2. Bitdefender offers the best value in antivirus software (opens in new tab)Bitdefender Antivirus Plus combines great malware protection with an assortment of useful features and an easy-to-use interface, all at a very affordable price.
Unlike some of the other best antivirus software makers, Norton doesn't offer a file shredder, file encryption or secure web browser with any of its products. Yet every other digital-protection service you could possibly ask for is included with at least some of its bundles.
Bitdefender has the best antivirus for 2020 and you can get a discount now
Download Zip: https://lustvifracmu.blogspot.com/?lg=2vDwV9
The premium antivirus suite, Kaspersky Total Security (19.99 UK/$44.99 US), adds backup software, parental controls, file encryption, a file shredder and an unlimited password manager. We think it's the best antivirus software you can buy today.
However, none of Trend Micro's programs include a two-way firewall or webcam protection, standard with other brands' midrange offerings. Nor does the premium product have the cloud storage or backup software that some of the best antivirus brands add as enticements to their flagship packages.
A merger between Avast and AVG created a combined malware-detection engine that is much better than the sum of its parts. Likewise, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is now one of the best free antivirus programs out there and it comes built-in with both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
That's too bad, because Kaspersky Security Cloud Free is the best free antivirus product we've ever tested. We've never seen such a combination of excellent protection and extra features in a free antivirus program.
It's the best free antivirus software if you want a security solution that you can set up and then forget about. It's also perfect if you need to protect the computer of an elderly relative but don't have time to manage antivirus software from afar.
Avast Free Antivirus has the best assortment of extra goodies of any free antivirus program, including a hardened browser, a gaming mode, a Wi-Fi network scanner and a recently added ransomware shield. (Unfortunately, the unlimited password manager has been discontinued.)
Absolute power in the best antivirus solution available today. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus works against all e-threats, from viruses, worms and Trojans, to ransomware, zero-day exploits, rootkits and spyware. Your data and privacy are safe.
So how do you know which antivirus products offer the best security, the best malware protection, and the best value? I compared the top antiviruses on the market and ranked them on security, functionality, speed, and price.
The best paid antiviruses, on the other hand, include all of these features, plus many other extras (like password managers, parental controls, and system optimization tools). Premium antiviruses like Norton also include multi-device coverage across all major operating systems so you can protect all of the devices in your household.
However, most top antivirus brands regularly run special promotional offers, significantly reducing their price per subscription (for example, Norton is currently offering a 54% discount, so its plans start at just $19.99 / year).
In short, our recommendations are here as firm guidance, but modify these appropriately based on your individual requirements. For more thoughts on this, check out our article exploring how to choose the best antivirus.
The good news is that the best antivirus products are getting cheaper and cheaper to purchase, and free products are getting more and more effective... just take a look at how well we rank Microsoft Defender these days!
Worried about your multitude of devices being infected with a virus? Or maybe even something worse? Fear not, as we've dug in deep and intensively tested the best antivirus providers available today and come up with a definitive list of the absolute greatest.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 1 year $39.99 $19.99 50% off (opens in new tab)Not only is this one of the cheapest deals, it's coming from the world's best antivirus provider. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus comes with the added bonus of a VPN and Safepay as well as boasting multi-layer ransomware protection. A fantastic price, for a fully-featured antivirus.
We saw a lot more thought pieces coming out last year suggesting that the time was at an end to pay for your antivirus software. And while we generally disagree with that notion, Microsoft Defender is probably the best argument in its favor.
In truth, Avira is probably best known for its Avira Free antivirus option (opens in new tab) (which is among the best out there - see further down this page), but its premium packages should not be sniffed at.
Each entry in this list has been carefully chosen for its business features, such as remote installation and central management. The best business antivirus software will have enterprise-level protection against threats, but that doesn't mean they have to cost a lot of money, either. The price per installation can sometimes be cheaper than even our recommended best antivirus packages.
