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Free Malware, Spyware, and Adware Protection
Antivirus Software Download 2019
Rutgers offers antivirus software for faculty, staff, and students for university-owned equipment and personal devices. For university-owned equipment, Rutgers provides Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP), the next-generation endpoint security product. Avast Free Antivirus scans for security and performance issues and tells you how to fix things instantly. It protects you in real-time by analyzing unknown files before they get to you. So relax: With Avast, you’re running the most trusted antivirus out there.
There are all kinds of excuses not to install antivirus software. I don't have time. I'm really careful. It's too expensive. Procrastinators will put things off, but we can at least knock out that last excuse. You don't have to spend a penny to get one of the many free antivirus programs. There's a wide selection, and the best ones perform better than many commercial competitors. We've evaluated more than a dozen free antivirus tools, to help you pick one that will protect you without hitting you in the wallet.
Your antivirus should definitely have the ability to root out existing malware, but its ongoing task is to prevent ransomware, botnets, Trojans, and other types of nasty programs from getting a foothold. All of the antivirus programs in this collection offer real-time malware protection. Some take the fight upstream, working hard to ensure you never even browse to a malware-hosting site, or get fooled into turning over your credentials to a phishing site.
Free Antivirus vs. Paid Antivirus
If free antivirus tools are so great, why should anybody pay? For one thing, quite a few of these products are free only for noncommercial use; if you want to protect your business, you have to pony up for the paid edition. At that point, you should probably consider upgrading to a full security suite. After all, it's your business's security on the line.
Even for personal use, most for-pay antivirus tools offer more than their free counterparts—sometimes a lot more. For example, ZoneAlarm's paid edition adds protection against malicious and fraudulent websites that the free version lacks. And Panda reserves quite a few features for paying customers, among them firewall protection, application control, cross-platform support, and detection of insecure Wi-Fi connections.
In addition, many companies don't offer full-scale tech support for users of the free edition. The first time you need extra help digging a particularly stubborn piece of malware out of your system, you might regret the lack of support.
Independent Antivirus Lab Test Results
Around the world, researchers at independent antivirus testing labs spend their days putting antivirus tools to the test. Some of these labs regularly release public reports on their findings. We follow four such labs closely: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test Institute, SE Labs, and MRG-Effitas. We also take note of whether vendors have contracted for certification by ICSA Labs and West Coast Labs.
Security companies typically pay for the privilege of being included in testing. In return, the labs supply them with detailed reports that can help improve their products. The number of labs that include a particular vendor serves as a measure of significance. In each case, the lab considered the product important enough to test, and the vendor felt the price was worthwhile. The labs don't necessarily test a vendor's free product, but most vendors pack full protection into the free product, enhancing premium versions with additional features.
We Test Malware Protection
In addition to carefully perusing results from the independent labs, we also run our own hands-on malware protection test. We expose each antivirus to a collection of malware samples, including a variety of different malware types, and note its reaction. Typically the antivirus will wipe out most of the samples on sight, and detect some of the remaining ones when we try to launch them. We derive a malware blocking score from 0 to 10 points based on how thoroughly the antivirus protects the test system from these samples.
Since we use the same samples month after month, the malware-blocking test definitely doesn't measure a product's ability to detect brand-new threats. In a separate test, we attempt to download malware from 100 very new malicious URLs supplied by MRG-Effitas, typically less than a few days old. We note whether the antivirus blocked all access to the URL, wiped out the malicious payload during download, or did nothing. Bitdefender and Trend Micro hold the top score in this test, but Sophos Home Free is close behind.
If you're interested in learning more about our testing techniques, you're welcome to read more about how we test security software.
Useful Features
Just about every antivirus product scans files on access to make sure malware can't launch, and also scans the entire system on demand, or on a schedule you set. Once that cleaning and scheduling is done, blocking all access to malware-hosting URLs is another good way to avoid trouble. Many products extend that protection to also steer users away from fraudulent websites, phishing sites that try to steal login credentials for financial sites and other sensitive sites. A few rate links in search results, flagging any dangerous or iffy ones.
Behavior-based detection, a feature of some antivirus products, is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, it can detect malware that's never been seen before. On the other hand, if it's not done right, it can baffle the user with messages about perfectly legitimate programs.
