Because there are so many bells and whistles that come with antivirus software (they don’t just protect from viruses most of the time), it’s hard to choose which one would work best for you.
We’ve narrowed it down to just three well known antivirus software programs that deliver good value while protecting your computer to varying dgrees. These antivirus software programs I found aren’t necessarily the most well-known programs, but generally have proved their quality through tests others have performed and customer reviews.
[utah_video_youtube id=”https://youtu.be/xw3WwYeq98w”]
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus (2015)
MSRP: $39.95/year
Biggest Pro: You get even more than what comes with most standard antivirus plus products including SafePay (for financial transactions) and plenty of privacy protection features.
Biggest Con: Apparently, the customer service. Here’s hoping you don’t have to give them a call.
There is a world out there of antivirus software labs that test the efficiency of such software.
Bitdefender scored very high on all labs it was tested through. It does great against malware protection and phishing websites though can struggle in protection against malicious URLs, or URLs that are trying to install malware and viruses into your computer. But overall, a great protection piece for your desktop or laptop. It even has privacy protection that would help keep your passwords, phone numbers, and other personal data safe and secure. Unfortunately, a lot of customers who submitted reviews were not happy with their customer service. They’re not very helpful if a problem arises or if for some reason you’re seeking a refund. But with all the features that come with this program, I can’t imagine you doing that anyway.
Kaspersky Antivirus (2016)
MSRP: $39.95/year
Biggest Pro: Top scores across the board when tested through the antivirus testing labs.
Biggest Con: The full scan takes quite some time, coming in at a whopping 45 minutes!
No antivirus software program comes closer to being perfect than Kaspersky Antivirus (2016).
With through-the-roof scores in lab tests, it’s hard to argue against the sheer quality of Kaspersky. It does great against malware and phishing sites much like Bitdefender, and even does significantly better against malicious URLs though it still can miss those URLs about half the time. Though it can be installed very quickly, the same can’t be said about the full scan as it comes in for first-time full scan at a staggering 45 minutes. But an antivirus program this good should take its time, right?
AVG Antivirus (2015)
MSRP: Free for home users, $39.99 for businesses
Biggest Pro: IT’S FREE, and very user-friendly.
Biggest Con: Might as well pay for it as there are plenty of more features to benefit from by paying for the full product.
You get what you pay for, right? So a free product is always nice for you and your pocket, but there will be some holes to fill. Though the AVG Antivirus protection has an easy interface for all to use, it has some lackluster protection against phishing websites. Luckily, MyFastPC gives you access to the paid version of AVG Antivirus, allowing you to benefit from all it has to offer, including AVG PC TuneUp which removes junk files, uninstalls unneeded programs, and much more.
Though there are plenty of options for antivirus software programs, it is essential you select the right one to keep your computer protected in the long term. All of the options we reviewed provide the basic protection you need. The premium products offered more but you need to decide which suits your requirements and your budget.
