The Best Antivirus Software of 2024

1. TotalAV Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Protection

SecurityScore:

9.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	No
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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All-Around Digital Security Protection

TotalAV impressed us with its Smart Scan that goes beyond just malware protection. With a click of a button, it performed a quick scan to search for malware; a security and privacy scan to look for programs that could compromise your security (e.g. adware); a performance scan that looked for apps and files that use too many resources; a system junk and duplicate scan that looked for duplicate and unnecessary .temp files. Besides those, it has a VPN you can turn on anytime.

>> Learn More: Review of the Total VPN by TotalAV

Focusing on the antivirus software itself, we tested it by hiding a malware test file (Eicar-Test-Signature pictured above) in several places within our computer. TotalAV did well finding them – even those that we hid several folders deep and those that we put into .zip archives, two of the sneakiest hiding places of malware. That shows that TotalAV scans reach deep into the cracks and crevices of operating systems.

Doing manual scans all the time isn’t user-friendly though. We prefer antivirus software that can protect us even when we’re mindlessly using our devices day-to-day. TotalAV did that. It let us schedule full device scans, which we set to take place every Wednesday. On top of that, the real-time protection feature scanned any program or file we opened, downloaded, or accessed to prevent any malware from executing on our device.

2. Surfshark Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software For Digital Security

SecurityScore:

8.9 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	No
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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All-In-One Cybersecurity Toolkit

Surfshark began as a VPN company, and so all its antivirus plans include the Surfshark VPN. But like Total AV, Surfshark offers all-around cybersecurity. For as low as $2.69 per month, you’ll enjoy malware protection, VPN access, ad blocking, cookie pop-up blocker, and an online alias generator. If you go with the upgraded Surfshark One+ ($4.69 per month), you’ll also be able to access Incogni, Surfshark’s data removal service to help protect your identity and personal information.

That being said, Surfshark has a long way to go. We liked its core protection features and ability to detect malware – it scored four out five in our malware detection test – but when it comes to extra features, it lacked some important ones. For example, it didn’t have a firewall, so if someone were to spread malware through our local network, there’s no guarantee Surfshark could stop it. Surfshark will likely detect and get rid of the malware once it’s inside our computer though.

By and large, we picked Surfshark because it doesn’t offer just malware protection. It’s an entire toolkit of useful cybersecurity tools that include a VPN, antivirus software, ad and tracker blocker, online data protection, and more.

>> Related: Surfshark VPN review

3. Norton Antivirus - The Best Cross-Platform Antivirus Software

SecurityScore:

9.5 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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Mobile Device Protection At Its Finest

Norton has long been a trusted antivirus name for computers, but our most recent testing shows that it’s the best option for mobile devices. Smartphones are a treasure trove of personal information, making them a prime target for malware and hacking. So if you’re concerned about smartphone hacking, consider using Norton.

>> Also Read: What To Do When Your Phone Has Been Hacked

In our experience, Norton’s mobile protection provides the best protection against malware. It’s easy to navigate and use, with its scan function available in just a press of a button. If you’re an Android user, there are also widgets that you can use to quickly execute actions.

Norton is also thorough. In an audit by AV-Test in July 2024, Norton detected 100 percent of the latest and most prevalent Android malware at the time. The industry average is 99.9 percent.

It’s also worth noting that Norton’s smartphone apps provide more than just malware protection. Depending on your subscription, you can gain additional features to boost your device’s performance or protect you or family members from other online threats. You can, for example, blacklist websites frequented by online predators to safeguard your kids.

4. Kaspersky Antivirus - The Best Free Antivirus Software (Outside the U.S.)

SecurityScore:

9.1 /10

How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	No
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

Free Antivirus Software, Premium Protection

Even with all the allegations surrounding Kaspersky, we still believe it’s a strong option for detecting malware. We especially recommend it to those who are looking for a free antivirus – outside the U.S., of course.

While Kaspersky offers a number of paid options, we were most impressed by the free software. We used it to hunt down five viruses we purposely hid in our computer and it found them all. For comparison, even the premium antivirus software we paid for didn’t catch all five. McAfee caught just four of five; Norton got three; Surfshark found three as well. And again, we were using Kaspersky’s free software at the time.

We later learned that the free Kaspersky antivirus uses the same virus database as the premium one. It’s just that the paid-for software comes with several protection-enhancing features. It includes access to a VPN, online payment protection, real-time scanning of files, and so on. Those features can go a long way in protecting you online.

Whether you stick to the free version or get a premium subscription, you’ll get top-quality virus protection from Kaspersky.

5. McAfee Antivirus - The Most Complete Cybersecurity Software

SecurityScore:

8.8 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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Multiple Digital Safety Tools In One App

McAfee showed us one of the most comprehensive digital safety tools in the market with its McAfee+ Ultimate package. Besides McAfee’s reputable antivirus software, it included a VPN, password manager, and even identity monitoring – the same identity protection features we see from identity theft protection services. In fact, McAfee is also one of our top-pick identity protection services.

