Antivirus software rating trojans

On the extras front, you also get access to a password manager along with 2GB of online cloud storage to help protect your most vulnerable files that could otherwise be lost if your home computer was compromised. But as an antivirus program first and foremost, Kaspersky is peerless. You get protection from viruses, spyware, malware, ransomware, Delaware, and a whole host of common hacking techniques.

When tested recently by antivirus experts at AV Test and AV Comparatives, Kaspersky Anti-Virus scored perfect marks, blocking every single malicious file that was sent against it.

The only reason to look elsewhere is if you value some of the added extras that other programs bring, like VPNs and password managers, or if you only need to cover a single device.

What would you say if we told you that one of the best antivirus softwares on the market costs absolutely nothing? Nada, zilch, bupkis. There are no hidden fees or delayed costs. Avast Free Antivirus offers you the same levels of protection as many of the other big names in the field, covering your devices from attacks by viruses, spyware and various other forms of malware. It performs excellently too, blocking between While other companies have tiered their offerings, McAfee only offers a single antivirus solution called McAfee Total Protection.

When it comes to antivirus protection, McAfee has been one of the big names for years now and it still offers a great product, though some of the competition might have started to pull away. The antivirus stood up to between You get a ton of other features rolled into the package, including a firewall, password manager, file shredder, and a secure VPN. It comes with fantastic additional features to keep your system secure, such as banking protection for safe online shopping, and safety tools to protect your entire family, including time limits and content blocking.

This protection extends beyond your desktop computer, too, with a device finder that can help you track down a lost Android or iOS device - and remotely lock or wipe it too, to keep data safe. We like that this antivirus software program runs lightly - making it ideal for an older system. Another pro is the clean, easy-to-use interface.

It has a reputation for being easy to use too. AV-Comparatives, for example, reports a comparatively high number of false positives; while AV-Test found very high accuracy and no issues with false positives. VIPRE Advanced Security is the easiest antivirus software program to install and use among the antivirus programs we tested.

It takes just seconds to install, and the program files are barely 2MB in size some antivirus software can more than MB , with no bulky signature updates to hog your bandwidth. Aside from the core protection, it comes with smart behaviour monitoring, accurate real-time antiphishing, a firewall and network connection monitor, enhanced anti-ransomware, and other bonus features.

But when they are tested, they score well - and certainly our tests revealed solid, reliable protection. We have thoroughly researched antivirus packages and security software from a wide range of companies including all of the big names in internet security. Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee, Kaspersky - they're all here along with a few names that you maybe haven't heard of too. We've put hours into researching what each antivirus software offers, collating pricing information and feature lists while also digging deep into how these programs actually perform in the wild.

We regularly turn to industry experts like the teams over at AV Test , and AV Comparatives and other laboratories and use their research when deciding on our overall antivirus ratings.

We also regularly update our reviews to take the latest rounds of testing into account, so you can be sure that our reviews are reflective of the current antivirus landscape. If your computer is infected with malware, we recommend seeking out a professional to help remove the viruses. Most local computer stores have professionals on hand who can remove malware for you or can recommend someone close by. Larger retailers usually have dedicated teams who can repair your device, like Best Buy's Geek Squad, though they often require membership sign ups.

Once your computer is clean, you should install a good antivirus program like Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. This will keep the system clean by blocking malware from downloading and infecting your computer, to begin with. If they can't you get your money back. However, users who want to protect multiple devices should consider the Multi-Device plan that also includes identity theft protection for US users or the Family package which adds excellent parental controls.

McAfee Total Protection offers an impressive range of internet security protection for all computers and mobiles. All Total Protection packages include a commitment-free day money-back guarantee. Get Protected with McAfee Now. You can try out Avira risk-free with a day money-back guarantee.

Get Protected with Avira Now. Kaspersky also lets you use a virtual keyboard when handling online payments to avoid keyloggers. Kaspersky offers a well-designed antivirus package with a good anti-malware scanner and useful extras like a secure browser for online finances.

Get Protected with Kaspersky Now. BullGuard offers powerful anti-malware protection, along with many additional features — including an excellent gamer booster, a customizable firewall, a performance optimizer, intuitive parental controls, and identity theft protections. I also think BullGuard has one of the best phishing protections around, scoring perfect results when I tested it against hundreds of fake websites.

During my tests, Game Booster increased my frame rate and decreased my load times while playing high-performance games like Destiny 2: Beyond Light and Apex Legends — I was honestly impressed! This feature helped BullGuard rank as the 1 best antivirus for gamers. BullGuard Antivirus includes malware and phishing protection, game booster, and coverage for 1 device. BullGuard Internet Security adds multi-device coverage, performance optimization, and parental controls.

