Best Antivirus Software and Apps (Archive)

[Christopher_156]

First of all I want to start off by letting everybody on this feed know that I am a former BestBuy contractor.
And while I was working there, we got in trouble for recommending any other AV product except Nortons!
Especially the new Norton Core IOT device. Secondly, management told us to stop selling Kapersky's AV
(because it is rumored to be a tool of the Russian intelligence gathering community).

 

[wyaghta]

Thank you, I try using Avast for my PC and Mobile phone

 

[wtj]

I'm very disappointed.
I never suspected that Tom's Hardware would recommend KASPERSKY!
Go back just a few years when the newly offered Kaspersky product COULDN'T BE REMOVED FROM WINDOWS!
Finally Symantec released a solution.
This was ?10-?15 years ago?
What makes Tom's think that Kaspersky or ANY Russian company is safe?
Sorry, now I can not accept any Tom's recommendation!

Oh, how the mighty have fallen!
(BTW your printer reviews are terrible! The only thing your reviewers seem to care about is speed.
What about PRINT and GRAPHICS QUALITY?
How about reproducing samples?)

 

[wtj]

I just realized...
Some of these comments are more than a year old, so this article must be at least THAT!
TG, YOU'VE BECOME A BLITHERING WASTE OF TIME!

 

[antonia.m]

how does iobit rate?

 

[monkeylovlov]

Which ones have no popup ads or with ads that can be disabled?

 

[rgd1101]

Which ones have no popup ads or with ads that can be disabled?

Any paid version.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You know, I REALLY wish our staff writers and editorial department would STOP making statements like "you need a strong antivirus to ward off malware" and start using accurate nomenclature, especially since so many people take them at their word.

90% of antivirus programs either DO NOT ward against malware, at all, or do so via separate modules. Antivirus is for viruses. Malware protection is for, well, just about everything else. Mostly, antivirus, malware and root kit protections are all separate factors, requiring separate modules or applications. It's true there are some all in one protections out there but even those use entirely separate definitions for detection. Otherwise, you end up with people thinking that because they have Windows Defender they are protected from malware, adware, spyware, trojans and rootkits, which of course, most traditional antivirus programs do not protect against.

In fairness, I also wish some of these companies that offer these programs would do the same, and many of them DO say they are antivirus programs but also offer protections against a variety of malware and other attack vulnerabilities. Using correct terminology would go a long way towards making sure people are actually aware and informed about what exactly the actual threats are and whether or not they actually have protection against that or other types of infections.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If you go to the home sites there are good descriptions about what each type suite protects , people just need to research what they are purchasing.

 

[wtj]

Trojan Remover - Simply Super Software
and
Anti-Malware - Malwarebytes
and
Anti-Virus Plus - McAfee OR Norton Anti-Virus - Symantec (I prefer McAfee)

 

[erickem]

2017 + 2018: ClamAv for Macs

__________

My website: thêu chân mày Ngọc Dung

 

[Rexer]

I've cleaned and tune-up hundreds of computers. I scour the internet every day (including Yahoo). No one AV gets it all. Malware and spyware are totally different animals and can also ruin Windows and files. Kaspersky is the best AV I've used. Thou I personally use Avast (for the AV boot scan and clean-up tools). I use Malwarebytes, Rkill, Rouge Killer, SUPERAnti-Spyware and Spybot on manual scans. Ccleaner after I get off a crappy site to clean up my browsers. Viruses sometimes hide out in temp files.
To be honest, if you've got no funds, use the Windows defender and firewall. A little defense is better than none at all.

 

[Rexer]

I don't think there's any one anti-virus program that gets them all. There are some that get close. Personally, I like two but I don't use them together. Kaspersky and Avast! I think Kaspersky does the best job of finding and removing viruses. I use Avast! for my daily web cruiser because it has a 'bootscan' feature. With the bootscan, Avast! can effectively search out viruses before Windows loads. Meaning, before a virus can do anything, Avast! can be used to search it out. I used it for years at the shop and am satisfied using it as a bench tool. I've used Kaspersky in my work computer for 5 years.
My tools are Avast! for viruses
Ccleaner for cleaning out temp files and useless junk.
Rkill to stop malicious software so I can run scans
SUPERAnti-Spyware for spyware
Spybot and Malwarebytes for malicious software that load on
Rogue Killer for deep Windows and HKey registry searches.
'cmd> sfc /scannow' for file repair and C: >Properties >Tools >Error Checker to fix Windows
Defrag program or the Windows tool in C:>properties.
I use the 'Major Geek' site when I find a really tough wreck to deal with.

 

[jrgsr70]

I used Avast and AVG for years, but stopped when they started hogging the system. When uninstalling AVG, I found its a nightmare to get it off your system.
I have good luck running MS Essentials and MS Defender along with Malwarebytes. Between them I have saved many computers from having to wipe drive down and reinstall the system along with whatever software was installed. Malwarebytes can be run while in safe mode.

