A quality antivirus program should protect you from all kinds of malware such as worms and Trojan horses. It should also identify and stop the spread of potentially harmful programs, that could alter your browser settings or flood your screen with ads. Certain premium antiviruses provide additional features, such as dark web monitoring, ID-theft alerts, and parental control.
If you’re running Windows, Microsoft’s built in malware protection, also known as Windows Defender on older machines or Windows Security on more recent machines, does a decent job in keeping your computer safe. However, it’s not as fast or efficient at detecting malware as standalone antivirus brands that consistently achieve high marks in independent lab tests. It also doesn’t come with any additional security features like password management or software for other devices.
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is the most effective antivirus for Windows built on the principle of malware prevention impact on the system, as well as user-friendliness. It is simple to install and run, and scored high in the AV Test labs. It protects one PC at a reasonable price, but you can get broader protection for a few dollars more with Bitdefender Total Security or Antivirus Plus.
A quality paid antivirus suite usually comes with a range of extras. This can include a VPN, performance-optimization tools, and software for Mac OS, iOS, and Android. However, if you’d rather just stick with the basics, Sophos Home Premium offers strong malware protection and some extra features at an hop over to this site affordable price.