Best Antivirus Software in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide

08/09/2024

Best Antivirus Software in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide. In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are evolving faster than ever before, antivirus software has become a critical necessity. Attacks such as ransomware, spyware, and malware have grown increasingly sophisticated, often with the help of AI technology.

Even tech-savvy individuals who take precautions can find themselves vulnerable to cyber threats. This is why choosing the best antivirus software is so important—it serves as a crucial line of defense in protecting your personal data, financial information, and online privacy.

Today we'll be taking an in-depth look at the best antivirus software of 2024, covering the most popular solutions, their features, performance, and how well they protect against the ever-increasing threats in the online world.

You may be interested: 6 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information Online

Why Antivirus Software is Essential in 2024

Before jumping into the rankings, let’s take a look at why antivirus software is more crucial than ever. The cyber threat landscape continues to expand, with hackers constantly developing new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. Here are some reasons why antivirus software should be a must-have for anyone using a computer or mobile device:

1. Increased Cyber Threats

Cybercrime is on the rise, with attacks such as phishing, ransomware, and identity theft becoming more common. Hackers are constantly on the lookout for vulnerabilities in operating systems, applications, and even everyday internet browsing.

2. AI-Powered Attacks

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a tool for businesses—cybercriminals are using AI to craft smarter, more targeted attacks. AI can help hackers automate phishing campaigns, find security loopholes, and bypass traditional security measures.

3. Remote Work Vulnerabilities

With the rise of remote work, home networks are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. Antivirus software can help safeguard your devices and data, whether you're working from home or connecting to public Wi-Fi.

4. Comprehensive Protection

Most modern antivirus solutions provide much more than just malware scanning. They often include features like VPNs (virtual private networks), password managers, parental controls, dark web monitoring, and cloud backup solutions to offer holistic protection for all of your online activities.

Best Antivirus Software of 2024: Reviewed and Ranked

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve reviewed and ranked the best antivirus software of 2024 based on several factors, including protection, performance, features, and ease of use.

1. Norton 360 Deluxe

Why We Picked Norton 360 Deluxe

Norton 360 Deluxe is our top choice for 2024 because it offers a comprehensive range of protection at an affordable price. It covers all the bases for online security, including antivirus, firewall, and protection against phishing and malware attacks. It also offers a VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring, and parental controls.

Norton 360 Deluxe excels at protecting users from both online and offline threats, with minimal impact on system performance. For families, the parental controls are particularly useful, and the addition of 50GB of cloud storage for backups makes it a great all-in-one security solution.

Key Features:

Antivirus, malware, and ransomware protection
VPN for secure browsing
50GB of cloud backup
Parental controls
Password manager
Dark web monitoring

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $50 for 5 devices
Renewal pricing: $120 per year for 5 devices

Who Should Use Norton 360 Deluxe?

Norton 360 Deluxe is ideal for individuals or families looking for a comprehensive, easy-to-use antivirus solution that includes everything from password management to VPN protection. If you’re someone who wants to simplify online security while enjoying maximum protection, Norton 360 Deluxe is the best choice.

2. Avast One

Why We Picked Avast One

Avast One provides robust antivirus protection with an easy-to-navigate interface. It includes features such as webcam protection, dark web monitoring, and a VPN with 5GB of data per week. Avast One also offers some useful tools to keep your system optimized, such as driver updates and app clean-up utilities.

Despite being packed with features, Avast One remains easy to use and doesn’t demand too much from the user, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced users alike.

Key Features:

Antivirus and malware protection
Webcam protection
VPN with 5GB of data per week
Dark web monitoring
Driver updater and PC clean-up utilities

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $51 for 5 devices
Renewal pricing: $110 per year for 5 devices

Who Should Use Avast One?

Avast One is perfect for users who value ease of use, advanced threat detection, and system optimization tools. It’s also ideal for those who already use a separate password manager and don’t require parental controls.

3. AVG Internet Security

Why We Picked AVG Internet Security

AVG Internet Security is an excellent choice for users looking for solid protection without breaking the bank. It builds on AVG’s popular free antivirus by adding more advanced features, such as protection against phishing, ransomware, and DNS hijacking. The software also includes webcam protection and dark web monitoring.

AVG Internet Security is lightweight and doesn’t significantly impact system performance, even during full scans. However, some users may find the occasional pop-up ads for other AVG products a bit annoying.

