A reputable antivirus should safeguard you from all kinds of malware, including worms, Trojan horses and ransomware. It should also be able to detect and stop the spreading of potentially unwanted programs which could alter your browser settings or fill your screen with advertisements. Some premium antiviruses also offer additional features such as dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts and parental controls.

If you’re running Windows Microsoft’s built-in malware protection, also known as Windows Defender on older computers or Windows Security on more recent machines, does an adequate job of keeping your computer safe. It’s not as efficient or quick in detecting malware as standalone antivirus brands that frequently score well in independent lab tests. It doesn’t have any extra security features like a password manager, or software for other devices.

The best antivirus for Windows built on protection against malware as well as system impact, and user-friendliness, is Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It scores highly https://scanguardreviews.net/best-antivirus-for-windows-10 in the AV-Test labs that are highly respected and is easy to install and run. It is able to protect one PC for an affordable price, however you can have more protection for some dollars more with Bitdefender Total Security or Antivirus Plus.

A top-quality paid antivirus suite will typically include a variety of extras. These can include a VPN, performance-optimization tools, and software for Mac OS, iOS, and Android. If you’re looking to stick with the basics and simply get the most effective malware protection, Sophos Home Premium is a good option. It includes some additional features at reasonable prices.