On Windows, it has Bitdefender Shield — real-time protection against a broad scope of cybersecurity threats. It ensure file and email protection in real time, with minimal impact on system performance. However, the service doesn't only rely on database data. Their Advanced Threat Defense uses machine learning to detect behavioral threat-like indications.
Suppose a software is accessing too much data, making background data changes or uploads. In that case, it will get flagged well before the database entry as a new form of malware.
Bitdefender also has measures against various phishing websites. Every website you visit is thoroughly checked for phishing indications, ensuring your data doesn't end up on dark web marketplaces.
To learn more, read our Bitdefender review. Bitdefender offers the best customer support for non-paying customers. If you run into any issues, you can contact their support agents via live chat, phone, email, or community forums.
When it comes to free antiviruses, almost no services have as many options. It only has a separate Virus Scanner for malware removal. The iOS app offers minimal features, too. The base version is free forever, but if you'd like to test the premium ones, you can try all versions including the most expensive ones that include better features for macOS for free for 30 days without providing your card information.
Visit Sophos Home. The main reason you may not have heard of Sophos is that they mostly cater to businesses. Naturally, Sophos Home Free edition retains some of the features that seem directly ported from their business version. Even as a free service, you can manage three devices remotely from a single console.
This is perfect for small groups of friends or families. You won't get any tools against ransomware or real-time monitoring, so you should be extra careful about downloading suspicious files or email attachments. Sophos Malware Protection primarily relies on scanning. Sadly, there's no room for customization here — a full scan is the only option. This means that if you want to scan through some key places on your storage quickly, you'll have to wait until the full scan completes. Hardly a time-efficient approach.
Web Protection focuses on preventing access to suspicious URLs, including phishing sites. When you're trying to access a sketchy webpage, you get a High-Risk Website Blocked warning. In cases when the website isn't blocked, but your download contains malicious code, Download Protection kicks in. It evaluates the file based on the data shared from other computers, the hosted website's reputation, and displays the appropriate warning.
There is also a Parental Controls tab. There, you can customize what types of content you'd like to block. Considering that you can manage the antivirus remotely from a second device, it's a good option for parents.
It includes alerts about filters some content has triggered and will work with most modern browsers. Overall, Sophos Home has a basic package that can truly become a handy addition to your family's security. Suppose you're the one in your household who's managing everyone else's devices.
In that case, Sophos Home can make these tasks a lot easier. And it won't cost you anything at all. For more detail, read our Sophos antvirus review. Visit Panda Dome. If most antivirus software interfaces evoke existential dread, Panda Free Antivirus is an outlier. Their apps use nature scenes with a stylish UI, which is one of a kind.
Yet, despite their unconventional taste for color palettes, background images, and the strange name choice, it's one of the most capable free antivirus options you will find. Of course, when I say capable, I only have Windows and Android in mind. Mac, and iOS users will need to look elsewhere because the only versions that are available to them are paid ones.
However, the features list for Windows is a lot longer than you'd usually find. There's real-time malware protection, you can schedule periodic system scans and blocks against automatic malware execution from USB devices. You can also create a partition on your USB drive for extreme cases when your PC doesn't boot up due to malware. If you're an Android user, you also get real-time scanning not only for your internal storage but for SD memory cards as well.
One of the most useful features, however, is the Privacy Auditor. One of the most prominent ways Android apps get malware is in the form of sketchy apps that steal your data due to granted permissions. There are other helpful features as well like battery optimization, and device tracking helps you find lost phones. Usually, the most prominent groups that need such security software are Windows and Android users.
And for those people, Panda is a great free choice. Visit Malwarebytes. Sometimes when looking for a good antivirus option, you might feel that your pick isn't light enough. This is especially the case with providers that have the same apps as their premium versions, full of features you can't use unless you opt for a subscription.
Maybe this antivirus provider is not as well known to consumers because of its focus on enterprise security, Trend Micro antivirus quietly brings its business expertise to the home with its Trend Micro Maximum Security tools.
Trend Micro's software earns high marks from AV-Test -- consistently scoring well for detecting zero-day attacks and widespread viruses and malware. And Trend Micro does a good job of not taxing system resources. Free version? It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. The free antivirus version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs -- using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool -- plus a day trial of the company's malware-removal tool.
Test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performs well for malware detection with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security. And we've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.
But Avast was in the news for several months for its non-antivirus business, so we looked at the company, specifically reports at the end of that Avast allegedly collected user data with its browser plug-ins and antivirus software and then sold data it collected through its Jumpshot subsidiary in early In response to the reports that his company gathered and sold the details of its customers' online activities, Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek said in a statement that he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company.
To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January and closed its operations because the data collection business wasn't in line with Avast's privacy priorities. These newer reports follow another in from Avast that its internal network was breached , possibly to insert malware into its CCleaner software, similar to an earlier CCleaner hack that occurred prior to Avast's acquiring the Windows utility.
Avast is now saying the right things about taking its customers' privacy seriously , but it only came to that point after reacting to investigative reporting that revealed the Jumpshot practices.
The CCleaner revelations, while concerning, were self-disclosed, which is important to building user trust. We hope Avast's more privacy-friendly policies mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and it returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software.
In the meantime, we'd recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm listed above. Because the company has been in the news the past few years, let's talk about Kaspersky Lab -- specifically about the federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using Kaspersky Antivirus products.
Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the best antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers. But in the US government prohibited Kaspersky security cloud software on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government. But as with China-based Huawei , the question remains: If the federal government doesn't think the products are safe enough for its own devices, should consumers avoid them as well?
In a statement sent to CNET, the company said, "Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never, nor will ever, engage in cyber offensive activities. Kaspersky Lab maintains that no public evidence of any wrongdoing has been presented by the US government, and that the US government's actions against Kaspersky Lab were unconstitutional.
In Kaspersky's favor, it continues to earn top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs. And it's reasonably priced. In the end, even though no one has ever publicly produced a "smoking gun" linking the company to Russian intrigue, we think any of the options listed above are a safer bet. And if you are a US government employee or work with the federal government, you'll want to steer clear of Kaspersky internet security products -- and perhaps use one of the antivirus software products mentioned here instead.
Picking the best antivirus software for Windows means finding one that keeps your PC safe, doesn't take up a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way till you need it. Here's what to look for. Antivirus software runs virus scans for known viruses and malware, of course, and can offer real-time protection.
And it watches for shady websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also offer ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new and not-yet-identified viruses and malware. You want antivirus software that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives. The desktop side of the package has all the usual quality Kaspersky modules — antivirus, antispam, a firewall, more — but the mobile security technologies are even more impressive.
Mike began his career as a lead software developer in the engineering world, where his creations were used by big-name companies from Rolls Royce to British Nuclear Fuels and British Aerospace. He now covers VPNs, antivirus and all things security for TechRadar, although he still has a secret love of quirky open-source and freeware apps which find brand new ways to solve common problems.
North America. If you're looking for the best possible protection for your online devices in , then you've come to the right place - we've tested all of the best antivirus providers out there to come up with a definitive list of the absolute greatest. View Deal. Bitdefender Antivirus. Maximum devices covered: Stand out features: Safepay banking protection, privacy tools, multi-layered anti-ransomware, VPN.
Reasons to avoid - Room for improvement on detection. Norton AntiVirus. Stand out features: Intelligent firewall, PC maintenance features, bundled backup tool with online storage. Reasons to avoid - Mixed results from the testing labs. Kaspersky Anti-Virus. Stand out features: Highly configurable virus scans, anti-ransomware, drive-by cryptomining infection prevention.
Reasons to avoid - Not a huge amount of features. Trend Micro Antivirus. Reasons to avoid - Not as many features as key rivals. Avast One. Reasons to avoid - Not a huge upgrade from free version. Microsoft Defender. Specifications Operating system: Windows only.
Stand out features: Anti-ransomware, webcam and privacy protection, web filtering. Reasons to avoid Avira antivirus. Stand out features: Proactive anti-ransomware, software updater, web protection. Reasons to avoid - Ratings from some independent test labs are a concern. McAfee antivirus. Stand out features: VPN, spam filter, intelligent firewall. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus. Specifications Operating system: Windows, Mac and Android options. Maximum devices covered: 5. Stand out features: Identity theft protection, real-time anti-phishing, firewall monitor.
Reasons to avoid - Below average results in independent tests. Sophos Home. Specifications Operating system: Windows and Mac. Stand out features: Central management console, AI-powered threat detection, advanced ransomware protection.
Reasons to avoid - Lack of options - Clunky interface in some respects. Avira Free Antivirus. Reasons to avoid - Quite a few popups when running. Avast One Essential free. Specifications Operating system: Windows, Mac, Android. Features: Virus detection, Gaming mode, Password manager, Malware scanner. Reasons to avoid - Irritating privacy settings - Includes links to paid-for components.
Reasons to avoid - Still room for better detection - Some features are very basic. Kaspersky Free. Specifications Operating system: Windows. Features: Real-time scanning, Anti-phishing, Email scanning, Spyware protection. Reasons to avoid - Basics-only feature set - Limited technical support.
Specifications Operating system: Windows, Mac. Reasons to avoid - Can't use long term - No scan scheduling. In addition to multi-device protection and remote management, Sophos is also a decent choice for families because it has free parental controls. Sophos offers pretty good antivirus scanning and remote management for up to 3 devices — which is pretty generous for a free antivirus. Users looking for coverage on up to 10 devices, advanced malware and ransomware protection, and advanced web safety tools should upgrade to Sophos Home Premium.
Download Sophos Free Now. There is no such thing as a truly free antivirus. Most antivirus companies limit the free version of their software to only offer basic protection. Windows Defender is not a bad antivirus — it even ranks a little bit better than some third-party free antiviruses.
If you choose an antivirus program from a trustworthy company, then yes. All of the brands on this list here are perfectly safe to use — the only difference between their free and paid versions is that the paid software includes additional features, like a VPN, a password manager, and parental controls, as well as better customer support options.
Avira is my 1 pick for the best free antivirus in If you need a free antivirus, take a look at our list of the best free antiviruses in or just download Avira Free. If you want the best protection for all of your devices, you need to pay for a premium antivirus program like Norton or Bitdefender.
While there are literally billions of malware attacks reported annually, trojans and adware are consistently the most common types of malware found on Windows computers.
Trojans look like other files with extensions like. If you decide to uninstall your third-party antivirus, your PC will automatically ask you to reactivate the Windows Defender antivirus.
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