Key Features:

Real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and phishing
Webcam protection
Dark web monitoring
DNS hijacking protection
Low system impact

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $60 for 10 devices
Renewal pricing: $100 per year for 10 devices

Who Should Use AVG Internet Security?

If you’re looking for reliable protection at an affordable price, AVG Internet Security is an excellent option. It’s particularly well-suited for those who need protection across multiple devices and want advanced security features without paying for extras like a password manager or VPN.

4. Avira Prime

Why We Picked Avira Prime

Avira Prime is known for its user-friendly interface and robust feature set, which includes antivirus, a password manager, unlimited VPN access, and a variety of system optimization tools. While it lacks parental controls, Avira Prime is a strong choice for users who want an all-in-one security suite that also helps them manage their PC efficiently.

Avira Prime’s minimal system impact means you can run full system scans without slowing down your device, although it may be more demanding on older PCs. The unlimited VPN is also a great perk, especially for users who prioritize online privacy.

Key Features:

Antivirus and malware protection
Password manager
Unlimited VPN access
PC optimization tools
Secure file deletion and backup options

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $60 for unlimited devices
Renewal pricing: $105 per year

Who Should Use Avira Prime?

Avira Prime is a good fit for users who value simplicity and want a full suite of tools to protect their devices and optimize system performance. It’s particularly appealing to those who don’t require parental controls but do need a VPN and password manager included.

5. McAfee Total Protection

Why We Picked McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection offers excellent identity protection and strong antivirus defenses. Its focus on privacy and identity safeguards sets it apart from competitors. McAfee also provides a VPN, dark web monitoring, and personal information monitoring for things like your email address, phone number, and even your social security number.

While McAfee’s scans can slow down mid-range and older PCs, you can schedule scans during off-peak hours to mitigate this issue. The software is currently available through third-party sellers at a highly affordable price, making it a great value for users looking for comprehensive protection.

Key Features:

Antivirus and malware protection
Identity and privacy protection
VPN with unlimited data
Dark web monitoring
Personal information monitoring

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $19 for up to 10 devices (third-party sellers)
Renewal pricing: Varies by seller

Who Should Use McAfee Total Protection?

McAfee Total Protection is ideal for users concerned about privacy and identity theft, especially those who want an all-in-one solution for managing their online security. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to protect personal information across multiple devices.

6. Panda Dome Complete

Why We Picked Panda Dome Complete

Panda Dome Complete is one of the most feature-rich antivirus suites available, offering tools like a virtual keyboard, advanced virus removal, and even a disk defragmenter. The software also provides password management, Wi-Fi protection, and a VPN with a 150MB daily limit.

The interface is visually appealing, featuring a beautiful background image similar to the Microsoft Bing homepage. While it’s on the pricier side, Panda Dome Complete offers an array of utilities that are hard to find in other antivirus suites.

Key Features:

Antivirus and malware protection
Password manager
Virtual keyboard for secure typing
Wi-Fi protection
VPN with 150MB daily limit
Parental controls

Pricing:

First-year pricing: $64.50 for 1 device
Renewal pricing: $86 per year

Who Should Use Panda Dome Complete?

Panda Dome Complete is ideal for users who want a wide array of features right at their fingertips. It’s great for anyone who values a user-friendly interface and wants to manage their PC’s security and performance in one place.

7. Windows Security (Built-In)

Why We Picked Windows Security

Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender) is the built-in antivirus for Windows systems and provides a robust level of protection for free. It includes real-time scanning for malware and viruses, a firewall, ransomware protection, and basic parental controls. However, it lacks many of the extra features found in.

High Detection Rate for Malware and Other Threats

A high detection rate is crucial when selecting an antivirus, as it directly correlates with how effectively the software can identify and neutralize threats such as viruses, ransomware, and other types of malware. Many antivirus suites now use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to adapt to new threats and provide more robust protection. Testing reports from organizations like AV-Comparatives and AV-Test are excellent indicators of how well different antivirus programs detect both known and emerging threats.

Low Impact on System Resources

While protection is important, you don't want antivirus software that slows down your computer to the point where it becomes difficult to use. A good antivirus suite operates in the background efficiently, using minimal system resources, so you can browse, work, and even play games without noticeable slowdowns. Most modern antivirus software is designed to minimize performance impact, and benchmarks like PCMark and UL Procyon are used to measure how much of a load an antivirus program places on a system.

