A good antivirus program should protect you from all kinds of malware, including worms and Trojan horses. It should also be able detect and stop the spread of potentially unwanted programs which can change your browser settings or fill your screen with advertisements. Some antiviruses that are premium also provide additional features such as dark web monitoring, ID theft alerts and parental controls.
If you’re running Windows Microsoft’s built-in protection against malware, referred to Windows Defender on older computers or Windows Security on more recent machines, does a decent job in keeping your computer safe. However it’s not as quick or efficient in detecting malware as standalone antivirus products that frequently achieve high marks in independent lab tests. It doesn’t include additional security features, such as best antivirus for windows 10 password managers or software for other devices.
The best antivirus for Windows built on malware protection as well as system impact and ease of use It is Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. It is simple to install and run, and scored high in the AV Test labs. It is able to protect one PC for the price of a small amount, however you can have more protection for an additional few dollars with Bitdefender Total Security or Antivirus Plus.
A good antivirus suite that is paid typically bundles in plenty of additional features, like a VPN as well as performance optimization tools and applications for Mac, iOS and Android. But if you’d prefer to simply stick to the basics, Sophos Home Premium offers solid protection against malware and several other features at reasonable prices.