Best Antivirus Software 2021

What is antivirus?

Antivirus is a program or a set of programs that defends smartphones and computers from online threats — viruses in forms of spyware, worms, adware, trojans, malware, rootkits. Antivirus program identifies, quarantines, and removes viruses from the operating system using sophisticated behavior-recognition algorithms.

Why Do You Need an Antivirus Solution?

If you doubt the necessity of antivirus protection you may not know that every operating system is susceptible to viruses. The latter can demand ransom payments, cause damage to the infected device, and even steal the user’s identity. The fact that you avoid downloading certain files or visiting certain sites will not protect you from getting a dangerous virus. Your device can get infected when you use a USB memory stick, surf the net, or check email.

Thus, it’s better to choose antivirus for Android or any other operating system you use not to put your security and data at risk.

How Does Antivirus Software Work?

Both paid and free antivirus software programs work on a signature database. They can be of two types:

• Active — detects and fights viruses in real-time;
• Passive — requires to make manual or scheduled virus scans.

When a new malicious item is reported it is added to the software’s database. Your Android, Windows, or Linux antivirus will suggest you handle the threat in the following ways:

• Quarantine — the only option for undeletable viruses;
• Delete — always choose it if the virus can be deleted;
• Ignore — this way you don’t solve the problem and let the virus do the damage.

The Best Antivirus Software

If you don’t want to spend money on protection from viruses you can download a free version. Free antivirus is a great option if you want to try a set of features or new software. But you should know that it will not provide a high level of protection, because free versions usually don’t include Internet security software. While paid antivirus covers both offline and online activities. It is especially helpful if your device has already been infected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? We’ve got answers. If you have some other questions, see our support center.

Is there really a difference between providers?

No. These are significant differences between the titles on the market (which is why our team enjoys reviewing them so much!). For instance:

• Platforms supported: Many antiviruses protect a number of devices with each license. If that’s the case, you’ll want to make sure that the platforms you use are all supported. You’ve found an antivirus with a great Android app, but do they also offer a program that will work with your son’s iPad?
• Features: Some products offer an excellent virus scanner but not much else, while others provide a multi-faceted feature with a variety of internet security tools.
• Focus market and use-case: Some products are targeted specifically at the enterprise market and are designed to be administered centrally by an IT team. Others are family-oriented and offer competitively-priced deals for multi-device households. Some are even specifically designed to protect internet of things (IoT) devices.

Can I get by without an antivirus?

Despite what you may have heard, every major class of operating system—including both Linux and Android (which is a mobile-optimized Linux fork)—is susceptible to viruses. And although Windows includes a built-in tool to conduct basic scanning and firewall management, users should install a dedicated solution.

Most antiviruses are multi-faceted programs that provide protection against a wide variety of cybersecurity threats—and come with clever built-in automation (like turning on a VPN when an online banking website is accessed) designed to keep their users safe. Some browsers include built-in phishing protection, but in most cases, these don’t compare to software offered by professionals.

Use an antivirus—it’s a small investment in your privacy and the health of your computer.

What Is spyware and can an antivirus protect against it?

Spyware is a type of computer infection that transports your data back to its creator. Software of this kind has many uses, some of which are legal, such as:

• Quarantine — the only option for undeletable viruses;
• Delete — always choose it if the virus can be deleted;
• Ignore — this way you don’t solve the problem and let the virus do the damage.

Installing an antivirus can protect you from spyware. While it’s preferable to stay ahead of spyware, install an antivirus and avoid disaster. If an infection has already happened, don’t panic—it can be resolved easily with a good antivirus scan.