The 4 Best Antivirus Programs for Windows

You have realised that you need to improve the security of your computer, but you are not sure how? Today we present our four best antivirus programs for Windows to help you decide.

In the summer, we usually have more free time, during which we tend to consume content on the internet that sometimes has a dubious origin: music, films, series, video games, and more.

A computer virus can lurk in any file, no matter how harmless it looks. Can you identify it? Probably not, but there are tools and programs that can help. Of course, it is nothing new to say that investing in the best possible virus protection is the first step to protecting yourself online. If you want to learn more about threats, read our post on the most harmful computer viruses.

What has changed in recent years is the way so-called viruses behave and what they actually target. They come in all shapes and sizes, but malware, ransomware, and Trojans are usually designed to steal your data or damage your system so badly that you have to pay a high price to reverse the effects.

Fortunately, the four best Windows antivirus programs combine solid protection and additional features to keep you safe from scams and threats, and they are all very easy to install and use.

Here are the best Windows antivirus programs, one by one:

1) Norton AntiVirus

Norton AntiVirus is an excellent antivirus product from the security company now known as NortonLifeLock. The main attraction is the sheer number of features it offers, even with the basic antivirus product, not to mention their quality.

These include a genuinely useful intelligent firewall that is a great help in monitoring your system, as well as some very comprehensive browser protections to keep you safe on the internet.

There are also extras you do not usually get with other antivirus programs, including a backup tool with 2 GB of online storage and some PC maintenance utilities.
The core antivirus functions of the package are solid, as independent test lab reports confirm. One small disappointment, however, is that Norton can consume a fair amount of system resources.

In addition, Norton came last in AV-Comparatives' performance rating, which is surprising and disappointing, as Norton performed very well in this area in previous years.

Still, you are unlikely to notice much of a performance slowdown under normal operating conditions, and for the price, you get a solid package of features with both versions.

If you want more, NortonLifeLock offers a range of higher-end suites. Norton 360 Standard adds extra features such as a fully integrated VPN service, more storage for backups (10 GB), and dark web monitoring (available in select countries, including the US and UK). There are also powerful mobile apps for Android and iOS.

You can find more information on the manufacturer's website. For all these reasons and more, it is one of the best antivirus programs for Windows. You can buy a Norton licence at the best price here.

2) Kaspersky Antivirus

Kaspersky Antivirus is this company's entry-level offering for Windows PCs and provides protection for up to 10 computers. It does not have as many features as other products on this list, but Kaspersky focuses on the essentials of security and does it very well.

The core antivirus functions are very good, and Kaspersky ranks at or near the top in all recent reports from the main independent test labs. This is good news, as it is very efficient against ransomware, removing even unknown threats almost immediately and recovering the few files that were affected by the attack. Kaspersky also benefits from some clever self-protection routines.

Kaspersky has not introduced many new features recently, so one of its drawbacks is a lack of extras. Some of the additional functions are not very useful either. Kaspersky's various "wizards" leave much to be desired, and the browser settings wizard only supports Internet Explorer (not even Edge, let alone Chrome, by far the most popular browser).

A VPN is included, but it is very limited (no choice of location and a daily quota of 200 MB), although it could be useful in a pinch.

The good news is that the larger suites offer more interesting extras. Kaspersky Internet Security has an intelligent firewall (which hardly bothers you with prompts), a secure browser, and protection for Mac, Android, and iOS mobile devices.

Kaspersky Total Security adds other features such as intelligent parental controls, a comprehensive password manager, and automatic local backups (or Dropbox). These are useful extras, and since Total Security usually does not cost much more than Internet Security, it is probably worth the few extra euros.

If you want to know more, visit the Kaspersky website.

It is definitely one of the best antivirus programs for Windows.

3) Trend Micro Antivirus

Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security offers simple but effective protection with a user-friendly interface that explains the various options in plain English without resorting to confusing jargon.

The app's antivirus engine is highly rated by leading independent testing labs and has achieved excellent results in recent reviews, with the small caveat that some tests have found it to produce a few more false positives than the competition.

On the other hand, Antivirus+ Security's ransomware protection is a particular strength.

Another plus is the fact that this antivirus is currently the best when it comes to blocking phishing sites (according to AV-Comparatives) and offers excellent protection for surfing the internet, including Pay Guard as a secure environment for online banking.

Weaknesses? Well, system performance suffers more than with some competitors, and there are not as many options or features as the competition — it is an app aimed more at beginners than experts. Of course, Trend Micro's higher-end security suites offer more features.

The next tier up, Trend Micro Internet Security, includes some interesting extras such as parental controls and social networking protection tools. For most people, however, it is worth spending a little more on Trend Micro Maximum Security, which offers protection for Mac and mobile devices as well as Windows (plus a password manager and secure file storage).

There is also a premium security package that covers up to 10 devices (with Maximum Security you get 5) and includes a VPN and comprehensive support service.

You can find more information on the manufacturer's website. For all these reasons and more, it is one of the best antivirus programs for Windows.

4) Avast Antivirus

Avast Premium Security adds a variety of features to the company's well-known free antivirus programme. These include a powerful firewall, a file shredder, and a useful Wi-Fi inspector that monitors your network for vulnerabilities.

There are privacy-related tools, such as Sensitive Data Shield, which helps find and protect files containing sensitive personal data. A software update function also ensures that your applications are up to date (and therefore secure).

Premium Security is also very intelligent in terms of configuration and gives you a high degree of control over the installation process, which is certainly welcome.
On the downside, however, Avast has a greater impact on system performance than many other antivirus programs, and its malware scan times are somewhat slow compared to other solutions.

The anti-phishing measures are also not as effective as those of the competition, but the basic virus protection is robust enough to compensate, and Avast performed quite well in the latest round of independent lab tests.

Avast Ultimate is another option that gives you premium security along with Avast's SecureLine VPN and some PC cleaning tools. Avast's VPN is not the best on the market, but it is a solid offering, and if you need both a VPN and an antivirus suite, the Ultimate package might make sense from a value-for-money perspective (depending on your needs).

You can find more information on the manufacturer's website. For all these reasons and more, it is one of the best antivirus programs for Windows.

Do I Really Need an Antivirus Program?

The short answer is: yes. You may have heard arguments that you could get by with just being careful when surfing and downloading, but we would not risk it. Even the most popular websites can occasionally fall victim to malware through their advertising. No matter how careful and tech-savvy you are, it pays to have an antivirus app as protection. For an interesting perspective, see our post on whether there will still be a need for PC antiviruses.

How to Choose the Best Windows Antivirus

The obvious answer is right in front of you — check out our rankings in this article, based on expert knowledge and comprehensive, regularly updated reviews of leading antivirus software.

However, you must also take your own needs into account. Our options are diverse: perhaps you have a tight budget and only want to protect a single PC.

Or, at the other end of the scale, maybe you have a large family with many devices to protect and need a package that covers everything. Perhaps you want to use both a VPN service and an antivirus program, so a combined package can save you money on subscription fees.

In summary, our recommendations for the best antivirus program for Windows are a solid guide, but you should adapt them to your individual needs. Browse our full antivirus and security range to find the right fit, or pick up a Bitdefender Antivirus Plus licence for reliable, lightweight protection.

If you have any questions, leave a comment below or give us a call.

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Best regards,
The Licendi Team