Since the antivirus software you choose will be responsible for protecting your data, you must ensure the product you go for is up to the task. To help you find a reliable antivirus for your PC and phone, here is our guide to buying this essential software.
Having antivirus software on your devices has its many benefits, including but not limited to:
Antivirus software protects your personal data on devices. This data can be in the form of photos, videos, passwords, bank account information, personal information, and browsing histories. By protecting it, antivirus software ensures all of this priceless data does not get into the wrong hands and potentially get exploited.
When viruses get into a device, they can slow it down. However, this can easily be fixed using an antivirus since this software can identify the culprit viruses and neutralize them.
Most antivirus software comes with a VPN. A VPN helps protect your online activities, such as your browsing history and online purchases. This way, your identity is kept hidden when using the internet.
Web protection is another feature many antivirus software comes with. It allows the antivirus software to identify and notify you of any suspicious activity. This way, you can avoid visiting harmful websites which could have jeopardized your computer or phone security.
The first thing to check when buying an antivirus is compatibility. While the last thing you want is to end up with an antivirus that doesn’t work on your computer or phone, thankfully most product descriptions will state if the antivirus software is compatible.
Since antivirus programs usually have a maximum number of devices they can be used with, you should make sure the edition you chose provides sufficient shareability. The number of devices an antivirus can support is also usually stated in the product description.
We wanted you to have the best user experience possible, so we ensured all the antivirus software on our list was easy to install. This will save you time and effort during installation while minimizing the chances of any problems popping up during installation. You can get a good idea of how easy antivirus software is to install by checking out customer reviews.
We also ensured the antivirus software we chose for our list would have minimal impact on your device’s performance. This way, the program wouldn’t slow down your computer or phone.
For the first spot on our list, we have this antivirus software by Norton, which can be used with up to ten devices. This option also lasts for one whole year, and since it comes with auto-renewal it’s pretty convenient. Furthermore, it works with IOS, Android, PCs and Macs—so you don’t have to worry about compatibility.
This software for computer virus removal is optimized to minimize its effect on your device’s performance. Also featuring VPN and 75 GB cloud backup, you can browse anonymously and rest assured that your data won’t be leaked.
Coming to you from McAfee, aside from antivirus software you also get to choose between a download code and key card variation. Adding to its versatility, you also get to pick between plans of three devices, five devices, ten devices and unlimited devices to best suit your data protection needs. Also featuring parental control it comes with a secure VPN to keep your browsing data away from prying eyes.
This antivirus software also boasts a password manager to store and generate secure passwords for your different accounts across the internet. Furthermore, this program will alert you if the website you are visiting is a potential threat or not.
Coming to you from Webroot, you can choose to personalize your antivirus software with three devices, five devices or a ten device plan. Allowing you to pick between one-year and two-year protection options, you can also opt for the subscription option. Adding to its functionality, it’s also compatible with Android, IOS, Mac, Chromebook and PC!
This also means it will install much more quickly on your device. Saving you tons of time and computer resources, it also comes with a password manager to help store your passwords and make logging in much easier.
Bitdefender brings you an antivirus software that features a two-year subscription. You can sync this product with up to five devices, and since it’s designed for optimized speed you can rest assured your computer or phone won’t slow down. Also featuring a cross-platform protection to provide security across all your devices, this antivirus software boasts a dedicated browser for protecting your online bank transactions from prying eyes.
Adding to its convenience, you get 200MB of secure Bitdefender VPN and are allowed to opt for auto-renewal of your subscription for extra convenience.
Another great thing about this pick is its eco-friendly packaging!
This antivirus software by AVG allows you to choose from one, five and ten device plans. Allowing you to achieve long-term data protection for your devices, it also comes with a secure VPN for browsing the internet without worrying about your browsing data being seen.
You also get a Cleaner with this antivirus program for clearing away unnecessary files and resource-hogging programs from your device. Aside from boasting a powerful encryption technology, it also boasts tracker blockers so websites cannot track your activities easily.
The interface of this antivirus software is also very well designed, making it much easier to use and a great option for beginners.
A: An antivirus can protect your device against most threats, but you still need to be careful. You should avoid visiting shady sites or downloading files from untrusted sources. Also, take a good look at privacy policies before trusting websites.
A: The disk space an antivirus takes up varies from product to product. You can usually find the required disk space in the product description of an antivirus. Generally speaking, the software won't take too much of your device's space—and the number will usually be below half a GB.
A: Since most antivirus software comes with a subscription, it’s important for you to keep up to date with your purchases to ensure you’re always protected. Thankfully, most services will also send such reminders by email.
A: Students of all ages, as well as those who actively browse streaming services, benefit the most from antivirus software. This is because antivirus software can also block suspicious activity and notify you of any other related issues.
A: The finest virus protection software, like the Norton Antivirus Software from our list, come with password managers. These virtual keychains store your passwords, autofill them and create new secure ones for your online accounts. The application will also let you know when a password in the existing database is weak or at risk of hacks, making them great for those who often stream videos and movies online.