Best Antivirus Software and Apps (Archive)

[kcfield]

In my experience, Bitdefender (I used the free version) had worked perfectly until their recent update. The recent update brought many false positives which were not resolved by their tech support's recommendation to uninstall and reinstall Bitdefender free. While Bitdefender does allow false positives urls to be bypassed, submitted for review, or whitelisted, this is not helpful as an ongoing strategy. Specific examples of false positives are when moving to particular screens while logged in to my secure investment website, while going to my own church's website, and when trying to go to the Toledo Zoo website (all https). Regretfully, I permanently uninstalled Bitdefender a few days ago, and have reverted to my lifetime (grandfathered) Malwarebytes Premium (3.0) in combination with Webroot secure. I have had no false positives since uninstalling Bitdefender. Bitdefender incidentally acknowledged my ticket but did not provide timely additional support; nor did they answer on their Facebook page or privately the extent to which other users have experienced this problem. Since this problem did not hit until 10-14 days ago, I do hope that you will retest Bitdefender, so that you can reach your own conclusions. Incidentally, I have had no problems on the Android version of Bitdefender--the problem (in my experience) is exclusively on the home version.

 

[johngooch]

Windows Defender gets the job done and for free! I've never had a virus or malware infection, so I think I 'm doing things right .

For Mac, I don't use AV at all, my home network has network-level security with pfsense and pi-hole, and I VPN to my home network when I traveling.

 

[howiejcee]

How come Malwarebytes Premium isn't part of the review?

EDIT:
On a related note, a couple years back I had an issue where my PC somehow got infected with ransomware. I noticed high activity on a mechanical drive and immediately disconnected internet and tried to close all programs. When I couldn't figure out what was causing this in less than 1 minute I decided to disconnect power and just physically shut the PC down.

Luckily I was able to save my data but the point is at that time, the only antivirus/antimalware SW that actually fixed my issue was Malwarebytes. I had to use a rescue disk to scan all drives. Later I found that the ransomeware was encrypting my files. I think today's ransomeware can encrypt your disk or files super fast. Scary sh*t.

I don't recall all the other SW I tried but I'm pretty sure I tried several of the most well-known ones like Kaspersky, AVG, and Norton.

Perhaps if you decide to buy some other antivirus, you should still benefit from installing and using Malwarebytes free at the very least.

 

[zeeshan6233]

Nice Information Thanks for sharing

 

[jeffohora1]

I am just about to renew Webroot Internet Security Complete for probably the fifth time. Intermittently I have used the programs referenced here and recommended. One I was using Kaspersky a few years back, it failed to pick up on a virus infection. I switched to ESET and generally speaking was satisfied with that, however, I had had a good experience with web roots product and with some upgraded features and the incredibly great price for it on Amazon-less than $40 bucks! ... It was a no-brainer!

I will speculate in answer to why Tom's here has not included for comparison some of the most popular and most purchased antivirus software's may perhaps be because they get the best referral fee promoting Kaspersky. I have no problem with that, however, if that being the case and I do suspect that is, then they should disclose that right up front or somewhere on the page of the review.

 

[tyvek1]

Have had to stick with free versions because when purchased full versions was unable to restore image backups I make on the system drive? The software bitdefender did not work right on restore and hung my system. But the free version has no issues. Also could not address my firewall with bitdefender even with the address exclusion was not able to bring up the address. Other paid versions are the same. Want to support paid versions but wasted some cash on that also.

 

[yonnie_02]

Norton has increased their price to $39, didn't see a fremium offer. Android/Trojan.Banker.Hqwar.i got past the Lookout that was installed and infected the ready2go_ATT.apk. I can't seem to remove it, but Malwarebytes will off to "whitelist" it. Isn't that nice, whitelist a virus so it doesn't get scanned anymore? Who is scamming who?

 

[Nid]

On the other hand I've heard that AVG sells your history. I still use Avast but it may be relevant for spam and pop-up levels?

 

[viaexcellence]

I have had Kaspersky Total Security for 3 years now. It checks updates for my applications automatically. It is very easy to navigate. I also installed Kaspersky in my Android phone too. I couldn't feel safer online.

 

[viaexcellence]

I have been using Kaspersky Total Security for more than 3 years now and I can't be any safer. It automatically checks updates for my apps (java,flash etc..) and easy to navigate thru. I also installed Kaspersky Suite in my Android phone too. I highly recommend this app to everybody.

 

[yannisgk]

i use avast premier and malwarebytes premium and that's it!!!

 

[mdd1963]

SCAMMER

So you successfully uninstalled Norton AV (often a Herculean task in of itself !), which was working great, just to try/compare all those other products during the last 10 years? Or you had not used the other products which ostensibly did not perform as well as Norton AV during those the last 10 years?

