In the current climate of increasing cybersecurity, it’s no longer enough to secure your devices using a basic antivirus program. A premium antivirus suite should include more than just basic malware protection. It could include a VPN or performance-enhancing tools, and password management. It’s also essential to find an antivirus that can work across the various operating systems, and doesn’t consume too much system resources or slow down your computer.
The most reliable antivirus software will identify and block a variety of threats including viruses, trojans and worms, ransomware spyware and adware rootkits as well as keyloggers. They can also safeguard your computer from phishing attacks by identifying fake links and harmful websites.
There’s a huge range of antivirus software available, and most brands will allow you to test their software for free or with a money-back guarantee. Most offer 24/7 customer service as well as a vast knowledge database online to help you resolve issues.
Microsoft Defender is the most popular antivirus software for Windows (which is installed on newer Windows computers). It has a high score in tests conducted by independent labs like AV Test and AV Compare and is quite light and unobtrusive in use but it’s not equipped with the same level of sophistication as the top standalone antiviruses.