G2A.COM G2A News Features Everything you need to know about antivirus software and which one to pick best
The rapid expansion of the Internet brings with itself not only the access to information of virtually every topic but also its own selection of security threats. We’ve previously covered the topic of VPNs: the reasons why it might be wise to use one and provided a list of some of the best VPNs on the market. Now the time has come to cover the basic-level protection: antivirus software, your first line of defense.
The core function of antiviruses is protecting your devices of choice against malicious software, or ‘malware’, of which there are many different types.
There are many more types of malware, of course, but these two have immediately noticeable effects.
The Best Antivirus Protection for 2019
Buy now
Although there is a large number of choices on the antivirus market, the leaders share a certain number of traits which can be quantified quite reliably.
It would appear that by these features it would be easy to spot the single best antivirus software, but this isn’t the case. Things tend to change from month to month, and although certain leaders in the field can be designated, the positions on the list are usually in flux.
For fairness’ sake, we’re going to present them in alphabetical order.
Avast is one of the oldest antiviruses out there and has been a solid choice for many users since the late 1980s. It does its job without any complications and doesn’t bother the user with notifications, automatically turning on the “Gamer Mode” when you start playing and turning off some non-essential features in order not to consume your device’s processing power. Year after year Avast is close to the top.
Notable features: Sandbox, an isolated environment to test apps; active phishing protection; network protection (features depends on the type of software version)
Avast Pro Antivirus 3 Devices 1 Year PC
Buy now!
Avira’s antivirus software has been around since 1986, and over the years it has stayed close to the higher echelons of malware protection. It offers customizable installation, letting you pick and choose the modules you want or need, limited access to Phantom VPN service with a good choice of servers, and a number of privacy protections.
Avira Antivirus Pro 1 User 1 Year
BitDefender is regularly among the best antiviruses around, with frequent visits to the very top ranks. It ranges from the more basic AV software (Antivirus Plus) to complete suites (Total Security) featuring virtually everything you might not even realize you need or want. The question is how many extra features beyond antivirus do you need and how much do you want to shell out.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 1 Device 1 Year
F-Secure is a relatively less known antivirus, but undeservedly so, because it works really well. It can establish its own firewall to screen your internet connection for intrusion on its own, can be set up to scan all devices connected to your PC for threats, and has a tight quarantine for any discovered malware.
Kaspersky is one of the names that most people think of first when somebody asks what antiviruses they know. It’s been around, and with high profile, long enough to become a household name in its own right.
With good reason, too. Kaspersky is a mighty beast. Between being able to recover files damaged by malware which managed to sneak by, and boasting a really effective behavioral detection for unknown malware, it can set up a wall of defenses hard to penetrate by any malicious bits of code. Notable features: Sandbox, an isolated environment to test apps; active phishing protection; network protection (features depends on the type of software version)
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2021 3 Device 12 Months Key
Although many antiviruses are available as a completely free plan, it’s not necessarily a good idea to rely on them for extended periods of time. Although they typically feature the same antivirus protection as their paid variants, that’s frequently where their scope ends. It varies from product to product, of course, but the more advanced features like browser plugins, VPNs, or ransomware guards are often understandably absent. There’s also the fact that the free antiviruses don’t include extras like password managers and other bonuses which, while not crucial to the immediate safety from malware, improve your experience nonetheless.