You should be protected from malware when you keep your program updated, use secure passwords and avoid phishing emails. Even if you follow all the right steps, an antivirus program is essential as a security measure in case of a mistake. The best antivirus program depends on the operating system that you use as well as the number of devices that you secure, and whether you need extra features like a password manager or VPN, dark web monitoring, or family security.

When you evaluate an antivirus, it is essential to check how it performs in independent tests. An excellent antivirus should be compatible with your operating system, and it should consume a minimum amount of resources to not hinder your computer’s performance. Another important factor to consider is how often you update your antivirus, and whether it works across multiple devices.

In tests conducted by Macworld, Intego Mac’s Internet Security X9 did well. It includes VirusBarrier, an excellent antivirus, as well as NetBarrier, an effective firewall. It detected all their malware samples and warned them when unwelcome software was running on their Macs. It is compatible with macOS and unlike its competitors, looks and behaves like an actual Mac program. It allows you to purchase a backup service, Android apps for mobile security, and a more advanced firewall.

TotalAV’s powerful engine best board management software and a broad array of features contained in an easy-to-use dashboard make it a ideal choice for new users looking for something easy to comprehend. Its heuristic-based detection method finds malware that isn’t in the database and its behavior monitoring detects changes in the way the program is used, and sandboxing runs suspicious programs in a separate environment so they can’t do any damage. In AV-Comparatives tests it had one of the lowest false positive rates and its scan was extremely rapid.