Protect your computer, laptop, and internet-enabled apparatus from cyber threats with the ideal antivirus software. The ideal antivirus software will protect your computer and mobile devices from malware, keeping you safe from hackers, cybercriminals, and the latest online threats. As cybercrime keeps growing, it has never been more important to invest in rock-solid, trustworthy, and up-to-date antivirus applications — and not just to your PC. Which is the top anti-virus program for 2020?
We have been reviewing antivirus software for at least 15 years. To upgrade this manual, we spent more than five weeks analyzing the best antivirus software – together with high free antivirus options – with live malware samples such as ransomware, rootkits, trojans, viruses, spyware, and phishing schemes.
Our specialists discovered that Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is the ideal antivirus software program in general. It provides rock-solid security, effectively recognizing and stopping risks, and it is also easy to use. In addition, it comes with additional security tools that other, more fundamental antivirus programs do not include. Alternately, if you need antivirus software for Mac computers, we recommend using Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac.
If you believe you might need something more comprehensive than just antivirus protection, have a look at the best internet security suites. We have also rounded up the best web browsers, as you may also want to have a look at our very best internet filter software purchasing guide.
Otherwise, continue reading to find the best antivirus software and free antivirus — whatever your online protection requirements. Check this article about web protection with TotalAV.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is the ideal antivirus software you can purchase. It is dependable, accurate, and provides excellent protection from an assortment of malware types, such as damaging ransomware, Trojans, rootkits, and phishing schemes. In our evaluations, Bitdefender consistently prevented us from visiting malicious sites and stopped viruses from downloading.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus also has a secure browser which keeps your online banking and purchasing transactions secure, and a password manager, which auto-completes credit card details from web forms. There is also multi-layer ransomware protection, that can learn the behavior of those threats, and the capability to scan all of your connected devices through the Bitdefender Central mobile app too. In the end, Bitdefender is one of just three antivirus software programs we reviewed which includes a VPN, allowing you may safely work online with no browser history being being traced, captured or logged.
Bear in mind it may be resource-intensive that some other antivirus software packages. It is also for Windows devices just — although for a bit more cash you’ll be able to update to the Bitdefender Total Security, which provides protects up to five for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android apparatus.
Overall, however, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is a really impressive package. It’s quite easy to use and provides rock-solid protection and a plethora of bonus features that justify its cost.
Norton AntiVirus Plus
Launched in April 2019, the item replaces Norton AntiVirus Basic and brings with it some handy additional features. These include a bonus 2GB cloud backup, a password manager, and also the choice of full tech support. Meaning that if for some reason Norton can not remove malware from your computer, specialists will log in and correct the problem. (You will want to sign up for automatic renewal, but to be qualified for this.)
Aside from that, Norton AntiVirus Plus stays much the same as Norton AntiVirus Basic. There is a password manager; a URL blocker, which keeps you away from malicious sites; and up-to-date virus definitions quarantine threats at the first sign of trouble. Additionally, there are tons of customization options for more hands-free customers.
One issue to watch out for is that there have been some reported problems with the Chrome version of the password manager extension. We have seen it stop working occasionally for no apparent reason. However, that is the only issue that prevents this otherwise quite a powerful antivirus software from the top position. It’s easy to use, has configuration options specialists, and aced our performance evaluations.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus
As opposed to offering a complete suite of security, Kaspersky Anti-Virus concentrates on supplying core antivirus performance — and it does this exceptionally well. The stripped-back security package includes web filtering to block harmful URLs, an engine that accurately detects and removes threats, and smart tracking technologies to monitor and reverse malicious activities. In our testing, we have always found Kaspersky to be simple to use, and one of the very best at blocking malware and eliminating it from an infected system. It also regularly earns the greatest possible score at websites like AV-Comparatives.
One bonus of Kaspersky’s stripped-back strategy — besides providing outstanding antivirus protection — is that it keeps prices down. But, it also means that you don’t get the benefits of a whole anti-malware suite, like a password manager, or online shopping tools. And that makes Kapersky less of a value proposition than a number of the competition.
That said, in case you simply want accurate, reliable, and consistent malware protection, and can do without the extras, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is an exceptional option. It’s quite simple to use, with a lot of on-screen instructions to describe how everything works — which makes it especially well-suited to novices.
Webroot Secure Anywhere AntiVirus
But just as it’s light on distance, it does not mean Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is light on features. Apart from the core security, it includes smart behavior monitoring, precise real-time antiphishing, a firewall and network connection screen, improved anti-ransomware, and other bonus features.
The best testing labs do not evaluate Webroot’s products frequently, so it’s difficult to compare the program’s accuracy with that of another best antivirus software applications. But when they are examined, they score well – and certainly, our tests showed solid, dependable protection.
The company is so confident you will enjoy it, Webroot has given SecureAnywhere AntiVirus a generous 70-day 100 percent money-back guarantee. If you are fed up with bloated motors, Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is an excellent product and worth a shot.
F-Secure Antivirus SAFE
F-Secure Antivirus SAFE is rather the significant object of antivirus software. It includes fantastic additional features to keep your system protected, such as banking protection for safe online shopping, and security tools to safeguard your whole families, such as time and content blocking. This protection extends beyond your desktop computer, also, using a device finder that can help you track down a lost Android or iOS apparatus – and lock or wipe it too, to keep data safe.
We like this antivirus software application runs gently – making it perfect for an older system. F-Secure Antivirus SAFE is an impressive package and well-deserving of a place in our very best antivirus software guide.