BullGuard Premium Protection also includes a home network scanner and identity theft protection. BullGuard provides a good malware scanner, lots of added features, and a specialized game booster that improves performance for PC gamers. Users looking for extras like identity theft protection and coverage for up to 10 devices can download BullGuard Premium Protection , while gamers looking for a simple antivirus for 3 devices should check out BullGuard Internet Security. Get Protected with BullGuard Now.

Panda offers its advanced virus scanner and easy-to-use interface across 5 different pricing plans — I love that Panda provides its excellent security solution to everyone, regardless of budget. One Panda extra I really like is the Rescue Kit, which is a bootable version of Panda that can be operated from a thumb drive in case your computer gets heavily infected by malware.

Even the free plan is pretty good, offering real-time virus protection — something that many free antivirus products lack. If you want a simple free malware scanner with real-time protection or a full-featured internet security suite, Panda has an option for you. Panda comes with lots of extras, including advanced ransomware protection, a Rescue Kit for saving malware-infected PCs, a password manager, parental controls, and a file encrypter and shredder.

Get Protected with Panda Now. Trend Micro has a decent anti-malware engine as well as some of the best phishing protection on this list. Phishing scams are increasingly common, and they can be very difficult for antivirus software to detect. Web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox integrate some phishing protection. Trend Micro Internet Security protects up to 3 devices PC only and adds device optimization tools, social networking protection, and parental controls.

Trend Micro offers a strong set of security and privacy features for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS users — the company even has a Chromebook app! Trend Micro is particularly good at phishing protection, and it will help you avoid malicious websites seeking to steal your credit card numbers or passwords. Unlike antivirus software, Malwarebytes Free can't prevent a PC from being infected.

But it does an excellent job of cleaning out malware that's already on your system, as well as removing legal adware and potentially unwanted programs that antivirus software often ignores. Malwarebytes Free doesn't interfere with any antivirus software that's already installed, so it's perfectly safe to install it alongside one of our recommended brands.

Just don't upgrade to the paid Malwarebytes Premium, true antivirus software that does poorly in lab tests and which will conflict with other AV programs. We recommend Malwarebytes Free as a complement to any of the best antivirus programs, free or paid. Read our full Malwarebytes Free review. Before you buy antivirus protection, figure out what you need. If you have young children at home, then consider midrange antivirus products, most of which include parental controls.

Do you want an all-encompassing security solution? Or are you a techie who understands and the risks of using the internet? Then a low-priced basic program might be all you need. MORE: How to buy antivirus software. Once you've got your priorities figured out, then determine how many machines you'll need to protect.

Most vendors offer single-device licenses for Windows PCs. But multi-device, multi-platform licenses for five, 10 or more computers and mobile devices are available in midrange and premium antivirus packages, covering Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and sometimes even Linux. Some vendors offer plans that cover an unlimited number of devices.

Gone are the days when you could walk into a store and pay a one-time fee for an antivirus product that came in a box off a shelf. All the vendors now sell their software licenses as yearly or multiyear subscriptions. The upside is that you'll always get the latest software, which you can download and install straight from the internet. Many antivirus products are sold online for much less than their list prices. But each brand offers basic, midrange and premium configurations of features and pricing, with every step up adding more features.

Think of autos at a dealership. You can get a base-model car that will get you from place to place just fine. For a few grand more, you can buy a car with satellite radio, but no heated side-view mirrors, alloy wheels or in-car Wi-Fi hotspot. Or you can spend a lot more to get a loaded car with all the fixin's.

Antivirus makers also hope you'll spring for extra options, whether you need them or not. The one thing you can't trade up to is a bigger engine: All the Windows antivirus products in a given brand's lineup will use the same malware-detection engine and provide the same level of essential protection.

The software will have essential malware protection and maybe a password manager or a two-way firewall. They generally add parental controls, some of which are very good, plus a few other features such as webcam protection. They often include multi-device licenses and antivirus software for Mac and Android devices. At the top are the premium "security suites," which toss in all the extra security tools an antivirus brand can offer, such as password managers, VPN client software, backup software, online storage and even identity-protection services.

The password managers are often quite good, but the online storage can be paltry and the VPN services often don't give you unlimited data. We've collected the best premium antivirus packages on this list of the best internet security suites. Our evaluations are based on each antivirus program's interface, performance, protection and extra features.

Was the interface intuitive and user-friendly? How badly did malware scans slow performance? How well did the program detect and remove malware?

Does the program offer useful additional tools? Some of our newer performance tests were done on a Lenovo ThinkPad T with a 2. To assess a program's impact on system speed on both Windows and macOS, we used our own custom tests, which measure how long a CPU takes to match 20, names and addresses on an OpenOffice or Excel spreadsheet.

The longer it took the laptop to finish either test, the heavier the performance impact. Each lab subjects the major antivirus brands' products to stress tests involving thousands of pieces of malware, including hundreds of previously unseen samples.

