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PCMAG
pcmag.com › home › best products › security › antivirus
The Best Antivirus Software We've Tested for 2026 | PCMag
3 weeks ago - Every antivirus should scan for and remove any existing malware infections when it’s installed and then stand guard against future attacks. The best ones also check your web surfing and steer you away from dangerous pages of all types. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus does all this and so much more, and the independent testing labs rave about it.
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Security.org
security.org › home › complete guide to antivirus protection › the best antivirus software of 2025
The Best Antivirus Software of 2025 | Security.org
December 10, 2020 - Bitdefender is also one of the best free antivirus services in 2025. Unlike most other free antiviruses, Bitdefender includes real-time protection so you don’t have to remember to scan your device frequently. We spend multiple hours testing each antivirus we recommend to make sure it provides our readers with great value. We want to ensure we only recommend antiviruses that truly protect your devices, so we spent three months rigorously testing over 40 popular antivirus services..
Discussions

What are some recommendations for good anti-virus software that’s free for windows?
[Due to spam, this message thread is now closed. AG] Hello, Any of the programs listed in the wiki at https://old.reddit.com/r/antivirus/wiki/index#wiki_anti-virus_.28aka_anti-malware.29_developers would be a good start. Look for ones with with a check mark ("✔") in the Free Version column. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky More on reddit.com
🌐 r/antivirus
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December 1, 2023
AntiVirus Comparison Chart
Bit defender online discount link anyone? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/techsupport
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People also ask

What is the cheapest antivirus software?
Bitdefender is one of the cheapest antiviruses on the market, starting at just €24.99 / year, and it also offers some of the best security features around.

However, most top antivirus brands regularly run special promotions, significantly reducing their price per subscription (for example, Norton is currently offering a 61% discount, so you can get Norton 360 Deluxe for €39.99 / year).

It’s worth noting that some cheap (and free) antiviruses don’t offer a decent level of protection, so while you may be saving money, you could put your devices at risk. That’s why you should only choose a trusted, low-cost antivirus with excellent security protections.

