Choosing the best antivirus software means finding one that keeps your computer or mobile device safe, doesn’t consume too many system resources, is easy to use, and stays out of the way until you need it. Here’s what you should be looking for.
effectiveness
Antivirus software runs scans for known malware and can provide real-time protection. It can also scan shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also provide protection against ransomware and monitor for unexpected behavior that could be a sign of new and as-yet-unidentified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without scoring too many false positives.
You can determine the effectiveness of an antivirus software by looking at its detection rate in tests performed by laboratories such as the AV-Test laboratory. None of this software is perfect — malware is evolving all the time — but you should look for software with an 80 to 90% detection rate.
Light on system resources
You don’t want antivirus software that taxes your computer’s resources, such as RAM and CPU power. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, applications download slowly, software takes time to open, or file copying takes longer than expected, you may want to try a different service. The good news is that all of our picks offer a free trial or money-back guarantee to let you try the antivirus before you buy, so if your system feels stuck after installation, you might want to keep ask for
Cost and discounts
Don’t just pay sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company’s website. Another way to save: You can cut your cost with smaller antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices rather than, say, 10. You can also find discounts on an app Amazon site or at points like Best buy.
During the buying process, pay attention to renovation costs. Most antivirus tools charge annual fees and only offer discounts for the first year (although you may be able to get a discount by paying for two years up front). These promotional prices can cause you to pay more — sometimes as much as double the original amount — for years to come.
Packaged services
Antivirus software may come bundled with other security tools such as a password manager and a VPN. Buying a security suite with all these tools lets you manage everything from one account, saving you the hassle of managing multiple accounts — and it can save you money, too.
However, the VPNs in these security packages aren’t always the best tools available. You may want to purchase separate subscriptions or choose a VPN with antivirus if privacy is a major concern.
Privacy
To be effective, antivirus software must monitor what’s happening with your computer, check with company servers for unusual behavior, and provide sound banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy. If you want to know more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so you can read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share.
Protection for other platforms
Microsoft is far from the biggest target for viruses and malware. Android is second, with 0.15% of apps installed on Android devices (with Google Play Protect) in the potentially harmful app, or PHA, category as of January 2024.
The threat to MacOS and especially iOS is low, in part because of the tight control Apple has over its app stores. While Macs are attacked via sideloaded apps, it’s rare, and if you only download apps from the Mac and iOS app stores and are vigilant when clicking links and downloading files, you should be fine without an Apple antivirus app. equipment. Fortunately, you can stay safe when downloading apps by sticking to official app stores, reading reviews, and consulting privacy policies.
Problems with Avast
In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performed well for malware detection, with options ranging from Avast Free Antivirus to Avast Premium Security. We’ve included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
However, in early 2024, the Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million to settle allegations that the company sold customers’ browsing information to more than 100 third parties from 2014 to 2020. Avast allegedly collected the data through browser add-ons and antivirus software and sold the data through its Jumpshot subsidiary, the FTC alleges. As part of the agreement, Avast is prohibited from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes.
In response to the initial reports in 2020, Avast’s then-CEO Ondřej Vlček said in a statement that he understood his company’s actions raised questions of trust. To address this, Avast stopped collecting Jumpshot data in January 2020 and shut down its operations.
Hopefully the FTC’s actions mean no more Jumpshot-style activity and that Avast returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the many other solid choices in the field (listed above).
Problems with Kaspersky
Let’s talk about Kaspersky Lab, specifically the 2024 federal ban announced on June 20 that prohibits Kaspersky from directly or indirectly selling antivirus or cybersecurity software or services to the US or US citizens. This sweeping ban follows a more limited ban in 2017 that banned Kaspersky software and services from federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the highest rated antivirus software for the antivirus needs of business and home customers. Its software consistently earned top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.
“Russia has demonstrated time and time again that it has the ability and intent to use Russian companies, such as Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive American information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect the national security of USA and the American people. ,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in the official announcement of the ban.
In a statement, Kaspersky said it “does not engage in activities that threaten US national security and, in fact, has made significant contributions to its reporting and protection against a variety of threat actors targeting US interests and allies.”
The Commerce Department recommends that those using Kaspersky software switch to replacement software from other security companies as soon as possible. To help Kaspersky customers with the transition, Kaspersky will be allowed to provide antivirus updates to its software until September 29, 2024, the department said.