If you’re cautious about keeping your software up to date ensure that you use strong passwords and stay clear of suspicious hyperlinks in online messages and apps, you’ll probably be able to avoid malware threats. But you still need antivirus security, and it’s a good idea to choose a product that also monitors other types of digital threats such as ransomware as well as spyware, phishing, bots and rogue programs. The best antivirus software will shield you from these threats while safeguarding your privacy and preventing sensitive data theft.
The free Microsoft Defender, which is included on every Windows PC from Windows 8 onwards, doesn’t rank highly in independent lab tests but it is simple to configure and use. It’s almost invisible as it operates, only notifying its users with an unintentional message or alert. More extensive options like ESET Cyber Security Pro offer various preferences controls to tailor its behavior and are less intrusive with regards to the impact on performance of your background.
AVG Internet Security, which has an intuitive interface and decent cost (it’s $60 during the first year for 10 devices) adds just enough features to the company’s solid free antivirus to warrant being a recommendation. Its Essential tier is stripped-back and covers ransomware, malware, and attacks on phishing, while the Premium version adds the option of a VPN to your Mac and additional features such as a password manager. All versions received top marks from AV-Comparatives for protection, and scored very low in regard to impact on PC performance.