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safetydetectives.com
safetydetectives.com
10 Best Antivirus Software in 2025: Windows, Android, iOS, Mac
Which software is best for antivirus?
The best antivirus software is Bitdefender. Our hands-on testing found that Bitdefender has a wide range of features, a user-friendly interface and excellent performance.
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cnet.com
cnet.com › tech › services & software › antivirus › best antivirus software we've tested in 2025: this security service just dethroned a top competitor
Best Antivirus Software We've Tested in 2025: This Security Service ...
Does my Mac need antivirus?
There is a common misconception that Macs are inherently immune to malware, but the truth is that most malware simply wasn’t created to target Macs due to their limited market share. As Macs continue growing in popularity, they're increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to deploy malware designed for the MacOS operating system. MacOS has a built-in antivirus solution called XProtect that can detect and remove malware. It works in the background and updates automatically to keep up with the latest threats, but it still may not catch everything that a third-party antivirus pro
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cnet.com
cnet.com › tech › services & software › antivirus › best antivirus software we've tested in 2025: this security service just dethroned a top competitor
Best Antivirus Software We've Tested in 2025: This Security Service ...
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Comparison_of_antivirus_software
Comparison of antivirus software - Wikipedia
1 week ago - The term "Email security" refers to the protection of email from viruses and malware, while "Antispam" refers to the protection from spam, scam and phishing attacks. The term "Web protection" usually includes protection from: infected and malicious URLs, phishing websites, online identity (privacy) protection and online banking protection. Many antivirus products use "third-party antivirus engine".
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SafetyDetectives
safetydetectives.com
10 Best Antivirus Software in 2025: Windows, Android, iOS, Mac
A type of malware that encrypts files to hold for ransom — ransomware will display a message with instructions about what you need to do to regain control of your device. Tools like Cl0p and ransomware gangs like Akira target tens of millions of users each year. The best defense is an antivirus with ransomware remediation (such as Bitdefender) that will halt the encryption process, as there’s no guarantee that cybercriminals will relinquish control even if they’ve been paid.
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American Lazer
amlazer.com › home › blog › exploring the different types of antivirus programs
Different Types of Antivirus Programs | American Lazer
June 11, 2024 - Antivirus software comes in various forms, each designed to address specific security needs and provide comprehensive protection against a wide array of cyber threats. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of antivirus programs available, including traditional antivirus, internet security suites, and specialized tools for specific threats.
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SaaSworthy
saasworthy.com › home › antivirus software
20 Best Antivirus Software for 2025
5 days ago - Kaspersky antivirus for Windows 10 provides outstanding virus protection for PC, laptops and tablet against all types of ransomware, malware, spyware, worms, and phishing & dangerous websites.
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CNET
cnet.com › tech › services & software › antivirus › best antivirus software we've tested in 2025: this security service just dethroned a top competitor
Best Antivirus Software We've Tested in 2025: This Security Service Just Dethroned a Top Competitor - CNET
November 24, 2025 - While this does include public authorities, Malwarebytes is adamant that it will only do this if compelled, and it won't share your data with the same range of marketing and advertising companies that other antivirus companies share information with. The software itself is also highly efficient, using even less disk CPU power than other low-resource antivirus tools like AVG and completing regular scans within five minutes during my hands-on testing. The deep scans took longer -- around 40 minutes -- but not nearly as long as McAfee's full scans.
Find elsewhere
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Fandom
computersecurity.fandom.com › wiki › List_of_antivirus_software
List of antivirus software | Computer Security Wiki - Fandom
JavaScript is disabled in your browser · Please enable JavaScript to proceed · A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser
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Microsoft Support
support.microsoft.com › en-US › windows-antivirus-software-providers
Consumer antivirus software providers for Windows - Microsoft Support
Malware consists of viruses, spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is free and is included in Windows, always on and always working to protect your PC against malware.
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Security.org
security.org › home › complete guide to antivirus protection
A 2025 Guide to Antivirus Protection and Internet Security | Security.org
October 27, 2025 - Viruses: We test out the virus detection ourselves using five different file types that contain viruses, which we download but do not open. Then, we run the software’s full device scan to see how many of the viruses it detected. Finally, we compare those results to over 40 other antiviruses.
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Norton
us.norton.com › blog home › malware › what is antivirus? definition, types, and benefits
What is antivirus? Definition, types, and benefits - Norton
November 28, 2023 - Microsoft Defender, for example, which is part of Windows’s basic built-in security, is bundled and automatically enabled on all new Windows computers. It’s so common that scammers are creating fake Windows Defender security warnings to trick people into downloading malware. Yes, but good antivirus software also works to prevent infections from happening in the first place. It depends. Some antivirus software will inform you (usually with a pop-up or dialog box) when a new type of malware is found and ask if you’d like it to be removed.
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Cybernews
cybernews.com › home › best antivirus software
The Best Antivirus Software for 2025
Trend Micro is a budget-friendly antivirus that can help you protect your devices from cyberthreats. It includes tools like PC Health Checkup and a basic password manager, but key features like VPN and advanced password tools are locked behind higher-tier plans. In my real-world tests, it detected just 50% of threats in real-time and 40% in full scans.
Published   November 18, 2025
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/antivirus › what are some recommendations for good anti-virus software that’s free for windows?
r/antivirus on Reddit: What are some recommendations for good anti-virus software that’s free for windows?
December 1, 2023 -

I’ve been paranoid as of recent about my computers safety and security and j just want something that’s secure and trusted in this community