Any antivirus should eliminate spyware along with other types of malware, but some products include features designed specifically for spyware protection. Features like encryption to protect your sensitive data and webcam control to prevent remote peeping typically show up in commercial products, not free ones. But some free products include features like a simple on-screen keyboard to foil keyloggers.
One easy way to keep your PC protected is to install all security updates, both for Windows and for browsers and other popular applications. Windows 10 makes it easier than ever to stay up to date, but there are plenty of security holes in older Windows versions, in popular apps, and in add-ons. Scanning for vulnerabilities in the form of missing updates is a feature most often found in commercial antivirus products, but it does turn up in some free ones. In the chart above you can see which products include these useful features.
What's Not Here?
This article reports only on free antivirus products that received at least a good rating in our reviews—three stars or better. Now that Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center has maintained a three-star score for a while, we've let it join the party. Yes, it's more of a Windows component than a free product. Yes, the very best free antivirus utilities offer many more layers of protection. But Windows Defender protects everyone who can't be bothered to install a third-party antivirus tool.
Several free utilities devoted entirely to ransomware protection joined the party in the last year or two. Cybereason RansomFree, CyberSight RansomStopper, and Acronis Ransomware Protection, among others, exist for the sole purpose of fending off any ransomware attack that your regular antivirus misses. Bitdefender Anti-Ransomware works by fooling ransomware to think that your computer is already infected. These are useful companion products, but they don't do the job of a full-scale antivirus utility.
There are also numerous free antivirus utilities that work solely to clean up existing malware infestations. You bring out these cleanup-only tools when you have a nasty malware problem. When the malware's gone, they have no further use, since they offer no ongoing protection. Our favorite in this category is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and it's definitely one you should try if you've got a malware problem. But since they're free, you can keep trying others if the first one doesn't do the job. When the scare is over, you'll need a full-blown antivirus for ongoing protection.
What's the Best Free Antivirus?
Our current Editors' Choice products for free antivirus utility are Avast Free Antivirus and Kaspersky Free. Avast gets very good scores from the independent labs, and Kaspersky took near-perfect scores in recent tests. On the other hand, Avast includes some useful bonus features not found in Kaspersky, including a password manager and a network security scanner. If you do have a little cash in your budget for security, the best paid antivirus software does offer more and better protection. If not, try a few of these free tools and see which one you like best.
Worried you might already be infected? https://milbrown473.weebly.com/blog/vray-for-rhino-download-free. Check out our article on the signs you have malware.
Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.
Best Free Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Avast Free Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs and our hands-on tests. Network security inspector. Password manager. Many useful, security-related bonus features. Free.Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase.Bottom Line: Avast Free Antivirus combines an antivirus engine that scores very well in testing with a surprisingly extensive collection of bonus features.Read ReviewKaspersky Security Cloud Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Perfect or near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Support for Android and iOS. Free.Cons: No direct tech support.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Security Cloud Free offers full-scale malware protection and even some suite-level features. It gets superb scores from the independent labs, and it won't cost you a penny.Read ReviewAVG AntiVirus Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores in multiple independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests.Cons: Initial scan slower than average. No longer offers web protection browser extension.Bottom Line: AVG AntiVirus Free offers precisely the same antivirus protection engine as Avast Free Antivirus, but lacks the impressive collection of bonus features that you get with Avast.Read ReviewBitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Same core antivirus protection as for-pay Bitdefender. Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Free.Cons: Lacks some advanced malware protection layers found in commercial antivirus.Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core antivirus technology found in the commercial Bitdefender Antivirus, focusing on the essential task of antivirus protection with minimal add-ons.Read ReviewCheck Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Antivirus protection licensed from Kaspersky. Tough, effective two-way firewall. Free. Bonus features.Cons: No antivirus lab test results. Lacks some antivirus features. No protection for malicious or fraudulent websites. Behavioral detection tars good and bad programs in testing. Personal data protection fails in testing.Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ combines Kaspersky-powered antivirus with an effective firewall, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, and some of its bonus features don't work.Read ReviewAvira Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good score in our malware blocking test. Free. Option to install many related Avira products.Cons: Slow on-demand scan. Browser protection only for Chrome and Firefox. So-so antiphishing score. Real-time protection missed some malware EXEs, identified some valid programs as malware.Bottom Line: The free Avira Antivirus gets excellent ratings from the independent labs, but it doesn't fare as well in our antiphishing test, and its browser protection only works with Chrome and Firefox.Read ReviewSophos Home Free Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Very good scores in our hands-on tests. Decent antiphishing score. Remote management. Free.