Antiviruses are usually the most essential, but the least credited software in the entire technology arena. Antiviruses are essential programs for all types of computers as well as mobile devices due to the extent of hacking and malicious programs being released on a periodic basis. Most modern PCs and laptops come bundled with an antivirus software along with a year’s worth of subscription, however, most users rarely extend their subscription beyond the initial period.
To stay safe from malicious programs and harmful viruses that have the ability to inflict serious damage, you should opt for an antivirus that has been tried and tested to offer the maximum protection. Antiviruses are always evolving according to the latest threats and viruses and are expected to be proactive in protecting your device from all programs with malicious intent.
As far as choosing an antivirus goes, don’t take a leap of faith and hope for the best. You can’t simply choose an antivirus program because it did wonders for your friend or colleague. Individual requirements vary, but from a user’s perspective, there are a few antiviruses that will be able to help you stay protected from most threats.
Bitdefender Total Security
Bitdefender is one of the most popular antiviruses, and has been ruling the rooster for many years. Bitdefender offers complete protection for your PC, and is known to update its virus definitions frequently to keep you protected from even the most advanced and latest threats. Although Bitdefender is a bit resource intensive, it offers a great deal of features and conveniences without affecting the performance of your PC in any manner. Bitdefender Total Security can cost you $58.47, and is one of the most cost-effective antiviruses in the market.
Kaspersky Antivirus
Kaspersky is a light-weight antivirus that takes up the least amount of resources for offering the maximum protection against new antiviruses and malware. Kaspersky comes in as the second best antivirus to Bitdefender, and is also hugely popular among both home as well as business users. Kaspersky Antivirus is available in three different subscription packages, the Antivirus package, the Internet Security package, and the Total Security package. These packages cost $59.99, $79.99, and $99.99 respectively, but they do offer seasonal discounts and offers, especially for longer subscriptions.
McAfee Antivirus
McAfee is a popular antivirus among users who use multiple devices, as McAfee supports unlimited installations. The one year subscription for McAfee stands at $44.99, easily making it one of the most affordable and feature-rich antiviruses in terms of competition. McAfee also supports a wide range of functionalities that offer added protection against new virus threats and malware.
Norton Security
Norton is an established and trusted antivirus software that offers a great deal of features, albeit with a slight dip in system performance. Norton is a huge software, and has one of the most exhaustive set of virus definitions and functionalities that will eat up system resources. However, the added benefits will outweigh the small drawbacks, and it will only cost you $49.99 for a yearly subscription.