Easy-to-Use Interface

Antivirus software should be intuitive and straightforward, allowing users of all experience levels to easily navigate the interface. An ideal antivirus suite offers one-click access to essential functions like scanning, real-time protection, and managing firewall settings. The interface should be clean, with clearly labeled options that make it easy to check system status, scan schedules, and view security reports.

More than Just Antivirus Protection

Many modern antivirus programs have evolved into comprehensive security suites, providing features well beyond basic virus protection. Here are some additional features that are increasingly becoming standard in premium antivirus solutions:

Backup Services: Some antivirus suites offer cloud storage to back up important files, helping you recover data if ransomware strikes.
Mobile Security: Antivirus software now extends protection to mobile devices, with apps available for both Android and iOS.
Advanced Firewall: An advanced firewall protects your system from incoming threats, blocking suspicious traffic from ever reaching your device.
Family Protection (Child Restrictions): This feature allows parents to set up rules and monitor their children’s online activities, ensuring they are safe from inappropriate content and potential predators.
VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making your online activities private and secure. Many antivirus programs now include access to a VPN service as part of the package.
Password Manager: A password manager stores and encrypts your login credentials, helping you manage strong, unique passwords across all your accounts.

The inclusion of these features varies between free and paid antivirus options, with premium services often offering more comprehensive protection and support for multiple devices.

How to Choose the Right Security Suite

Choosing the right antivirus suite comes down to assessing your personal needs and budget. If you are looking for basic protection, a free version will suffice, but for more advanced features like multi-device support, password management, and VPN access, a premium option is a better choice. If you’re not sure which features you need, check out our guides on security suite features, password managers, and VPNs to help you make an informed decision.

How We Test Antivirus Software

Testing antivirus software involves evaluating its real-world performance in detecting threats, ease of use, and system impact. Here’s how we break it down:

User Interface

We examine how easy it is to use the antivirus suite. Does the interface simplify accessing key features like PC scans and real-time protection? Are alerts intuitive and interactive? We evaluate whether the design and navigation make sense for both novice and advanced users.

Features Assessment

In addition to basic protection like malware scanning and real-time defense, many antivirus suites offer bonus features such as a VPN, password manager, and parental controls. We assess whether these additional features enhance security or if they are simply add-ons with little practical value.

System Performance

To evaluate the impact on system performance, we run a series of benchmarks, including:

PCMark 10 Extended Test: This benchmark simulates various workloads such as web browsing, document editing, video calls, and gaming to see how the antivirus software affects system performance.
UL Procyon: We test performance by simulating tasks like document editing in Microsoft Office applications.
Handbrake Video Transcoding: As a stress test, we use Handbrake to transcode a video, measuring how long the process takes before and after installing the antivirus software.

We run these benchmarks on an Acer Aspire 3 15 with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, using a fresh install of Windows 10 Home for each test.

Threat Detection Capabilities

For malware detection, we rely on industry reports from security research organizations such as AV Comparatives and AV-Test. These organizations rigorously test antivirus software to provide insights into how well each one detects both known and zero-day threats.

Pricing

We consider the pricing of each antivirus suite and what features it offers at various price points. Free versions offer basic protection, while paid options often include more advanced security tools like VPNs, firewalls, and family protection features.

FAQ

Is antivirus necessary in 2024?

Yes, antivirus software is still essential in 2024. Malware, ransomware, phishing scams, and other online threats are only growing more sophisticated. An antivirus suite provides a crucial layer of defense for your devices and personal data.

Do Windows 10/11 systems need third-party antivirus software?

While Windows Security provides good basic protection, third-party antivirus suites offer more advanced features and higher detection rates for sophisticated threats. They also provide better control, user-friendly interfaces, and more customization options.

Will antivirus software slow down my computer?

Some antivirus programs can affect system performance during scans, but most modern software is optimized to minimize this impact. Regularly scheduling scans during low-usage times can prevent noticeable slowdowns.

Should you pay for antivirus software?

It depends on your needs. If basic malware protection is enough, free versions will work. However, if you require advanced features like ransomware protection, VPN, or multi-device support, consider upgrading to a paid service.

How many antivirus programs should you run on one computer?

It’s best to stick with just one antivirus suite. Running multiple programs can cause conflicts and reduce overall system efficiency.

This comprehensive guide aims to help you find the best antivirus software for 2024 based on your needs, budget, and usage preferences.

Freddy Farel