Bitdefender, Avast!, and Avira are probably your best bets out of the 8 options considered. 'Fast antivirus' is the primary reason people pick Bitdefender over the competition. Avast Antivirus for Mac is a “free” software program that protects your Mac from viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. The free version doesn’t do much more than allow you to scan for malware that has already made its way into your system.
AVAST FREE FOR MAC DOWNLOAD 2018 BEST ANTIVIRUS Download here: Enjoy! Thumb up if u like it:D. Before Avast is installed, you have the option to include over a dozen different tools: file, behavior, web, and mail shields; software updater, browser cleaner, rescue disk, Wi-Fi inspector, security and SafePrice browser extensions; VPN client; password manager; junk file cleaner; and Game Mode.
These tips from CR's testers will help you find great malware protection—including some that's free
- Avast Security for Mac is free and protects against malware, malicious websites, and vulnerable Wi-Fi connections. For the highest level of protection, get protection against: For the highest level of protection, get protection against.
- Avast Security for Mac is free and protects against malware, malicious websites, and vulnerable Wi-Fi connections. For the highest level of protection, get protection against: For the highest level of protection, get protection against.
In an era when malware is a looming threat to personal computers—not to mention smartphones, routers, and even TVs—the benefits of antivirus software are obvious. But given the wide range of options, it’s tough to choose the one that provides the best protection. Despite constant threats, many people choose to go without any at all.
That’s why we put 30 antivirus programs, including a dozen free offerings, to the test, exposing computers running Windows 10 and macOS to a host of malware samples and malicious websites.
To evaluate the programs’ scam-fighting capabilities, we tossed in 200 phishing web pages, too. These are sites that try to trick consumers into providing sensitive information, such as passwords. And then we looked at how easy each AV program was to use and whether its operation had a negative effect on the computer’s overall performance.
For a full breakdown of the test results, Consumer Reports members can consult our updated ratings. And here are some recommendations and tips based on what we learned.
Finding the Right AV Package
You don’t have to pay for solid AV protection.Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition got high marks from our testers for its ability to stop threats. Avast Free Antivirus 2019 and AVG Free Antivirus 2019 also performed well. The Windows 10 Defender software that comes installed on new Windows computers is not quite as strong as those first three, but it still offers considerable protection.
Paid programs have extra benefits. Shelling out money—generally $60 to $80—does get you a few perks, says Richard Fisco, who heads electronics testing for CR. Case in point: In addition to its top-rated malware-fighting abilities, Bitdefender’s paid version offers a firewall, a spam filter, parental filters, and a password manager. Other paid products provide anti-ransomware features, and email and/or banking protection.
Another benefit? With a paid program, you don’t get peppered with pop-ups asking you to upgrade from the free version, Fisco says. “They can be almost as annoying as adware that pops up on social media and other websites and constantly bugs you to buy something,” he adds.
But opening your wallet does not guarantee you a better product.Malwarebytes Premium, $65, scored lower than Windows Defender without offering any meaningful extras. McAfee AntiVirus Plus, $60, and Panda Dome Advanced, $95, also score lower overall—but they do come with some notable extras, including firewalls.
Yes, Macs need AV, too. Less malware is aimed at Macs than at PCs, but that’s changing, Fisco says. The amount of malware written for Macs continues to rise. And while Windows PCs have Defender built in, Macs don’t come with anything comparable. As a result, Apple fans can’t afford to ignore cyberthreats any longer.
“And if you don’t protect yourself and you get an infected file,” Fisco says, “you can pass that malware on to a friend with a Windows PC.”
Consumer Reports now rates antivirus products for Mac computers. If you’re looking for a free option, we recommend AVG Antivirus for Mac or Avast Free Mac Security. The top paid options include Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, $60, and G Data Antivirus Mac, $55.
Download the software from trusted sites. If you click on a pop-up ad promising free AV protection, you could easily end up with malware on your computer. These ads are a common scam employed by cybercriminals. To be safe, go straight to the source and manually type in the web address for the company that offers the product you want to use.
Recently Tested
Recently Tested Antivirus Software
See our full list of Antivirus Software Ratings
Are you a Windows user who’s wondering what the best antivirus is for Windows 10? It can get confusing; there are many options out there. How can you decide which Windows antivirus to use?
We’re going to use data from AV-TEST to help you make your decision.
1. Windows Defender
Windows Defender isn’t the same proposition as it was a few years ago. The suite once had a reputation for hogging system resources and offering a low standard of protection, but that’s all changed.
Microsoft’s security program now offers some of the best protection in the industry. In the most recent tests available on AV-TEST (for March and April 2019) it scored a 100 percent detection rate against zero-day malware attacks and for “widespread and prevalent malware discovered in the last four weeks” in both months.
Of course, one of Windows Defender’s most significant selling points is its tight integration with the Windows operating system. It’s easy to manage the app’s virus protection, firewall protection, device security, and app security directly from the Windows Settings menu.
Overall, AV-TEST gave the app 6/6 for protection and usability, and 5.5/6 for performance, enough to earn it a “Top Product” designation. It’s quite a turnaround for an app that scored 0.5/6 as recently as 2015.
2. Kaspersky Internet Security
Kaspersky is a well-known name in the online security world. The company offers three antivirus suites—Antivirus, Kaspersky Internet Security, and Security Cloud. All three are among the best internet security apps for Windows 10.
In truth, Kaspersky is another app that’s struggled with performance issues in the past. But, like Windows Defender, those problems are firmly behind it. AV-TEST rated the app as 6/6 across all three of its testing categories.
