But where we can help is to tell you what the best antivirus is right now, having tested and reviewed the latest packages from the biggest names in cyber security.
Hackers are always coming up with new ways to gain access to your PC and other internet enabled devices (with your mobile phone and tablet included). Luckily the best antivirus companies are constantly updating their security software packages.
Rock-solid and reliable protection
- Accurate
- Password manager
- Cheap subscription
- Can be resource-hungry
2. Norton AntiVirus Basic
Great value protection that won't slow you down
- Blocks even brand new malware
- Low impact on system resources
- Browser extension extras can be unreliable
3. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus
The most lightweight antivirus around
- Extremely light on system resources
- Lightning fast
- No testing data from the top labs
4. ESET NOD32 Antivirus
Expert-level antivirus for the more experienced user
- Highly configurable
- Device access control
- Relatively expensive
- Not for beginners
5. F-Secure Antivirus SAFE
Nothing is easier to use
- Very user-friendly
- Good value
- Prone to false positives
6. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2018
Trustworthy security for beginners and experts alike
- One of the best performing security packages
- Supremely easy to use
- Kaspersky's full suites are better value
7. Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security
A strong contender
- Affordable pricing
- Might slow you down
- Higher than average false positives
8. Panda Antivirus Pro
A user-friendly and very well-featured antivirus solution
- Lots of features
- Easy to use
- Limited firewall
What's the difference between free and paid-for antivirus?
With so many free antivirus products out there, you may be wondering what’s the point of paying for protection. Just about every single major vendor out there offers a free version of its service, promising to protect you from all the cyberthreats out there.
By releasing a free version of their software, developers gain access to more devices from which they can collect data from and therefore improve their knowledge and security platforms. It also might tempt more users to upgrade. Therefore it’s not in their interest to reduce the amount of protection provided by the free version.
However paying for a premium service means you get more features, such as spam filters, parental controls, system scans and advanced firewalls. This makes them more suitable for power users, those who want a bit of extra security and anyone who wants their system to run as smoothly as possible.
Best Business Antivirus
Each entry in this list has been carefully chosen for its business features, such as remote installation and central management. The best business antivirus software will have enterprise-level protection against threats, but that doesn't mean they have to cost a lot of money, either. The price per installation can sometimes be cheaper than even our recommended best antivirus packages.
With so many free antivirus products out there, you may be wondering what’s the point of paying for protection. Just about every single major vendor out there offers a free version of its service, promising to protect you from all the cyberthreats out there.
By releasing a free version of their software, developers gain access to more devices from which they can collect data from and therefore improve their knowledge and security platforms. It also might tempt more users to upgrade. Therefore it’s not in their interest to reduce the amount of protection provided by the free version.
However paying for a premium service means you get more features, such as spam filters, parental controls, system scans and advanced firewalls. This makes them more suitable for power users, those who want a bit of extra security and anyone who wants their system to run as smoothly as possible.
Best Business Antivirus
Each entry in this list has been carefully chosen for its business features, such as remote installation and central management. The best business antivirus software will have enterprise-level protection against threats, but that doesn't mean they have to cost a lot of money, either. The price per installation can sometimes be cheaper than even our recommended best antivirus packages.
- Avast Business Antivirus Pro is an excellent business antivirus suite, giving you various tools such as antivirus, Firewall, email protection, anti-spam and the ability to sandbox applications for complete security. Avast Business Antivirus Pro (as opposed to the standard Avast Business Antivirus) also includes Sharepoint and Exchange protection, as well as a number of tools for your servers.
- Symantec Endpoint Protection's first benefit is the company's Insight file reputation technology, an effective way to detect and block even the very latest undiscovered threats. Other layers of protection include antivirus, behaviour monitoring, intrusion protection, a firewall, and the 'Power Eraser' to remove stubborn threats and repair your system.
- Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security makes reliable protection its top priority. Bitdefender products are loved by the independent testing labs, highly rated for malware detection, removal, performance and usability. Most of the features work automatically – antimalware, firewall, web advisor, URL filtering – but you can also customise the product to control user actions.
- Avira Antivirus for Endpoint is the company's main small business product. It takes all the core features you'd expect – antivirus, baseline network protection, web filtering – and extends them with file server protection and optimisation, along with application whitelisting and blacklisting.
- Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud is a small business product, which comes ready to protect Windows PCs, file servers, Android and iOS devices. The desktop side of the package has all the usual quality Kaspersky modules – antivirus, antispam, a firewall, more – but the mobile security technologies are even more impressive.
