Internet Security Software

Are you worried that your details aren’t tracked or shared with people who’d use it to harm you? Know the best internet security software to protect your data from the internet-based threats. 

What is Internet security?

Internet security is a division of computer security dealing with internet-based threats such as hacking, viruses and malware and identity thefts. Hacking is when unauthorized users gain access to computer systems, websites or email accounts. Malicious software can damage data or make your system more vulnerable to other threats. Identity theft is when hackers steal personal details, such as bank account information and credit card numbers. You can protect yourself from the internet-based threats with strong internet security software that are effective to secure your data and devices.

Why is Internet security important?

With the advent of the internet that revolutionised communications, its use does have potential threats. Without any online defence, you leave yourself open to be a victim of fraud, damage to property and theft. Internet security is crucial to keep yourself safe, and this responsibility is not just on an individual as everyone is a potential target, including the private corporations and government organizations. 

Without internet security in place, your private or confidential information or messages can be viewed, intercepted or even stolen. Other threats include identity theft as without adequate protection; online transactions can lead to fraudsters getting hold of your credit card and personal information. Data theft is another issue wherein sensitive or private data such as videos, photos and documents are stolen digitally to resell or distribute for illicit purposes.

Maintaining reliable computer security can help protect the device from damage, hackers who are interested in disrupting and stealing your data and information. Some of the disruptive issues faced by the computer users include trojans, computer viruses and malicious software that steal your data and sometimes render a computer inoperable.

Antivirus software can detect when the undisclosed vulnerability is used to install other nasty bits like the ransomware on your machine. Anyone who actively uses emails, downloads attachments and programs and clicks on links will benefit from using an antivirus suite. 

Which antivirus software offers the best Internet security?

Internet security Software

Antivirus software is as significant as the operating system of a PC. Although we are well versed with the potential threats and practise extreme caution, some risks can’t be prevented without the extra help of a full antivirus suite. The best internet security software provides virus protection and offers packages of the basics plus other tools like the firewalls, banking safeguards, and parental protections covering the PC’s, MAC’s and mobile devices. 

Always look for all-round protection against the latest cyber threats by investing in the most reliable antivirus programs that are best for your computers without ripping off your pockets. 

Lastly, check for the usability and the impact of the antivirus software on the performance of your system. Also, look for the software that provides you with a high level of customisation or an easy-to-use interface, and the program is capable of scanning by using minimal system resources.

What is the best free antivirus and internet protection?

Having the best free antivirus and internet protection installed in your devices is a necessity as we’re no closer to conquer the hackers and cyber-criminals plaguing the internet. You must be familiar with McAfee, Norton and AVG internet security programs. But which of these is the best ones to protect you from cyber threats and crimes? Well, fortunately, we’ve tested and reviewed the latest packages offering internet security to recommend you the best solution to secure your devices.  

The online software security companies are constantly updating their security software packages to protect against ransomware, phishing scams and other types of malware and viruses. AVG Internet Security provides excellent protection, with a selection of features and minimal impact on the performance of your devices. It offers the best security tools with an array of other unique security features and offers excellent value for money. 

Antivirus software Vs. Internet security suite: What’s the Difference?

Antivirus software offers a basic level of protection for your devices. Whereas, the internet security suite expands the capabilities like scanning the files and programs, monitors activities and search for vulnerable features tailored for internet use. Most Internet Security products are marketed as ‘suites’ because they contain several different programs like anti-spam controls, firewall and parental controls. Other programs are ad blockers, anti-spam controls, keylogger protection, credit card safeguards and webcam protection that can be accessed by a single interface. Internet security suits may also have additional protection against web-specific types of malware such as adware and spyware. However, running numerous types of different programs means that internet security suits use more of your system resources than the usual antivirus. 

Why trust on internet security software?

trust internet security software

As we have been researching and testing various internet security software over a decade, we trust on internet security programs. We have also been monitoring the test results from independent labs. We have subscribed to the security and IT new blogs and outlets to receive quick alerts about any newly discovered malware or security breaches. Moreover, our team attends trade shows related to computer protection for staying up-to-date with the evolving industry. We have also been in touch with several industry experts having professional experience spanning several decades to learn about how most computers are infected with malware. 

Using all the information we’ve gathered from these IT professionals, software developers and professional hackers, we’ve developed in-house tests. These tests accurately mimic the real-life scenarios to know how each anti-malware programs helps to keep your computers and other devices clean. 

How did we examine the best internet security software?

We are continually testing all kinds of internet security software for five months, using 352 live malware samples. We tried visiting malicious websites and downloaded threats using our internet browsers as a test. This test showed us how well each of the internet security programs prevents threats to infect computers. 

Some programs recognised and blocked a webpage with a phishing scheme or a virus download while still allowing the user to access other pages on the website. The best internet security software blocked the whole site, including the unaffected pages so that there was no chance of accidental infection. After collecting our results, we compared them from many third-party testing labs, including the AV-Test and AV-Comparatives for calculating the average scores for virus protection and loss of computer data. 

What is the best internet security software?

