05+ Best Windows antivirus 2020: Using live malware samples, we have tested and evaluated 20 antivirus programs. McAfee Total Protection is the best antivirus software for computers running Windows 10, so it stops threats before they get infected, the minimum amount of system resources you use while running, and the number of extra protections included with this program.
1.Best overall: McAfee Total Protection:
For many years, McAfee appeared in the lowest positions in the cybersecurity ranking. It caused the computers to be slower and many malware managed to transfer it. However, after cutting its ties with Intel in 2017, McAfee has worked hard to be safer while using fewer equipment resources and has earned its rewards. Over the past two years, security testing labs have seen how McAfee has become one of the best in malware detection and protection. This year we have clearly seen how he has managed to get first place.
In addition to achieving a perfect 100 percent in both protection and performance (which analyzes the slowdown it causes on your computer), McAfee has a long list of advanced security tools. This list includes a firewall that prevents hackers, spies and phishing ones from sneaking into your network and expels anyone who tries to steal or take advantage of your internet connection. Your PC Boost analysis analyzes the entire system for any vulnerability. Find outdated programs and help update them, which makes it harder for them to suffer ransomware attacks. Encrypt and save your files in McAfee online backup storage. Its powerful parental controls allow you to manage when and for how long you can stay online and what they have access to in the meantime. Last but not least, McAfee webcam surveillance ensures that there is no software or person with access to your device's camera without your permission.
Due to a large number of features included in McAfee Total Protection, it can be a bit difficult to find some of them in the control panel. It took us a couple of hours of intensive use to familiarize ourselves enough to return to find what we needed on subsequent occasions. Even then, some of them were not located as intuitively as we would like, so we need several attempts to find them. Since most tools are already configured and activated, we didn't have to do much to feel fully protected by McAfee Total Protection.
2.Best Value for Money: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020:
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus offers fantastic protection against viruses that can paralyze the system and other malware, and for the price, Bitdefender is the best. While other antivirus programs offer you a single user license, Bitdefender provides you with three to protect several PCs at the same time. It also includes several advanced protection tools that basic antivirus programs do not usually have, such as VPN, secure banking tools and password manager. During our tests in search of the best antivirus software, Bitdefender consistently stopped threats before they had the opportunity to start the download process, including ransomware, Trojans, and rootkits. When we tried to visit a web page that hosted malicious links and files, Bitdefender normally blocked them and displayed an alert message about what was lurking. He did an excellent job of blocking phishing frames, including those designed to look like social networks and bank login pages. With a couple of threats, Bitdefender wasn't sure if they were totally dangerous, but instead of letting them escape without more, the files were sent to a quarantine folder. This folder allowed us to examine them before allowing Bitdefender to handle them. When Bitdefender stops a threat, it thoroughly cleanses the system to make sure it is clean. Then permanently erase the malware so that it cannot escape and reinfect your computer.
Virus and system scans take a little longer than other antivirus solutions. Most antivirus programs take about five minutes to perform a quick scan and 20 for an in-depth scan. Bitdefender took twice as long. However, Bitdefender does not use many system resources, so you can continue working or playing online without noticing any slowdowns. We were able to upload and download files, send emails, watch videos and play online while Bitdefender scanned our computers. I did not notice any slowdown or interruption by the program.
3.Protection in social networks: VIPRE Advanced Security:
VIPRE Advanced Security is one of my antivirus programs because of how easy it is to use. Its minimal use of computer resources and how quickly it prevents malware from infecting computers are also powerful reasons to recommend it. In my tests for the best antivirus for Windows 10, VIPRE stopped all malware downloads before they had the chance to infect my computers. While doing so, it was running so fast and light that I could barely notice that the antivirus program was installed. Safe browsing is activated from the VIPRE control panel instead of requiring you to install and activate browser extensions. VIPRE also scans your Facebook timeline and lets you know if someone has inserted a malicious link or is trying to access your account.
