Best Antivirus Software

It’s been a while since computer viruses first made the news back in the 1990s. Nowadays viruses are less common, but tons of malware can still lurk inside your device and infect it. These can include trojans, worms, backdoors, and exploits, just to name a few. However, the good thing about having an effective antivirus installed is that you don’t really need to know these culprits by name because you will never encounter them. With our expert reviews, you’ll be able to understand what each antivirus has to offer, their key features, and what makes each earn its place in the market. Our comparisons put these programs head-to-head to make it easy for you to decide which one best addresses your needs. Don’t forget to visit our free trial and coupons pages to get your chosen antivirus for the lowest price possible.

With so many different options, it can be tough to pinpoint which antivirus software might work best for you. But with a little examination, the choice should be clear as day.

Free antivirus software

These days, most antivirus companies offer free plans that are sufficient for basic protection from malware. In fact, when it comes to fighting malware both free and paid versions produce similar results. Moreover, since free antivirus software doesn’t pack extra features, it consumes fewer computer resources than its paid counterparts. On the other hand, paid packages are better at detecting new threats.

When you pay for an antivirus, you usually get more than just malware protection. Some antiviruses offer built-in VPNs, online payment safety, password managers, and software updaters, just to name a few possible bonuses. So buying an antivirus could bag you a bunch of features you’d otherwise need to purchase separately.

What’s more, free antivirus programs usually don’t come with the tech support that paid versions do – something that can make all the difference when problems arise.

Antivirus protection for all your devices

Back in the day, only computers were used to access the internet, but now it’s easy for infections to infiltrate all your devices. The moment you plug an infected mobile phone into your computer, the virus could instantly spread to your desktop as well.

Mobile phones have in fact become a bigger target for hackers since it’s less likely that they’ll be carrying any antivirus protection at all. The same can be said for tablets, and while Apple users tend to believe their devices are inherently more protected, there are still nefarious infections lurking in the shadows. Ideally, every single device should carry some type of antivirus to protect it.

The idea that a Mac is an impenetrable fortress is a myth. While the operating system is generally more secure against malware than Windows, this doesn’t mean that there’s no malware targeting Macs. In fact, due to this misconception cyber criminals have been targeting Macs more often because they know security software is less likely to be installed.

One of the scariest pieces of recent Mac malware is CookieMiner, which can steal victims’ cyber currency. And CookieMiner is just one of many: other newcomers include OSX/Linker, LoudMiner, and OSX/Newtab. It’s safe to say that installing an antivirus on your Mac is not only advisable but a must.

Is antivirus software still relevant?

There is a misconception that viruses and malware are different things. There is also the misconception that an antivirus only protects your computer from viruses. Both are untrue.

Malware is a generic term for any software designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or network. There is a wide variety of malware, viruses being only one type. Other flavors of malware include worms, spyware, trojans, ransomware, rootkits, backdoors, keyloggers, and logic bombs.

So, although viruses are not as common as in years gone by, there are many ways hackers can use them to exploit your device. Antiviruses block all types of malware, making them not only relevant but a necessity for anyone who uses the internet.

Just as there are different kinds of malware, there’s also a wide variety of computer security software. However, antiviruses continue to be the type that protects you against the most types of malicious attempts to hack your computer. Even internet security suites are, at their core, an antivirus.

Simply put, a free antivirus is a basic program that protects against the majority of existent malware. The middle tier would be a paid antivirus, which throws in extra features that help your computer stay safe. Finally, internet security suites can be seen as the ultimate tier. Though pricier, they typically include several extra components such as a VPN, a software updater, system optimization, and other neat features.

So yes: antiviruses are still relevant. In fact, they are more relevant than ever. The access to information this age grants us is an equal boon to those who want to exploit your devices. It’s easy to learn how to create malware, so the number of threats grows each day. It’s therefore not only recommended but essential to protect your devices with an antivirus.