You can protect yourself from malware when you keep your software current make sure you use secure passwords and stay away from suspicious links in online messages and apps. But you still need antivirus protection and it’s a great idea to choose a product that also monitors other forms of digital threats, including ransomware and spyware, phishing bots and rogue apps. The best antivirus software will protect you from these dangers as well as safeguarding your security, preventing sensitive data loss and ensuring hackers can’t gain remote access to your phone or computer.

Microsoft Defender is a free program that is included with every Windows PC starting with Windows 8. It doesn’t perform well in independent lab tests however it’s very easy to use and virtually invisible while running, only occasionally it will announce itself with a brief message or alert. ESET Cyber Security Pro, for instance, comes with numerous preferences options that let you alter the behavior of the program. It is also less intrusive with regards to background performance.

AVG Internet Security is a solid free antivirus that’s been upgraded https://www.chatabate.org with a user friendly interface and reasonable costs ($60 for 10 devices in the initial year). It’s worth recommending as it is a small addition to AVG’s free antivirus. The Essential version covers malware, ransomware and phishing attacks. The Premium version includes additional features such as an account manager for passwords and an VPN for your Mac. The AV-Comparatives test gave all versions high marks for security however, they scored very low marks for the impact on performance of PCs.