10 Best Antivirus Software To Buy | Top Features

Antivirus software is one of the most crucial software components of a computer. Especially if you regularly surf the internet and make online transactions from your PC, having antivirus software installed is a must. However, if you are still unsure whether to buy an antivirus program, here is a guide for you on why to use third-party security software on your PC. Also, choosing the right software involves the major part of securing your system from online threats and trojans. Check out the article to get the list of the 10 best antivirus software to choose from. Scroll now!

Why use third-party antivirus software?

Third-party antivirus software can be beneficial to your computer if you need extra protection from the high risk of attackers. For example, suppose you regularly visit in-secure websites for your work or research purposes. 

In that case, you should get yourself the best antivirus software, which will provide an extra layer of protection from sneaky attackers lurking with the disguise of ordinary software. 

A third-party antivirus can help you keep your downloads and uploads in check while ensuring no program copies itself in the system folders without your permission. The hackers on the internet are getting smarter with time, and so these third-parties antivirus software manufacturers update their database every hour to add new viruses. 

To help you decide on the best antivirus software, we have made a list of products that work well on windows. This software is some of the best antivirus, which displays a combination of speed and protection. In addition, they have different components which address different types of threats to optimize scan times.

What to look for while choosing the best Antivirus Software?

From strong malware protection technology to speed and ease of use, there are several factors that you have to consider while getting security software for your computer. Check out these four factors before buying one for your PC:

Strong Protection against Online Threats:

First things first, antivirus software has to offer you the best security protection against all sorts of threats, be it trojans, ransomware, or some other malware. Now, when it comes to ensuring the best security for your PC, it's impossible to rely on the feature list available on the company websites. Thus, you must research several forums before you can actually decide. However, we have already done that for you. Hence, you can easily trust our list of the best antivirus software to buy in 2023.

High-quality features:

\Most antivirus software comes with multiple features. Depending upon your need and usability, you need to buy the one that actually fits your requirements. No matter which antivirus program you choose, it will eventually slow down your computer to some extent. That's why availing only those features you require for your system is important. Otherwise, it will unnecessarily weigh down your computer affecting its basic functionality.

Ease of use:

It's another important factor that you have to consider before buying an antivirus. You don't always have to be an expert in using a PC these days. The same goes for security software as well. Imagine how dire a situation it will be if you have to call an IT expert each time you have to conduct a scan on your computer.

Speed and Efficiency:

Probably, we all remember those days when to scan a whole 500GB of disk drive the security software used to take hours. Getting stuck for the whole day with your antivirus software to conduct a scan on your PC is never an option. Therefore, you must invest in something that can offer a quick turnaround.

10 Best Antivirus Software to Buy 

Microsoft Windows Defender

If you already know safe computing and monitor your foreground and background tasks, you can do well with the windows default antivirus and antimalware software. The free software runs on Windows 10 and comes pre-installed. 

The program runs in the background and monitors all your activity online and offline to find any suspicious programs, which may slip inside your system. This program is so fast and effective because Microsoft makes it especially run on your windows computer. 

If you install any other antivirus on your computer, the OS will automatically disable windows defender to ensure both of the software do not consume your resources. 

Norton 360

Norton is not a part of Symantec anymore, but it still earns high AV-test grades for malware and virus protection. The service comes with a five-device subscription for a discount price on your first year. The security service also gives away 100GB of space for your cloud backups combined with malware and virus protection. 

The service contains safe browsing tolls and VPN, which aid the user in good ways, making it the best antivirus as third-party software. You can also use a secure password manager, parental control, and identity protection online, with fraud alerts on shady websites. While your taste might not fit the all-in-one environment, getting everything in one package is still good. 

Bitdefender free version

If you want to have better security than Windows defender without paying a dime, you can get Bitdefender for Windows 10. This software is essential antivirus software that does not offer any special features, which you do not need. The software provides real-time protection for malware, virus, spyware, and ransomware protection.

 The whole application is easy to set up and install and stays off your way until you need to open it. The database of this software is enormous, so you can expect it to detect all the harmful software that hackers try to install on your computer, making this one of the best antivirus software. The cost of Bitdefender premium for a year is around 995 INR for the first session. If you include more devices in the system, you will have to pay more to put more systems in the grid. 

Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes does not need much of an introduction to someone with decent computer experience. This program specializes in malware removal and does it well. The software is also in the top-scoring competitors for independent malware protection. Unfortunately, many people do not readily keep Malwarebytes in their computers but install them whenever they encounter malware.

 The premium version for a single device is at thirty dollars per year, a significantly cheaper side of the list. The service can cover five devices at most of any combination of windows, android, iOS, and macOS. The software also has a free counterpart, which lacks certain features and scans every 14 days of trial. You can download it online; its file size is smaller than most other antivirus software.

McAfee total protection

McAfee is a protective service, which has been on the market for years. The first time we saw them in feat was around 2010. Intel was the prominent promotional partner of this protective service then. It has been around forever because of its enormous virus information database, making it one of the top five best antivirus software.

