By Rashmi Goel
The best possible protection for your online devices in 2022 can be found right here - we've tested the best antivirus software providers to create a definitive list. Staying safe online starts with downloading antivirus software. It is still the best defense against cyber criminals seeking financial gain from the exposure of your online devices.
Though viruses behave differently and have a different objective over time, their end goal remains the same - to steal your money. Many types of threats exist, but malware, ransomware, and Trojans are designed to either take your data or cause enough system damage that you must pay a high price to have them removed. Furthermore, scammers exist... We don't want to scare you, and since you're reading this, you probably already understand why virus protection is so important. There are many antivirus providers in 2022 offering you the best protection combined with extra features that will keep you safe from scams. Installation and use are easy. From the best Windows and Android antivirus to the best Mac antivirus, here are our top picks.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
https://www.bitdefender.com
The best entry-level antivirus is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. Malware detection is excellent, if not perfect. Active scans do not make a significant impact on the system in the background, but that background load is quite heavy. Moreover, it comes with the most features, including an unlimited password manager (for Windows only), a secure browser with a virtual keyboard, a Wi-Fi network scanner, a file shredder, protection against ransomware, and Bitdefender's web-privacy software - features usually found only in more expensive antivirus packages. Among the features of Bitdefender Internet Security are parental controls, webcam protection, and a two-way firewall, whereas Bitdefender Total Security offers an anti-theft feature for laptop computers, a system optimizer, and licenses for Bitdefender Antivirus for macOS, as well as Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android devices. Bitdefender Premium Security is the fourth product, basically Total Security with unlimited VPN usage, a cross-platform password manager, and priority customer service.
Norton 360 Deluxe
https://us.norton.com
The antivirus products from Norton offer excellent malware protection, and the system's performance load has significantly been reduced. Norton 360 Deluxe has the most extra features among all the programs, but there is one program that stands out as the best. There's also an integrated password manager that works across all major platforms, unlimited VPN service, dark-web personal-data monitoring, and parental controls. Norton 360 Premium and Norton 360 Platinum provide more online storage and cover up to 10 and 20 devices, respectively, for antivirus and VPN protection. LifeLock is available in three bundles that include varying levels of online storage and LifeLock service. Although their subscription prices are well into the triple digits, they are still significantly less expensive than if you bought the identity protection, password manager, cloud backup storage, and antivirus software separately. Norton's products do not come with a file shredder, file encryption, or secure web browser, which some of the other best antivirus software manufacturers do. The bundles offered by it, however, include every other digital-protection service you can imagine.
Kaspersky Total Security
https://www.kaspersky.com
Kaspersky's Windows products spot malware with excellent detection rates and have a very light to moderate impact on the system, the two most important criteria in our rankings. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is an entry-level antivirus program that comes with a virtual keyboard, ransomware protection, and an account portal. The best antivirus program is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, which has even more features. There's also anti-theft protection for laptops, webcam protection, and a VPN client that kicks in when you connect to an open Wi-Fi network. Kaspersky Total Security is a premium antivirus suite that includes backup software, parental controls, file encryption, a file shredder, and an unlimited password manager.
McAfee Internet Security
https://www.mcafee.com
The malware detection capabilities of McAfee have improved greatly in the past couple of years but still aren't up to par. Parents will have to spring for McAfee Total Protection or McAfee LiveSafe, which comes pre-installed on most new PCs if they want parental controls or a password manager. Both of these security suites include an identity protection service as part of their multi-device licenses. There is no secure browser or webcam protection in any of the McAfee products, which you typically find in other premium antivirus products. The top pick is McAfee Total Protection Ultimate, which includes unlimited VPN access without any limits. For hardcore PC gamers, McAfee Gamer Security may be worth considering.
Trend Micro Maximum Security
https://www.trendmicro.com
The company offers very good protection, but its malware-detection engine is extremely resource-intensive during scans and generates a lot of false-positive results. Its entry-level program, Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security, has basic tools but does have a secure browser built-in. Trend Micro's mid-range Internet Security package features parental controls, system optimization, and a file shredder. As part of Trend Micro's Maximum Security, users can access a password manager, a secure web browser, and file encryption. Trend Micro Premium Security also includes dark-web monitoring. A two-way firewall and webcam protection are not included in Trend Micro's programs, which is standard in other brands' midrange offerings. The premium product does not include the cloud storage or backup software that some of the best antivirus providers include with their flagship products.
