The most effective antivirus software will guard your devices from ransomware, malware and phishing. It also stops data breaches and spyware from destroying your personal information. There are many different packages available, and many are more expensive than you’d like to pay.
We’ve tested more than 300 of them in order to find the most effective antivirus security for the budget. We’ve scoured for strong and easy-to-use software that is able to keep you protected without causing a slowdown to your computer or deterring you from using it. We’ve also made sure that the software regularly updates its malware database.
The best packages provide a full suite of helpful resources anti-malware engines, plus additional features like a VPN, password managers, and parental controls. Some companies offer a dark-web surveillance service to determine whether your email address, credit card number or any other personal information has fallen into the wrong hand.
Norton 360 is our winner. It provides outstanding all-round security, excellent malware detection rates, and incredible additional features, such as a password manager. The service also offers dark web monitoring in real time and cloud backups.
It’s also one of the few packages that’s available for Mac computers (most others only work with Windows PCs) and it has a decent performance in tests performed by independent lab AV-Comparatives. It’s a bit expensive at around $2.50/month for an annual subscription but there is a free trial available.