This program has several extra security tools, such as a firewall, a tool that not many basic antivirus programs include, but it is important to have. Monitor email messages and block links or downloads sent in it. If someone sends you a suspicious message, such as phishing, VIPRE sends a copy of the message to your quarantine folder. There you can open and read messages in a safe space without worrying about anything dangerous that might come out.
The biggest complaint is that VIPRE has a slight learning curve. Although its control panel is not crowded and is a basic antivirus program, finding some of the functions is a bit difficult to locate. We had to relearn where some of the tools were, which are usually found moving down. After a day or two, we catch the quiet.
4.Free security: Avast Free Antivirus:
To be a free program, Avast Antivirus does an excellent job. In our tests for the best antivirus program, we saw that Avast stopped 98 percent of all threats. I had trouble blocking some phishing pages, but the Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware were easily stopped. Avast stops files with malware while downloading and before they have a chance to infect your computer. And if you try to access a dangerous web page, including most phishing pages, Avast displays a warning message, as well as a pop-up.
An impressive aspect of this free program is the number of extra security tools it has. It includes VPN and password managers. We were especially impressed by the in-depth analysis of the system, which looks for all types of vulnerabilities in your computers, such as gaps in browsers and drivers and outdated programs. These are weaknesses for which ransomware and hackers often sneak in, so we always like an antivirus solution to include these functions. Avast has no firewall, but its Wi-Fi monitoring tool monitors that there is no one trying to steal or take advantage of your internet connection.
As it is a free program, you will see many pop-up ads asking you to go to a higher subscription. The Avast Antivirus control panel shows a list of all the tools available in Avast, but clearly marks those that you cannot access. Among these are a personal firewall, a file breaker and webcam monitoring. In addition, we discovered that Avast Free Antivirus uses many system resources, which resulted in test computers running noticeably slower.
5.Lightweight resources: Kaspersky Anti-Virus:
We could see from the first moment that Kaspersky was a very light program. We did not have to wait long for the program to be configured and ready to use. While performing in-depth analysis, we were able to use our computers without noticing any slowdown. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a very basic program without any extra security tools, but even its most advanced applications, such as Kaspersky Internet Security or Total Security, which have several other tools, also do not cause a slowdown in the computer.
One of the functions we like about Kaspersky Anti-Virus is its virtual keyboard. This digital keyboard appears in the browser and allows you to "type" without worrying about keyloggers or other snoopers of the internet that can see what you are typing. This is ideal to protect usernames and passwords when you log in to your online accounts. It is also a good security measure to enter bank account details or credit cards when shopping online.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus's main disadvantage is the blow it received in 2017 when Kaspersky was accused of using its computer protection programs to collect classified information from government teams and filter it to the Russian government. The US government has since ordered all its agencies to remove Kaspersky from their networks and has asked workers not to use it on their personal devices, especially if they do any work from home. Kaspersky's official statement states that "as a private company, Kaspersky Lab has no ties with any government, and the company has never helped or will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage efforts." The German BSI found no evidence that Russian hackers used Kaspersky and the US government. he never imposed sanctions against Kaspersky that would have completely banned their use in the United States, even among private users. In summary, we have no evidence to suggest that Kaspersky is not safe enough for home use.
6.Virus Removal Guarantee: Norton AntiVirus Plus:
Norton Antivirus Plus comes with some extra features that are not normally included in basic antivirus programs, such as a firewall and password manager. Both are essential tools, beyond stopping malicious downloads, to keep your entire computer safe and protect your online identity. The firewall monitors your internet connection to make sure there is no one watching or that no confidential information is being sent. This is a great way to stop hackers and some ransomware threats. The password manager helps you create and save complicated passwords to log in to your online accounts. This makes it harder for Internet crawlers and snoopers to steal your login data, but it also allows you to create passwords that are difficult to hack without having to memorize them.
Another great feature of Norton AntiVirus Plus is access to 2GB of online storage. This is a great way to store confidential documents and files in case your computer becomes infected with ransomware and to hide essential information from hackers. It is also useful for restoring your computer after a virus attack or a system failure.
