Choosing the best antivirus software for Windows means finding one that keeps your PC secure, doesn’t consume a lot of system resources, is easy to use, and doesn’t get in the way until you need it. This is what you should look for.
Effectiveness: Antivirus software runs virus scans for known viruses and malware and can offer real-time protection. Look for suspicious websites and suspicious links to avoid problems. It can also offer protection against ransomware and monitor for unexpected behavior that may 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 flagging too many false positives.
Light on system resources: You don’t want antivirus software that drains your PC’s resources. If after installing the program, websites open slowly, applications download or open slowly, or file copies take longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is that all of our picks offer a free trial or money-back guarantee to let you try out the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you might want to keep looking.
Cost and discounts: Don’t just pay sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check out discounts on a company’s website. Another way to save: The prices we list above are for 10 devices (if the company offered that package), but you can reduce the cost with antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices. You can also find discounts on an app’s Amazon page.
Privacy: To be effective, antivirus software must monitor what’s happening with your PC, check with company servers for any unusual behavior, and provide strong 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 read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share.
Protection for other platforms: Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware. Android is second with just under 1% of apps installed on Android devices with Google Play Protect in the category of potentially harmful apps, or PHAs.
The threat to MacOS and especially iOS is low, in part due to the tight control Apple has over its app stores. While the Mac comes under attack via side-loading apps, it’s rare, and if you download apps only from the Mac and iOS app stores and keep your guard up when clicking on links and downloading files, you should be fine. without an antivirus app on Apple devices.
