A reputable antivirus program will protect you from all kinds of malware, including worms as well as Trojan horses. In addition, it must be able to identify and stop the spread of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), which can alter your browser’s settings or display ads on your screen. Certain premium antiviruses offer extra features like dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts and parental controls.

If you use Windows, Microsoft’s built in security against malware, referred to as Windows Defender on older machines or Windows Security on more recent devices, does a good job of protecting your computer. It’s not as effective or quick in detecting malware as standalone antivirus brands which often score well in independent lab testing. It also doesn’t offer any additional security tools such as password management software or other tools for other devices.

The best antivirus for Windows Based on protection against malware, system impact, and ease of use, is Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It is simple to install and use and was highly rated in the AV-Test labs. It provides protection for a single PC at a very low cost, but for a few more dollars you can upgrade to more comprehensive protection with Bitdefender Total Security and Antivirus Plus.

A good antivirus suite that is paid usually includes a lot of additional features, including the use of a VPN as well as performance optimization tools and applications for Mac, iOS and Android. If you’d rather just stick with www.scanguardreviews.net the basics, Sophos Home Premium offers strong malware protection and some extra features at an affordable price.