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Parental content filter ineffective. Slow full scan.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free gives consumers antivirus protection built for business, including remote management, but no testing labs vouch for its accuracy.Read Reviewadaware antivirus free 12 Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Full scan flags safe programs, speeding up subsequent scans. Free.Cons: Mixed scores in independent lab tests. Low scores in our hands-on tests. No protection against malicious or fraudulent URLs. Lacks features found in competing free products products and in its own previous edition.Free cinema 4d materials. Bottom Line: In a complete makeover, adaware antivirus free 12 has a new name and a new look. Under the hood, though, its test results aren't the best, and competing free products have much more to offer.Read ReviewMicrosoft Windows Defender Security Center Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: Built into Windows 10. Good lab scores. Excellent hands-on malware protection score. Simple ransomware protection. Always on if no other antivirus is present.Cons: Poor results in phishing protection test. Awkward scan scheduling. SmartScreen Filter works only in Microsoft browsers.Bottom Line: Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center protects Windows 10 PCs that have no other antivirus protection, and it has significantly improved in lab test results and our own hands-on tests.Read ReviewQihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 Review
MSRP: $0.00
Pros: 360 Connect smartphone app lets you remotely help friends and family use the product. Cleanup, tuneup, vulnerability scan, and many other bonus utilities.Cons: So-so scores in our malware blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Dismal score in our antiphishing test. Default configuration not optimized for security.Bottom Line: The free Qihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 comes with a ton of bonus tools, but its core antivirus protection doesn't measure up to the best free antivirus tools.Read Review
Best Free Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Avast Free Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs and our hands-on tests. Network security inspector. Password manager. Many useful, security-related bonus features. Free.Cons: Password manager features limited. Some bonus features require separate purchase.Bottom Line: Avast Free Antivirus combines an antivirus engine that scores very well in testing with a surprisingly extensive collection of bonus features.Read ReviewKaspersky Security Cloud Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Perfect or near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Support for Android and iOS. Free.Cons: No direct tech support.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Security Cloud Free offers full-scale malware protection and even some suite-level features. It gets superb scores from the independent labs, and it won't cost you a penny.Read ReviewAVG AntiVirus Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores in multiple independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests.Cons: Initial scan slower than average. No longer offers web protection browser extension.Bottom Line: AVG AntiVirus Free offers precisely the same antivirus protection engine as Avast Free Antivirus, but lacks the impressive collection of bonus features that you get with Avast.Read ReviewBitdefender Antivirus Free Edition Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Same core antivirus protection as for-pay Bitdefender. Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Free.Cons: Lacks some advanced malware protection layers found in commercial antivirus.Bottom Line: Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition includes the same core antivirus technology found in the commercial Bitdefender Antivirus, focusing on the essential task of antivirus protection with minimal add-ons.Read ReviewCheck Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Antivirus protection licensed from Kaspersky. Tough, effective two-way firewall. Free. Bonus features.Cons: No antivirus lab test results. Lacks some antivirus features. No protection for malicious or fraudulent websites. Behavioral detection tars good and bad programs in testing. Personal data protection fails in testing.Bottom Line: Check Point ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+ combines Kaspersky-powered antivirus with an effective firewall, but it lacks protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, and some of its bonus features don't work.Read ReviewAvira Antivirus Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Excellent scores from independent testing labs. Good score in our malware blocking test. Free. Option to install many related Avira products.Cons: Slow on-demand scan. Browser protection only for Chrome and Firefox. So-so antiphishing score. Real-time protection missed some malware EXEs, identified some valid programs as malware.Bottom Line: The free Avira Antivirus gets excellent ratings from the independent labs, but it doesn't fare as well in our antiphishing test, and its browser protection only works with Chrome and Firefox.Read ReviewSophos Home Free Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Very good scores in our hands-on tests. Decent antiphishing score. Remote management. Free.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Parental content filter ineffective. Slow full scan.