Choosing the best antivirus software for Windows means finding one that keeps your PC safe, doesn’t take up a lot of system resources, is easy to use, and doesn’t cause problems when you need it. Here’s what to look for.
Potency: Antivirus software performs virus scanning for known viruses and malware and provides instant protection. It monitors 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.
System resources occupied: You don’t want antivirus software taking up your PC’s resources. If after installing a program, websites are slow to open, applications are slow to download or open, or files are taking longer to copy than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is that all of our picks offer free trials or money-back guarantees for you to try the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you may 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: The prices we listed above are for 10 devices (if the company offers that package), but if you need coverage for three to five devices, you can cut costs with an antivirus package. You can also find the discount on the app’s Amazon page.
privacy: To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor your PC’s operations, check for unusual behavior on company 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 please read their privacy statements to learn how these companies handle the information you share.
Protection for other platforms: Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware. Android ranks second, with less than 1% of apps installed on Android devices with Google Play Protect falling into the Potentially Harmful Application (PHA) category.
The threat to MacOS (especially iOS) is lower, in part because Apple has tight control over its App Store. While Macs do get attacked by sideloaded apps, it’s rare and if you only download apps from the Mac and iOS App Stores and are vigilant when clicking links and downloading files, there’s no need to install an anti-virus software. Virus apps will do.