In our Norton AntiVirus Plus tests, it stopped most of the malicious files we tried to download. We noticed a couple of threats that told us that they were arrested but that they had been completely downloaded. Norton AntiVirus found these threats during an in-depth analysis and took care of them. It was a little disappointing that a couple of threats managed to sneak in, but it also comforted us to see that Norton was able to recognize them and eliminate them later. It is also comforting to know that, if our computers become infected to the point that threats cannot be eliminated, Norton's virus removal guarantee gives us access to its experts to help us clean and restore our system.
7.Perfect protection: Trend Micro Antivirus + Security:
Trend Micro is impressively good at stopping malware threats. In our tests, Trend Micro was just one of two antivirus programs that avoided each and every one of the more than 350 malware samples we use. And he didn't wait for the file to download completely before removing the threat. Instead, it stopped the malware during the download process, so there was no possibility of our computers becoming infected. Trend Micro also prevented us from accessing phishing scams and other dangerous websites known for harboring malicious links, showing us a warning message with information about the threat it was stopping. This is done through reputation technology, which searches for false page signs and quickly marks them as dangerous.
This antivirus program includes Pay Guard, a tool designed specifically to protect your banking transactions and online purchases so that your accounts and your personal, financial or other confidential information are not stolen or tracked. Pay Guard allows you to store credit card numbers and bank accounts in it, so you don't have to take out the card every time you make a purchase online. Something like a password manager stores the keys, so you don't have to remember them. However, Pay Guard has many more protection mechanisms to keep your information safe from being stolen.
Despite how impressed we were with Trend Micro Antivirus + Security, it caused a notable slowdown in our computers while it was installed and produced a lot of lag when performing virus scans. It was frustrating to try to download or upload files or even browse the web because the mouse did not follow our movements. Among the analyzes, the lag was not so serious, but the web pages took longer to load and the apps to open longer.
8.Quick protection: Webroot AntiVirus:
Webroot AntiVirus is impressively fast in stopping threats. Downloads stopped and web pages were blocked before we could blink. And where other antivirus programs reached an average of five minutes to perform in-depth virus scans, Webroot took less than a minute. During live malware tests, it stopped 98 percent of these threats, which is above average for most antivirus programs. And it did not cause any lag or drag on our equipment while it was installed or during the analyzes.
We were impressed to see that Webroot AntiVirus included a personal firewall, an incredibly important tool for the overall security of your computer, but that is not usually included with basic antivirus programs. This firewall monitors your internet connection to make sure there are no hackers, ransomware or other snoopers trying to sneak through Wi-Fi. It also makes sure that your team’s confidential information is not leaking through this connection without your permission. The Webroot firewall also guarantees that no one is trying to steal or take advantage of the internet, which could cause your connection to run slower or deplete the monthly data limit faster.
But, although Webroot is great, we found it a bit difficult to navigate its user control panel. There is a lot of text, and not everything is linked. Several tools are found by clicking on a link that expands. And even then, several tools redirect you to their website, where they show you step by step the process to activate them. Some tools cannot be used from the main landing page; instead, you have to find the settings icon and click on more links and tools. Webroot offers other computer security programs that have more tools available. These also appear in the control panel, but when you click on them you do not have access to their use until you pay for them.
Conclusion: Windows Defender is quite good at preventing many threats from infecting your computer, but according to our tests and those of other third-party laboratories, the results show that it is not infallible. We strongly recommend the installation of another program that helps stop malicious downloads before they have the opportunity to attack your system. We like McAfee Total Protection because of how fast and efficient it is in stopping malware, the small impact it has on the computer, the number of additional security tools it includes and the value for money of the program.
If you don't need all the additions of a complete internet security suite, we suggest you use VIPRE Advanced Security. This antivirus program does not use many resources on your computer, so you will not notice a slowdown, and it does an excellent job to stop malicious downloads. Although it is a basic program, VIPRE includes a personal firewall and a vulnerability scanner, two advanced tools that we personally believe are essential along with malware protection.
