The days of PCs being viewed as virus-ridden boxes of dismay are long gone. But that doesn't mean there aren't lots of terrible people out there creating malicious programs with the intent to steal something or just create havoc.
Feb 27, 2017 You should definitely use antivirus for your Mac. There is a common misconception floating around the world today that Macs do not need virus protection. Like most troubled city legends, this one is rooted in some historical truth. In the dark times, when computers were a completely new technology, Microsoft dominated the world. Protect your devices with the best antivirus software - we'll help you decide on the right software, with free antivirus and business solutions included. Nov 30, 2016 Most of the more expensive packages bundle in antivirus software for other platforms, so you can get some of the best Mac antivirus software and the best Android antivirus. Viewed 15k times 55 There are some people saying that people should use an antivirus software on Mac. And there are thousands of people claiming that Macs don't get viruses (under this term I mean spyware / malware as well), some even say that it's just a trick from antivirus companies to say that there is a. Sep 09, 2019 While macOS malware isn't nearly as widespread as malware targeting Windows, Macs do get slammed with Trojans, ransomware, and other malicious software. Security companies handle macOS antivirus.
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Some PC makers will preload antivirus software and try to coerce you into signing up for it because that's how they make money. But you shouldn't ever feel pressured, and you likely don't need whatever it is they're shilling.
But do you actually need antivirus software in 2020? Yes ... but ...
It's not only viruses you need to watch out for
The fact that we still refer to this type of software as 'antivirus' is out of date. No longer do we have to be worried only about nasty viruses infecting our computers and wiping out our personal data. Malware is perhaps more common today, with a different tactic to achieve a still-nefarious goal.
The worst part is that the 'best' malware — if you can really even call it that — will quietly sneak onto your PC without you knowing. It'll maybe lie dormant, hidden from view, but all the while, it will also do something you don't want it to.
Whatever the term for it, the threats out there are still very real.
You have protection in Windows 10
Microsoft takes your security and safety in this permanently-online world very seriously, and it built some very important tools into Windows 10 to keep you safe. And, because it's integrated into the OS, it doesn't hog any additional resources. Microsoft also updates it frequently with new data definitions, all the while looking to keep the latest threats at bay.
If, for any reason, something breaks through and you can't get rid of it, there's a beefed-up version called Windows Defender Offline. You can run this while not connected to the internet from a USB drive, and it should find those harder-to-kill viruses.
Windows Defender is still considered in many corners to be little more than a baseline, though. Whatever your own opinion, it's still a useful tool, and there's no reason not to use it. It's also good to use alongside other software.
You can never be too careful
You might think that you're careful when you're online, visiting reputable sites and downloading from official sources like the Windows Store, or iTunes. But here's the thing: You're never truly careful if you're going online completely unprotected.
Would you ride a motorcycle without a helmet? Even if you're careful, there's potential for disaster.
The people coding viruses and malware know exactly how to get it out to the wider world. That's why it still exists.
Something is always better than nothing
Earlier, we asked if you need to use antivirus today. The answer was yes, and no. The no refers to the fact that you don't have to go and find antivirus software anymore. If you're using Windows 10, and everything is up to date, you already have a solid, free tool built in that won't hog your system resources and will keep an eye on things in the background.
And if you're using nothing at all, immediately go enable Windows Defender. (Do it now!)
Sadly, you do still need antivirus software in 2020. It's not necessarily to stop viruses anymore, but there are all kinds of miscreants out there who want nothing more than to steal and cause mayhem by getting inside your PC. It sounds scary, but because much of our lives are now conducted online, the threat is as real as ever.
Which route you take and which software you use is ultimately your decision. But don't think it won't happen to you. That's precisely when it will.
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Tick TockOutlook nets a bunch of time-saving features across all platforms
Microsoft announced a whole bunch of new features headed to Outlook across all platforms today. The one thing they all have in common? Helping you save time and (hopefully) create a better work-life balance.
88% of people use antivirus on their laptop or desktop computer, yet only 50% use additional features like a VPN, secure browser or password manager that often come bundled with paid packages, according to a survey of 1,275 people conducted in November 2019.
So the question is, is there really any point in paying? With a range of free packages available, there’s plenty of choice if you only need the basics, provided they offer sufficient protection.
If you’re a Windows 10 user, there’s also the option of relying on Windows Defender to keep you safe – but again, only if it’s secure. Our latest antivirus tests reveal the answers, and below we look in more detail at the differences between free and paid options.
Head straight to the best antivirus software from our recent tests.
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Paid antivirus: what do you get for your money?
Paid packages typically cost between £20 and £60 – more if you need to buy multiple licences for use on more than one device or computer.
