Best Antivirus Software Review

Norton AntiVirus is a malicious software protection program created by Symantec. Norton is one of the most popular antivirus programs on the market, which is largely due to the fact that many large computer manufacturers bundle Norton as the default antivirus program on their computers. The most important part of any antivirus is its virus detection rate, and Norton excels here. Norton also has a tiered option for those who need extra protection or want to protect multiple devices. Mac owners will need to pay extra for the Norton Security Standard, which regularly retails for $69.99 per year. Norton includes automatic updates and network protection is available for purchase.

Sophos appears on some Macs as just a system menu item with a few options, like the ability to perform a manual scan. Sophos doesn't have a full standalone app to manage its operation--you use the cloud-based Web app in a browser to handle configuration, operation, and remote management of other systems. Both network protection and automatic updates are included with Sophos. The cloud-based approach allows Sophos to push updates to its interface even without downloading the application to your desktop, and it has the most robust remote management of any of the software packages.

As a business owner, when you realize that you need to secure your digital life, and often the lives of employees, clients, or patients, you want the best antivirus software available. Bitdefender earned a top score for their protection from the AV-TEST, meaning that it consistently detected and blocked those malware threats like viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware. For example, WannaCry, one of the worst ransomware attacks to date, was successfully blocked by GravityZone from Bitdefender in 2017! Network protection is included with certain packages. Automatic updates are standard.

McAfee antivirus software is probably the easiest antivirus package in the market to use, making it ideal for home and family use. Performing both quick and full scans is only takes a few clicks and it’s easy to set up the auto scans. McAfee antivirus has all features enabled and pre-configured instantly after installation without the need for a reboot. Automatic updates are included and network protection is available with certain packages. Users can also easily configure parental controls, firewall, anti-spam settings, scheduled virus scans, and update settings directly. All navigation is laid out in a very intuitive way that walks users through configuring what settings best fits their needs.

AVG Antivirus is the best free antivirus software for people on a budget, like students, because it’s free. It’s perfect for those that only want basic malware protection and don’t need to pay for advanced features. Information and files are well-protected, but not to the same level as some other offerings admittedly. It can also be used in tandem with another antivirus, serving as an additional security layer.

Malwarebytes offers security for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and even Android and IOS devices. Rather than reacting to malware, it works to address the entire attack chain using advanced proprietary technology. A minimal free cleaner exists, but at a relatively cheap price, this works great as a foundation antivirus software or even as an additional layer with another antivirus. In addition, Malwarebytes has product versions for businesses and both a supplemental browser extension and performance-enhancing cleaner. Network protection is available with premium packages.