In a rapidly growing cybersecurity environment, it’s no longer enough to secure your devices by using a basic antivirus program. A premium antivirus suite should provide more than basic malware protection. It might include a VPN and performance-optimizing tools, and password management. It’s also important to find an antivirus program that works across your different operating systems, and the most accurate antivirus will not hog your system resources or slow down your computer.
The best antivirus software can reliably detect and block many threats, including viruses, trojans and worms as well as ransomware and spyware, adware, keyloggers and rootkits. They also shield against phishing attacks by looking for the presence of malicious websites, as well as identifying fake or insecure links.
The majority of companies offer a no-cost evaluation of their software or a money-back guarantee. Most offer 24/7 customer service and a comprehensive knowledge base online to help to solve any issues.
Microsoft Defender is the most popular antivirus software for Windows (which is preinstalled on newer Windows computers). It scores highly in tests conducted by independent labs like AV-Test and AV Comparatives and is light and non-intrusive but it’s not equipped with the same level of sophistication as the top standalone products.