Here are the best antivirus software and apps for the money (in some cases, they are free), including PC, Mac and Android recommendations. The Best Antivirus Utilities for 2016. By Neil J. Rubenking. And its unusual behavior-based detection technology means Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (2015). Features independent reviews with full ratings comparisons. Norton, BitDefender, Kaspersky. Need help choosing the best antivirus software for your needs? The Best Free Antivirus Utilities. Avira Antivirus 2015 is among the many antivirus utilities that. the best paid antivirus products do tend to offer more and. Comparison of antivirus software. 2015: Russia: Kaspersky Lab. Top 5 Free antivirus Programs of all time; The Best Antivirus for 2016 PCMag.com. The current tests of antivirus software for Windows 7 from February 2016 of AV-TEST, the leading international and independent service provider for antivirus software.
Best Free Antivirus for 2. With Complete Reviews)Baidu Antivirus 2. В is lightweight and fights malware via its cloud- based virus database. It has an anti- hacker firewall, anti- phishing protection, anti- keylogger, webcam protection, automatic download protection, quarantine sandbox, and other extremely useful features. It automatically updates, scans USB devices and the Windows registry, can have its settings password protected, has a built- in cloud file scanner to upload suspicious files to Baidu to be scanned, and supports several other useful tools like a traffic monitor and private browser tool. Overall, Badiu Antivirus 2.
A list of the best free antivirus software for Windows, updated February, 2016. See reviews and download links for these completely free AV programs. Avast free antivirus software is my #2 pick in the list of top 10 best free antivirus software for 2016, and have got reasons to say this. Avast Free. What's the best antivirus software to buy right now? In February 2015, the list includes BitDefender, Kaspersky, and Avira. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016 is officially the best antivirus software today. It builds on technology awarded PRODUCT OF THE YEAR and uses machine-learning to.
В ran quickly, using little system resources, and functioned just as good as the other antivirus programs in this list. Baidu Antivirus 2. В works in Windows 1.
Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.
The Best Free Antivirus Utilities for 2. There are plenty of different ways you can choose to spend your money. Take a trip, buy the latest console game, see a blockbuster at the movie theater.
Then there are budget items that you can't avoid, like paying your taxes. But even if the looming tax deadline cramps your cash flow, you can still install one of the excellent free antivirus utilities we've collected for you. And hey! If you're getting a refund, you'll still want to keep your security tight, to keep cyber- crooks from siphoning off that tax bonus before it gets to you. Quite a few of these products are free only for noncommercial use; if you want to protect your business, you have to pony up for the paid edition. At that point, you should probably consider upgrading to a full security suite.
After all, it's your business's security on the line. And if you've grown beyond SMB status, investing in a Saa. S endpoint protection system will let you monitor and manage security across your entire organization. Yes, it's true that Windows 8 and Windows 1. Windows Defender hasn't done very well. There have been some signs of improvement in several tests last year, which is encouraging. Your antivirus should definitely have the ability to root out existing malware, but its ongoing task is to prevent ransomware, botnets, Trojans, and other types of nasty programs from getting a foothold.
All of the antivirus programs in this collection offer real- time protection against malware attack. Some take the fight upstream, working hard to ensure you never even browse to a malware- hosting site, or get fooled into turning over your credentials to a phishing site. Independent Antivirus Lab Test Results.
Around the world, researchers at independent antivirus testing labs spend their days putting antivirus tools to the test. Some of these labs regularly release public reports on their findings. I follow six such labs closely: AV- Comparatives, AV- Test Institute, Dennis Technology Labs, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs. Security companies typically pay for the privilege of being included in testing.
In return, the labs supply them with detailed reports that can help improve their products. The number of labs that include a particular vendor serves as a measure of significance. In each case, the lab considered the product important enough to test, and the vendor felt the price was worthwhile. The labs don't necessarily test a vendor's free product, but most vendors pack full protection into the free product, enhancing premium versions with additional features.