Top answer
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Windows Defender.
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The main question is: Do you want a better antivirus or do you want a SAFER PC? First of all, Do you want to keep your PC safer from all sorts of malware? The thing is: Malware most often is run with the rights of the currently signed-in user.. So If you keep using your PC with its Administrators-account (=administrators-rights), every malware the you stumble upon will be run with YOUR Administrators-rights, and may therefore easily circumvent even the UAC-prompt and your anti-virus software etc.. This makes it so much harder for even the best antivirus to protect your PC, since many malware will more or less "own" your PC.. HOW TO CHECK IF VIRUSES MAY EXPLOIT YOUR ADMIN-RIGHTS! Here's how you can check if malicious code will run with administrators rights in your PC: In the search field at the bottom, close to the Windows button, type: cmd & press enter. In the windows that pops up, type: net user & hit enter.. Now you will see all user accounts that are in your computer (as well as a couple of "built-in" accounts). This is where you will see what name your own account has (The same as shown under "C:\users" in the explorer). now type: net user YOUR ACCOUNT-NAME & hit Enter In one of the rows at the bottom you will see the line: Local group membership followed by *Users or *Administrators. If *Administrators appears by your user-account: then just about every malware that you encounter will take advantage of your administrator rights to cause severe damage to your entire computer! HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM! AND MAXIMISE YOUR PC'S SECURITY! Easy! 1: CREATE A SEPARATE, DEDICATED ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT! This separate and dedicated administrator account can ALWAYS be used, even if you have locked yourself out from your PC by forgetting your password, or your password has been changed by unknown 3rd party. And even if an error is preventing you from signing in. 2: MAKE YOUR OWN ACCOUNT A REGULAR USER ACCOUNT! In this way, you use a "protected" user account that allows neither malware nor your own mistakes to seriously damage your computer. You can then safely use your computer, just as you did before, but the risks have been minimized. All you need to do to perform anything that requires administrator rights is to enter the Administrator account password into the UAC prompt that will automatically pop up when administrator rights are required! THEN YOU MAY USE JUST ABOUT ANY ANTIVIRUS OF YOUR OWN CHOISE, since your PC is much, much more secure from the ground and up! You still need to use an antivirus software, since this will alert you upon malicious activities.. IF you happen to get an virus-alert: -SIGN OUT, - Turn your PC OFF (Please depress "SHIFT while clicking "shut down" for a more complete shutdown) This will "kill" any malware that remains in the memory... - Start your PC again, sign in to your separate, dedicated Administrators-account, Update your antivirus software, and perform a FULL scan of your PC.. If remnants of any malware are found your Antivirus will have so much easier to remove, remediate these malwares than if you have been running your PC with an administrators account all the time! A total "win- Win" situation... And totally FREE, and without installing any extra softwares etc.. (Yes! This will most likely be down voted, but most of the time it's by people who for one reason or another helps those who spread malware!)
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Quora
quora.com › What-are-the-different-types-of-antivirus-software
What are the different types of antivirus software? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): 1. Norton Antivirus OperatingSystem: Windows, Mac, Android and iOS NortonAntivirus Plus is a yearly subscription with features like real-time threat protection, smart firewalls, secure cloud back-up and a safe password manager. The brand has worldwide recognition as a reliable ...
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Malwarebytes
malwarebytes.com › home › cybersecurity resource center › basics › antivirus
What is antivirus software? Do you still need antivirus in 2025?
Learn all your need to know about antivirus software and download a free version of Malwarebytes Free Antivirus to scan your system and remove threats from your devices. ... Originally created to detect and remove computer viruses. Now protects against various threats like ransomware, spyware, and zero-day attacks. Modern antivirus uses multiple detection methods beyond file signature matching. Antivirus: Originally focused on viruses. Anti-malware: Broader term covering all types of malicious software.
Published   October 20, 2025
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Scribd
scribd.com › doc › 146055717 › Antiviruses-List
Antiviruses List | PDF | Antivirus Software | Utility Software
Antiviruses List - Free download as Word Doc (.doc), PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or view presentation slides online. The document lists various antivirus software companies and their corresponding websites for online scanning. It includes 51 antivirus products from different countries ...
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Howe2tech
howe2tech.com › uncategorized › hello-world
Types of Antivirus – Howe Tech
Heuristic-Based Antivirus: Heuristic antivirus software detects new, previously unknown viruses or new variants of known viruses by looking for known suspicious behavior or file structures. Behavioral-Based Antivirus: Also known as behavior-based, this type examines the behavior of programs to identify suspicious actions.
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Kaspersky
kaspersky.com › resource-center › preemptive-safety › antivirus-software-how-to-choose
How To Choose Good Antivirus Software | Kaspersky
July 30, 2025 - Deciding how to choose good antivirus software starts with the protections it offers. Antivirus, by definition, should protect against viruses but should also include other types of cyberthreats too.
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Staysafeonline
staysafeonline.in › concept › antivirus-software › different-anti-virus-software
Antivirus Software - Staysafeonline
McAfee Antivirus: McAfee is another reputable antivirus software that provides robust protection against viruses, Trojans, and malware. It offers features such as real-time scanning, web protection, email security, and a firewall to ensure comprehensive defense.
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KnowledgeHut
knowledgehut.com › home › blog › security › what is antivirus software? types, features, best practices
What is Antivirus Software? Types, Features, Best Practices
July 5, 2023 - Let us explore some of these tools: Standalone antivirus software is a traditional type of antivirus tool that focuses solely on detecting and removing malware from your device. It typically offers features such as real-time scanning, malware detection, and removal.