The Best Antivirus Software of 2024
TotalAV automatically updates malware definitions and lets you schedule scans, which is why it's our favorite antivirus software.
- 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
We can’t control the spread of malware on the internet, but what we can do is protect our devices. And you already know what you need – antivirus software.
As cybersecurity experts though, we know that not all antivirus software is built the same. Sure, they can all detect malware and get rid of it, but can your antivirus prevent more sophisticated threats? Can it protect your devices without slowing them down? Can it protect your family, especially your kids who might not know how to properly use antivirus software yet?
Our top picks can, especially TotalAV, thanks to its Smart Scans that go beyond just malware protection. But to give you options, here are nine of the best antivirus software – hand-picked and tested by our in-house cybersecurity experts over the course of three months. Get to know them here in this guide.
What is Antivirus Software? Antivirus software provides protection against malware, which is any type of malicious code inserted into files and programs. Antiviruses keep a database of known malware. They can also use AI to isolate harmful files as well as behavior-based detection to catch sneaky malware hidden in seemingly legitimate programs.
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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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 |
Ratings | 9.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.5/10 | 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 | $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 | 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 | 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, Linux | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 60 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) | 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 | 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
- 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 No 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 impressed us with its Smart Scan that goes beyond just malware protection. With a click of a button, it performed a quick scan to search for malware; a security and privacy scan to look for programs that could compromise your security (e.g. adware); a performance scan that looked for apps and files that use too many resources; a system junk and duplicate scan that looked for duplicate and unnecessary .temp files. Besides those, it has a VPN you can turn on anytime.
>> Learn More: Review of the Total VPN by TotalAV
FYI: While device optimizers don’t seem connected to malware, they can help you pinpoint the location of some types of malware. For example, they can help you find computer worms, which spread rapidly on a device and impact its performance.
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.
Doing manual scans all the time isn’t user-friendly though. We prefer antivirus software that can protect us even when we’re mindlessly using our devices day-to-day. TotalAV did that. It let us schedule full device scans, which we set to take place every Wednesday. On top of that, the real-time protection feature scanned any program or file we opened, downloaded, or accessed to prevent any malware from executing on our device.
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 Yes 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 began as a VPN company, and so all its antivirus plans include the Surfshark VPN. But like Total AV, Surfshark offers all-around cybersecurity. For as low as $2.69 per month, you’ll enjoy malware protection, VPN access, ad blocking, cookie pop-up blocker, and an online alias generator. If you go with the upgraded Surfshark One+ ($4.69 per month), you’ll also be able to access Incogni, Surfshark’s data removal service to help protect your identity and personal information.
That being said, Surfshark has a long way to go. We liked its core protection features and ability to detect malware – it scored four out five in our malware detection test – but when it comes to extra features, it lacked some important ones. For example, it didn’t have a firewall, so if someone were to spread malware through our local network, there’s no guarantee Surfshark could stop it. Surfshark will likely detect and get rid of the malware once it’s inside our computer though.
By and large, we picked Surfshark because it doesn’t offer just malware protection. It’s an entire toolkit of useful cybersecurity tools that include a VPN, antivirus software, ad and tracker blocker, online data protection, and more.
Pro Tip: Because of how good both the antivirus software and VPN are, we named Surfshark the #1 antivirus and VPN bundle. It made the list alongside TotalAV and NordVPN.
>> 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
Norton has long been a trusted antivirus name for computers, but our most recent testing shows that it’s the best option for mobile devices. Smartphones are a treasure trove of personal information, making them a prime target for malware and hacking. So if you’re concerned about smartphone hacking, consider using Norton.
>> Also Read: What To Do When Your Phone Has Been Hacked
Norton’s mobile apps are easy to navigate and use. You can activate widgets to scan your phone on demand, but you can also turn on real-time protection to stop malware and other types of attacks as they happen. Those other types of attacks can include malicious ads (known as adware), hacking, and ransomware, thanks to additional features such as a VPN.
We also like that Norton has family-oriented features. You can, for example, install its apps on your kids’ phones to blacklist dangerous and inappropriate websites. And with its top-tier offering, you can also manage your kids’ screen times.
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4. 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
McAfee showed us one of the most comprehensive digital safety tools in the market with its McAfee+ Ultimate package. Besides McAfee’s reputable antivirus software, it included a VPN, password manager, and even identity monitoring – the same identity protection features we see from identity theft protection services. In fact, McAfee is also one of our top-pick identity protection services.
Now, there is one downside, which is the cost. A one-year subscription to that Ultimate plan costs $199 or a little less than $17 per month. That’s just for the first year. It increases to $279.99 or about $23 when you renew the next year. It’s not cheap, but we think you get what you pay for. Those McAfee prices give you the whole nine yards of digital protections. And of course, if you don’t need all the included features, you’re always welcome to choose a less comprehensive plan. Here’s a breakdown:
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 -
5. 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
Bitdefender’s ability to detect malware impressed us, as it found all five pieces of malware we hid in our computer when we tested it. And mind you, we hid them so well that only two of the 40 antiviruses we tested found all of them. The other one besides Bitdefender was Kaspersky, but read our Kaspersky review to find out why it fell out of contention.
Anyway, Bitdefender’s impressive malware detection paired well with its real-time protection feature. One of the viruses we tried to hide from Bitdefender was inside a .zip archive, but the moment we tried to extract everything in it, Bitdefender immediately stepped in. Nothing gets past it, which is why it’s our pick for 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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6. 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
Online Malware Protection
Malware can spread from one device to another by transferring files, plugging in an infected flash drive, or simply connecting to the same local network. But by far, most types of malware come from the internet.
And what do they say? “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Trend Micro lives by those words. Rather than simply eliminating malware once it gets into your device, Trend Micro prevents malware from entering your devices via the internet in the first place. It has a feature called “firewall booster” which complements the built-in firewall of Windows devices. It’s configured to stop botnets, it has an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), and it even lets you manually block incoming or outgoing traffic from certain programs.
That feature coupled with malware detection gives Trend Micro a high chance of blocking off malware and harmful programs.
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7. 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
User-Friendly Malware Protection for Mac
It’s a common misconception that Macs don’t need antivirus software; they do. The built-in macOS antivirus is far from foolproof, so it’s best supplemented by a third-party antivirus. And if you’re looking for one for your Macbook or iMac, might we recommend Avast?
Avast detects malware well. It provides protection against different types of malware, adware, spyware, and even ransomware. It can also include a VPN – another must-have cybersecurity tool. And in case you haven’t heard, Avast is now part of the same group as Norton, AVG, and Avira. Those are all reputable antivirus brands, and with their malware databases combined, they provide a broad range of protections.
The reason we picked Avast for macOS is the user-experience. Avast’s macOS app is streamlined to the point that it sometimes feels like it was designed specifically for Macs. We didn’t have to deal with complex navigations or cluttered controls – everything was laid out neatly for us in the homescreen. If that’s what you want from your Mac antivirus, then definitely consider Avast.
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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8. 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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9. 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).
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.3
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
AV Test. (2020). Malware. av-test.org/en/statistics/malware/