ESET Smart Security Premium
https://www.eset.com
ESET is one of the most popular antivirus software brands in Europe, with a very small system-performance load and fast scan speeds. Malware detection used to be kind of meh but has significantly improved in recent tests. Despite having a few extra tools, ESET NOD32 Antivirus is easy-to-use entry-level antivirus software. Webcam protection, parental controls, a browser-hardening extension, and ESET security software licenses for Mac, Android, and Linux are included in ESET Internet Security. A password manager and file encryption are included in the top-billed ESET Smart Security Premium. The version does not come with a VPN client, backup software, or a file shredder.
Sophos Home Premium
https://home.sophos.com
At a reasonable price point, Sophos Home Premium offers reasonable malware protection at an affordable price. In part, because Sophos Home Premium is spun off from its enterprise-class software, it doesn't offer many features that other security suites do, such as a password manager, identity theft protection, or VPN service. The only features that Sophos Home Premium does come with are the essentials: ransomware rollbacks, webcam protection, protection against keyloggers, and malicious sites, as well as file-less and boot-sector malware. Parents can also use a web-filtering system, as well as a feature to tweak most settings via an online management console.
Microsoft Defender
https://www.microsoft.com
As a Windows user, your operating system comes equipped with a perfectly adequate virus protection system. Generally, Microsoft Defender offers capable mid-range protection without the user even realizing it is active. The defender has its own dashboard, scanning options, and so on, but you won't see them unless you go looking for them. Along with pure virus protection, it has a host of extra features, including multi-layered anti-ransomware, firewall, webcam and privacy protection, web filtering, parental controls, and backup.
Avast One
https://www.avast.com
The company's Avast One product builds on its trusted free antivirus (now called Avast One Essential) with additional features. At the moment, the software is very popular with the independent testing labs, ranking in the top tier in real-world malware tests and anti-phishing tests. Furthermore, your online accounts will be protected by a simple firewall, data breach scanning, and apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. With this VPN from the old head of HideMyAss, you will get 5GB of weekly data allowance, tune-up tools, ad blockers, webcam protection, malicious URL blocking... and... nothing else. To justify spending your money on one of those add-ons, you'd have to be very passionate about it, otherwise, we recommend opting for a more fully-featured security suite or just using Essential.
Avira Antivirus
https://www.avira.com
Avira is probably best known for its free antivirus package (which is among the best), but its premium packages shouldn't be overlooked. It's the one-stop shop for everything you'd expect from a modern-day security app: real-time malware detection, protection against ransomware, a software updater that works very well to keep all your apps updated, plus various privacy tools, such as a file shredder for extra privacy. It has a smart interface and the various features - including the free (but limited) VPN - are more integrated into the UI as a whole. However, it does provide a decent level of protection, despite the app's only middling ratings from independent labs. When you upgrade to the Internet Security or Prime plan, you gain access to additional features such as a full password manager, a Pro version of Software Updater (that lets you automatically update your apps), plus the VPN app comes with unlimited user, as well as access to mobile app support.
Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus
https://www.webroot.com
Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus really impresses on this front. Most antivirus programs claim to be lightweight, but this isn't always the case. It takes only seconds for the app to install, and its memory footprint is nearly as small (less than 2% of the size of some internet security suites), and virus definitions are stored in the cloud. This still doesn't mean there's a compromise in features, which makes Webroot even more impressive. This antivirus software offers extremely quick virus scans that take less than 20 seconds, as well as proactive antivirus monitoring, anti-phishing protection, identity theft protection, and much more. The big-name testing labs haven't rated SecureAnywhere AntiVirus; SE Labs, however, recently rated Webroot as solid in its Home Anti-Malware report - although not quite up to the top. Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus is the next step up from SecureAnywhere Internet Security, which expands Webroot's coverage to mobile devices, as well as providing a password manager (thanks to LastPass) and covering up to five devices instead of three. There is also Internet Security Complete, which comes with an automatic backup system (with 25GB of cloud storage) and additional online privacy features. The flagship suite also offers a Family Pack edition that includes 10 pieces of hardware, as well as 100GB of cloud storage. Despite having everything you need in SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Internet Security Plus emerges as the most comprehensive package.