The best antivirus software can protect your devices from ransomware, malware, and phishing. It also shields you from spyware that tracks your browsing history as well as your passwords, and can prevent data breaches from destroying your personal information. There are a variety of packages out there and many of them cost more than what you’d like to spend.
We’ve tested over 300 of them to find the best virus protection for the money. We searched for software that is simple to use and robust, but also protects you without slowing your computer down or causing you to stop using it. And we’ve made sure the software is updated with its malware database frequently.
The best options offer a full suite of anti-malware engines, plus additional features such as a VPN, password managers, and parental controls. Some provide a dark Web monitoring service that can determine if your email address, credit card details or any other personal information have fallen into the wrong hands.
Norton 360 is our winner. It provides excellent all-round security, with high rate of malware detection, and impressive additional features such as a password manager. The service offers dark web monitoring in real-time as well as cloud backups.
It’s one of the few security packages available for Macs (most other products only cover Windows PCs). In tests conducted by independent lab AV Comparatives the program performed well. It’s expensive at around PS2/month, but there’s a free trial.