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1.Best overall: McAfee Total Protection:
For many years, McAfee appeared in the lowest positions in the cybersecurity ranking. It caused the computers to be slower and many malware managed to transfer it. However, after cutting its ties with Intel in 2017, McAfee has worked hard to be safer while using fewer equipment resources and has earned its rewards. Over the past two years, security testing labs have seen how McAfee has become one of the best in malware detection and protection. This year we have clearly seen how he has managed to get first place.
In addition to achieving a perfect 100 percent in both protection and performance (which analyzes the slowdown it causes on your computer), McAfee has a long list of advanced security tools. This list includes a firewall that prevents hackers, spies and phishing ones from sneaking into your network and expels anyone who tries to steal or take advantage of your internet connection. Your PC Boost analysis analyzes the entire system for any vulnerability. Find outdated programs and help update them, which makes it harder for them to suffer ransomware attacks. Encrypt and save your files in McAfee online backup storage. Its powerful parental controls allow you to manage when and for how long you can stay online and what they have access to in the meantime. Last but not least, McAfee webcam surveillance ensures that there is no software or person with access to your device's camera without your permission.
Due to a large number of features included in McAfee Total Protection, it can be a bit difficult to find some of them in the control panel. It took us a couple of hours of intensive use to familiarize ourselves enough to return to find what we needed on subsequent occasions. Even then, some of them were not located as intuitively as we would like, so we need several attempts to find them. Since most tools are already configured and activated, we didn't have to do much to feel fully protected by McAfee Total Protection.
2.Best Value for Money: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020:
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus offers fantastic protection against viruses that can paralyze the system and other malware, and for the price, Bitdefender is the best. While other antivirus programs offer you a single user license, Bitdefender provides you with three to protect several PCs at the same time. It also includes several advanced protection tools that basic antivirus programs do not usually have, such as VPN, secure banking tools and password manager. During our tests in search of the best antivirus software, Bitdefender consistently stopped threats before they had the opportunity to start the download process, including ransomware, Trojans, and rootkits. When we tried to visit a web page that hosted malicious links and files, Bitdefender normally blocked them and displayed an alert message about what was lurking. He did an excellent job of blocking phishing frames, including those designed to look like social networks and bank login pages. With a couple of threats, Bitdefender wasn't sure if they were totally dangerous, but instead of letting them escape without more, the files were sent to a quarantine folder. This folder allowed us to examine them before allowing Bitdefender to handle them. When Bitdefender stops a threat, it thoroughly cleanses the system to make sure it is clean. Then permanently erase the malware so that it cannot escape and reinfect your computer.
Virus and system scans take a little longer than other antivirus solutions. Most antivirus programs take about five minutes to perform a quick scan and 20 for an in-depth scan. Bitdefender took twice as long. However, Bitdefender does not use many system resources, so you can continue working or playing online without noticing any slowdowns. We were able to upload and download files, send emails, watch videos and play online while Bitdefender scanned our computers. I did not notice any slowdown or interruption by the program.
3.Protection in social networks: VIPRE Advanced Security:
VIPRE Advanced Security is one of my antivirus programs because of how easy it is to use. Its minimal use of computer resources and how quickly it prevents malware from infecting computers are also powerful reasons to recommend it. In my tests for the best antivirus for Windows 10, VIPRE stopped all malware downloads before they had the chance to infect my computers. While doing so, it was running so fast and light that I could barely notice that the antivirus program was installed. Safe browsing is activated from the VIPRE control panel instead of requiring you to install and activate browser extensions. VIPRE also scans your Facebook timeline and lets you know if someone has inserted a malicious link or is trying to access your account.
This program has several extra security tools, such as a firewall, a tool that not many basic antivirus programs include, but it is important to have. Monitor email messages and block links or downloads sent in it. If someone sends you a suspicious message, such as phishing, VIPRE sends a copy of the message to your quarantine folder. There you can open and read messages in a safe space without worrying about anything dangerous that might come out.
