A good antivirus program should protect you from all kinds of malware including worms and Trojan horses. Additionally it should be able to recognize and stop the spread of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that can modify your browser settings or make your screen full of ads. Certain premium antiviruses offer additional features such as dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts and parental controls.
If you use Windows, Microsoft’s built in security against malware, referred to as Windows Defender on older machines or Windows Security on more recent machines, does a decent job in keeping your computer safe. It’s not as efficient or efficient in detecting malware as standalone antivirus companies that regularly score highly in independent lab tests. It doesn’t have additional security features, such as a password manager or software for other devices.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is the most effective antivirus for Windows that is based on prevention of malware impact on systems, user-friendliness. It scores high in the AV-Test labs, which are renowned and is simple to install and run. It provides protection for one PC for a small cost, however for a few more dollars you can have more comprehensive protection with Bitdefender Total Security and Antivirus Plus.
A good paid antivirus suite typically includes plenty of extras, such as a VPN as well as performance optimization tools and apps for Mac, iOS and Android. If you prefer to stick to the basics and just get the best protection against malware, Sophos Home Premium is a good choice. It comes with a few extras at reasonable prices.
