Best Antivirus Software and Apps 2016
Best Antivirus Software and Apps 2016
Many Windows users believe they don't need to pay for antivirus software, and most Mac and Android users think they don't need protection at all. It's true that Windows' much higher profile makes it the biggest target, but OS X and Android are just as vulnerable to malware.
It's worth paying for Windows antivirus software, because even the best free software leaves out features we consider essential. (Many antivirus products are sold online for much less than their list prices.) Mac and Android users have other options; our favorite Mac AV product costs nothing, and most Android security apps have free versions.
How We Tested
Our evaluations were based on a number of different criteria: interface, performance, protection and extra features. Was the product's interface intuitive and user-friendly, or did it make it too hard to find important tools? How much did scans slow down the computer's performance? How good was the program at detecting and removing malware? Does the program have any additional tools, and are they useful?
All of our tests were performed on the same Asus X555LA laptop running 64-bit Windows 8.1, with an Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive containing 36GB of files. To assess a program's impact on system speed, we used our custom OpenOffice benchmark test, which matches 20,000 names and addresses on a spreadsheet. The longer it took the laptop to finish the test, the heavier the performance impact.
For malware-detection scores, we turned to two independent testing labs, AV-TEST of Germany and AV-Comparatives of Austria. Each lab regularly subjects the major antivirus brands' flagship products to stress tests involving hundreds of previously unseen pieces of malware, with AV-TEST adding 20,000 instances of known malware. We used AV-TEST's results from the second half of 2015 and AV-Comparatives' evaluations from September and October 2015.
Windows Antivirus Software Types
Most antivirus makers have three tiers of Windows products, with each price bump adding extra features, such as child protection or cloud backups. But since each company uses a single malware-detection engine for all its Windows antivirus software, the cheapest item in any product line usually finds malware just as thoroughly as the priciest.
Not all users will need premium suites, or even midrange products. If you don't have kids, or if you already have cloud storage, the basic product may be enough.
Basic or Entry-Level Windows Antivirus
The least-expensive paid Windows antivirus products, which generally list from $40 to $60 per year depending on the number of PCs covered, have the essentials. Definition updates and scans are automatic; websites and email attachments are screened, and the products should be easy to use. Some basic AV programs toss in extra features, such as file shredders or system optimizers, that are normally found in pricier products.
BITDEFENDER ANTIVIRUS PLUS 2016
Best Basic Antivirus Product
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2016 is our Editor's Choice for a basic Windows antivirus programs. Not only does it have nearly perfect malware-detection scores, but it also offers the most value, with a strong selection of extra tools. You'll find a built-in password manager, a secure browser, unique protection against encrypting ransomware and automatic profiles that optimize Bitdefender's impact on your system, depending on whether you're working, watching a movie or playing a game.
Midpriced Windows Antivirus
These products list from $60 to $80 per year. They generally build on the basic packages by bundling in parental controls and a two-way firewall to catch outgoing data, although many add other features. But for the full feature set, you'll have to pony up for the premium products.
BITDEFENDER INTERNET SECURITY
Best Midrange Antivirus Product
Bitdefender Internet Security has the best malware-detection rate and the lowest system impact of the midrange products we reviewed. It also has the most useful set of extras, including a password manager, file shredder, secure browser and protection against encrypting ransomware.
Premium Windows Antivirus
Top-tier packages are often called suites because they do much more than catch malware. They might also have file encryption, secure online storage, a password manager or an ad blocker. As most cover multiple devices, they also frequently bundle in Mac and Android protection. For all this, you're meant to pay between $80 and $100 per year — but as with all paid antivirus software, discounts can often be found online.
KASPERSKY TOTAL SECURITY
Best Premium PC Security Suite
Kaspersky Total Security has it all for those who are looking for more than just excellent malware detection. After testing six premium suites, this one rose to the top because it eliminates threats without annoying false positives. We also like the included secure browser, which is ideal for online banking and shopping. Other highlights include a seriously secure file shredder, Windows backup and recovery software and even webcam protection.
Free Windows Antivirus
Free Windows antivirus products usually offer only bare-bones protection. Malware updates and scans must often be manually initiated, and there's little protection against malicious websites or email attachments. We can recommend some free Windows antivirus software, but don't rely on Microsoft's own products (Windows Defender/Microsoft Security Essentials). They simply don't catch enough malware.
AVIRA FREE ANTIVIRUS
Best Free PC Antivirus
Free Windows antivirus products can't match paid protection, but Avira Free Antivirus comes close. It detects malware as well as most paid products, and has child protection and a scan scheduler. (It doesn't scan email attachments or Web links.) Best of all, Avira doesn't constantly nag you to upgrade to its paid version.
Mac Antivirus
Despite what Apple's marketing has historically implied, Macs do get infected, and the amount of Mac malware has risen with Apple's share of the personal computer market. But there's less money in the Mac antivirus market, and the products are less standardized. Some Mac antivirus products are free, and some are paid: Of the products we evaluated, two of the top three were free. With that kind of recommendation, there's no reason for you not to run antivirus software on your Mac.
AVIRA FREE MAC SECURITY
Best Mac Antivirus
Our top Mac antivirus product is absolutely free. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac offers scheduled scans, an easy-to-use interface and, most important, flawless protection against malware. Avira does have a heavier system load during scans than some other products, but if you want the best while spending the least, look no further.
Android Antivirus Apps
Every Android device, whether smartphone, tablet or TV stick, should have antivirus software. Usually, that software comes with an all-encompassing security app that also includes anti-theft and remote-locating features.
The free versions of the Android security apps we reviewed are pretty solid. The paid versions, which cost between $15 and $30 per year, range from being just a bit better to becoming practically separate products, with a wide range of capabilities. For example, Avast Mobile Security offers geofencing and, for rooted phones, a firewall. You'll have to decide what you need and select accordingly.
AVAST! MOBILE SECURITY & ANTIVIRUS
Best Android Antivirus
This product's anti-malware protection is nearly perfect, but it was the breadth and scope of the extra features in Avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus that blew us away. The app's free version alone is as comprehensive as some other security apps' paid versions, and Avast's premium version ($15 per year) includes everything from a privacy adviser to a customizable blacklist, and even has options for rooted phones. The app almost does too much, but the well-organized interface and support keep it user-friendly. Overall, Avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus is our favorite Android security app.
How We Rate Antivirus Software
We evaluate antivirus software on three criteria: ease of installation and use, based on the reviewer's own experience; system impact, based on standardized benchmark tests; and malware detection, for which we use independent lab AV-TEST's periodic and detailed analyses. Malware detection is the most important factor, but we won't recommend a product if it's impossible to use or drastically slows down a computer or Android device.
We spend three to four hours testing and analyzing each piece of Windows antivirus software. For Android, the process takes an hour for each app.
Best Antivirus Software and Apps 2016
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