Indeed, the suite only flagged three false positives in the April 2019 test, despite testing in excess of 1.6 million samples.
The entry-level Antivirus app ($75) only covers desktop PCs. For $20 more, the Internet Security ($79) suite adds mobile support for a minimal extra cost. It is the best option for most users.
3. Malwarebytes Premium
Malwarebytes is another of the best antivirus apps on Windows. The company’s free version program has been popular for years.
However, if you want to enjoy 24/7 real-time protection (rather than being restricted to intermittent manual scans), you need to pay for the premium version. The entry-level plans, which only protects one device, costs $39.99 per year. For the fee, you receive protection against identity theft, ransomware, fraudulent websites, malware, and more.
All the premium features are available for a 14-day trial period on the free version of the app.
4. Bitdefender Internet Security
With a perfect 6/6 for protection, performance, and usability on AV-TEST, Bitdefender Internet Security is unquestionably among the best antivirus apps for Windows.
Avast Security For Mac Download
Like Kaspersky Internet Security, only three false positives were found from a sample size of 1.6 million and had a 100 percent record against both zero-day attacks and existing malware.
There are three different versions of the app available to Windows users: Total Security for $40 (which covers mobile devices), Internet Security for $35 (includes firewall and webcam protection), and Antivirus Plus for $30 (the entry-level paid suite). If you wish, you can purchase the Android and iOS versions of Bitdefender separately.
Other noteworthy features in Bitdefender include multi-layer ransomware protection, network threat prevention, and parental controls.
5. F-Secure SAFE
Another app and another perfect 6/6 across all three categories on AV-TEST.
Avast Download For Mac
Interestingly, although F-Secure SAFE scored 6/6 for performance, it still performed better than both Bitdefender Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security—both of which also scored 6/6.
On a standard PC with an Intel i3-6100 processor, a 256GB hard drive, and 8GB RAM, it only saw a 10 percent drop-off in performance when launching popular websites. In comparison, Kaspersky scored 28 percent and Bitdefender scored 19 percent.
All this tells us that the app probably the best option for anyone who’s running an older, low-power machine.
There’s only one version of F-Secure SAFE available, though the price varies depending on the number of devices you want to protect. The entry-level plan (for three devices) is $69.99 per year. The most expensive package (seven devices) is $109.99.
6. McAfee Internet Security
Best Security For Mac
If you want antivirus protection on Windows, you could also consider checking out McAfee Internet Security.
It scores highly (6/6) on all AV-TEST criteria, finds a low number of false positives, and is not a major resource hog.
Features-wise, McAfee Internet Security offers a full suite of real-time antimalware tools, URL blocking, phishing protection, and vulnerability scans. The latter of those—vulnerability scans—is not a common feature. If it’s important to you, McAfee is a good choice.
7. ESET NOD32
NOD32 has some of the lowest false positive rates, is lightweight, and is consistently near the top of performance charts.
Indeed, many power users used to swear by the holy-trinity of NOD32 (which focuses on system files), Malwarebytes (which focuses on web-based issues), and CCleaner (a PC optimization tool). Unfortunately, CCleaner is no longer a trustworthy app, but it’s still passable for one-off scans.
The three plans cost $40, $50, and $60. The entry-level plan does not include support for personal firewalls and spam filters.
8. Norton Security
No, that’s not a typo—we really are recommending Norton Security as our eighth and final pick.
The Norton suite has an erratic history. There was a time—around the turn of the millennium—when it had a vice-like stranglehold on the antivirus market. The growth of reliable free antimalware products, along with Norton’s ever-growing drain on system resources, saw its popularity decline rapidly over the next decade.
Fast-forward to today, and Norton Security is once again worth considering. AV-TEST gave it 6/6 across all three categories. Amazingly, it only saw an eight percent performance effect on a standard computer when loading popular sites (though its impact when installing frequently used applications was more noticeable at 28 percent).
Norton Security supports malware scans, real-time website ratings, malicious URL blocking, phishing protection, and behavior-based detection.
The four Norton Security plans cost between $40 and $100 per year, depending on the extra features you need.
What About Free Antivirus Software?
Some of the third-party free antivirus suites on the market are adequate, though their protections scores on AV-TEST are—on average—not as good as the paid options. Furthermore, the majority use considerably more resources than Windows Defender, not to mention the persistent and annoying nag screens.
If you can’t/won’t spend money on a paid antivirus solution, stick with the free Microsoft app.
To learn more about antivirus suites across all your devices, check out our articles on the best free antivirus software and the different types of antivirus scans.
And if you want to test out your antivirus software5 Ways to Safely Test Your Antivirus Software5 Ways to Safely Test Your Antivirus SoftwareIs your antivirus software secure and effective? Here's how to test it and see for yourself.Read More, check out how to do it safely.
Explore more about: Anti-Malware, Antivirus, Computer Security, Online Security, Windows 10.
What might be of interest to readers is the actual country of origin for the reviewed software. Quite frankly, I would not be interested in any software from certain countries. China comes to mind.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
What about AVG? Is it so bad that it's even not worth testing, let alone mentioning it?
Well, only few of them are really worth trying. Kaspersky, Eset Nod32, Norton (so-so). Others are kinda trash, especially Windows Defender that on my tests did no see about 65% of modern threats. I would stick to my avast that is pretty good by performance and also detection rate (but is a bit annoying with it's ads if you use a free version).
I've tried all of those and I will stick with my Comodo
Yikes. No webroot?