I've worked out a system for aggregating lab results, yielding a lab score from 0 to 5, or N/A if there just isn't enough data. PCMag Antivirus Test Results.
In addition to carefully perusing results from the independent labs, I also run my own hands- on malware blocking test. I expose each antivirus to a collection of malware samples, including a variety of different malware types, and note its reaction. Typically the antivirus will wipe out most of the samples on sight, and detect some of the remaining ones when I try to launch them. I derive a malware blocking score from 0 to 1. Avast Free Antivirus holds the current top score in this test, tied with one of our Editors' Choice paid antivirus utilities. Since I use the same samples month after month, the malware- blocking test definitely doesn't measure a product's ability to detect brand- new threats.
In a separate test, I attempt to download malware from 1. URLs supplied by MRG- Effitas, typically less than a day old. I note whether the antivirus blocked all access to the URL, wiped out the malicious payload during download, or did nothing. Mc. Afee and Symantec, both paid products, hold the very best scores in this test, though some free antivirus utilities have done fairly well.
Useful Features. Just about every antivirus product scans files on access to make sure malware can't launch, and also scans the entire system on demand, or on a schedule you set. Once that cleaning and scheduling is done, blocking all access to malware- hosting URLs is another good way to avoid trouble. Many products extend that protection to also steer users away from fraudulent websites, phishing sites that try to steal login credentials for financial sites and other sensitive sites.
A few rate links in search results, flagging any dangerous or iffy ones. Behavior- based detection, a feature of some antivirus products, is a two- edged sword. On the one hand, it can detect malware that's never been seen before.
On the other hand, if it's not done right, it can baffle the user with messages about perfectly legitimate programs. One easy way to keep your PC protected is to install all security updates, both for Windows and for browsers and other popular applications. Starting with Windows 1.
Windows updates aren't optional for consumers, but there are plenty of security holes in popular apps and add- ons. Scanning for vulnerabilities in the form of missing updates is a feature most often found in commercial antivirus products, but it does turn up in some free ones. In the chart above you can see which products include these useful features. What's Not Here. This article reports only on free antivirus products that received at least a good rating in our reviews—three stars or better. Among those that didn't make the cut is Microsoft Security Essentials / Windows Defender. All of the independent labs I follow do include Microsoft in testing, but most use it as a baseline. If a product can't do better than the baseline, it's got real problems.
Avira Antivirus 2. I mention Avira's application in particular because some among its fans seem to think it has been excluded as the result of some sort of conspiracy. The truth is that the last version simply didn't measure up. I'm hoping to review the latest version of Avira soon. The reason I haven't done so already couldn't be further from nefarious, however.
In fact, I'm still waiting—on the company's advice—until a few final features are added to the latest version. I want to make sure the software gets a fair shake. Furthermore, I'm aware that my review of Bitdefender's Free Antivirus is getting long in the tooth, but the company simply doesn't update its free utilities as often as its premium ones. Rest assured, I'm in close contact with Bitdefender and I'll review its new offering as soon as it's available. There are also numerous free antivirus utilities that work solely to clean up existing malware infestations. You bring out these cleanup- only tools when you have a nasty malware infestation. When the problem's gone, they have no further use, since they offer no ongoing protection. Our Editors' Choice in this category is Malwarebytes Anti- Malware 2.
But since they're free, you can keep trying others if the first one doesn't do the job. When the scare is over, you'll need a full- blown antivirus for ongoing protection. What's Best. Our current Editors' Choice products for free antivirus utility are Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Anti. Virus Free, and Panda Free Antivirus. All three get very good scores from the independent labs, and in our own tests as well. All three include some useful bonus features. Avast in particular packs a password manager and a network security scanner in its toolkit.
If you do have a little cash in your budget for security, the best paid antivirus products do tend to offer more and better protection. If not, try a few of these free tools and see which one you like best. FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUP.