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Free gives consumers antivirus protection built for business, including remote management, but no testing labs vouch for its accuracy.Read Reviewadaware antivirus free 12 Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Full scan flags safe programs, speeding up subsequent scans. Free.Cons: Mixed scores in independent lab tests. Low scores in our hands-on tests. No protection against malicious or fraudulent URLs. Lacks features found in competing free products products and in its own previous edition.Free cinema 4d materials. Bottom Line: In a complete makeover, adaware antivirus free 12 has a new name and a new look. Under the hood, though, its test results aren't the best, and competing free products have much more to offer.Read ReviewMicrosoft Windows Defender Security Center Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: Built into Windows 10. Good lab scores. Excellent hands-on malware protection score. Simple ransomware protection. Always on if no other antivirus is present.Cons: Poor results in phishing protection test. Awkward scan scheduling. SmartScreen Filter works only in Microsoft browsers.Bottom Line: Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center protects Windows 10 PCs that have no other antivirus protection, and it has significantly improved in lab test results and our own hands-on tests.Read ReviewQihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 Review
MSRP: $0.00Pros: 360 Connect smartphone app lets you remotely help friends and family use the product. Cleanup, tuneup, vulnerability scan, and many other bonus utilities.Cons: So-so scores in our malware blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Dismal score in our antiphishing test. Default configuration not optimized for security.Bottom Line: The free Qihoo 360 Total Security 8.6 comes with a ton of bonus tools, but its core antivirus protection doesn't measure up to the best free antivirus tools.Read Review
Malware, Spyware, and Adware Protection
Summer is winding down. Before you know it, kids will head off to school and come back with homework, notes from the teachers, and…malware? Quite possibly. You've protected your own PCs and laptops, but did you make sure to install antivirus protection on your child's laptop? If not, your kid could pick up more than a head cold at school. Viruses, Trojans, ransomware, or what-have-you, any kind of malware does well in a network populated by youths who aren't thinking about security. We've tested and rated more than 40 antivirus tools so you can pick the right one to protect you and your family from the evil side of the internet.
We call it antivirus, but in truth it's unlikely you'll get hit with an actual computer virus. Malware these days is about making money, and there's no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. Ransomware and>field we've named four Editors' Choice products.
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Some nonstandard commercial antivirus utilities proved effective enough to earn an excellent four-star rating alongside their more traditional counterparts. VoodooSoft VoodooShield bases its protection on suppressing all unknown programs while the computer is in a vulnerable state, such as when it's connected to the internet, and also acts to detect known malware. The Kure resets the computer to a known safe state on every reboot, thereby eliminating any malware. If you have malware, one of the ten products in the chart above should take care of the problem.
You may notice that one product in the chart earned just 3.5 stars. The chart had room for one more, and of the seven 3.5-star products, the labs only pay attention to F-Secure and G Data. F-Secure has the added fillip of costing the same for three licenses as most products charge for just one, so it made its way into the chart. The blurbs at the bottom of this article include every commercial antivirus that earned 3.5 stars or better.
These commercial products offer protection beyond the antivirus built into Windows 10; the best free antivirus utilities also offer more. However, Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center is looking better and better lately, with some very good scores from independent testing labs. The combination of good lab scores and a great score in our hands-on malware protection test was enough to bring it up to 3.5 stars.
Listen to the Labs
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We take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs very seriously. The simple fact that a particular vendor's product shows up in the results is a vote of confidence, of sorts. It means the lab considered the product significant, and the vendor felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. Of course, getting good scores in the tests is also important.
We follow four labs that regularly release detailed reports: SE Labs, AV-Test Institute, MRG-Effitas, and AV-Comparatives. We also note whether vendors have contracted with ICSA Labs and West Coast labs for certification. We've devised a system for aggregating their results to yield a rating from 0 to 10.
We Test Malware, Spyware, and Adware Defenses
We also subject every product to our own hands-on test of malware protection, in part to get a feeling for how the product works. Depending on how thoroughly the product prevents malware installation, it can earn up to 10 points for malware protection.
Our malware protection test necessarily uses the same set of samples for months. To check a product's handling of brand-new malware, we test each product using 100 extremely new malware-hosting URLs supplied by MRG-Effitas, noting what percentage of them it blocked. Products get equal credit for preventing all access to the malicious URL and for wiping out the malware during download.
Some products earn absolutely stellar ratings from the independent labs, yet don't fare as well in our hands-on tests. In such cases, we defer to the labs, as they bring significantly greater resources to their testing. Want to know more? You can dig in for a detailed description of how we test security software.