The downside of McAfee is that it isn’t cheap. A one-year subscription costs as much as $199.99 or a little less than $17 per month. But if we do the math, it’s actually affordable. A VPN alone can cost up to $15 per month, while antivirus-only packages cost about $2 to $5 per month. Additionally, identity protection services come at a steep price of about $20 monthly. That’s a total of $37 to $40 per month. See our full McAfee pricing and decide for yourself if it’s worth it.

6. Bitdefender Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Malware Detection

SecurityScore:

8.7 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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Impressive Malware Detection

Remember Kaspersky’s impressive run in detecting malware? It was one of the only two antiviruses we tested that caught all five pieces of malware. The other one was Bitdefender.

What’s most impressive about Bitdefender is that it didn’t have any trouble finding sneaky types of malware. We hid one several folders deep and another inside a .zip archive. Bitdefender found both. Another malware we hid camouflaged as a .pdf file. Bitdefender found it too.

We also loved that Bitdefender has a real-time protection feature. This goes hand-in-hand with its malware detection. Anytime we accessed a file, downloaded something off of the internet, or launched a program, Bitdefender scanned it for malware. Nothing gets past it, which is why it’s our pick for malware detection.

7. Trend Micro Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Web Protection

SecurityScore:

8.6 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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Online Malware Protection

Malware can spread from one device to another by transferring files, plugging in an infected flash drive, or simply connecting to the same local network. But by far, most types of malware come from the internet.

And what do they say? “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Trend Micro lives by those words. Rather than simply eliminating malware once it gets into your device, Trend Micro prevents malware from entering your devices via the internet in the first place. It has a feature called “firewall booster” which complements the built-in firewall of Windows devices. It’s configured to stop botnets, it has an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), and it even lets you manually block incoming or outgoing traffic from certain programs.

That feature coupled with malware detection gives Trend Micro a high chance of blocking off malware and harmful programs.

8. Avast Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Mac

SecurityScore:

8.5 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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User-Friendly Malware Protection for Mac

It’s a common misconception that Macs don’t need antivirus software; they do. The built-in macOS antivirus is far from foolproof, so it’s best supplemented by a third-party antivirus. And if you’re looking for one for your Macbook or iMac, might we recommend Avast?

Avast detects malware well. It provides protection against different types of malware, adware, spyware, and even ransomware. It can also include a VPN – another must-have cybersecurity tool. And in case you haven’t heard, Avast is now part of the same group as Norton, AVG, and Avira. Those are all reputable antivirus brands, and with their malware databases combined, they provide a broad range of protections.

The reason we picked Avast for macOS is the user-experience. Avast’s macOS app is streamlined to the point that it sometimes feels like it was designed specifically for Macs. We didn’t have to deal with complex navigations or cluttered controls – everything was laid out neatly for us in the homescreen. If that’s what you want from your Mac antivirus, then definitely consider Avast.

9. ESET Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Windows

SecurityScore:

8.4 /10

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How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	Yes
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

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Best Protection for Windows

ESET NOD32 and its trademark picture of a human-like robot has been a common sight in Windows computers for decades. And there’s a reason why it’s a preferred Windows antivirus for many (including ourselves). Although NOD32’s features were basic compared to the other security suites offered by ESET, it’s a sturdy and trustworthy antivirus that reliably detected malware, adware, spyware, and ransomware. In fact, in our virus detection test, NOD32 scored a solid four out of five. That’s better than more than half of the other antivirus software we tested. Aside from that, ESET directly integrated a scanning feature into our Windows email apps, namely Live Mail and Outlook. The scan looked for suspicious attachments and prevented us from opening them. Being on the receiving end of countless email chains from co-workers and friends, this was a feature we really appreciated.

10. Vipre Antivirus - The Best Antivirus Software for Android

SecurityScore:

8.3 /10

How We Review

Product Specs

Virus Detection	Yes
Malware Detection	Yes
Firewall	With Advanced Security and Ultimate Security versions
On-demand Scanning	Yes
On-access Scanning	Yes
Behavior-based monitoring	Yes

Android Security Like No Other

Vipre offers antivirus and device security solutions for Windows, Mac, and iOS, but its Android security solution really stood out. Aside from the usual virus protection that Android antivirus apps provide, the Vipre Android Security app included features we typically don’t see in other Android antivirus apps. For starters, the Autopilot feature acted as our security advisor, letting us know of potential weaknesses in our Android settings. The app also allowed us to lock some apps, like our photo gallery, so that only we can access them using our fingerprints. And aside from digital security, Vipre provided our Android phones physical security. The Snap Photo feature, in particular, snapped a front camera picture of anyone who tried and failed to unlock our phones.