The Best Antivirus Software for 2024

You can buy an antivirus utility that does everything an antivirus should, or you can buy one that does more—way more. That would be Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. The Plus, in this case, represents a multitude of features. Ransomware protection, a hardened browser for your financial transactions, VPN protection for your connections, a feature that smacks down ad trackers, automatic detection of missing security patches…the list goes on. While its name says antivirus, this program's feature list beats many security suites.

Not only that, but it’s also a good antivirus. The independent testing labs routinely grant it perfect or near-perfect scores, and it aces many of our hands-on tests. Its ransomware-specific defense system proved itself in testing, too. And its Autopilot feature means that all this happens with minimal bother for you, the user.

Oh, there are a few minor nits. For example, the first full scan after installation can be slow. And if you want unlimited use of the VPN, you must pay a bit extra. But, overall, this is a marvelous choice for antivirus protection.

If you want comprehensive protection with little interaction, just fire up Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and turn on its Autopilot. Now you can sit back and do, well, anything you want!

Quick, name three antivirus companies. Was one of them Norton? Probably. Norton’s antivirus prowess has developed over decades, and Norton AntiVirus Plus is the pinnacle of that evolution. It gets excellent scores from the independent labs and aces many of our hands-on tests, including a test using a dozen real-world ransomware samples.

There’s more to this program than just antivirus, though. Its firewall protects against outside attacks and betrayal from within without bombarding the unsuspecting user with confusing popup queries. A separate module enhances firewall protection by detecting and blocking exploit attacks. Other bonus features include a backup system that can archive your files locally or in the provided online storage, a spam filter for those who still need such a thing, a software updater tool, and more.

At one time, Norton was one-device wonder, protecting just a single Windows system. You can now get a five-device subscription to protect Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. That makes the app even more inviting.

Norton's technology has been fighting viruses and other malware for ages, dating back to MS-DOS days. If you want protection from a known brand that has established its chops over decades, Norton AntiVirus Plus is just what you need.

McAfee no longer offers the cross-platform antivirus protection of McAfee AntiVirus Plus, but the basic McAfee AntiVirus is a powerful choice for a single Windows PC. Single is an important word here, as you don't find the usual volume discounts for three, five, or 10 licenses. You must buy the software again for each new device you want to protect.

The independent labs adore McAfee's malware-fighting technology. Three of the four labs we follow include McAfee in their analysis, and all three award it the maximum possible score. It earned excellent scores in our hands-on tests, too. And it goes beyond basic antivirus features with a ransomware protection system, a simple firewall, a system to foil cryptojacking, and more.

With the shift from unlimited protection on all platforms to securing a single Windows PC, McAfee AntiVirus appeals to a different audience than its predecessor. But there are people out there who just want to protect that one all-important PC. If you're one of them, you should give McAfee a look.

The G Data website states that G Data released the first antivirus program in 1985. Whether or not it was the very first, G Data Antivirus has a long and storied history. Two of the four independent labs we follow usually include this venerable tool in their tests. AV-Test routinely gives it the top possible rating, while its scores in tests by AV-Comparatives range from passing to perfect. G Data scored close to the maximum in our hands-on malware protection and malicious download defense tests.

Throughout its evolution, this antivirus tool has picked up many bonus security tools. With the regular antivirus disabled, its behavior-based ransomware protection layers detected half the samples we threw at it. An exploit detection component scored better than most competitors in testing. Other bonus features include spam filtering, BankGuard protection for financial transactions, active defense against keyloggers, and fine-grained control over startup programs.

Some folks lean toward the newest, shiniest antivirus protection, while others prefer a mature program that’s had plenty of time to shake out any weaknesses. G Data Antivirus is a full-grown utility with several security bonuses. It’s just the thing for those seeking a well-aged antivirus tool.

For years, the cleanup-only Malwarebytes Free has been the go-to solution when your regular antivirus can’t do the job, but it was always a specialty tool, not for everyday use. On the other hand, Malwarebytes Premium offers all the features you expect in a full-scale antivirus, starting with scanning on demand and on schedule, as well as on file access. Its full scan is speedy and uses various real-time protection techniques, including behavior-based detection, ransomware activity detection, and protection against exploit attacks.

It's true that lab results for Malwarebytes are mixed, with some great and some so-so. The company contends that its advanced detection techniques aren’t a perfect fit for standardized tests. In our own hands-on tests, it proved highly effective, earning 9.8 of 10 points for malware protection (the best score among products tested with our current malware samples) and excellent scores for defending against malicious and fraudulent web pages.

Anyone who’s used Malwarebytes Free to remedy another antivirus tool’s slip-up will appreciate the full-powered Malwarebytes Premium. Even if you never needed that kind of rescue, this app's speedy scan and excellent hands-on test results are a big draw.

Sophos is a big name in business-level antivirus, with remote management to keep the IT team in charge of security. Sophos Home Premium brings that same remote management to you, the consumer. You can install antivirus protection for your family and friends, whether they’re across town or the country, and manage all the installations without leaving your lair. Best of all, it’s seriously inexpensive, with a 10-license price that matches what many competitors charge for just three licenses.

This antivirus only has one recent lab test score, but it’s a good one—AAA certification from SE Labs. When last challenged by our hands-on malware protection test, it managed 100% detection and scored 9.9 of 10 possible points. It also earned 100% for defending against malware-hosting web pages. But its protection doesn’t stop there. Packed into its tiny local agent program are effective ransomware protection, defense against exploit attacks, an admittedly less-effective parental control content filter, protection for your financial transactions, webcam hijack prevention, and more.

As noted, you can manage all your installations from a convenient online console. More recently, Sophos has extended that remote control ability to apps for Android and iOS, meaning you can exercise your remote control powers from anywhere.

Are you the default security expert for your extended family or circle of friends? Are you tired of driving across town to rescue your beloved uncle after he clicked something he shouldn’t have? With Sophos Home Premium, you can take good care of your peeps from wherever you happen to be.

Without question, Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is the smallest antivirus we've seen. Back when diskettes were standard, you could fit it on just one. Webroot’s local presence can be tiny because its intelligence is in the cloud. Like most antivirus tools, it wipes out known malware on sight, but unknowns get special treatment. It sends details about any unknown program to the cloud and lets that program run in a bubble, virtualizing any system changes so they don’t become permanent. Cloud analysis can take a little time, but if it determines the program is malicious, Webroot wipes out the program itself and rolls back any system changes.

However, this delayed-action detection isn’t a good fit for most standardized tests. The labs mostly expect that an antivirus will determine immediately or not at all. Webroot’s presence in lab reports is sporadic, with a wide range of scores. But in our hands-on tests, it routinely earns excellent scores.

Some of Webroot's advanced features require above-average expertise, so it doesn't hurt if you're the security expert for your family or circle of friends. Whether you're an expert or not, you're sure to appreciate its tiny size and ultra-fast scans.