The latest antivirus

Light on system resources. You don't want antivirus software that taxes your PC's resources. If after you install the program, websites open slowly, apps download or open sluggishly or file copies take longer than expected, you may want to try another service. The good news is, all our picks offer a free trial to let you try out the antivirus program, so if your system feels sluggish after installation, you may want to keep looking.

Cost and discounts. Don't just pay the sticker price for antivirus protection. Before you buy, check for discounts on a company's website.

Another way to save: The prices we list above are for 10 devices -- if the company offered that package -- but you can trim your cost with antivirus packages if you need to cover three or five devices. You may also find discounts on an app's Amazon page. To be effective, antivirus software needs to monitor what's going on with your PC, check in with company servers about unusual behavior and should provide sound banking protection. The companies say they anonymize this technical data as much as possible to protect your privacy.

But if you want to know more, the security companies on our list post privacy policies on their websites, so read their privacy statements to learn what the companies do with the information you share. Protection for other platforms. Microsoft is by far the biggest target for viruses and malware.

While the Mac does come under attack via side-loaded apps, it's rare, and if you download apps only from the Mac and iOS app stores and keep your guard up when clicking links and download files, you should be OK without an antivirus app on Apple devices. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

Best free Windows antivirus Microsoft Defender. Jump to details. See at Microsoft. See at NortonLifeLock. See at Bitdefender. Best on-demand Windows malware removal Malwarebytes. See at Malwarebytes. Solid subscription antivirus alternative McAfee Total Protection. See at McAfee. Another good subscription option Trend Micro Maximum Security.

See at Trend Micro. See at ESET. Alternative free Windows antivirus Sophos Home. See at Sophos. Our recommendations Looking for free antivirus protection, malware protection or virus detection, willing to pay for an antivirus program that offers broad internet security coverage across all your devices, including from ransomware and phishing, or need to remove a computer virus or malware from your PC right now?

Best free Windows antivirus. Microsoft Defender. Best antivirus subscription for Windows. Norton with LifeLock Select. Best free antivirus alternative for Windows. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. Best on-demand Windows malware removal. Solid subscription antivirus alternative. McAfee Total Protection. Another good subscription option. Trend Micro Maximum Security. It guards against webcam invasions and encrypts your keystrokes to keep your passwords protected against hackers.

Sophos also blocks phishing and other suspicious sites and automatically scans your downloads. And it comes with parental controls and filtering options for keeping your kids safe. Protection for 10 devices is included in your subscription, as is hour live email and chat support.

Its machine-learning virus protection is designed to defend your computer without slowing you down. It also scans your computer to detect vulnerabilities and inspects your Wi-Fi network for weaknesses and strangers piggybacking on it.

Should you need them, Avast also offers additional premium services for a fee. Trend Micro, like its competition, offers a number of levels of antivirus protection, but its Premium Security Suite is our favorite. One thing that sets it apart from other software and services is that it works with Chrome devices in addition to Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS machines.

It also protects against identity theft by monitoring the dark web for your information and checking data breaches to see if your email address, credit card number, passwords, or bank account details have been leaked. You also get a VPN that protects your network when you are at home and keeps your mobile devices safe when using public Wi-Fi networks. The best Hulu original series to stream right now. Texas parking payment problems now include scammy QR codes.

Get this ergonomic office chair deal instead. When purchasing your license, simply select how many Windows PCs you want to protect. During your license period, you can protect any number of Windows up to the total number that your license covers. For example, you could select a 3-PC license to protect up to three different desktops or laptops used in your family. Yes, you will get the latest version of the software and all upgrades subsequently released during your subscription term.

You can download, install, activate and start using the software immediately after your purchase. All transactions on our website are completely secure.

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