Ever since its launch, Microsoft Windows has captivated the imagination of
the world. Today, the highest number of computers and laptops are being
run on Microsoft Windows. The fact that Windows has the most number of
users means that it is also at the highest risk. The hackers and virus
creators are trying to make a malware that is capable of contaminating a
large number of computer systems.
Dangers around Windows
Contrary to popular opinion, Windows devices, even after the inbuilt
anti-virus system, can be contaminated by email phishing attempts,
ransomware, and spoof URL addresses. Even if the danger of catching a
virus on Windows devices is limited, it is best to safeguard the gadget
beforehand. As a precautionary measure, one must keep their software
programs like Java and Flash updated. They should never follow commands
from any unreliable or unknown source and must be aware of the latest
phishing scams that are doing rounds.
In the year 2013 and 2014, Windows was said to be the least-targeted
mobile system. However, since the new operating system of Windows 10 is
seen as a compact version of desktop Windows, there are chances that any
standard desktop malware can be added to mobile Windows platforms.
Avast Antivirus is a reliable antivirus for Windows users. It ensures email protection, network safety, wifi security, and can be run from the command-line. It can be availed for free. It is able to work well in both 32-bit and 64-bit systems and operating systems like Debian, Ubuntu, and Red Hat. Since this software is always being developed and updated continuously, one must keep using the updated version for the best service.
ESET NOD32 Antivirus is constructed specially to go along with Windows. It is not free of cost but does offer a free trial period of 30 days. After the trial expires, one has to pay for the services. This software is excellent with a virus and Trojan detection. Its network scanning and remote management match the best standards. The software is known for very strong malware detection and is very efficient at picking up rootkits. It also works well with Linux and Mac. It is lightweight, easy to use, and has one of the lowest false positive rates. This antivirus software is a product of ESET, a Slovak company ESET. This antivirus is available in two editions. They are namely: Home Edition and Business Edition. NOD32 saves Windows devices against ransomware, hackers, viruses, and phishing. It serves the maximum balance of speed and usability. A NOD32 purchase is never disappointing.
Bitdefender Antivirus is a cyber-securityand anti-virus software company based in Romania. It is 20 years old and was founded in 2001. The anti malware software has around five hundred million users around the world. Bitdefender has all essential features of good antivirus software. It performs manual scans as well as scheduled scans. Its network protection and real time security feature are strong. Bitdefender employees several virus definitions updates around the clock. The software is user-friendly and has a simplistic interface which does not interfere with other operations of a device.
Malwarebytes is the most compatible anti-virus app for Windows. Malwarebytes (MBAM) is constructed by Malwarebytes Corporation. It was first released, more than a decade ago, in January 2006. It has both paid and unpaid versions available. In the unpaid version, it just runs basic scans for malware infected documents and files. In the paid version the option for scheduling scans and in time protection is available.
AVG AntiVirus is the first anti-virus app that crossed the 100 million downloads mark on Google Play. Its biggest advantage is it works smoothly. After installing it, one doesn’t keep to monitors the workings of the antivirus. It works by itself to secure a PC from the new viruses, spyware, unsafe apps and settings, malware, unwanted callers, and other nefarious threats.
Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus is primarily concerned with the protection of privacy. The user can freely use social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook without the threat of their accounts getting hacked. Trend Micro Mobile Security has great virus scanning capacity. It thoroughly scans webpages and websites to check if they have infected malware hidden somewhere. The software also allows parental control system that blocks certain websites from the reach of children. The password manager in Trend Micro Mobile Security has the capacity that covers as many as five mobile phones. The password manager oversees website passwords and lets users sign up or log in from safe destinations. Its back up storage has secure online storage that can be used to back up important documents and content. Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus acts as a phone booster too. It gives people the complete visibility and control of their mobile and data devices from a central web-based console. Trend Micro Mobile Security has anti-theft feature that has been very useful. In case your sensitive information installed your gadgets is stolen or lost, then the user can activate an anti-theft alarm. They can also block their device remotely.
