Each one works slightly differently and provides various levels of protection and features, so it’s really hard to decide which one to choose! One day you might read a review that says one thing and the next day says another, so it gets quite confusing.
Unfortunately, there is no “best antivirus” that will 100% protect you from all possible threats, not slow down your computer, and stay out of sight, out of mind. There are several good ones, but none are perfect. What works for you may not work for others.
The testing criteria is usually how effective protection is. Most antivirus programs will catch most threats but how many will remain undetected is always a valid question. The good guys are playing catch up with the bad guys.
Different antivirus programs can impact your user experience and system performance in various ways. For example, suppose you want the antivirus to constantly scan your files and monitor network activity. In that case, you will obviously need a fast computer with plenty of RAM, speedy disk storage (SSD is a must!), and decent processing power.
If your antivirus is ever vigilant, there will be programs or scripts categorized as “false positives”. The antivirus will stop running them if it suspects the program isn’t ubiquitous or behaving unusually.
Some antivirus programs only catch what has traditionally been considered viruses – programs and processes that alter your system and files. Most will not protect you from “potentially unwanted programs”, like toolbars, extensions, “driver updaters”, and “system optimizers”.
Review sites complicate the problem as well as they select a new winner every month. It’s not a secret that fake reviews or financial incentives can skew the results. Also, some of those review sites give 100% glowing reviews to products we never even heard of!
The most critical thing you should realize is that antivirus is only a part of a much larger picture. It’s usually the last line of defence if all previous attempts to stop an attack failed. For example, you might get yourself in trouble by:
- Clicking dodgy links in spam emails or online ads
- Downloading “free” content, like movies or pirated programs
- Not keeping your software up to date
- Deliberately disabling/pausing protection or ignoring warnings that get in your way
So, what do we recommend?
If you use a PC with Windows, we recommend Emsisoft Anti-Malware. We have been using and selling it for many years. We haven’t had any significant issues aside from occasional system slowness when a full scan is in progress. Our clients who use it never had to come back for virus removals or ransomware problems.
If you use an Apple Mac, you still need antivirus too! Many people believe Macs are immune. While they are harder to infect than Windows computers, we see many Macs with weird issues, like redirected search results, ads, and pop-ups. For Macs, we recommend Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. It has a free version too, but without real-time protection.
Suppose you are on a strict budget and don’t want to spend money. In that case, Windows Defender that comes preinstalled on Windows 10, is a viable option. It’s certainly better than other free programs like Avast and AVG since it won’t constantly nag you about recommended upgrades. However, better antiviruses don’t cost much (we sell licenses for $80 per year), so is saving 25 cents a day really worth the gamble?
We can replace your existing antivirus with better protection. You can bring your computer to us, or we can help remotely. We can also check your computer for other issues and suggest what needs to be done to ensure your computer experience is in top shape!