Kaspersky antivirus products have been banned from U. Because the company is Russian and antivirus software can peer deep into a PC, using Kaspersky software would create an unacceptable risk for persons and organizations involved in national security and critical infrastructure. However, we still think Kaspersky software is perfectly safe for home users. We've seen no evidence to convince us otherwise. Kaspersky researchers are well respected throughout the antivirus industry, and the company has publicly exposed Russian cyberespionage campaigns as well as those from the United States and other countries around the world.

Paul Wagenseil is a senior editor at Tom's Guide focused on security and privacy. He has also been a dishwasher, fry cook, long-haul driver, code monkey and video editor. He's been rooting around in the information-security space for more than 15 years at FoxNews. If you use a Windows PC, you'll need to have one of the best antivirus programs installed, whether free or paid. View Deal. Bitdefender offers the best value in antivirus software. Norton packs in everything but the kitchen sink.

Kaspersky Total Security. Specifications Anti-theft: Yes. Backup software: Yes. Firewall: Yes. Game mode: Yes. Hardened browser: Yes. Parental controls: Yes. Password manager: Yes. Ransomware rollback: Yes.

Webcam protection: Yes. Virtual keyboard: Yes. VPN: Limited upsell. Wi-Fi scanner: Yes. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. But that's not really what Malwarebytes is known for. If you find yourself in trouble, the go-to disinfectant for many is Malwarebytes.

To get the antivirus company's free antivirus version, download this trial version , which "downgrades" to a no-fee on-demand cleaner with fewer features that detects and removes viruses and malware when you run an on-demand antivirus scan after 14 days.

In addition to the four antivirus apps we recommend above, a handful of other anti-malware tools are worth considering among the best antivirus protection if you find them at a better price or just prefer to use one over our picks above. It feels like McAfee Antivirus has been around forever, first on its own in the '80s, then as part of Intel starting in , and then again on its own when Intel spun it off in And McAfee Total Protection has been around forever because quarter after quarter it creates solid, modern antivirus software that protects your PC.

In recent evaluations by AV-Test, it had high scores on both protection and performance. Maybe this antivirus provider is not as well known to consumers because of its focus on enterprise security, Trend Micro antivirus quietly brings its business expertise to the home with its Trend Micro Maximum Security tools.

Trend Micro's software earns high marks from AV-Test -- consistently scoring well for detecting zero-day attacks and widespread viruses and malware. And Trend Micro does a good job of not taxing system resources. Free version? It earns high scores for usability and offers solid virus protection. The free antivirus version of Sophos Home gives you virus protection for three Windows PCs -- using the company's high-scoring anti-malware tool -- plus a day trial of the company's malware-removal tool.

Test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows performs well for malware detection with options ranging from Avast free antivirus software to Avast Premium Security. And we've included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before. But Avast was in the news for several months for its non-antivirus business, so we looked at the company, specifically reports at the end of that Avast allegedly collected user data with its browser plug-ins and antivirus software and then sold data it collected through its Jumpshot subsidiary in early In response to the reports that his company gathered and sold the details of its customers' online activities, Avast CEO Ondrej Vlcek said in a statement that he understood that his company's actions raised questions of trust in his company.

To address that, Avast terminated Jumpshot data collection in January and closed its operations because the data collection business wasn't in line with Avast's privacy priorities. These newer reports follow another in from Avast that its internal network was breached , possibly to insert malware into its CCleaner software, similar to an earlier CCleaner hack that occurred prior to Avast's acquiring the Windows utility. Avast is now saying the right things about taking its customers' privacy seriously , but it only came to that point after reacting to investigative reporting that revealed the Jumpshot practices.

The CCleaner revelations, while concerning, were self-disclosed, which is important to building user trust. We hope Avast's more privacy-friendly policies mean that there will be no further Jumpshot-style activities and it returns to glory as one of the best antivirus software.

In the meantime, we'd recommend using one of the many other solid choices in this realm listed above. Because the company has been in the news the past few years, let's talk about Kaspersky Lab -- specifically about the federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using Kaspersky Antivirus products. Based in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has for years produced some of the best antivirus software for business antivirus needs and home customers. But in the US government prohibited Kaspersky security cloud software on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.

But as with China-based Huawei , the question remains: If the federal government doesn't think the products are safe enough for its own devices, should consumers avoid them as well? In a statement sent to CNET, the company said, "Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never, nor will ever, engage in cyber offensive activities.

Kaspersky Lab maintains that no public evidence of any wrongdoing has been presented by the US government, and that the US government's actions against Kaspersky Lab were unconstitutional. In Kaspersky's favor, it continues to earn top scores and awards for virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.

And it's reasonably priced. In the end, even though no one has ever publicly produced a "smoking gun" linking the company to Russian intrigue, we think any of the options listed above are a safer bet.