(The whole post sounds somewhat like it was written by a Norton marketing team member pretending to be a casual Norton AV-using forum member...) You created an account at THG just to tell everyone this?

'computer machines'...a non-native English speaker/ marketing team member from...Europe?

"Norton is completing it's 18 years...." Not quite sure of the relevance, as I'd be more concerned with it's actual performance now, but, ok....

 

[rexhavit]

I will stick with Windows Defender, I don't need the Russians spying on me, thank you very much. Do you seriously think Kaspersky knows Windows vulnerabilities better than Microsoft? Suddenly I don't trust your reviews anymore... This article is pure tripe and false. Just what I need, a Russian spybot stealthfully updating itself on my PC...

 

[catilley1092]

Why isn't Kaspersky Free on this list? It removed a couple of threats from one of my machines that has both the paid versions of ESET Internet Security & Malwarebytes Premium (formerly MBAM Pro)? Tge PC, a Optiplex 780 DT with a Core 2 Quad Q9650 is well able to hold it's own, but got infected somehow. I believe when a guest used our network, because there was another PC infected in the same time frame, only I didn't boot this one at the time.

Seems like all of the sites conveniently leaves Kaspersky off of their best free lists. I discovered by total luck that they have a free version & included a VPN good for 200MB of data (don't know if it's per week, month or day), removed when no more data would come through. In hindsight, should had disabled it for when needed.

Here it is, doesn't slow down my secondary computer down in the least.

https/usa.kaspersky.com/free-antivirus

The editors at Tom's should give them a shot & determine if it's better than any of the others. has lots of controls under the hood (to include a Advanced Disinfection) & rarely do I get a popup from then wanting to sell anything (maybe once weekly). Far better than daily popups by Avast. Also performs rootkits scans at least once daily, as well as idle & short scans that's not noticed on most modern computers unless one hovers over it's Task manager.

IMO, it's at least an 8.5 out of 10, if not higher, based on the fact that it does a great job for being free software. And as stated above, there's 200MB of a secure VPN for when needed. Just make sure to disable when not, otherwise, one will go through 200MB with Windows Update alone. No reason to fear, Kaspersky has no ties with the Kremlin, if so, then their Internet Security & other paid offerings wouldn't be moving (nor recommended by many of these same editors).

Cat

 

[dano22]

I used to feel that Kaspersky was at the top of there game up until 3 years ago when I ended up with a mystery virus on my galaxy right when our subscription was about to be up . So then I called support and they charged an arm and a leg to clean my phone so I figured well I may as well renew now. So now 3 years later after renewing 3 years ago for 3 years of coverage it is coming up on the renewal and I go to bed after scannimg my devices which all came back clean . I wake up the next morning and turn on my new galaxy cell phone that I specifically only use for phone call and text messages and nothing more nothing less it starts acting all wonky so I call them again they say we need to do a deep scan and remotely connect to my phone and it will cost $179 in change so I say well whatever and I watch everything that they are doing on my phone and it is all the same stuff that I do ritualistically on a daily and nightly basis and 29 mins into it the tech sends a message saying to restart your phone . So I do and he calls me back om my landline because he was cut out from connecting to my phone and it is like well hello you told me to restart the phone and I then ask what all has he found and he says that he hasnt found anything just deleted cache from storage and I said well I do that every day and night so I just payed you 179 dollars to do what I do daily. And I then say after he says that he is going to disconnect from my phone and that I am all set, well what happens when you hang up with me and then it starts acting up again then what? Well you are still covered for this if anything else happens. Well hello you didnt do anything on my phone . Didnt do anything but remotely send something over to my phone when it was initially turned on to where I could not control anything on the phone in regards to touching the screen. I will be filing a dispute with the bank in regards to the charge and will be contacting an attorney for cyber fraud! Stay away from this antivirus software!!!!!! If you like keeping your money in your bank account for when it is truly needed??????????????

 

[joelwexler]

What about this whole Kaspersy Rusher deal? Is that a witch hunt or a real deal? I hear the government wants no Kaspersky anywhere near their machines.

 

[mdd1963]

The company is screwed in the USA just for being Russian....regardless of any perceived (or compete lack thereof) ties to Russian govt.....

Best to stick to American products, so that only he US Govt has all your info!

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

No matter what Antivirus you use , your info is still available to the government.

 

[wilberarron]

Bitdefender is garbage. I installed it and it made a mess of my Windows 10. I constantly had to reopen my programs because they would get stuck. There is no product support no matter what they say. You send them a problem and a couple of days later they send you an email. Their advice never works and altogether, I would not wish this product on my worse enemy. Avoid this product.

 

[davyme]

I'm satisfied paying Avast user for more than 5 years. I found "earn reward" option appeared in main menu. I sent a link to one friend and got PRO version for 6 months free. It seems like they're testing it, I found some info only here https/www.avast.com/free-license