The most effective antivirus software will protect your devices from ransomware, malware and phishing. It also prevents data breaches and spyware from destroying your personal information. There are many different packages available, and a lot are more expensive than you’d like to pay.
We’ve tested more than 300 of them to find the most effective virus protection for your budget. We looked for a program that is user-friendly and robust, but also protects you without slowing your computer down or making you stop using it. We’ve Continue also made sure that the software updates its malware database frequently.
The best options offer a full suite of anti-malware engines, plus additional features such as a VPN and password manager, as well as parental controls. Some businesses offer a dark-web monitor service to determine whether your email address, credit card details or any other personal information is in the wrong hand.
Norton 360 is our winner. It provides outstanding all-round security, with high malware detection rates, as well as remarkable additional features like a password manager. It also offers live dark web monitoring and backups to the cloud.
It’s one of the very few security applications that are available for Macs (most other products only cover Windows PCs). In tests conducted by the independent lab AV Comparatives it performed very well. It’s a bit expensive at PS2/month for an annual subscription, but there is a free trial version available.