Mike is a lead security reviewer at Future, where he stress-tests VPNs, antivirus and more to find out which services are sure to keep you safe, and which are best avoided. Mike began his career as a lead software developer in the engineering world, where his creations were used by big-name companies from Rolls Royce to British Nuclear Fuels and British Aerospace. The early PC viruses caught Mike's attention, and he developed an interest in analyzing malware, and learning the low-level technical details of how Windows and network security work under the hood.","contributorText":"With contributions from","contributors":["name":"Daryl Baxter","role":"Software & Downloads Writer","link":"href":"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/author\/daryl-baxter","name":"Adam Zeis","role":"Editorial Director - High Yield","link":"href":"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/author\/adam-zeis"]}; var triggerHydrate = function() window.sliceComponents.authorBio.hydrate(data, componentContainer); var triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate = function() var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = ' -8-2/authorBio.js'; script.async = true; script.id = 'vanilla-slice-authorBio-component-script'; script.onload = () => window.sliceComponents.authorBio = authorBio; triggerHydrate(); ; document.head.append(script); if (window.lazyObserveElement) window.lazyObserveElement(componentContainer, triggerScriptLoadThenHydrate); else triggerHydrate(); } }).catch(err => console.log('Hydration Script has failed for authorBio Slice', err)); }).catch(err => console.log('Externals script failed to load', err));Mike WilliamsSocial Links NavigationLead security reviewerMike is a lead security reviewer at Future, where he stress-tests VPNs, antivirus and more to find out which services are sure to keep you safe, and which are best avoided. Mike began his career as a lead software developer in the engineering world, where his creations were used by big-name companies from Rolls Royce to British Nuclear Fuels and British Aerospace. The early PC viruses caught Mike's attention, and he developed an interest in analyzing malware, and learning the low-level technical details of how Windows and network security work under the hood.
after all bitdefender has very good reviews and I thought was the best out there, this is my 3rd year of having this antivirus and will be my last, no loyalty bonus or anything, they just rip off as much as possible without telling you....?
Although at their core both paid and free antivirus programs do the same thing, it is worth noting that there are some key differences.\u00a0\nFree antivirus software lets you perform scheduled and on-demand scans of your hard drive, to detect and remove computer viruses and other malware. A paid service goes a step further by also performing active real-time scanning of all downloads and incoming data packets.\nThis additional protection provides greater levels of security because it enforces proactive protection against threats, rather than reactive (removal) of exploits as and when they are found on your machine.\u00a0\nPaid antivirus software also often includes various other advanced security features as part of a security suite. This includes things like parental controls, safe search, email scanning, password management, cloud backups, dark web protection, and more.\nAll that said, free antivirus is always better than no antivirus and Bitdefender actually offers one of the best free antivirus products on the market.","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/"}},"@type":"Question","name":"How do I uninstall Norton or Bitdefender?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"You might decide it's time to switch to a different product, or maybe your new PC came loaded with an antivirus product you don't want. If you want to change your antivirus or reinstall it, you can easily remove it by using Windows\u2019 native uninstaller tool. To use it, head to the Control Panel and click on Programs and Features. Now, search in the list of available programs for either Norton or Bitdefender.\u00a0\nOnce you have located your antivirus, right-click on it and choose to uninstall. The uninstaller will now launch. All you must do is follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove the antivirus and all of its components. You may be asked to restart your computer for the changes to take full effect.\nIf you want to remove Norton or Bitdefender on a Mac computer, head to the Application folder, locate the applicable removal tool for your antivirus and launch it. Now follow the instructions to remove the antivirus from your Mac. ","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"Do I need a VPN?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Antivirus software does a completely different job to a VPN. If you want robust online security and privacy, you must use a VPN and an antivirus.\u00a0\nAntivirus software is designed to scan your machine\u2019s hard drive for potentially malicious programs, viruses, worms, and other malware. A good antivirus also scans all incoming traffic to prevent you from downloading anything malicious.\u00a0\nA VPN, on the other hand, provides you with online privacy by encrypting all of your web traffic and tunneling to a remote VPN server location. This prevents local network administrators, wifi-hotspot providers, Internet Service Providers, and government snoops from being able to monitor your web browsing habits.\u00a0\nA VPN also prevents the websites you visit from tracking your home IP address. This allows you to get an IP address remotely to bypass network restrictions, censorship, and regional content blocks.\u00a0\nNorton and Bitdefender now include a VPN as part of their premium offerings, but you may find it\u2019s not as capable as a standalone product. For example, many of the VPNs listed here, have additional capabilities like being able to access Netflix USA and BBC iPlayer while abroad. ","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"Can I use Norton and Bitdefender together?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"The answer to this question is a resounding NO \u2013 using multiple antivirus solutions simultaneously can easily create a conflict that could compromise the security of your system. It may cause severe issues like crashing, freezing, or permanent data corruption!\u00a0\nToday's computer users are bombarded with threats from every side: malicious viruses and trojans, ransomware that locks up important files, malware-laden phishing emails, and more. A reliable antivirus solution is essential to protect your computer and data from such dangers. You may be tempted to layer two different antivirus solutions to double up on the security they provide; however, this kind of double protection often backfires badly.