Protecting your private data and information with the best internet security software is of utmost importance. The reason being we trust our details to official services for verifying our identity. Our private information mustn’t get tracked or shared with people who’d use it to harm us. Most people see that the problem of internet security has escalated with the transition to a 5G network. So, many companies like Samsung and HTC are manufacturing blockchain phones to strengthen their phone’s security. Therefore, the internet security program is going to be increasingly crucial for protecting your data and personal information. 

The best internet security software enables you to protect your data from fraudsters and save your devices from harm without slowing down your computer. Based on what we found on testing, here is the list of top 10 internet security software for data protection. 

1. AVG internet security

AVG Internet Security Software

This internet security program scored well in multiple independent lab tests and hands-on tests. It has unlimited licenses and includes webcam and ransomware protection. However, the initial scan may be slower than the average, and there is an unusually massive impact in the performance tests. Install this program on your devices if you are looking to defend against webcam peepers, ransomware, etc. 

2. Norton internet security

This software security includes LifeLock identity theft mitigation with no-limits VPN. It is excellent security protection that supports macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. However, this is an expensive program with limited security protection on iOS devices and no parental control for macOS. In addition to providing cross-platform security, it helps you to recover from the crippling effects of identity theft. 

3. Avast internet security

This antivirus received high scores in testing with robust firewall, password manager, simple spam filter, ransomware protection and many bonus features that enhance security. However, most bonus features need to be purchased separately. It is a full-scale suite with an antivirus and a wealth of bonus features that could be more cost-effective. 

4. Kaspersky internet security

Kaspersky internet security software

This program scores excellent from four antivirus labs featuring comprehensive parental control, password manager, file encryption and shredding, cross-platform protection, backup system and tons of bonus features. However, it lacks hosted storage for online backup and is pricier than the competitors. It provides nearly everything you could want in a security suite, including antivirus protection. 

5. Malwarebytes internet security

Malwarebytes internet security is an application created and developed to hunt down and destroy viruses and other insidious malware. A free version of this software is also available that looks for and eliminates malware. However, it needs to be started manually. The paid version of this program performs scans automatically on a scheduled basis to give you concurrent protection. Moreover, it has an optional flash-memory scan. 

6. Panda internet security

It has a slick and attractive user interface. It has a parental content filter, provides adequate ransomware protection, VPN, firewall and USB vaccination. This program supports Windows, macOS and Android. However, it offers dismal protection against dangerous and fraudulent websites and scores so-so in the malware protection test. It is also expensive, especially for Android and macOS. 

7. Bitdefender internet security

Bitdefender internet security software

This program scored better in independent antivirus lab and web protection tests. It includes full-featured parental control and multilayered ransomware protection. Webcam security, VPN, and file encryption are other bonus features in this internet security program. However, you need a separate subscription to get access to unlimited VPN. Also, parental control for iOS isn’t fully functional. 

8. McAfee internet security

It provides security for every Windows, macOS, Android and iOS device in your household. It has no-limits for VPN, monitors identity theft, excellent phishing protection, safe family parental control, password manager and file encryption. However, the encryption is weakened by the use of simple security questions, parental control could use resources, and identity theft remediation no longer includes reimbursement. Many separate utilities affected the boot time by slowing them down during the test. McAfee offers excellent security and password management for all your devices and parental control except Macs. 

9. Adaware Internet security

Adaware internet security is one of the most highly rated antivirus software across the globe. It safeguards your computer from online threats so that you can focus on things which matter to you, such as checking email, connecting with friends and watching videos. It is an easy-to-use and effective anti-malware and antivirus software comprising high-class technologies. These technologies provide you with unmatched protection against various kinds of viruses and malware. The key features include an on-demand scanner, active virus control, real-time protection, web and email protection, parental control and network protection. 

10.BullGuard internet security

This software provides network security scanner and phishing protection. It is an antivirus for macOS that scored well from independent antivirus labs. BullGuard internet security provides completed protection for android devices. However, it allowed a takeover by a ransomware sample and scored poor in hands-on malware protection test. Also, there was an awkward configuration for identity protection, and some components were limited and dated. 

Advantages of internet security

  • Using internet security software enables to protect your PC’s by drastically thwarting viruses and bugs. 
  • It also helps to enable your computer to run faster as well as drastically reduce the amount of spam that pops up on your device. The internet security software use results in less drag and more processing time by helping your machine run smoothly and more efficiently to save your time and headache. 
  • Internet security systems help to protect your customers’ data safe and secure. 
  • This software makes your digital world safer by providing spyware protection. 
  • It also helps to protect from malicious attacks on your network.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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-

  1. Kaspersky Security.
  2. Avast Antivirus.
  3. Bitdefender Total Security 2020.
  4. Norton Antivirus.
  5. Quick Heal Total Security.
  6. Panda Dome Internet Security.
  7. Avira Free Antivirus.
  8. Total AV Free.
  9. Adaware Free Antivirus.
  10. Windows Defender.
  11. MacAfee Security.
  12. AVG Antivirus.
  13. Malwarebytes Antivirus.
  14.  Bullguard Protection.
  15.  ClamWin Security.
  16. Frontier.

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.