Best Antivirus Software for 2024
Choosing the best antivirus software means finding one that keeps your PC or mobile device safe, doesn’t consume a lot of system resources, is easy to use, and doesn’t cause problems when you need it. Here’s what to look for.
effectiveness
Antivirus software scans for known malware and provides 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 for unexpected behavior that may be signs of new and as-yet-unrecognized viruses and malware. You want your antivirus software to successfully identify these unknown online threats without flagging too many false positives.
You can determine the effectiveness of your antivirus software by looking at detection rates in tests performed by labs such as AV Test Lab. None of these software are perfect—malware is always evolving—but you should look for software with a detection rate of 80 to 90 percent.
Save system resources
You don’t want antivirus software to tax your PC’s resources, such as RAM and CPU power. If after installing a program, 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 come with free trials or money-back guarantees, letting you try out an antivirus program before buying, so if your system feels bogged down after installation, you might want to keep looking.
Costs and discounts
Don’t just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Check the company website for discounts before purchasing. Another way to save: If you need to cover three to five devices instead of 10, you can cut costs by using a smaller antivirus package. You may also find discounts on apps Amazon page Or in a store like this best buy.
During the purchasing process, pay close attention to renewal fees. Most antivirus tools charge an annual fee and only offer discounts for the first year (although you can get a discount by paying for two years up front). These promotional prices can cause you to pay more in subsequent years, sometimes even double the original amount.
bundled services
Antivirus software may be bundled 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 also save you money.
However, the VPNs in these security bundles aren’t always the best tools available. You may want to purchase a separate subscription or opt-in VPN with antivirus If privacy is a major concern.
privacy
To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor how your computer is running, check for unusual behavior on your company’s servers and provide robust banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data whenever possible to protect your privacy. If you’d like more information, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so you can read their privacy statements to learn how these companies handle the information you share.
Protection for other platforms
Microsoft so far biggest goal For viruses and malware. Android ranks secondAs of January 2024, 0.15% of apps installed on Android devices (with Google Play Protect) fall into the category of Potentially Harmful Applications (PHA).
The threat to MacOS (especially iOS) is lower, in part because Apple has tight control over its App Store. While Macs do fall victim to sideloaded apps, it’s rare and if you only download apps from the Mac and iOS App Stores and be vigilant when clicking links and downloading files, then there’s nothing on Apple Antivirus apps should be fine on the device. Thankfully, you can Stay safe when downloading apps By sticking to official app stores, reading reviews and asking for privacy policies.
Problems with Avast
In test after test, Avast Antivirus for Windows perform well For malware detection, options range from Avast Free Antivirus to Avast Premium Security. We’ve previously included its antivirus software in our list of recommended security app options.
However, in early 2024, FTC fines Avast The company paid $16.5 million to settle charges that it sold customer browsing information to more than 100 third parties between 2014 and 2020. Avast allegedly collected data through browser extensions and antivirus software and sold the data through its subsidiary Jumpshot, the FTC said. As part of the settlement, Avast is prohibited from selling or licensing any web browsing data for advertising purposes.
Preliminary report for 2020, Avast CEO Ondřej Vlček said in a statement He understands that the company’s actions raise trust issues. To address this issue, Avast ended Jumpshot data collection and shut down its operations in January 2020.
We hope that the FTC’s action means there will be no further Jumpshot-style activity, and that Avast can return to being one of the best antivirus software options. Until then, we recommend using one of the many other solid options in this space (listed above).
Kaspersky problem
Let’s talk about Kaspersky Lab, specifically 2024 federal banIt was announced on June 20 that Kaspersky is prohibited from selling anti-virus or network security software or services directly or indirectly in the United States or to U.S. citizens. The blanket ban follows a more limited ban imposed in 2017 that banned the use of Kaspersky software and services on federal government computers because of alleged ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government.
Headquartered in Moscow, Kaspersky Lab has been producing some of the highest-rated antivirus software for years, catering to both corporate antivirus needs and home customers. its software remains consistent Get the highest scores and awards Virus and malware detection and endpoint protection from independent testing labs.
“Russia has repeatedly demonstrated their ability and intent to use Russian companies like Kaspersky Lab to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard U.S. national security and the American people,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said when officially announcing the ban.
in a statementKaspersky said it “does not engage in activities that threaten U.S. national security and, in fact, makes a significant contribution to reporting on and protecting against various threat actors targeting U.S. interests and allies.”
The Ministry of Commerce recommends that users of Kaspersky software switch to 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 department said.
