In addition to the four antivirus apps we recommend above, a handful of other anti-malware tools are worth considering among the best antivirus protection if you find them at a better price or just prefer to use one over our picks above. It feels like McAfee Antivirus has been around forever, first on its own in the '80s, then as part of Intel starting in , and then again on its own when Intel spun it off in And McAfee Total Protection has been around forever because quarter after quarter it creates solid, modern antivirus software that protects your PC.
In recent evaluations by AV-Test, it had high scores on both protection and performance. 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. Light on system resources.
You don't want antivirus software that taxes your PC's resources. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, apps download or open sluggishly or file copies take longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is, all our picks offer a free trial to let you try out the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you may want to keep looking. Cost and discounts.
Don't just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company's website. Talking Tom Cat. Clash of Clans. Subway Surfers. TubeMate 3. Google Play. Canon ink cartridge. Beanie Babies movie on Apple. Twee's return on TikTok. Windows Windows. Most Popular.
New Releases. Desktop Enhancements. Networking Software. Trending from CNET. Other than that, the antivirus suite of security seems pretty good. When choosing Norton as your antivirus, you have four main options to choose from. Norton is expensive when compared to most other premium antivirus products. However, one would be hard-pressed to find the same list of features for a better price. Throw in 15 bucks, and see your storage increase fivefold , plus adding a full Parental Control extra feature.
Unfortunately, Norton is less family-friendly than McAfee — you get 5 devices unless you pick the most luxurious plan that lifts the limit. Making a leap of faith and going for the LifeLock Select is for those who have multiple bank accounts and spend quite some time managing their assets online. And if your identity theft would wreak havoc on the stock market, you may want to choose nothing but Ultimate Plus. I had no major problems with downloading and installing neither McAfee Total Protection nor Norton Overall, both are user-friendly and easy to use.
App design is neat and not clogged with menus and buttons, However, Norton did a bit better in hiding extra options to the point that the design might apply for mobile devices.
On the other hand, you pay for that clean main menu by getting pop-ups. As for the mobile versions, Norton offers most of the features, even though iOS users should expect a few less.
McAfee antivirus program gives you a clear and concise main screen. The cogwheel at the top-right opens the full list of tools, showing which ones are turned on or off.
This, however, overlaps a bit with the left sidebar of each screen. There you can also toggle General Settings and Alerts. In the meantime, Norton offers a minimalist design with fewer colors and fewer things to click on. But the most important part is that everything is clear and easy to understand even for beginners.
Norton's Android version installation starts with choosing your desired tools. With McAfee, you install everything at once. What iOS might miss are app installation checker, spam call checker, and battery usage warnings. The hamburger menu on the top-right server as a notification area and settings for all the tools.
The Guest mode, which allows you to lock certain apps before giving your phone to someone, is also right there at the bottom of the main menu. Both contestants have solid customer support. The waiting times are a few minutes tops, and according to their website, the shortest waits are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Additionally, you can try contacting Norton via Twitter or Facebook, but I would rather go for a live chat or a phone call instead.
There are also forums for individual research, and I would say that I was able to find more help from the McAfee community. Looking for some external opinions, I checked what the Better Business Bureau had to say about the customer service of each contestant. After this Norton and McAfee antivirus comparison, it's clear that the former is a much better service.
Norton has more features, brings more value for money, and has more customer support options. McAfee has better malware protection by a tiny margin, and that's its only advantage.
Both contestants are among the best antiviruses that you can find in In fact, most of the time, they'll be in the Top 5, so choosing one or another comes down to a few aspects which may not be that important for some. McAfee vs. Avast : which will you choose? Avast vs. AVG : which is the winner? McAfee vs Bitdefender : how do they compare? In terms of features , price , and customer support , Norton is a better antivirus solution than McAfee.
The products of McAfee and Norton are owned by different companies. Just run a scan on your device and McAfee will find and eliminate the threat. Norton Deluxe might have the best cost-feature ratio of all the Norton products.
It has everything offered by the Standard version and covers 5 devices at once. Yes, there's a 7-day free trial. However, it requires you to enter payment details first. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked. If you purchase via links on our site, we may receive affiliate commissions.
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