I have used many antiviruses, or AVs, in the past.
I have a list of 5 of them and I will compile a review of all 5. Let's begin!
Number 5: Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender
price: free [comes with Windows 10]
This is a free antivirus that really does work.
It scans real time, unlike the free versions of all the other AVs, and tells you when it finds something. you can either quarantine it [make it not ale to impact anything to let you delete it] ,remove it, or allow it.
Only allow a threat if you know it is safe, not to save time.
verdict: great for viruses, but no web protection, VPN or anything. This one is enough if you are careful.
AV test score: 6 protection, 6 performance, 6 usability.
Number 4: Avast
Pricing: £59.99 a year for 1 PC.
This is one piece of crap
It is the most popular antivirus out there but it is one big scam.
It is really annoying, because it open window after window telling you something. And you do not realise that most of the time.
It uses scare tactics to trick you into thinking you are under attack, and tells you to pay in order to make them help you.
It does still detect a lot of viruses anyway, do this is a good option.
verdict: a good Av until it uses those scare tactics on you to weed out another few dollars.
Av test: 9 protection, 5.5 performance, 6 usability.
Number 3: TotalAV
pricing: £59 per year for 6 devices
this is just another bad one.
It has a horrible UI, and I just hate the false claims it makes.
Yeah right.
100% detection rate? No way at all.
anti ransomware? possible.
anti spyware? also possible but I doubt it.
anti ADWARE? hmm... no!
real time protection...yes.
remote firewall? No freaking way! really, no way at all.
safe site? also no.
all devices? of course.
it even claims to be a JUNK CLEANER!
what?
No way.
those are all fake,
CCleaner, Clean Master for Android, etc.
Just use Disk Clean-up!
that came with Windows anyway!
verdict: horrible, what with all the most likely false claims it makes.
AV test: 5.5, 5.5,6.
Number 2: Norton
Pricing: £39.99 for 1dt year then £89.99 a year. Horrible deal.
Norton has a reputation of being a good AV, but it has one main drawback. It slows your Pc down to a crawl. It tries to do so much that it eats up your PC's resources.
Only for fast PCs by the way. I mean ones with top of the range hardware!
not ones that seem to run smooth.
My PC is 11 years old. Call that fast?
verdict: unless you like slow PCs, this is not an option.
Av test: 6,6,6.
BTW I have never used it. I am saying what I heard.
number 1: Malwarebytes
pricing: £52.48 for 2 years
This.
OOh, I love it.
this is the BEST AV out there!
it scans your PC in real time, and offers web protection!
It blocks malicious sites!
and there is more!
It blocks PUPs, or Potentially Unwanted Programs. while these are NOT viruses, the have unintended effects. These include those stupid browser extensions and fake things you come across occasionally.
verdict: THE BEST! too bad it costs.
Av test: 5, 4.5, 4. Bit low, but still!
you don't know how long it takes to type these up...