7 Best Antivirus Software Of 2022

Forbes Advisor’s pick for the best value in antivirus software is Avira. This program provides comprehensive protection against malware, including ransomware and phishing attacks. It also includes a firewall and email security to protect your devices from being hacked.

Avira also comes with a password manager, free VPN and tracker remover. This way, you can keep your devices and personal information as safe as possible. It offers a free version, as well as premium versions starting at $99.99 per year for five devices or $129.99 per year for up to 25 devices.

Who should use it:

Avira is a great choice for those who are looking for comprehensive protection against malware without breaking the bank.

McAfee is a great option for those who don’t have a team of IT experts but want security like they have one. This program comes with a firewall, email security and ransomware protection. It also includes a password manager and parental controls.

For $29.99 for your first year, you can protect up to ten devices at once with Total Protection. Or, for $74.99 for your first year, you can get a plan that includes unlimited devices, which works great for large teams. However, keep in mind that it’s plans double in price upon renewal, making it more expensive than many of its competitors after the introductory period is up.

Who should use it:

McAfee is ideal for those who want comprehensive protection against malware but don’t want to deal with the hassle of managing it.

Kaspersky is a great option for small businesses who do not have an in-house IT professional managing their security. This is because this program comes with a firewall, email security, ransomware protection, local scanning, proactive detection, real-time protection and instant neutralization of threats–in return, essentially serving as an in-house IT professional.

Its Small Office Security plan starts at $120 for the first year ($150 per year thereafter) for up to five users or $480 for the first year ($600 per year thereafter) for up to 25 years. Plans are easy to set up and can run with no interventions or ongoing maintenance. It also includes a password manager, data backup and patch management and it works with Windows PCs, Mac computers and Android devices.

Who should use it:

Kaspersky is ideal for small businesses that want comprehensive protection without ongoing maintenance of the software.

Avast is a great option for those who work remotely. This program comes with a firewall, email security, ransomware protection and real-time protection. It also includes protection from malware, phishing, ransomware and other cyberattacks.

With 24/7 IT support, your business can get help with any software issues within an hour. It does offer a free plan, but not for commercial purposes. For protection against more than ten devices, consider its Essential Business Security plan, which is ideal for growing businesses. This allows you to manage devices and subscriptions remotely.

Who should use it:

Avast is a great option for businesses that have remote employees or are growing and need protection against more than ten devices.

Bitdefender is a strong option for those who want prevention-based security. It performs daily scans without slowing down your device and doesn’t interfere with other apps. This means you’ll get notified if there’s an issue, but it will stay out of sight until you want to see the notifications.

Bitdefender protects against adware, malware, web attacks and ransomware. Premium plans start at $19.99 per year per device and include parental controls, firewall, webcam and microphone protection, and protection for multiple operating systems. You can even add Premium VPN for an additional cost.

Who should use it:

If you want prevention-based security that doesn’t slow down your device, choose Bitdefender.

Emsisoft protects your data using four distinct layers of security, including a zero-day malware protection layer. The first step is to protect your company from the most serious dangers by blocking harmful websites in the browser. Emsisoft employs machine learning to identify zero-day malware and block it in real time after that.

Behavior analysis is employed in the program to identify potentially malicious apps, and it’s used to detect things such as ransomware before they can encrypt your data. Then, Emsisoft delivers a centralized web dashboard with which you may monitor the protection for your entire company. You can organize your teams and establish unique security settings.

Who should use it:

If you want high-tech defenses against zero-day malware and ransomware, Emsisoft is the best option.

F-Secure uses a cloud-native platform to protect different aspects of businesses. Endpoint protection reduces attack surfaces, identifies threats from community-sourced data and defends your data in the event a breach happens.

It’s standard plan costs $35.99 per year per computer, or $39.99 per year for three computers. However, there are many additional options available for small businesses, but you must contact its sales team to come up with a custom plan. This may not be ideal for startups that need a quick and easy solution.

Who should use it:

If you’re looking for a lot of customization options and are willing to work with F-Secure’s sales team, this is the best antivirus software for you.