The Best Antivirus Utilities for 2. You can't turn around without running into evidence that the presidential primaries are heating up. Which candidate will do the best job protecting us against terrorist attack, or addressing income inequality? Even when the election is over and done with, you may not be convinced we got the best candidate. Fortunately, the discussion of which antivirus product offers the best protection doesn't inspire the same fervor. We've carefully analyzed dozens of them so you can decide which one deserves your vote. I did say antivirus, but in truth it's unlikely you'll get hit with an actual computer virus.
Malware these days is about making money, and there's no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. Ransomware and data- stealing Trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot- herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more. PCMag has reviewed three dozen different commercial antivirus utilities, and that's not even counting the many free antivirus tools. Out of that extensive field we've named four Editors' Choice products. Nine more commercial antivirus utilities proved effective enough to earn an excellent four- star rating, and another seven earned three and a half stars.
Of course, we're reviewed many more, but those antivirus utilities that received scores of less than three stars don't qualify for inclusion in this "best of" listing. Almost all of these products are traditional, full- scale, antivirus tools, with the ability to scan files for malware on access, on demand, or on schedule. A couple are outliers, tools meant to enhance the protection of traditional antivirus. As for just relying on the antivirus built into Windows 8. Windows 1. 0, that may not be the best idea. In the past, Windows Defender has performed poorly both in our tests and independent lab tests. It did score several wins last year, and it earned decent scores in several more recent tests.
Maybe Microsoft's slump is over? Name. Webroot Secure. Anywhere Anti. Virus (2. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2. Kaspersky Anti- Virus (2. Mc. Afee Anti. Virus Plus (2.
Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security 2. Lowest Price%display. Price%%seller%$3. MSRP%display. Price%%seller%$3. MSRP%display. Price%%seller%$3. MSRP%display. Price%%seller%$5.
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Personal, Professional. Personal, Professional.
Business, Personal, Professional. Business, Personal, Professional. OS Compatibility. Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 1.
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 1. Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 1.
Mac OS, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 1. OS, Android. Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 1. Read the Review. Read the Review. Read the Review. Read the Review. Read the Review. Listen to the Labs. I take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs very seriously. The simple fact that a particular vendor's product shows up in the results is a vote of confidence, of sorts.
It means the lab considered the product significant, and the vendor felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. Of course, getting good scores in the tests is also important. I follow six labs that regularly release detailed reports: West Coast Labs, Virus Bulletin, ICSA Labs, Dennis Technology Labs, AV- Test Institute, and AV- Comparatives. Tests by the first three are based on simple threat- recognition, while the last three attempt to simulate real- world malware- attack scenarios.
I've devised a system for aggregating their results to yield a rating from 0 to 5. Hands- On Antivirus Testing. I also subject every product to my own hands- on test of malware blocking, in part to get a feeling for how the product works. Depending on how thoroughly the product prevents malware installation, it can earn up to 1. My malware- blocking test necessarily uses the same set of samples for months.
To check a product's handling of brand- new malware, I test each product using 1. URLs supplied by MRG- Effitas, noting what percentage of them it blocked.
Products get equal credit for preventing all access to the malicious URL and for wiping out the malware during download. Some products earn absolutely stellar ratings from the independent labs, yet don't fare as well in my hands- on tests. In such cases, I defer to the labs, as they bring significantly greater resources to their testing. Multi- Layered Antivirus Protection. Antivirus products distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on- demand scanning and real- time protection. Some rate URLs that you visit or that show up in search results, using a red- yellow- green color coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware- hosting URLs or with fraudulent (phishing) pages.
Software has flaws, and sometimes those flaws affect your security. Prudent users keep Windows and all programs patched, fixing those flaws as soon as possible.
The vulnerability scan offered by some antivirus products can verify that all necessary patches are present, and even apply any that are missing. You expect an antivirus to identify and eliminate bad programs, and to leave good programs alone.
What about unknowns, programs it can't identify as good or bad? Behavior- based detection can, in theory, protect you against malware that's so new researchers have never encountered it. However, this isn't always an unmixed blessing. It's not uncommon for behavioral detection systems to flag many innocuous behaviors performed by legitimate programs. Whitelisting is another approach to the problem of unknown programs. A whitelist- based security system only allows known good programs to run.
