Antivirus software helps keep your computer free from malware, phishing scams, and other malicious files that can steal information or cause slowdowns. These programs check your PC for these threats and remove them when they are discovered, and some also offer other security features, like firewalls to protect against network attacks. Some are free while others require a subscription cost to ensure complete protection.

When choosing antivirus software make sure you select a program that uses minimal system resources to ensure it does not cause slowdowns to your computer while you run antivirus scans or other functions. You can use the search feature of the program to locate reviews from users. This will help you determine whether a particular program is efficient and doesn’t use excessive memory and space on your hard drive or other resources.

The best antivirus programs will identify viruses quickly and reliably. They may employ a combination of methods that include specific detection, which searches for known viruses; generic detection, which detects specific parts or types of malware and heuristic analysis, that analyzes the behavior of the user to find suspicious patterns. If a virus is discovered and analyzed, the program will separate it from other programs or files and prevent access to it and erase it. Some programs will show an alert that indicates the threat has been detected or removed.

If you’re looking for the best antivirus program, look for one that has additional security features like parental controls as well as a cloud scanner and ransomware protection. Other features best mac antivirus software include a money-back guarantee, a free trial, compatibility with multiple platforms, frequent updates, and customer assistance.