While free packages will usually only protect one computer, some paid packages enable you to protect multiple devices and oversee all that from a central hub. That’s particularly useful if you have family members who perhaps don’t see security as their top priority, so you can make sure things are protected throughout the home.
Paid packages usually offer a range of additional features compared with their no-frills free counterparts. Here’s our breakdown of some typical extras, but check our antivirus reviews to see what each individual package offers.
- Password manager: This helps you to more effectively manage your passwords for online accounts and services. However, there are separate, dedicated password manager options that likely provide a better experience overall, so don’t put all your money on a security package just for this feature.
- Safe banking: When you visit a banking website, this should automatically activate and increase your browser security. We find, though, that the effectiveness and coverage of safe-banking features can be patchy and some don’t seem to work at all. Modern browser should already have the security features required to bank safely, while your bank will also ensure that its web pages are secure.
- Parental controls: Take control of what subject matter the young ones can access on your devices. However, bear in mind that Windows 10 already has good parental controls built in so, again, check to see what features your premium package of choice has before shelling out for it.
- Anti-phishing: Paid packages can offer superior protection against phishing attacks, flagging up dodgy websites and messages intended to steal your data. However, in our most recent tests we’ve found very little difference between the premium anti-phishing features of a security package, and the free equivalent. Also bear in mind that all modern web browsers have some form of phishing protection built in, so can protect you to a degree without needing antivirus software.
- VPN: This can help you to use public wi-fi more safely. Be aware, though, that there may be a limit on how much bandwidth you can use and you often aren’t able to choose your endpoint, which is the country in which your VPN will simulate your connection. This might hamper your ability to unlock country-restricted content.
- Anti-ransomware: This is a sticking point for a lot of antivirus products. The name suggests that premium packages will be superior at stopping ransomware viruses from locking up your files. This normally takes the form of a setting that lets you lock down a particular set of folders, preventing unauthorised programs from modifying them in the way that ransomware does. This is all well and good, but the only time this setting is actually needed is if your antivirus fails at the first hurdle and allows a ransomware package to run. The best free and paid antivirus software will block ransomware before it gets to work on locking up files, so while perhaps this sounds like a nice backstop, it shouldn’t be necessary with a good antivirus package.
Browse our guide to the best paid antivirus packages for more.
Free antivirus: does it offer enough security?
Importantly, most free antivirus software should offer all the core tools you really need to keep your computer safe from internet threats. If you can live without the sorts of extras described above, you might wonder if it’s really worth paying for protection.
Antivirus Software For Mac
With free antivirus packages, expect to find:
- Malware protection: Free antivirus usually gives virtually the same malware protection as its paid-for siblings. While some free packages supposedly lack anti-ransomware shields, they’ve still blitzed all ransomware in our testing.
- Anti-phishing: They might not always claim it, but Best Buy packages can eliminate phishing attacks often as effectively as paid-for software.
- Simple user interfaces: As free packages tend to have fewer features and extras, the menu systems can be more stripped back and simple to follow than paid rivals.
- Online support: Support being available via email, live chat and even on the phone is reserved for paid-for software, but good free packages usually have a range of useful online advice should you have a problem.
- Occasional extras: Although you typically don’t get many features, we’ve tested some free packages that offer a few extras, including one service with a password manager included.
- Some nagging messages: In a bid to get you to pay up, some free antivirus packages make mountains out of security molehills, suggesting you need to upgrade your package to a paid-for version to solve ‘problems’ it claims to have found. This could be settings it deems to be insecure, or even just files it considers to be junk and wants to delete for you. The best free packages don’t do this too often, but they all do it to some degree.
Also keep in mind that as with any free online service, one way companies may choose to claw back money is by using your security software as a means to gather data for advertising purposes. This issue was brought to the fore in January 2020, when Avast closed down a data-gathering subsidiary for ‘unacceptable’ data collection. Read our guide to the Avast controversy for more. Which? is currently investigating the practices of antivirus software and their data gathering practices.
Browse our guide to the best free antivirus for more.
Best Free Antivirus For Mac
Is paid or free antivirus right for me?
You should only pay for antivirus software if you want to protect more than one device and you’re convinced that the extra features it offers are worth the price. Otherwise, just install a good free package.
Remember that Windows 10’s built-in security is a now a credible line of defense against malware and phishing, particularly if you only install apps from the Windows Store and use the Microsoft Edge browser. For more, find out whether Windows Defender is enough to protect your PC.
If you’re using a Mac and you’re concerned about viruses, you can read about the best protection in our guide to antivirus software for Apple Macs.