Anti-virus software is an essential piece of kit you need to be using. It doesn’t matter how computer-savvy you think you are, cybercriminals and hackers will always be one step ahead of you and it is very easy to fall victim to clever scams and malicious downloads.
Contents
By using the best anti-virus products available, though, you have an extra line of defense against these cyber criminals who want to steal your data and identity.
There are plenty of anti-virus offerings out there, but these are five of the very best tried and tested ones available.
1. AVG
AVG is a popular anti-virus tool owned by Avast, and their anti-virus contains everything that you would expect such as email scanning, web filtering, the blocking of malicious links, and it does not bombard you with advertisements, either. Their free plan does not have any strings attached and offers comprehensive protection whereas their premium plans come with lots of exciting, unique, and powerful features.
Some of these premium features include secure DNS, webcam protection, a firewall, and folder access which lets you avoid ransomware. AVG provides comprehensive security that is always kept up-to-date and runs constantly without weighing or slowing down your PC. Using the powerful Avast engine, it provides consistent and reliable results alongside stellar performance.
What’s best about AVG, however, is that it is completely customizable and there are many configurable options for you to tinker with and set according to your own standards.
2. Norton
Norton has been the recipient of some flack in recent years, but we don’t think that it is entirely deserved. Working seamlessly across multiple devices including computers and smartphones, Norton by Symantec includes everything you could ever need to stay safe online. Both Norton Security Deluxe and Norton Security Premium are top picks because they offer the best in internet security through their good value, malware detection scores, and security features that cannot be found on other anti-viruses.
Both Norton products work by scanning your computer for vulnerabilities such as outdated software and security applications. The Norton firewall scans your emails, external devices, and even instant messages. The company is so confident in their product that they even offer a guarantee.
Each Norton product comes with multiple user licenses (5 with Deluxe and 10 with Premium) so you can easily use it to protect all your devices at home.
3. Trend Micro
Trend Micro offers comprehensive cloud protection that helps to secure your online files that are saved in cloud storage destinations such as Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive. As more people and organizations begin to move to the cloud in their droves, it is hard to ignore how important and significant this is.
Trend Micro regularly scores perfectly when tested for its malware-stopping abilities—it truly is a powerful anti-virus that stops even the newest malware in its tracks. Trend Micro Internet Security and Trend Micro Maximum Security come packed full of additional features and tools to help protect you online no matter what it is you are doing.
Despite the fact that it is resource-intensive, Trend Micro does a very good job of protecting your computer and safeguard against the latest malware threats. Providing comprehensive protection across different platforms and channels such as social media, it’s a fantastic choice for virtually any consumer looking for stellar protection.
4. BullGuard
BullGuard isn’t a name you may be familiar with, but it is in every way a decent anti-virus. In some areas it is highly configurable but, unfortunately, it doesn’t offer the best protection when compared with the likes of Norton and Trend Micro.
First released in 2002, BullGuard is a simple product that offers virus and malware protection in real time, in addition to 24/7 customer support, URL filtering, and a performance booster for people who spend a lot of time playing online video games. Continuous updates bolster the anti-virus’ ability to detect even the newest malware and threats, and real-time alerts will ping you if you are connected to a network that is unencrypted or otherwise unsecure.
Lightweight and configurable, BullGuard is a relatively quick anti-virus that offers acceptable protection against the latest threats. If you are seriously concerned about your security, though, you may want to opt for one of the others featured here.
5. Avast
Avast does a very good job of protecting your computer and includes a lot of other important features and security tools to help keep your system free of viruses, malware, and malicious third parties. Like BullGuard, it features a ‘Gamers Mode’ that is a must for protecting yourself online whilst playing multiplayer games.
A recognizable name, Avast is a great choice for comprehensive protection online across computers and mobile devices. It runs and updates itself constantly without weighing down your machine or eating up too much memory. This means that you are always protected against the latest threats.
One negative is that Avast is not as intuitive or user-friendly as the other anti-virus tools we have listed; it can take some time to get to know the system properly and learn how to use it. Also, it lacks some features that other competitors have. For example, although Avast can be used on both computers and mobile, you need to use a separate program to protect mobile devices.
In Summary: The 5 Best Anti-Virus Products Available Today
The five anti-virus solutions we have featured represent five of the very best that are available on the market.
You may not be surprised to learn that they come from well-known names such as Norton, Avast, and Trend Micro; these companies have over time established themselves as market leaders by providing robust anti-virus products that protect against a vast range of modern and ever-changing threats.
Although there are plenty of other anti-virus solutions out there, these five are, in our opinion, the only ones you should really be considering. The final decision is down to you, though—only you can decide what is best for you.