 The application does not have any feature, which the user does not readily need. However, that also means you have to buy its password manager independently for 35 dollars. The service costs hundred dollars per year and has an auto-renewal system for security suits. You will get access to McAfee theft protective service essentials that monitor ID fraud.  

Kaspersky

Some people say Kaspersky's glory days are behind it, but we tend to disagree. The software is still very smooth and effective for most ransom- and malware. In AV-test, the software scores near-perfect scores for most tests. 

The software's ransomware protection is also very adequate and can do very well in most attacks. The service is preferable by people who want long-term preservation with the assurance of good assessment in case of any issues. 

Kaspersky hosts responsive customer service, which you can reach using almost any medium. The hidden feature in this security service is the performance scan, which optimizes the use of resources inside your computer. 

ESET NOD32

ESET NOD32 achieves outstanding scores in our lab tests and offers bonus components that transverse across the basics. Back in the day, this was one of the best antivirus software for your work computer. Antivirus software is prevalent and preferable for organizations that want protection from exploits in their laptop.

 This software consists of a HIPS component that regularly scans for any exploits in the system, changing how the software behaves. This security application will fit your tastes if you want advanced control over the security of your system. However, this software may be a bit too complex for many people. 

Avira

Avira is a free service that provides exceptional protection at almost no cost. It has a VPN service, ad blocker, password manager, and spam filter, enabling protection from annoying hackers and advertisers. The biggest drawback of Avira was its complexity, which bottlenecked the program for users who are not very tech-savvy.

The new Avira provides much improvement from its old ways and is much friendlier to users with less experience. The service also has a device optimizer, improving your computer's performance with a few clicks. 

The new version is also much more lightweight and consumes less CPU power. You can also find a password manager and software updater, which will help you quickly manage your passwords and software. The VPN service is good and not as quick as independent VPN services, which dedicate themselves to providing temporary private networks. 

Avast and AVG

AVG offers the quickest scan features among all the other security software to this day. So, if you have to insert many third-party flash drives into your computer, the feature may come in handy to you. The owner of both the companies is Avast, but AVG is its online security service provider. The firewall in this service comes with enhanced features that read into the connection to find every port and computer connected. 

This feature can be very effective for users who prefer knowing essential details about their browsing. Avast also won multiple 'best antivirus' awards in the past, contributing significantly to its reputation. 

The biggest strength of Avast and AVG is their capability to stop zero-day attacks. A 0-day computer virus attack is the first encounter with said virus. It is often difficult to prevent such attacks as antivirus software tries countering objects in their database, not something they are unaware of. 

Most virus makers try developing a different strategy to fool the protection software. However, AVG has a record of detecting attacks from viruses, which are not in the database but show suspicious behaviour. 

Recently, there has been a scandal involving AVG and Avast, which surprises many users with the security service's operation. Avast also owns a subsidiary company named Jumpshot, which provides its customers with data about users across the globe. 

The company owning the best antivirus recently agreed to sell customer data to organizations in exchange for millions of dollars. The data searched and browsed the history of anonymous consumers, many of whom did not agree to any data share agreement. The company shut down Jumpshot in response to these deceptive claims against its operation ethics. 

They try to disguise themselves as fantastic antivirus software in the form of a data mining company that worked for a short time, but perhaps it was not the ideal choice for the company and its niche. 

Top 5 Things to Consider for a Safe Computing 

Safe computing habits are a computer software structure which elevates the machine's security against online attackers and hackers. It would help if you followed safe practices and tips to protect your computer and its information.

1. Secure computing can help you be safe even without using the best antivirus most of the time. Always use a password manager- You should never write your password around in sticky notes for prying eyes to find. You can instead use a protective password manager that logs into websites without any issues. 
2. Multi-factor auth. - Multi-factor authorization is a second log-in step, which you can use to access an account after providing your log-in details. This step can include phone authorization as well. 
3. Make secure passwords- Secure passwords include a letter, number, and symbol combination, which is challenging to crack. Many users avoid such password protocols and suffer dire consequences because of them. 
4. Never select 'Remember Me'- You should always log out of your device when you finish using it. A password manager will prove beneficial for remembering all your passwords and log-in data for your subsequent use. 
5. Always use HTTPS- HTTPS is known as the security protocol, which helps keep prying eyes away from the data you send or receive over the web. No one can see your passwords through HTTPS, and you will not need the rescue of the best antivirus. 

Sum Up

Antivirus software highly depends on the person and their taste in the software. You will have to conduct thorough research before making a choice. Every good antivirus will consume a certain amount of resources from your computer, so you can choose the default defender, which works well. As far as securing your computing environment is concerned, antivirus software is insufficient. You need the best quality VPN client, like VPN Surf, to get the most out of your security software.

However, you must also refrain from clicking shady links, visiting strange sites, and practising safe computing. You can use one of the best antivirus software we discussed to get the best protection on your work computer.