A quality antivirus program should safeguard you from all kinds of malware including worms and Trojan horses. It should also identify and stop the spread of potentially unwanted programs, that can alter your browser settings or flood your screen with advertisements. Some premium antiviruses offer additional features like dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts, and parental control.
If you’re a Windows user Microsoft’s built in malware protection, called Windows Defender on older computers or Windows Security on newer machines does quite a good job of protecting your computer. However it’s not as speedy or efficient in malware detection as standalone antivirus brands that regularly have good results in independent lab tests. It also doesn’t come with additional security features, such as password management or software that can be used on other devices.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is the best antivirus for Windows Based on the prevention of malware, system impact, and ease of use. It has a high score in the respected AV-Test labs and is simple to set up and run. It provides one PC for a reasonable price, but you can get broader protection for some dollars more with Bitdefender Total Security or best business security systems Antivirus Plus.
A top-quality paid antivirus suite usually comes with a range of extras. This could include the use of a VPN, performance-optimization tools, and software for Mac OS, iOS, and Android. If you want to stick to the basics and just get the best protection against malware, Sophos Home Premium is a good option. It provides a few additional features for an affordable price.