The Best Antivirus Protection Software of 2022
Our team tested 40 antivirus software providers, and these were the ones that stood out.

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving, with new types of malware being discovered on a daily basis. Recently, for instance, cybersecurity experts have uncovered over a dozen malicious apps that drop banking malware onto Android devices.
Fortunately, as malware attacks seem to flourish and become more devastating, the antivirus industry is quickly evolving, as well. But one question remains: What’s the best antivirus software?
After testing dozens of antivirus tools, we found that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, the best antivirus software depends on what types of malware you’re guarding yourself against, what systems you’re running, and of course, your budget.
To help you make a decision, here are the 10 antiviruses that stood out in our tests, as well as our recommendation on who they’re best for.
Statistics
Available firewall | 10/10 |
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 |
Kaspersky Antivirus
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TotalAV Antivirus
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Norton Antivirus
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Surfshark 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 | 9.6/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.3/10 |
Price Range (1 year subscription) | $26.99 - $44.99 | $29.00 - $49.00 | $39.99 - $54.99 | $65.76 - $77.64 | $29.99 - $89.99 | $39.98 - $44.99 | $19.95 - $59.95 | $50.28 - $69.48 | $39.99 - $59.99 | $31.42 - $59.99 |
Number of Devices | 3-10 | 1-6 | 1-10 | 1-5 | 1-10 | 5-10 | 1-10 | 1-10 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
Free Trial/Version | Free version capable of manual Smart Scans | Free version with limited features (Kaspersky Security Cloud) or free trial of full version for 30 days | Free trial for seven days | 30-day money-back guarantee | 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, Mac, iOS, Android | 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, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
Virus Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Malware Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Firewall | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes* with Advanced Security or Ultimate Security |
On-Demand Malware Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
On-Access Malware Scan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (on Android, coming soon on WIndows) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Behavior-Based Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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 | Phone, email and online support center | Live chat, phone, email, online ticket, and online support center | Live chat, 24/7 phone support, online help center, and social media (Facebook or Twitter) | 24/7 live chat, email | 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 | Kaspersky Antivirus Review | TotalAV Antivirus Review | Norton Antivirus Review | Surfshark 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
- Kaspersky Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus Software
- TotalAV Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Protection
- Norton Antivirus - The Best Cross-Platform Antivirus Software
- Surfshark Antivirus - The Best Antivirus For Digital Security
- McAfee Antivirus - The Most Affordable Antivirus 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. Kaspersky Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus Software
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
Kaspersky Antivirus Support Webpage Antivirus Protection for $0.00
Kaspersky’s most premium antivirus license, the Kaspersky Total Security, costs at least $26.99 per year. If you’re on a budget, however, there’s a very capable free antivirus software from Kaspersky, named the Kaspersky Security Cloud Free. We say it’s capable because it was one of the only two antivirus tools we tested that aced our virus detection with an impressive 100-percent score.
The free software uses the same virus database as the paid version, which means if the premium version can detect the virus, so can the free version. Additionally, the free version includes both on-demand and real-time malware detection, plus it has extra features — like a VPN and password manager — similar to that of the premium version. Granted, the bonus features are limited with the free version, but they’re free and you can use them indefinitely.
FYI: Kaspersky has recently discovered that a malware known as WinDealer is capable of man-on-the-side attacks, a sophisticated network ability that can deliver malicious payload to end-users without direct interaction.
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2. TotalAV Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Protection
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 ranks high on the list because of how extensively it protects its users from various types of cyberthreats. It doesn’t just protect you from malware, especially with the highest tier of TotalAV protection. It comes with antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), a password manager, and a device tuneup tool. The antivirus software alone gets you real-time protection from malware as well as the options to scan manually or on schedule.
TotalAV real-time protection at work Our tests show that TotalAV is excellent at detecting malware. In fact, our scheduled and manual scans detected the malware we hid inside .zip archives, which means TotalAV is really on the hunt for malware no matter where or how deep it hides within our files. That being said, the software’s real-time protection feature failed to catch some of the malicious files we hid. But considering that scheduled and manual scans are both available even in the TotalAV free version, we’re impressed by its malware detection.