Avira AntivirusServer is a well-established anti-virus program.It has an app lock and photo lock feature. Its free version has high-quality anti-malware protection methods that are very effective.Avira Antivirus Server safeguards users as they browse the internet. The browser scanning features keep the estimated 30 million threats away from its user.Avira Antivirus Server is running all 24 hours so that no malware is able to infringe the system. It deeply scrutinizes all device operations; it scans new files immediately and helps the device run efficiently by maximizing memory and battery. Avira Antivirus is very powerful and yet very lightweight. It does not slow down the device’s speed. A support team is always available to solve any problems or doubts that revolve around the software. It is very easy to maintain and does not require multiple up gradations.
While choosing an antivirus for your computer system, it is essential to keep in mind your requirements. Many antiviruses can affect the working speed of the system. Hence it is fundamental to choose a lightweight antivirus that provides a good level of protection. The upgradability of the anti-virus makes it adapt to the new malware and malicious programs quickly. A few of the top antivirus choices for laptops are- Quickheal Total Security Software, Kaspersky Internet Security, McAfee Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, BitDefender, Norton, and Avast. While picking an antivirus, it should be kept in mind that how much memory and space an anti-virus takes. An anti-virus using heavier RAM can slow down the computer processes.
Quick Heal Total Security is antivirus software from the firm named Quick Heal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. that is based in Maharashtra and it offers inclusive antivirus security including extra features like privacy and data protection as well as parental control. In addition to making your online banking secure, this Indian antivirus software also ensues robust safety and seamless Internet surfing for your system. This way, your financial information during online shopping and banking remain protected. Moreover, the feature of Parental Control permits you to control and manage computer and Internet access for the kids.
Due to the high demand for Antivirus programs in this world of gruesome cybercrimes, plenty of Antivirus programs are to be found in the market. Some of the prominent Antivirus programs are-
Norton Family Parental Control is one of the best Child Tracking apps. Norton is one of the leading AV companies and offers a wide range of security products along with a Parental Control mobile software for helping the concerned parents to track the location of their children without letting them know. Norton Family Parental Control is compatible with iOS and Android and apart from tracking down the location of the children, the program also offers useful features such as-
Block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content before they discovered by the children.
Access the browser history and the Youtube-watch history of the children.
Norton Anti-virus powered by Symantec has been the winner of the AV-TEST program for providing the best protection against malware and other advanced cyber threats. Indeed, Norton Antivirus protection is good enough since plenty of authorized companies, as well as millions of users, rely on the security protection offered by Norton. Apart from basic virus protection, Norton Antivirus also offers other internet security features such as – Download protection, on-time, and on-demand virus scanner, email protection, password protection, anti-tracker, anti-theft, webcam and microphone protection, call blocker and file vault. Norton Antivirus only offers brilliant features in a single pack but also works on each type of device such as tablets, pcs, smartphones and laptops, and compatible with Norton Antivirus macOS, iOS, Android and Norton antivirus for Windows.
One of the best antiviruses with great customer reviews is the Norton antivirus. It offers cross-platform robust protection and excellent customer support. It is one of the highest-rated antiviruses in the market with easy to download option. But it’s true that it’s a bit expensive compared to other antiviruses available. It is highly recommended for Windows and Mac and safely protects all private information of the user. It comes with a 100% promise for virus protection. It proved to deliver the best virus detection as well as elimination algorithms for the business. It has several premium features perfect to protect from all the latest and evolving threats for computer and personal information.
