The best antivirus software of 2024

Choosing the best antivirus software means finding one that keeps your computer or mobile device safe, doesn’t consume a lot of system resources, is easy to use and stays out of the way until you need it. Here’s what to look for.

effectiveness

The antivirus software scans for known malware and can provide real-time protection. It can also monitor suspicious websites and suspicious links to keep you out of trouble. It can also provide ransomware protection and monitor unexpected behavior that may be a sign of new viruses and malware that have not yet been identified. You want an antivirus that can successfully identify these unknown online threats without reporting too many false positives.

You can determine how effective an antivirus is by looking at its detection rate in tests conducted by labs like Antivirus Lab AV testing lab. None of these programs are perfect — malware is evolving all the time — but you should look for programs with an 80 to 90% detection rate.

Highlight system resources

You don’t want your antivirus software to tax your computer’s resources, such as RAM and CPU power. If, after installing the software, websites open slowly, apps download slowly, software opens slowly, or files take longer to copy 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 before you buy, so if your system feels bogged down after installation, you may want to keep looking.

Cost and discounts

Don’t just pay for virus protection. Before purchasing, check the discounts on the company’s website. Another way to save: You can cut your cost by using smaller antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices instead of 10, for example. You may also find discounts on the price of an app. Amazon page Or in ports like Best buy.

During the purchasing process, pay close attention to renovation costs. Most antivirus tools charge an annual fee and only offer discounts for the first year (although you may be able to get a discount by paying for two years up front). These promotional rates may result in you paying more – sometimes up to twice the original amount – for subsequent years.

Bundled services

Antivirus software may come with other security tools such as Password manager And a VPN. Purchasing a security suite that includes all of these tools allows you to manage everything from one account, saving you the hassle of managing multiple accounts — and it can save you money, too.

However, the VPNs included in these security packages are not always the best tools available. You may wish to purchase separate subscriptions or choose VPN with antivirus If privacy is a major concern.

privacy

To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what’s happening with your computer, check company servers for unusual behavior and provide sound banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy. If you want to learn more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so you can read their privacy statements to find out what companies do with the information they share.

Protection for other platforms

Many modern computers come with built-in antivirus software — Microsoft Defender for Windows 10 and 11, and X-Protect for Mac — and that’s enough for some users. However, you may want to invest in one of the antivirus tools listed here for added protection, especially if you store sensitive files on your computer and/or rely on it for your income.

Microsoft by far The biggest goal for viruses and malware. The robot is secondwith 0.15% of apps installed on Android devices (equipped with Google Play Protect) falling into the potentially harmful app category, or PHA, as of January 2024.

The threat to macOS and especially iOS is low, partly due to the tight control Apple has over its app stores. Although your Mac gets attacked via side-loaded apps, it’s rare, and if you only download apps from the Mac and iOS app stores and stay careful when clicking on links and downloading files, you should be fine without an antivirus app. On Apple devices. Fortunately, you can Be safe when downloading apps By sticking to official app stores, reading reviews, and consulting privacy policies.

Problems with Avast

In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows was used Good performance To detect malware, with options ranging from Avast Free Antivirus to Avast Premium Security. We’ve included its antivirus in our list of recommended security app options before.

However, in early 2024, The Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million to settle charges that alleged the company sold customers’ browsing information to more than 100 third parties from 2014 to 2020. Avast allegedly collected data through browser extensions and antivirus software and sold the data through its subsidiary Jumpshot, the Commerce Commission alleges Federal Reserve (FTC). As part of the settlement, Avast is prohibited from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes.

In response to the initial 2020 reports, Avast’s then-CEO Ondřej Vlček said in a statement He understands that his company’s actions raise questions about trust. To address this, Avast ended Jumpshot’s data collection in January 2020 and shut down its operations.

Hopefully, the FTC’s action means there will be no more Jumpshot-style activities and that Avast will return to glory as one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the other solid options in this area (listed above).

Problems with Kaspersky

Let’s talk about Kaspersky Lab, specifically… 2024 federal banannounced on June 20, prohibits Kaspersky from selling antivirus or cybersecurity software or services directly or indirectly in the United States or to US citizens. This sweeping ban follows a more limited ban in 2017 that blocked Kaspersky software and services on federal government computers due to alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.

Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab has produced some of the highest-rated antivirus software for the antivirus needs of businesses and home customers. programs constantly He received the highest scores and awards Virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.

He added: “Russia has demonstrated repeatedly that it has the ability and intent to exploit Russian companies, such as Kaspersky Lab, to collect sensitive American information and use it as a weapon, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect American national security and the American people.” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in the official announcement of the ban.

In a statementKaspersky said it “does not engage in activities that threaten US national security, and in fact, has made significant contributions through its reporting and protection from a variety of threat actors that have targeted the interests of the United States and its allies.”

The Department of Commerce recommends that those using Kaspersky software switch to alternative software from other security companies as soon as possible. To help Kaspersky customers with the transition, Kaspersky will be allowed to provide antivirus updates for its software until September 29, 2024, the ministry said.