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3. Norton Antivirus - The Best Cross-Platform Antivirus Software
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
Norton App Home Page Mobile Device Protection At Its Finest
What’s impressive about Norton is that it excelled at detecting malware no matter what platform we used it on. On our desktop computers, both Mac and Windows, Norton scanned and found even the malware we hid several folders deep. It’s also amazing how streamlined the desktop apps were, which made it easier for us to set up schedules and start scans on-demand.
We were most impressed by the mobile apps, particularly the Android app. According to an independent audit by AV-TEST in March, Norton is capable of detecting 100-percent of real-time attacks as well as widespread malware designed for Android. We tested the app ourselves, and while we didn’t have as many samples as AV-TEST, we were able to conclude that Norton can, in fact, detect a wide range of Android malware. We’d also like to point out that the user-experience on mobile really stood out. The apps were clutter-free, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate. Case in point: It only takes one press of a button to start a scan, and there are even widgets available so you don’t have to open the app.
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4. Surfshark Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software For Digital Security
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
Surfshark is better known for its virtual private networks, but recently, it added malware protection to its tool belt. Surfshark combines VPN protection with antivirus software, identity monitoring, and secure browser for all-around digital security.
Surfshark Antivirus – Scan Complete Current Surfshark VPN users can add Surfshark Antivirus for $1.49 a month, while non-users can pay as low as $3.98 a month for the whole deal — VPN, antivirus, password manager, and safe search included. Surfshark antivirus features on-demand scanning, scheduled scanning, and real-time malware detection on Android. And since it uses the same app as the VPN, users get a seamless meshing of vital digital security tools.
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5. McAfee Antivirus - The Most Affordable Antivirus Software
Pros
- Antivirus packages starting at $29.99 for the first year
- 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
McAfee Scan Options Antivirus Protection On A Budget
If you’re on a budget, McAfee is an affordable but premium option. Pricing starts at $29.99 for the first year, which works out to just over $2 per month, for the McAfee All-In-One Protection (formerly Total Protection). In addition to antivirus licenses, all All-In-One Protection plans include access to a VPN and basic identity monitoring. If you choose the more expensive plans, you’ll gain access to identity theft insurance, removal of your personal information from data broker sites, and lost wallet protection, too.
Let’s talk about the antivirus software from McAfee. McAfee solidified its name in the industry for being one of the oldest antivirus companies. Over the years, new features have been added to its software, and one that stands out is real-time protection. With this feature, viruses and malware are caught even before they have a chance to execute. McAfee does that by scanning files and programs in real time as you open them. A lot of brands offer this feature, but Mcafee was one of the best we’ve tested at executing it.
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6. Bitdefender Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Detection
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
Bitdefender Dashboard No Place to Hide for Viruses and Malware
One of the highlights of our antivirus software tests was the virus detection test, wherein we played a game of hide-and-seek with each software. We downloaded five virus-infected files, hid them deep in our hard drives, and then performed a full scan to see how many they could detect. Of the 40 software we used, Bitdefender was one of the only two that detected all five files. That goes to show that Bitdefender is a cut above the rest when it comes to detecting cyber threats. And, on top of that, it’s affordable, considering that it can protect up to 10 devices and that there’s a free version of the software that is just as capable of detecting viruses.
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
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
Trend Micro Folder Shield “Oversharer Protection”
We, like most millennials, tend to overshare on our social media profiles, which is why we appreciated Trend Micro’s Privacy Scanner feature. Basically, it checked our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn’s settings to check for privacy concerns. In our case, we were advised to change our Facebook privacy settings because, as it turned out, anyone who visited our profile could find our phone number and email address. Trend Micro didn’t make any changes by itself; we still had to manually change who could see our personal information, but it’s nice to have a feature that looks for such possible concerns.
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8. Avast Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Mac
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
Avast Antivirus – Mac is Protected Broad Virus and Malware Protection
We tested both the free and premium versions of Avast, and to our delight, both editions offered protection against viruses, malware, adware, spyware, and ransomware. Now, it’s pretty run-of-the-mill for Windows antivirus tools to offer protection against those types of threats. But for Apple computers, which are more secure than Windows (but still vulnerable to a growing number of attacks), that level of protection is just right. That’s why Avast is the best antivirus software for Mac.
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
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
ESET Dashboard 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
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/