There are two types of antivirus programs, one that comes for free of cost and the other one is paid. The sole purpose of both of them is to offer protection against malware infection. The common features that come with both programs are scanning and firewall shield. While talking about the difference, Free antivirus offers only baseline virus protection when Paid Antivirus includes additional security features along with virus protection. Users have to renew the subscription after a specific span of time to enjoy the benefits of paid antivirus, while free antivirus does not require such formalities. Indeed, Free Antivirus programs can not compete with paid versions but can be relied upon if one is looking for baseline protection against malware. Paid versions offer internet security along with virus protection to stand against advanced threats and to prevent future threats. Paid antivirus also beats free antivirus in the criteria of system compatibility as it offers protection for relevant OS systems and works on various devices such as tablets, smartphones, Desktops, and Laptops. Almost all of the AV companies offer both Free and Paid versions of antivirus. Users can choose the ideal products for themselves as per their needs.
Malwarebytes Antivirus is considered as one of the best anti-malware software and its free version is certainly the most beneficial one to give a shot. Its developers religiously update it regularly permitting it for being completely equipped along with all the current issues and problems. There is a reason why Malwarebytes is regarded as an exceptional anti-malware tool as it not only detects ransomware, malware, and adware efficiently, but it can also work alongside any other antivirus in your system as well. Upon the installation, this anti-malware software comes with the 14-day trial period of premium paid edition.
Antivirus is installed to protect PC from viruses, trojans, spyware, adware, worms, phishing attacks, and other malicious programs. These programs can harm your PCs performance, steal your data and damage your files. To protect computers from these viruses, antivirus software is installed. This antivirus software detects, prevents and removes the malware from your PC. Many free antiviruses are available for free download. of the topmost choices for free antivirus are- Avast Antivirus, Avira Antivirus, Kaspersky Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus, Panda Free Antivirus, Sophos Free Antivirus, and others. All these can be downloaded from their official websites. They provide the basic protection for your PC and does not affect the overall performance of the PC.
Malware is malicious software or a program that affects the system adversely. These programs can be trojan horses, worms, spyware, adware, computer viruses, and other harmful programs. Anti Malware programs are created to protect computer systems from these viruses and malware. This malware can steal data, damage files, cause identity theft and affect the overall performance of the system. To protect a computer system from this malware,anti-malware software is installed. These anti-malware software detects, prevents and removes malicious programs from the computer and blocks entry of new malware as well. Best free anti-malware available online for free download are -Kaspersky Antivirus, Avira Antivirus, Avast Antivirus, Panda Free Antivirus, Bitdefender Free Antivirus, and few others.
Best Antivirus For Windows 7, the top choices are Avast, Kaspersky and AVG antivirus. Avast boasts of its extreme malware protection combined with inbuilt features for maximum protection. The scan is quick and efficient and can find out the most notorious of malware and threats. Kaspersky offers real-time security, excellent phishing protection and even gives a warning for unsafe websites. It also provides privacy protection and parental lock. AVG’s scan detects hidden malware, unwanted browser extensions and addressed PC performance problems.AVG also provides a free file shredder to safely delete confidential files. Apart from these three, Bitfender, Adaware and panda free antivirus are also an optimum choice.
A lightweight antivirus should be able to protect the PC without affecting its workings and speed. A lightweight antivirus should use less memory, scan fast and do not add strain to system workings. Each antivirus software varies from each other in terms of memory usage, scanning time and space it occupies. Most lightweight anti-viruses would be Avast, Panda cloud, Windows defender, Webroot and F-secure. Avast antivirus uses 9kb when idle and 62 kb for scanning. Norton antivirus uses 10kb and 77kb for scanning. Kaspersky pure uses 14kb when idle and 82kb for scanning. Memory usage and resulted speed are also taken into account when looking for a lightweight antivirus.
Parental Control is one of the most desirable features as it is very helpful for those parents who are concerned about their children’s access to the internet. Parental control app or service allows the parents-
to limit the internet usage of their children.
to determine the screentime of the games their children play or the videos they watch or the apps they run.
to block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content from being discovered by their children.
to track the recent location their children had been, this not only helps the parent to check upon their children but also helps them to take precautionary measures if their children are into some danger.
to lock files or apps with a password to prevent children from doing any mess.