Multilayered Malware Protection
Antivirus products distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on-demand scanning and real-time malware protection. Some rate URLs that you visit or that show up in search results, using a red-yellow-green color-coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware-hosting URLs or with fraudulent (phishing) pages.
Spyware comes in many forms, from hidden programs that log your every keystroke to Trojans that masquerade as valid programs while mining your personal data. Any antivirus should handle spyware, along with all other types of malware, but some include specialized components devoted to spyware protection.
You expect an antivirus to identify and eliminate bad programs, and to leave good programs alone. What about unknowns, programs it can't identify as good or bad? Behavior-based detection can, in theory, protect you against malware that's so new researchers have never encountered it. However, this isn't always an unmixed blessing. It's not uncommon for behavioral detection systems to flag many innocuous behaviors performed by legitimate programs.
Whitelisting is another approach to the problem of unknown programs. A whitelist-based security system only allows known good programs to run. Unknowns are banned. This mode doesn't suit all situations, but it can be useful. Sandboxing lets unknown programs run, but it isolates them from full access to your system, so they can't do permanent harm. These various added layers serve to enhance your protection against malware.
Firewalls, Ransomware Protection, and More
Firewalls and spam filtering aren't common antivirus features, but some of our top products include them as bonus features. In fact, some of these antivirus products are more feature-packed than certain products sold as security suites.
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Among the other bonus features you'll find are secure browsers for financial transactions, secure deletion of sensitive files, wiping traces of computer and browsing history, credit monitoring, virtual keyboard to foil keyloggers, cross-platform protection, and more. You'll even find products that enhance their automatic malware protection with the expertise of human security technicians. And of course we've already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application whitelisting.
We're seeing more and more antivirus products adding modules specifically designed for ransomware protection. Some work by preventing unauthorized changes to protected files. Others keep watch for suspicious behaviors that suggest malware. Some even aim to reverse the damage. Given the growth of this scourge, any added protection is beneficial.
Beyond Antivirus: VPN
Your antivirus utility works in the background to keep out any faint possibility of infestation by malware, but its abilities don't extend beyond the bounds of your computer. When you connect to the wild and wooly internet, you risk the possibility that your data could be compromised in transit. Sticking to HTTPS websites when possible can help, but for full protection of your data in transit you should install a virtual private network, or VPN. This component is important enough that we're starting to see it as a bonus feature in some antivirus tools.
What's the Best Malware Protection?
Which antivirus should you choose? You have a wealth of options. Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus routinely take perfect or near-perfect scores from the independent antivirus testing labs. A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you install protection on all of your Windows, Android, Mac OS, and iOS devices. And its unusual behavior-based detection technology means Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is the tiniest antivirus around. We've named these four Editors' Choice for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only products worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top-rated products, and then make your own decision.
Note that we have reviewed many more antivirus utilities than we could include in the chart of top products. If your favorite software isn't listed there, chances are we did review it. The blurbs below include every product that managed 3.5 stars or better. All the utilities listed in this feature are Windows antivirus apps. If you're a macOS user, don't despair, however; PCMag has a separate roundup dedicated solely to the best Mac antivirus software.
Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.