Unknowns are banned. This mode doesn't suit all situations, but it can be useful. Sandboxing lets unknown programs run, but it isolates them from full access to your system, so they can't do permanent harm. These various added layers serve to enhance your protection against malware. Bonus Features. Firewall protection and spam filtering aren't common antivirus features, but some of our top products include them as bonus features. In fact, some of these antivirus products are more feature- packed than certain products sold as security suites. Among the other bonus features you'll find are secure browsers for financial transactions, secure deletion of sensitive files, wiping traces of computer and browsing history, credit monitoring, virtual keyboard to foil keyloggers, cross- platform protection, and more.
You'll even find products that enhance their automatic malware protection with the expertise of human security technicians. And of course I've already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application whitelisting. What's Best? Which antivirus should you choose? You have a wealth of options. Kaspersky Anti- Virus (2.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2. A single subscription for Mc. Afee Anti. Virus Plus (2. Windows, Android, Mac OS, and i. OS devices. And its unusual behavior- based detection technology means Webroot Secure.
Anywhere Antivirus (2. Yes, 2. 01. 5. My Webroot contacts asked me to hold off a new review until they could fit in a couple of enhancements. It should be ready soon.) We've named these four Editors' Choice for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only products worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top- rated products, and then make your own decision.
One Last Note. All the security software conspiracy theorists are doubtless preparing to weigh in (yet again) with their suspicions as to why we didn't include Symantec's Norton Antivirus in this roundup. There's actually a very good reason for that. Symantec hasn't made a standalone antivirus in several years, opting instead to sell only security suites, which we have in fact reviewed. FEATURED IN THIS ROUNDUPBitdefender Antivirus Plus 2. Price% at %seller% Editors' Choice winner Bitdefender Antivirus Plus earns top scores in lab tests and our own tests, and also packs in a wealth of useful bonus features. Read the full review ››Kaspersky Anti- Virus (2. Price% at %seller%Kaspersky Anti- Virus (2. Read the full review ››Mc.
Afee Anti. Virus Plus (2. Price% at %seller% Mc. Afee Anti. Virus Plus is very capable, and it includes a raft of bonus features.
But what pushes it into stardom is the fact that a single subscription lets you install protection on every Windows, Mac OS, Android, and i. OS device that you own. Read the full review ››Webroot Secure. Anywhere Antivirus (2. Price% at %seller% Two independent testing labs have given Webroot Secure. Anywhere Anti. Virus (2.
Add the fact that it's the smallest antivirus around and you've got a definite Editors' Choice. Read the full review ››Avast Pro Antivirus 2. Price% at %seller% With Avast Pro Antivirus 2. Avast's free edition along with a hardened browser, DNS protection, and sandboxing. Experts will love these advanced features, but for the average user the free edition is just fine. Read the full review ››AVG Anti.
Virus 2. 01. 6$3. Price% at %seller% In addition to all the features of AVG's free antivirus, AVG Anti. Virus (2. 01. 6) adds an online shield and file encryption. Those added features don't merit the product's price; stick with the free edition.
Read the full review ››Daily Safety Check Home Edition$6. Price% at %seller% Once you install Daily Safety Check Home Edition, you can just sit back and let it take care of security, backed by a team of security technicians who review its reports and, if necessary, step in to perform remote remediation. Read the full review ››Emsisoft Anti- Malware 1. Price% at %seller% Emsisoft Anti- Malware 1. The company's strong consumer focus makes this product a good choice for those who may need some security hand- holding.
Read the full review ››ESET NOD3. Antivirus 9$3. 9.
Price% at %seller%ESET NOD3. Antivirus 9 is a step up from the company's previous version, and gets excellent marks in most independent lab tests. It scores especially well in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests. Read the full review ››F- Secure Anti- Virus 2. Price% at %seller% F- Secure Anti- Virus 2. It does a good job, and you can install it on both Windows and Mac OS devices. Read the full review ››Malwarebytes Anti- Exploit Premium$2.