You can download the Parental Control app separately or can go for Internet Security programs that also covers the feature of Parental control.
Norton Family Parental Control is one of the best Child Tracking apps. Norton is one of the leading AV companies and offers a wide range of security products along with a Parental Control mobile software for helping the concerned parents to track the location of their children without letting them know. Norton Family Parental Control is compatible with iOS and Android and apart from tracking down the location of the children, the program also offers useful features such as-
Block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content before they discovered by the children.
Access the browser history and the Youtube-watch history of the children.
There is no denying the fact that Kaspersky is one of the best antivirus software that not only provides you with a comprehensible and no-nonsense interface but also makes it a point that your system does not slow down. Its unbeatable malware security and excellent level of protection are what make this reputed antivirus software company stand out from the others. Along with guarding you against the virus on your Android devices and PC, it also stores and secures your private documents and passwords. Kaspersky does a fantastic job in defending your system against infected files, viruses, suspicious sites, and dangerous applications.
Norton provides many different packages, all designed for different needs of the customer. These packs are – Norton Family Premier, Norton Security Premium, Norton Security Deluxe, Norton Security Standard, Norton Secure VPN, Norton Antivirus Basic, Norton Utilities Premium and Norton Mobile Security for iOS. Norton Security Premium helps protect up to more than 10 PCs while Deluxe protects up to 5 PCs.Norton Secure VPN protects your private information when using public wifi. Norton Antivirus Basic provides protection for one computer system only. Norton Security Standard provides a basic security layer for 1 PC, 1 Mac or 1 mobile device. These subscriptions vary from one another, based on customers’ requirement.
Since Windows 10 comes with a preinstalled AV program namely Windows Defender, Windows 10 users can already enjoy the baseline security benefits such as malware protection and real-time scanning. But this free program can not stand alone against all advanced cyber threats like spyware, trojan horses, keyloggers, email viruses, ransomware, and many more unidentified malicious contents. Kaspersky Total Security comprehends essential security features like VPN, Real-time malware protection, Safe browsing, Web-cam protection, Parental control, Spyware defense, Safe vault, privacy protection, and password management to offer optimum Internet Protection against all cyber threats. In this point of view, Kaspersky Total Security Suit definitely does the job with accuracy to offer protection for Windows 10 and hence, can be considered a good one.
Frontier Virus Protection differs from other AV programs as it is powered by F-secure. F-Secure possesses the highest score in various security tests conducted by independent labs and features acute Browsing security such as Blocking malicious websites that do not have a secure protocol in their URL address, antiphishing, online banking protection, realtime defense against sudden malware attacks and parental control. But based on the public reviews, Frontier virus protection, although powered by F-secure, is not a top-notch AV product as the users are facing technical malfunctions lately while running the program on their devices.
Malwarebytes offers multiple layers for ensuring absolute virus protection to your PC and Smartphone as well as makes it a point to achieve thorough spyware and malware removal. Not only this, but it also provides users with unique ransomware protection as well. The proven technology of Malwarebytes crashes Mac malware’s growing threat and proves to be a smart enough cybersecurity option for the same. The reputed antivirus software also secures endpoints against the cyberattacks with the multi-layered approach which leverages dynamic and static techniques at the attack chain’s every stage. It integrates security with EDR i.e., Endpoint Detection and response capabilities through the single agent for eliminating complexity.
When it comes to the best Antivirus in today’s market, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 surely takes the cake here as it provides you with well-grounded regular protection. With only Windows as its operating system and the ability to cover a maximum of 3 devices, the best features of Bitdefender Antivirus Plus include –
• Ransomware remediation and protection
• Privacy tools
• Safepay
• Optional VPN
• Subscription includes the frequent updates
• Password Manager
Boasting more than 500 million users, Bitdefender offers the complete-featured package and also as per several test results, its antivirus products have score high ratings.