 

[Rexer]

I used Avast and AVG for years, but stopped when they started hogging the system. When uninstalling AVG, I found its a nightmare to get it off your system.
I have good luck running MS Essentials and MS Defender along with Malwarebytes. Between them I have saved many computers from having to wipe drive down and reinstall the system along with whatever software was installed. Malwarebytes can be run while in safe mode.

Actually had no problems running Avast! as a stand alone product. When I'd run compatible real time scans like anti spyware or malware programs (like Malwarebytes, Spybot and Rouge killer), I notice congestion. Most of the congestion happens on start up because they all try to load and update.
AVG and Norton, if they get corrupted and need to be removed, whoa, that's a real headache to go into the registry path to dig out. It takes 3rd party program remover like 'Revo Uninstaller' to get it off. Even then, there's no guarantee it's completely off.

 

[mdd1963]

Malware FOX is really Zemana Anti-malware.

Testing Malware Fox, it even shows up in task manger is "ZAM"; so much for hiding it's licensing roots.

 

[kcfield]

In my experience, Bitdefender (I used the free version) had worked perfectly until their recent update. The recent update brought many false positives which were not resolved by their tech support's recommendation to uninstall and reinstall Bitdefender free. While Bitdefender does allow false positives urls to be bypassed, submitted for review, or whitelisted, this is not helpful as an ongoing strategy. Specific examples of false positives are when moving to particular screens while logged in to my secure investment website, while going to my own church's website, and when trying to go to the Toledo Zoo website (all https). Regretfully, I permanently uninstalled Bitdefender a few days ago, and have reverted to my lifetime (grandfathered) Malwarebytes Premium (3.0) in combination with Webroot secure. I have had no false positives since uninstalling Bitdefender. Bitdefender incidentally acknowledged my ticket but did not provide timely additional support; nor did they answer on their Facebook page or privately the extent to which other users have experienced this problem. Since this problem did not hit until 10-14 days ago, I do hope that you will retest Bitdefender, so that you can reach your own conclusions. Incidentally, I have had no problems on the Android version of Bitdefender--the problem (in my experience) is exclusively on the home version.

 

[johngooch]

Windows Defender gets the job done and for free! I've never had a virus or malware infection, so I think I 'm doing things right .

For Mac, I don't use AV at all, my home network has network-level security with pfsense and pi-hole, and I VPN to my home network when I traveling.

 

[howiejcee]

How come Malwarebytes Premium isn't part of the review?

EDIT:
On a related note, a couple years back I had an issue where my PC somehow got infected with ransomware. I noticed high activity on a mechanical drive and immediately disconnected internet and tried to close all programs. When I couldn't figure out what was causing this in less than 1 minute I decided to disconnect power and just physically shut the PC down.

Luckily I was able to save my data but the point is at that time, the only antivirus/antimalware SW that actually fixed my issue was Malwarebytes. I had to use a rescue disk to scan all drives. Later I found that the ransomeware was encrypting my files. I think today's ransomeware can encrypt your disk or files super fast. Scary sh*t.

I don't recall all the other SW I tried but I'm pretty sure I tried several of the most well-known ones like Kaspersky, AVG, and Norton.

Perhaps if you decide to buy some other antivirus, you should still benefit from installing and using Malwarebytes free at the very least.

 

[zeeshan6233]

Nice Information Thanks for sharing

 

[jeffohora1]

I am just about to renew Webroot Internet Security Complete for probably the fifth time. Intermittently I have used the programs referenced here and recommended. One I was using Kaspersky a few years back, it failed to pick up on a virus infection. I switched to ESET and generally speaking was satisfied with that, however, I had had a good experience with web roots product and with some upgraded features and the incredibly great price for it on Amazon-less than $40 bucks! ... It was a no-brainer!

I will speculate in answer to why Tom's here has not included for comparison some of the most popular and most purchased antivirus software's may perhaps be because they get the best referral fee promoting Kaspersky. I have no problem with that, however, if that being the case and I do suspect that is, then they should disclose that right up front or somewhere on the page of the review.

 

[tyvek1]

Have had to stick with free versions because when purchased full versions was unable to restore image backups I make on the system drive? The software bitdefender did not work right on restore and hung my system. But the free version has no issues. Also could not address my firewall with bitdefender even with the address exclusion was not able to bring up the address. Other paid versions are the same. Want to support paid versions but wasted some cash on that also.

 

[yonnie_02]

Norton has increased their price to $39, didn't see a fremium offer. Android/Trojan.Banker.Hqwar.i got past the Lookout that was installed and infected the ready2go_ATT.apk. I can't seem to remove it, but Malwarebytes will off to "whitelist" it. Isn't that nice, whitelist a virus so it doesn't get scanned anymore? Who is scamming who?

 

[Nid]

On the other hand I've heard that AVG sells your history. I still use Avast but it may be relevant for spam and pop-up levels?

 

[viaexcellence]

I have had Kaspersky Total Security for 3 years now. It checks updates for my applications automatically. It is very easy to navigate. I also installed Kaspersky in my Android phone too. I couldn't feel safer online.