provide, the Vipre Android Security app included features we typically don’t see in other Android antivirus apps. For starters, the Autopilot feature acted as our security advisor, letting us know of potential weaknesses in our Android settings. The app also allowed us to lock some apps, like our photo gallery, so that only we can access them using our fingerprints. And aside from digital security, Vipre provided our Android phones physical security. The Snap Photo feature, in particular, snapped a front camera picture of anyone who tried and failed to unlock our phones.
Methodology
So that’s about it for our list of the best antivirus software, but before we end this review, we’d like to give you an idea of our methodology.
We wanted to make our assessment as objective as possible, so we tested each software for at least six months. We took careful notes of their strengths and weaknesses, observed how they affected our devices, and monitored their behavior with regards to updates. We also tried to test each software across multiple operating systems to get a feel of their performance on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. If you want more specific information, check out the best antivirus for Mac, the best antivirus for Android, the best antivirus for Linux, and the best antivirus for PCs. And last but not least, we compared how each software fared in the following criteria.
More Information: You can learn more about these criteria and what other things we generally look for when testing antivirus software in our antivirus guide.
Virus Detection
First, we stripped down each antivirus to their most basic feature: virus detection. We performed a virus detection test wherein we downloaded five files, each containing a different type of virus or malware. They ranged from adware to spyware and even Trojan malware. We then performed a full scan using each software and noted which antivirus detected which files. And the result? Well, the majority of the antivirus programs we tested detected at least three of the five files, but there were a couple of software that detected all five files and a few that detected 80 percent of the files.
Now, we don’t recommend doing the virus detection test by yourself unless you know what you’re doing. You could lose important files or even subject yourself to the dangers of having viruses on your computer. However, if you really want to see how an antivirus reacts to malware, you could use a harmless anti-malware testfile such as the one developed by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR).3
Scans
While we’re on the subject of virus and malware detection, the next thing we tested was whether each antivirus tool scanned on access or on demand. Simply put, those that scanned on access searched for threats whenever the software was running, even in the background. In contrast, those with on-demand scanning scanned only whenever we instructed or scheduled them to scan. We prefer on-access scanning as it stops viruses and malware in real-time whether we remember to scan our computers or not. However, having on-demand scanning is also ideal. We still want to be able to scan our computers whenever we’re feeling anxious, you know?
Behavior-Based Detection
There’s another scanning-related feature that we deemed necessary: behavior-based detection. To understand what it is, we must first explain how traditional antivirus programs detect threats. Basically, when scanning a computer, the antivirus compares programs and files to a database of all known malware. The software may consider a file suspicious if it shares the same characteristics or code base as an existing threat. Now, that’s effective for detecting previously-known threats, but it has little to no effect on malware that is not yet on the database.
That’s where behavior-based detection kicked in. Instead of checking the code of each program and file, behavior-based detection monitored suspicious behaviors of files. For instance, one of the software we tested used this kind of detection to isolate a Trojan virus disguised as a Word file, likely because the .doc file in question tried to access our system files (nice try!). Having behavior-based detection really came in handy, especially since hundreds of thousands of new malware are being registered on a daily basis, according to the AV-TEST institute.4
Cost
We know that the cost is a major deciding factor when it comes to choosing an antivirus software. However, the prices of such tools fluctuate depending on the features, number of devices, and length of subscriptions. To keep them on equal grounds, we compared each software’s pricing for a one-year license that supports one to five devices. On average, the antivirus software we tested cost $30 to $50 for the first year, which breaks down to about $2 to $4 per month. Not bad for total malware protection. Of course, this isn’t the case for business antivirus, only personal.
We also checked if they have a free trial or better still, a free version. What’s the difference? Typically, a free trial includes all the features of the paid antivirus, but it only works for a limited time. Most of the free trials we found lasted up to 30 days only. In contrast, a free version is usually a licensed software that you could use for free indefinitely. The catch is that the features are limited, most likely. You likely won’t see any bells and whistles in your software— like password managers or VPNs, for instance— but you’ll have antivirus protection nonetheless. If you’re hesitant about getting a paid antivirus, we recommend using a free version for the time being.
Privacy Policy
Now onto the more tedious stuff. Because antiviruses needed access to our computers and files to do their jobs, it’s understandable that many of them collected our data. But the questions are: how much data did they collect and how did they use it? To answer that, we delved into each antivirus company’s privacy policy, and boy were we surprised. Many of the companies we looked into collect a ton of data from their users. The data they gathered included:
- Personal information such as contact details
- Payment information
- Browsing data such as the URLs we visited (although some of them anonymized the data before storing them)
- Device information like our MAC and IP addresses, IMEI numbers, and OS version
- Technical and crash reports
- Location information
- Network data
- Usage statistics
And many more! But wait, what’s even more concerning was how they used the data they gathered. Many of the antivirus companies we looked into explicitly said in their privacy policy that they share user data with third parties, usually with their partners for targeted advertisement purposes. Needless to say, we weren’t thrilled. However, that’s the industry norm. So instead of counting out those that do these practices, we gave higher scores to those that didn’t or those that let us manage what data they collected.
Recap
Getting antivirus software is the first step towards staying safe in the digital world. With the right software, you’re sure to find yourself worrying less about the cyber threats looming around online. But it’s not the only digital security measure you can take. Once you get an antivirus software set up, be sure to check our review of the best VPNs and best identity theft protection products.
FAQ
This piece covers a lot regarding antivirus software, but we know that our readers still have plenty of questions.
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What is the best antivirus software?
In our experience, TotalAV and Kaspersky are the top two antivirus programs, but if you’re looking for other options, Norton, Surfshark One, McAfee, Bitdefender, Trend Micro, Avast, ESET, and Vipre are also top-performers.
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How much does antivirus software cost?
The cost of an antivirus software typically depends on the features, the number of devices it can protect, and the length of the subscription. The usual cost of a one-year subscription for one to five devices is somewhere between $30 and $40 per year.
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Are free antivirus software good enough?
Some antivirus software have free versions and free trials. Free versions come with a limited set of features, but they are usually good enough for detecting viruses and malware through on-demand scans. Free trials, on the other hand, offer premium features for free for a limited time. Once they expire, you’ll need to pay for the full version to maintain protection. We recommend having antivirus protection 24/7, so if you’re looking for a free antivirus, we suggest getting a free version versus a free trial.
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How often should I scan my computer?
We recommend performing a full scan at least once a month, but it’s good practice to scan your computer whenever you download files off of the internet, plug a storage device to your computer, or connect to a public Wi-Fi network. However, most antivirus software these days offer on-access scanning wherein they scan your computer whenever the app is open. In such cases, scans initiated by the user (a.k.a. on-demand scanning) aren’t absolutely necessary.
Forbes. (2019). Warning: A Security Flaw In Kaspersky AntiVirus Lets Hackers Spy Users Online, Millions At Risk. forbes.com/sites/jeanbaptiste/2019/08/16/warning-a-security-flaw-in-kaspersky-antivirus-lets-hackers-spy-users-online-millions-at-risk/?sh=1cef72e9ba34
Malwarebytes. (2020). Mac antivirus. malwarebytes.com/mac-antivirus
Eicar. (2006). ANTI MALWARE TESTFILE. eicar.org/?page_id=3950
AV Test. (2020). Malware. av-test.org/en/statistics/malware/