Best Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Outstanding scores in independent lab tests and our web protection tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection. Active Do Not Track. Password manager. Banking protection. Offers a virtual private network, or VPN. Many security-centered bonus features.Cons: Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription. With all real-time protection disabled, ransomware-specific features missed one uncommon sample.Bottom Line: With outstanding antivirus test results and a collection of features that puts many security suites to shame, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is an excellent choice for protecting your PC.Read ReviewKaspersky Anti-Virus Review
MSRP: $59.99
Pros: Perfect and near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Full-scale phone and live chat support.Cons: Game dev story free. Bonus scans significantly overlap each other.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Anti-Virus sweeps the antivirus testing labs, with excellent scores across the board. It remains an antivirus Editors' Choice.Read ReviewWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Perfect score in our malware protection test. Very good antiphishing score. Ransomware protection. Light on system resources. Fast scan, tiny size. Advanced features.Cons: Limited lab test results due to unusual detection techniques. Missed one unique hand-modified ransomware sample in testing.Bottom Line: Tiny, speedy Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus keeps a light touch on your system's resources. It aces our hands-on malware protection test, and can even roll back ransomware activity.Read ReviewMcAfee AntiVirus Plus Review
MSRP: $59.99
Pros: Protection for every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. Good scores in hands-on tests. Excellent score in antiphishing test. Includes Ransom Guard ransomware protection, PC Boost, and many bonus features.Cons: Ransom Guard missed several real-world ransomware samples. PC Boost web speedup still works only in Chrome. Very slow full scan on Windows. Mac edition less feature-rich than Windows or Android. Still fewer features for iOS.Bottom Line: A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you protect every Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS device in your household. Other products may score better in testing, but none of them offer a deal like this.Read ReviewESET NOD32 Antivirus Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in our hands-on tests. HIPS component blocks exploits. UEFI scanner finds malware in firmware. Comprehensive device control.Cons: So-so phishing protection score. Device control too complex for most users.Bottom Line: ESET NOD32 Antivirus gets good scores in lab tests and our own tests, and its collection of security components goes far beyond antivirus basics.Read ReviewSymantec Norton AntiVirus Plus Review
MSRP: $59.99
Pros: Excellent scores in independent lab tests and in our own tests. Includes online backup, spam filter, password manager, and other bonus features.Cons: First full scan unusually slow. Expensive. No multi-license pricing.Bottom Line: Symantec Norton AntiVirus Plus gets impressive scores in independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests, but it's expensive and doesn't offer volume pricing. If you want Norton protection, you're better off with one of Symantec's suite products.Read ReviewThe Kure Review
MSRP: $19.99
Pros: On reboot, restores your PC to a clean, malware-free state. Exempts personal folders from being wiped. Ransomware recovery proved effective in testing. Live-chat tech support built in.Cons: Malware can act freely until eliminated by reboot. Doesn't offer 24-hour tech support.Bottom Line: When your PC has The Kure installed, you can wipe out malware just by rebooting. Your own documents aren't affected, and it even has the ability to reverse the effects of encrypting ransomware.Read ReviewTrend Micro Antivirus+ Security Review
MSRP: $39.95
Pros: Excellent scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection. Pay Guard protects online transactions. Many bonus features.Cons: Poor score in our hands-on malware protection test. Pay Guard didn't consistently offer protection. Spam filter works only with Outlook. No multi-device volume licensing.Bottom Line: In addition to effective malware protection, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security offers layered protection against ransomware, a firewall booster, protection for online banking, and more.Read ReviewVoodooSoft VoodooShield Review
MSRP: $19.99
Pros: Prevents non-whitelisted programs from launching when computer is at risk. New machine-learning tool flags malware. Checks blocked files against 57 antivirus scanners. Free edition for consumers. Cons: Could possibly whitelist malware running prior to installation. Flagged some legitimate programs as suspicious, some as malicious.Bottom Line: VoodooShield takes a whitelist approach to antivirus protection, but without getting in the user's way. A new machine-learning component brings it closer to the abilities of a standalone antivirus.Read ReviewCylance Smart Antivirus Review
MSRP: $29.00
Pros: Easy installation, no configuration. Good scores in our tests.Cons: Not included in regular independent lab tests. No protection against fraudulent or malicious URLs. Lacks additional protection layers found in many competitors.Bottom Line: Commissioned lab tests and our own tests show that the machine-learning detection engine in Cylance Smart Antivirus really can identify malware, but it lacks the full range of protection features found in many competitors.Read ReviewEmsisoft Anti-Malware Review
MSRP: $29.95