The biggest complaint is that VIPRE has a slight learning curve. Although its control panel is not crowded and is a basic antivirus program, finding some of the functions is a bit difficult to locate. We had to relearn where some of the tools were, which are usually found moving down. After a day or two, we catch the quiet.
4.Free security: Avast Free Antivirus:
To be a free program, Avast Antivirus does an excellent job. In our tests for the best antivirus program, we saw that Avast stopped 98 percent of all threats. I had trouble blocking some phishing pages, but the Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware were easily stopped. Avast stops files with malware while downloading and before they have a chance to infect your computer. And if you try to access a dangerous web page, including most phishing pages, Avast displays a warning message, as well as a pop-up.
An impressive aspect of this free program is the number of extra security tools it has. It includes VPN and password managers. We were especially impressed by the in-depth analysis of the system, which looks for all types of vulnerabilities in your computers, such as gaps in browsers and drivers and outdated programs. These are weaknesses for which ransomware and hackers often sneak in, so we always like an antivirus solution to include these functions. Avast has no firewall, but its Wi-Fi monitoring tool monitors that there is no one trying to steal or take advantage of your internet connection.
As it is a free program, you will see many pop-up ads asking you to go to a higher subscription. The Avast Antivirus control panel shows a list of all the tools available in Avast, but clearly marks those that you cannot access. Among these are a personal firewall, a file breaker and webcam monitoring. In addition, we discovered that Avast Free Antivirus uses many system resources, which resulted in test computers running noticeably slower.
5.Lightweight resources: Kaspersky Anti-Virus:
We could see from the first moment that Kaspersky was a very light program. We did not have to wait long for the program to be configured and ready to use. While performing in-depth analysis, we were able to use our computers without noticing any slowdown. Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a very basic program without any extra security tools, but even its most advanced applications, such as Kaspersky Internet Security or Total Security, which have several other tools, also do not cause a slowdown in the computer.
One of the functions we like about Kaspersky Anti-Virus is its virtual keyboard. This digital keyboard appears in the browser and allows you to "type" without worrying about keyloggers or other snoopers of the internet that can see what you are typing. This is ideal to protect usernames and passwords when you log in to your online accounts. It is also a good security measure to enter bank account details or credit cards when shopping online.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus's main disadvantage is the blow it received in 2017 when Kaspersky was accused of using its computer protection programs to collect classified information from government teams and filter it to the Russian government. The US government has since ordered all its agencies to remove Kaspersky from their networks and has asked workers not to use it on their personal devices, especially if they do any work from home. Kaspersky's official statement states that "as a private company, Kaspersky Lab has no ties with any government, and the company has never helped or will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage efforts." The German BSI found no evidence that Russian hackers used Kaspersky and the US government. he never imposed sanctions against Kaspersky that would have completely banned their use in the United States, even among private users. In summary, we have no evidence to suggest that Kaspersky is not safe enough for home use.
6.Virus Removal Guarantee: Norton AntiVirus Plus:
Norton Antivirus Plus comes with some extra features that are not normally included in basic antivirus programs, such as a firewall and password manager. Both are essential tools, beyond stopping malicious downloads, to keep your entire computer safe and protect your online identity. The firewall monitors your internet connection to make sure there is no one watching or that no confidential information is being sent. This is a great way to stop hackers and some ransomware threats. The password manager helps you create and save complicated passwords to log in to your online accounts. This makes it harder for Internet crawlers and snoopers to steal your login data, but it also allows you to create passwords that are difficult to hack without having to memorize them.
Another great feature of Norton AntiVirus Plus is access to 2GB of online storage. This is a great way to store confidential documents and files in case your computer becomes infected with ransomware and to hide essential information from hackers. It is also useful for restoring your computer after a virus attack or a system failure.
