The best antivirus software 2022: Free antivirus and paid options tested

1

Norton 360 Deluxe

Our top choice is Norton 360 Deluxe, which offers excellent malware protection and a ton of extra features, including unlimited VPN service and LifeLock identity protection. Right behind that is the entry-level Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the best bargain in antivirus software.

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Our top choice is Norton 360 Deluxe, which offers excellent malware protection and a ton of extra features, including unlimited VPN service and LifeLock identity protection. Right behind that is the entry-level Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the best bargain in antivirus software.

3

Kaspersky Total Security

Kaspersky Total Security also offers top-notch malware protection, a full complement of extra features and an easy-to-use interface. But given the war in Ukraine, we've stopped doing business with Russian companies. You can still download and use Kaspersky software if you choose.

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Despite that, the entry-level McAfee AntiVirus Plus is a bargain: $60 per year buys software for up to 10 (in practice, unlimited) devices, whether they run Windows, macOS, iOS or Android, and the software comes with a file shredder and a two-way firewall.

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5

Trend Micro

Trend Micro Maximum Security adds a password manager, a secure browser and file encryption, while the new Trend Micro Premium Security adds a VPN and dark-web monitoring of personal data.

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6

ESET Smart Security

The top-billed ESET Smart Security Premium tosses in file encryption and a password manager. However, there's no VPN client, backup software or file shredder.

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7

Sophos Home

What Sophos Home Premium does have is the essentials: ransomware rollbacks, webcam defenses and protection against keyloggers, malicious websites and boot-sector and fileless malware. It also has a web-filter system for parents and an online management console from which you can tweak most of the settings.

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8

Windows Defender

Microsoft's built-in antivirus software is now a heavy hitter. While Windows Defender, aka Microsoft Defender Antivirus, doesn't quite beat Norton or Kaspersky in malware-protection lab tests, it comes out ahead of Avast, AVG and most other free antivirus products while operating almost entirely behind the scenes.

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9

Kaspersky Security Cloud

We still recommend going for Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, which has even less of a system impact, better malware protection and more useful extras, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with using Windows Defender as your primary antivirus solution.

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10

Bitdefender Antivirus

Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition offers nothing but the basics. There's no password manager, no gaming mode, no quick scans and no scan scheduling. You can manage the software from the program's System Tray icon, but you don't really need to interact with Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition after its installation.

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11

Avast! Free Antivirus

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12

AVG AntiVirus FREE

But AVG AntiVirus Free also has far fewer useful extra features than Avast Free Antivirus. While the latter is almost a free security suite with lots of bells and whistles, AVG AntiVirus Free is the quiet, neglected child that gets the hand-me-downs.

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13

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes Free, formerly called Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, is not antivirus software. Instead, it's a very useful malware-removal tool.

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