Pros: Very good independent lab scores. Excellent score in our malware protection test. Behavioral detection successfully blocked ransomware. Surfing protection is browser-independent. Inexpensive.Cons: Dismal score in our phishing protection test. Few scores from independent labs. Behavioral detection failed against ransomware launched at startup.Bottom Line: Emsisoft Anti-Malware effectively handles the basic tasks of malware protection, including ransomware. Its few lab test results are good, as are its scores on our in-house malware protection tests, though it tanked on our antiphishing test.Read ReviewF-Secure Anti-Virus Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Good scores in independent lab tests and our tests. Behavior-based DeepGuard detects brand-new malware, including ransomware. Advanced network protection. Streamlined, simple interface. Inexpensive.Cons: Ransomware protection failed against one real-world sample in testing. No antiphishing component.Bottom Line: F-Secure Anti-Virus's advanced network protection and DeepGuard behavior-based detection system make it a powerful malware fighter, but its ransomware protection missed one sample in our testing.Read ReviewG Data Antivirus Review
MSRP: $39.95
Pros: Excellent score in our hands-on malware protection test. Protects against banking Trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and exploits. Includes spam filter.Cons: So-so scores in our malicious URL blocking and phishing protection tests. Very slow full scan.Bottom Line: G Data Antivirus gets decent marks from the independent testing labs, and it includes components designed to fight ransomware and other specific malware types. However, it gets mixed scores in our hands-on tests. Read ReviewMalwarebytes Premium Review
MSRP: $39.99
Pros: Includes exploit protection, ransomware protection, behavior-based detection. Can work in conjunction with traditional antivirus. Works well with Windows Defender.Cons: Advanced protection systems are difficult to test. Scores poorly in tests designed for traditional antivirus.Bottom Line: Malwarebytes Premium has so many advanced protection layers that the company deems it an antivirus replacement. However, we still advise using it in conjunction with a dedicated antivirus utility.Read ReviewSophos Home Premium Review
MSRP: $60.00
Pros: Good scores in our hands-on tests. Protects against ransomware, keyloggers, and exploits. Remote management for up to 10 PCs or Macs. Inexpensive.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise. Parental control and webcam protection limited.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Premium expands on basic antivirus with protection technology forged in the company's Enterprise-level products, but doesn't have lab results to verify its efficacy.Read Review
Best Antivirus Protection Featured in This Roundup:
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Outstanding scores in independent lab tests and our web protection tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection. Active Do Not Track. Password manager. Banking protection. Offers a virtual private network, or VPN. Many security-centered bonus features.Cons: Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription. With all real-time protection disabled, ransomware-specific features missed one uncommon sample.Bottom Line: With outstanding antivirus test results and a collection of features that puts many security suites to shame, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is an excellent choice for protecting your PC.Read ReviewKaspersky Anti-Virus Review
MSRP: $59.99Pros: Perfect and near-perfect scores from four independent testing labs. Perfect score in our phishing protection test. Good scores in our malware-blocking and malicious URL blocking tests. Full-scale phone and live chat support.Cons: Game dev story free. Bonus scans significantly overlap each other.Bottom Line: Kaspersky Anti-Virus sweeps the antivirus testing labs, with excellent scores across the board. It remains an antivirus Editors' Choice.Read ReviewWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Perfect score in our malware protection test. Very good antiphishing score. Ransomware protection. Light on system resources. Fast scan, tiny size. Advanced features.Cons: Limited lab test results due to unusual detection techniques. Missed one unique hand-modified ransomware sample in testing.Bottom Line: Tiny, speedy Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus keeps a light touch on your system's resources. It aces our hands-on malware protection test, and can even roll back ransomware activity.Read ReviewMcAfee AntiVirus Plus Review
MSRP: $59.99Pros: Protection for every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. Good scores in hands-on tests. Excellent score in antiphishing test. Includes Ransom Guard ransomware protection, PC Boost, and many bonus features.Cons: Ransom Guard missed several real-world ransomware samples. PC Boost web speedup still works only in Chrome. Very slow full scan on Windows. Mac edition less feature-rich than Windows or Android. Still fewer features for iOS.Bottom Line: A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you protect every Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS device in your household. Other products may score better in testing, but none of them offer a deal like this.Read ReviewESET NOD32 Antivirus Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Very good scores from independent testing labs. Good scores in our hands-on tests. HIPS component blocks exploits. UEFI scanner finds malware in firmware. Comprehensive device control.Cons: So-so phishing protection score. Device control too complex for most users.Bottom Line: ESET NOD32 Antivirus gets good scores in lab tests and our own tests, and its collection of security components goes far beyond antivirus basics.Read ReviewSymantec Norton AntiVirus Plus Review