In our Norton AntiVirus Plus tests, it stopped most of the malicious files we tried to download. We noticed a couple of threats that told us that they were arrested but that they had been completely downloaded. Norton AntiVirus found these threats during an in-depth analysis and took care of them. It was a little disappointing that a couple of threats managed to sneak in, but it also comforted us to see that Norton was able to recognize them and eliminate them later. It is also comforting to know that, if our computers become infected to the point that threats cannot be eliminated, Norton's virus removal guarantee gives us access to its experts to help us clean and restore our system.
7.Perfect protection: Trend Micro Antivirus + Security:
Trend Micro is impressively good at stopping malware threats. In our tests, Trend Micro was just one of two antivirus programs that avoided each and every one of the more than 350 malware samples we use. And he didn't wait for the file to download completely before removing the threat. Instead, it stopped the malware during the download process, so there was no possibility of our computers becoming infected. Trend Micro also prevented us from accessing phishing scams and other dangerous websites known for harboring malicious links, showing us a warning message with information about the threat it was stopping. This is done through reputation technology, which searches for false page signs and quickly marks them as dangerous.
This antivirus program includes Pay Guard, a tool designed specifically to protect your banking transactions and online purchases so that your accounts and your personal, financial or other confidential information are not stolen or tracked. Pay Guard allows you to store credit card numbers and bank accounts in it, so you don't have to take out the card every time you make a purchase online. Something like a password manager stores the keys, so you don't have to remember them. However, Pay Guard has many more protection mechanisms to keep your information safe from being stolen.
Despite how impressed we were with Trend Micro Antivirus + Security, it caused a notable slowdown in our computers while it was installed and produced a lot of lag when performing virus scans. It was frustrating to try to download or upload files or even browse the web because the mouse did not follow our movements. Among the analyzes, the lag was not so serious, but the web pages took longer to load and the apps to open longer.
8.Quick protection: Webroot AntiVirus:
Webroot AntiVirus is impressively fast in stopping threats. Downloads stopped and web pages were blocked before we could blink. And where other antivirus programs reached an average of five minutes to perform in-depth virus scans, Webroot took less than a minute. During live malware tests, it stopped 98 percent of these threats, which is above average for most antivirus programs. And it did not cause any lag or drag on our equipment while it was installed or during the analyzes.
We were impressed to see that Webroot AntiVirus included a personal firewall, an incredibly important tool for the overall security of your computer, but that is not usually included with basic antivirus programs. This firewall monitors your internet connection to make sure there are no hackers, ransomware or other snoopers trying to sneak through Wi-Fi. It also makes sure that your team’s confidential information is not leaking through this connection without your permission. The Webroot firewall also guarantees that no one is trying to steal or take advantage of the internet, which could cause your connection to run slower or deplete the monthly data limit faster.
But, although Webroot is great, we found it a bit difficult to navigate its user control panel. There is a lot of text, and not everything is linked. Several tools are found by clicking on a link that expands. And even then, several tools redirect you to their website, where they show you step by step the process to activate them. Some tools cannot be used from the main landing page; instead, you have to find the settings icon and click on more links and tools. Webroot offers other computer security programs that have more tools available. These also appear in the control panel, but when you click on them you do not have access to their use until you pay for them.
Conclusion: Windows Defender is quite good at preventing many threats from infecting your computer, but according to our tests and those of other third-party laboratories, the results show that it is not infallible. We strongly recommend the installation of another program that helps stop malicious downloads before they have the opportunity to attack your system. We like McAfee Total Protection because of how fast and efficient it is in stopping malware, the small impact it has on the computer, the number of additional security tools it includes and the value for money of the program.
If you don't need all the additions of a complete internet security suite, we suggest you use VIPRE Advanced Security. This antivirus program does not use many resources on your computer, so you will not notice a slowdown, and it does an excellent job to stop malicious downloads. Although it is a basic program, VIPRE includes a personal firewall and a vulnerability scanner, two advanced tools that we personally believe are essential along with malware protection.
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