Price% at %seller% Malwarebytes Anti- Exploit Premium shields your system against exploit attacks, even never- before- seen zero- day attacks. Add this new layer of protection to your security arsenal. Read the full review ››Panda Antivirus Pro 2. Price% at %seller% Panda Antivirus Pro extends the impressive antivirus found in the free edition with a number of useful additional features, but the free edition is a better choice for most users. Read the full review ››Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security 2.
Price% at %seller%Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security 2. It's not quite an Editors' Choice, but it's still worth considering to keep your PC safe. Read the full review ››Voodoo. Soft Voodoo. Shield 2. Price% at %seller% Voodoo. Soft's Voodoo. Shield 2.
USB drive plugged in. The free edition does a great job of balancing protection and flexibility. Give it a try. Read the full review ››App. Guard$2. 9. 9. 5 %display.
Price% at %seller% App. Guard teams up with your existing antivirus to block never- before- seen zero- day malware. Unknown programs in folders commonly used by malware just can't launch, and programs that do run can't make changes to sensitive system areas. It definitely works, but you'll have to do some finagling to install or update valid programs. Read the full review ››Bull. Guard Antivirus (2. Price% at %seller% Bull.
Guard Antivirus (2. If you're looking for those specific features and no frills, it can be a good choice.
Read the full review ››Check Point Zone. Alarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall 2. Price% at %seller% Check Point's Zone. Alarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall combines antivirus licensed from Kaspersky with a powerful, advanced firewall.
But the antivirus occasionally lags behind Kaspersky's own version, and the firewall's advanced features require expertise. Read the full review ››G Data Antivirus 2. Price% at %seller% G Data Antivirus 2. However, our Editors' Choice products score even better with the labs. Read the full review ››Lavasoft Ad- Aware Pro Security 1. Price% at %seller% Lavasoft Ad- Aware Pro Security 1. Ad- Aware, and adds firewall protection.
But you'd be better off either sticking with the free edition or purchasing a better commercial antivirus. Read the full review ››Micro.
World e. Scan Anti- Virus with Cloud Security$2. Price% at %seller% Micro. World e. Scan Anti- Virus with Cloud Security does well in testing, and it includes antispam and firewall protection as a bonus. It's good, just not up there with the best, and the inaccurate spam filter doesn't help things.
Read the full review ››Anti- Executable 5. Price% at %seller% Anti- Executable 5. It can definitely prevent installation of new malware, as long as you don't erroneously override its block. However, the average user may find managing its protection to be a chore. Read the full review ››Kromtech PCKeeper Antivirus$3. Price% at %seller% Kromtech PCKeeper Antivirus is attractive and easy to use, and it has chat- based help built right in.
However, the chat- based help supplied misinformation during testing. Read the full review ››Malwarebytes Anti- Malware Premium 2. Price% at %seller% Malwarebytes Anti- Malware Premium 2. Malwarebytes utility with lackluster real- time protection and malicious URL blocking.
Businesses buying it should consider pairing it with a more effective real- time antivirus. Read the full review ››PC Pitstop PC Matic$5. Price% at %seller% PC Pitstop's PC Matic has a rocky reputation online, but our testing shows that it actually works as an antivirus, albeit a simple one. Read the full review ››Tiranium Premium Security 2. Price% at %seller% Tiranium Premium Security 2. The bonus firewall didn't do anything in our tests, though, and the quality of other features varied. It's a good first effort.
Read the full review ››Valt. X 'Absolute Security for Windows' Special Edition$8. Price% at %seller% Valt. X 'Absolute Security for Windows' Special Edition rolls your system back to a safe, malware- free state on every reboot.
However, any malware that does infest your system can run wild until the next reboot, and external actions like false bank transactions or transmission of personal data can't be rolled back. Read the full review ››.