The most effective antivirus software can safeguard your devices from ransomware, malware and phishing. It also stops data breaches and spyware from destroying your personal data. There are a myriad of programs available, and a lot are more expensive virus protection reviews than you’d expect to pay.
We’ve tested more than 300 of them in order to find the best virus protection for your budget. We looked for a program that is easy to use and durable, yet protects you from slowing your computer down or causing you to stop using it. We’ve also made sure that the software updates its malware database on a regular basis.
The best packages provide a full suite of anti-malware engines. They also include extra features like a VPN, password managers and parental controls. Some companies offer a dark-web surveillance service that will determine if your email address, credit card details or any other personal information is in the wrong hand.
Our winner is Norton 360, which offers top-quality all-round protection, with outstanding malware detection rates and impressive extra features, including an account manager for passwords and a VPN to ensure your privacy when browsing online. The service provides dark web monitoring in real time and cloud backups.
It’s one of the few security programs available for Macs (most other options only support Windows PCs). In tests conducted by an independent lab AV Comparatives it performed well. It’s not cheap at PS2/month for an annual subscription however there’s a no-cost trial available.