The Best Antivirus For Windows

A good antivirus program should protect you from all types of malware including worms and Trojan horses. Additionally it should be able detect and stop the spread of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) which could alter your browser settings or make your screen full of ads. Some antiviruses that are premium also provide additional features such as dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts and parental controls.

If you’re a Windows user Microsoft’s built in malware protection, called Windows Defender on older computers or Windows Security on newer machines, does a decent job of protecting your computer. However it’s not as efficient or efficient in malware detection as standalone antivirus brands that regularly achieve high marks in independent lab tests. The product doesn’t offer any additional security features like password management, or software for other devices.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is the best antivirus for Windows based on malware prevention system impact, ease of usage. It has a high score in the AV-Test labs, which are renowned and is easy to set up and run. It provides protection for a single PC at a low cost, but for a few dollars you can have more comprehensive protection with Bitdefender Total Security and Antivirus Plus.

A quality paid antivirus suite will typically include a variety of additional features. This could include the use of a VPN as well as tools for performance optimization, and software for Mac OS, iOS, and Android. If you’re looking to stick with the basics and get the best protection against malware, Sophos Home Premium is a good choice. It comes with a few additional features for reasonable prices.