As well as offering malware protection, many of the best antivirus software packages also protect you from fraudulent websites, phishing attacks, and snoopers. Many have multi-device plans.

The top-rated antivirus programs listed here provide excellent security. A lot of them have had excellent results in independent labs for testing. They’re simple to use and require very little computer resources.

Some of the read the article most comprehensive packages on this list include additional features, such as the use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), password managers, and identity theft security. These extra features might be worth the cost based on your requirements.

Also consider how well an antivirus program works with your operating system, and how much resources it uses while it is running in the background. A lot of antivirus programs can slow down your machine if they consume too much memory and CPU power. Other programs run in the background and not consume too many resources, and won’t cause your PC to crash or hang.

The last thing you should look for in an antivirus program is a continuously updated malware database. New cyber-attacks are constantly created, which is why it’s vital to find a company that regularly updates its virus definitions and other malware detection tools.