MSRP: $59.99Pros: Excellent scores in independent lab tests and in our own tests. Includes online backup, spam filter, password manager, and other bonus features.Cons: First full scan unusually slow. Expensive. No multi-license pricing.Bottom Line: Symantec Norton AntiVirus Plus gets impressive scores in independent lab tests and our own hands-on tests, but it's expensive and doesn't offer volume pricing. If you want Norton protection, you're better off with one of Symantec's suite products.Read ReviewThe Kure Review
MSRP: $19.99Pros: On reboot, restores your PC to a clean, malware-free state. Exempts personal folders from being wiped. Ransomware recovery proved effective in testing. Live-chat tech support built in.Cons: Malware can act freely until eliminated by reboot. Doesn't offer 24-hour tech support.Bottom Line: When your PC has The Kure installed, you can wipe out malware just by rebooting. Your own documents aren't affected, and it even has the ability to reverse the effects of encrypting ransomware.Read ReviewTrend Micro Antivirus+ Security Review
MSRP: $39.95Pros: Excellent scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Multi-layered ransomware protection. Pay Guard protects online transactions. Many bonus features.Cons: Poor score in our hands-on malware protection test. Pay Guard didn't consistently offer protection. Spam filter works only with Outlook. No multi-device volume licensing.Bottom Line: In addition to effective malware protection, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security offers layered protection against ransomware, a firewall booster, protection for online banking, and more.Read ReviewVoodooSoft VoodooShield Review
MSRP: $19.99Pros: Prevents non-whitelisted programs from launching when computer is at risk. New machine-learning tool flags malware. Checks blocked files against 57 antivirus scanners. Free edition for consumers.Cons: Could possibly whitelist malware running prior to installation. Flagged some legitimate programs as suspicious, some as malicious.Bottom Line: VoodooShield takes a whitelist approach to antivirus protection, but without getting in the user's way. A new machine-learning component brings it closer to the abilities of a standalone antivirus.Read ReviewCylance Smart Antivirus Review
MSRP: $29.00Pros: Easy installation, no configuration. Good scores in our tests.Cons: Not included in regular independent lab tests. No protection against fraudulent or malicious URLs. Lacks additional protection layers found in many competitors.Bottom Line: Commissioned lab tests and our own tests show that the machine-learning detection engine in Cylance Smart Antivirus really can identify malware, but it lacks the full range of protection features found in many competitors.Read ReviewEmsisoft Anti-Malware Review
MSRP: $29.95Pros: Very good independent lab scores. Excellent score in our malware protection test. Behavioral detection successfully blocked ransomware. Surfing protection is browser-independent. Inexpensive.Cons: Dismal score in our phishing protection test. Few scores from independent labs. Behavioral detection failed against ransomware launched at startup.Bottom Line: Emsisoft Anti-Malware effectively handles the basic tasks of malware protection, including ransomware. Its few lab test results are good, as are its scores on our in-house malware protection tests, though it tanked on our antiphishing test.Read ReviewF-Secure Anti-Virus Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Good scores in independent lab tests and our tests. Behavior-based DeepGuard detects brand-new malware, including ransomware. Advanced network protection. Streamlined, simple interface. Inexpensive.Cons: Ransomware protection failed against one real-world sample in testing. No antiphishing component.Bottom Line: F-Secure Anti-Virus's advanced network protection and DeepGuard behavior-based detection system make it a powerful malware fighter, but its ransomware protection missed one sample in our testing.Read ReviewG Data Antivirus Review
MSRP: $39.95Pros: Excellent score in our hands-on malware protection test. Protects against banking Trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and exploits. Includes spam filter.Cons: So-so scores in our malicious URL blocking and phishing protection tests. Very slow full scan.Bottom Line: G Data Antivirus gets decent marks from the independent testing labs, and it includes components designed to fight ransomware and other specific malware types. However, it gets mixed scores in our hands-on tests.Read ReviewMalwarebytes Premium Review
MSRP: $39.99Pros: Includes exploit protection, ransomware protection, behavior-based detection. Can work in conjunction with traditional antivirus. Works well with Windows Defender.Cons: Advanced protection systems are difficult to test. Scores poorly in tests designed for traditional antivirus.Bottom Line: Malwarebytes Premium has so many advanced protection layers that the company deems it an antivirus replacement. However, we still advise using it in conjunction with a dedicated antivirus utility.Read ReviewSophos Home Premium Review
MSRP: $60.00Pros: Good scores in our hands-on tests. Protects against ransomware, keyloggers, and exploits. Remote management for up to 10 PCs or Macs. Inexpensive.Cons: No test results from independent labs. Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise. Parental control and webcam protection limited.Bottom Line: Sophos Home Premium expands on basic antivirus with protection technology forged in the company's Enterprise-level products, but doesn't have lab results to verify its efficacy.Read Review