In the current growing cyber-crime situation, a simple antivirus program is no longer enough to secure your devices. A premium antivirus suite should offer more than just basic malware protection. It may include the use of a VPN, performance optimizing tools, and password management. It’s also essential to find an antivirus that can work across your different operating systems, and doesn’t consume too much system resources or slow sites down your computer.

The most effective antivirus software can detect and block a wide range of threats such as viruses, trojans and worms such as adware rootkits, adware, and keyloggers. They can also protect against phishing attacks by checking for the presence of malicious websites, as well as identifying fake or insecure websites.

There’s a wide selection of antivirus programs available, and most brands will allow you to test their software with a free trial or money-back guarantee. Many offer 24/7 customer service and a vast knowledge base online to help you troubleshoot problems.

If you’re looking to find a reliable antivirus solution for Windows, the most popular option is Microsoft Defender (which comes preinstalled on newer Windows computers). It scores highly in tests from independent labs AV-Test and AV-Comparatives and is quite light and unobtrusive when used but it’s not equipped with the same level of sophistication as the top standalone antiviruses.