\u00a0\nTwo separate programs don't always play nice together in one operating system. The two software packages are likely to send conflicting signals, making it hard for both programs to do their job correctly as they try to outdo each other - sometimes with disastrous results. A software conflict caused by dual-antivirus setups can lead to errors like slowdowns, random shutoffs or restarts, program freezes, or fatal crashing of the entire system.\u00a0\nIn some cases, these conflicts have been known even to cause permanent corruption of files stored on the system's hard drive! That's why it's best not to go there at all - you should never use two antivirus programs together on a single computer. In other words: Stick with one trusted solution and don't try combining them with another one!","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"Is Bitdefender safe?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"When it comes to online safety, the answer is most definitely yes - Bitdefender is one of the safest and most effective antivirus and internet security solutions around! It has earned itself consistently high ratings from users and independent testing labs, so you can rest assured that your device will be well-protected when using Bitdefender. In addition, with its AI-enhanced virus scanning capabilities, real-time threat detection, secure browsing tools, parental controls, password manager, and more...you can enjoy maximum protection for your computer with minimal hassle!","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"Why is malware so dangerous?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Malware is an ever-present threat to your computer's security, privacy, and performance. It can cause severe damage to your device and compromise your data; some types even go as far as destroying computers or networks. Other malicious programs secretly steal confidential information such as passwords or credit card numbers for financial gain.\nPeople often underestimate the extent of malware's damage, believing that anti-virus software is enough to keep their devices safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case - many different kinds of malware exist, and no single solution can protect you from all of them. To ensure optimal online safety, it's best to use a combination of robust security practices and reliable anti-malware solutions.\nSo what should you do? Start by familiarizing yourself with the latest online threats and security news. Then, avoid suspicious websites and links (especially those sent via email), keep your software up-to-date, enable firewalls when using public Wi-Fi connections, use strong passwords on all accounts, and turn on two-factor authentication wherever possible...these are just a few measures you can take to help protect yourself from malware attacks.\nBy taking proactive steps to stay secure online, you can prevent many nasty infections before they happen!","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"What types of malware does Norton protect against?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Norton Antivirus protects users from many malware threats, including viruses, spyware, ransomware, Trojans, rootkits, worms, adware, and other malicious programs. It also provides real-time protection against new and emerging threats by scanning files for suspicious activity. Furthermore, Norton's cloud-based anti-spam engine prevents spam emails from cluttering your inbox. In addition to these features, Norton offers web protection which blocks access to malicious websites and phishing scams. Finally, the product includes automatic downloads of regular definition updates to ensure that you are always protected against the latest threats. With all these security protections in place, Norton will keep you safe online so you can browse the Internet with peace of mind.","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/","@type":"Question","name":"Do I need to use an antivirus on my Firestick?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":"@type":"Answer","text":"Sure, why not? If you want to keep your Firestick safe and secure, using an antivirus is a good idea. After all, nobody likes viruses - the kind on your device, that is!\nWith Bitdefender's AI-enhanced virus scanning capabilities, real-time threat detection, secure browsing tools and more, your Firestick will be well-protected with minimal effort on your part. So go ahead and don't let any malicious programs spoil your streaming experience - install an antivirus and stay safe online!","author":"@type":"Person","name":"Craig McCart","description":"Craig McCart is a content writer and copywriter with 10+ years of experience working in cybersecurity in a corporate VPN environment. Since working for Comparitech, he's taken all of his experience and applied his knowledge to provide enjoyable and educational content.\nCraig researches the latest cybersecurity trends in an ever-changing landscape to provide VPN guides, comparisons, and reviews that are easy for readers to consume.\nWhen he's taking a break from being a Comparitech word-wizard, he spends time playing games with his baby (his power-hungry gaming PC).\nHis typical go-to titles are God of War, New World, and the occasional Metal Gear Solid speedrun (the best game ever, in his opinion).\nWhen he's not gaming, he's with his family (with actual non-gaming computer babies!), enjoying days out and the occasional trip abroad.\n","url":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/author\/craigmccart\/"]} "@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":["@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/","@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Antivirus","item":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/antivirus\/","@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Norton v Bitdefender ","item":"https:\/\/www.comparitech.com\/antivirus\/norton-vs-bitdefender\/"]AntivirusNorton v Bitdefender We are funded by our readers and may receive a commission when you buy using links on our site. Norton vs Bitdefender: Which is best? Norton vs Bitdefender - which of these antivirus products offers the best malware protection, performance and value for money? Let's find out... Steve Adams 15+ years experience in the tech, privacy and security space UPDATED: February 9, 2023 body.single .section.main-content.sidebar-active .col.grid-item.sidebar.span_1_of_3 float: right; body.single .section.main-content.sidebar-active .col.grid-item.content.span_2_of_3 margin-left: 0; 2ff7e9595c
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