
It isn't a straightforward job for many customers to choose the right antivirus software for Windows. Each antivirus software or solution has its attributes, and this is why people usually struggle with how to get the right thing in lots of candidates. These products are different from each other, even on their core features: scan and remove viruses.
1. Compare Antivirus Products
In general, we can compare anti-virus products in 3 main aspects:
1.1 Reliability
If an anti-virus product has any defect in reliability, it's useless. Many reliability issues are due to conflict with other software installed on the same computer, which blocks further running of scan or killing some virus or malware. It means that some known viruses can survive in your computer even if you intentionally run an anti-virus protection software. Another circumstance is much worse: you somehow install a cheater that seems to be an antivirus product but does as malware. It may indeed clean some viruses. However, its quality is deficient, and the real purpose is to run spyware or adware on your computer.
To get reliable solutions, we need a smart way to choose excellent vendors and only download the original producers' installation packages.
1.2 Usability
Usability is the second important factor, especially for ordinary home users who usually lack experience and patience to manage complicated software. Even if the product has the perfect feature to deal with any security risk, the users may give up running it because they want to simplify their jobs. In some cases, if the anti-virus software is too difficult to run, the user may disable it easily.
1.3 Protection
Theoretically, all antivirus products will offer protection. Although they may have different behaviors in both comprehension and quality, for most use cases of home computers, security isn't as important as usability. However, for business or enterprise users, their points are changed. These organizations usually hire people to offer computer services. Usability isn't essential anymore. Instead, they hope for stronger protection for information security, for example, higher frequency and regularity of updates and better ability to remove infections.
2. Home and Business Users
As an important information product, antivirus tools have obvious differences between home and business users. Some developers offer for both areas; the others may just work for home or business users.
2.1 Shortlist for Home Antivirus
Producer | Name | Country |
---|
AVG Technologies | AVG Antivirus | Czech |
Baidu | Baidu Antivirus | China |
BitDefender | Bitdefender Antivirus Plus | Romania |
BullGuard | BullGuard Antivirus | UK |
Comodo Group | Comodo AntiVirus | USA |
ESET | ESET Nod32 Antivirus | Slovak |
Faronics | Faronics Anti-Virus | Canada |
Filseclab | Filseclab Twister Antivirus | China |
Ikarus | Ikarus Anti Virus | Austria |
Iolo Technologies | System Shield AntiVirus | USA |
Kaspersky Lab | Kaspersky Anti-virus | Russia |
Panda Security | Panda AntiVirus Platinum | Spain |
Qihoo | Qihoo 360 Antivirus | China |
ThreatTrack Security | VIPRE Antivirus | USA |
TrustPort | TrustPort AntiVirus | Czech |
2.2 Shortlist for Business Antivirus
Producer | Name | Country |
---|
Fortinet | FortiClient | USA |
Kaspersky Lab | Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows Servers | Russia |
McAfee | McAfee VirusScan Enterprise | USA |
Microsoft | Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection | USA |
Panda Security | Panda Endpoint Protection | Spain |
Quick Heal Technologies | Quick Heal AntiVirus Server Edition | India |
Sophos | Sophos Endpoint Security and Control | UK |
Trend Micro | OfficeScan | USA |
3. Is Malware a Computer Virus
In the view of computer security, malware isn't identical to a virus. When we say a program is a computer virus, we think it has an abnormal behavior: copy itself from one place to another silently. Malware, this word is short for malicious software, doesn't focus on how it is copied or distributed. Instead, it is a program that runs on your computer but out of your control. In general, malware has a wide range to include, such as spyware, adware, worms, Trojan horse. A virus is also a type of malware.
After getting the definition of malware, you may answer questions like why I need anti-malware or how I deal with malware efficiently.
If you are a business or enterprise user, usually you have to consider antivirus and anti-malware together. Most business-level antivirus products cover full features to anti-malware. So only if you choose a proper antivirus product for your business, the whole information security should be under the same umbrella. You don't need extra anti-malware effort.
As for home users, the decision is a little bit tough. All home versions of antivirus products can also clean spyware, adware, or other types of malware. But the protection isn't as reliable as business versions. Why won't home antivirus handle all types of malware?
The answer is there. New spyware and adware are released every day. To trace and clean all malware, we have to update the anti-malware products so frequently that trading off usability or even performance. It is why home antivirus products usually aren't keen enough to deal with all types of malware.
In the market, a few antivirus products also offer more or less anti-malware features. However, for ordinary users, usability is always a huge challenge to run complex software efficiently. Although choosing a stronger antivirus product probably is a better solution for most home users, we believe lots of options, like home level anti-malware or business level security products, are available for various use cases.
4. 2021 Antivirus Products for Windows
Feature | Plus | Standard | Deluxe | Premium | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | | | | Full list | |
Backup to cloud | | | | | Windows Mac | 2G |
Backup to cloud | | | | | Full list | 10G |
Backup to cloud | | | | | Full list | 50G |
Backup to cloud | | | | | Full list | 75G |
Firewall to internet | | | | | Full list | |
Password manager | | | | | Full list | |
Safe family | | | | | Full list | |
Limit device time | | | | | Full list | |
Secure VPN | | | | | Full list | same licenses as devices |
Mcafee Total Protection
(2)
Feature | Single Device | Individual | Family | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list | |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | 1 license |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | 5 licenses |
Home network security | | | | Full list | |
Password manager | | | | Full list | |
Safe web | | | | Full list | |
File Shredder | | | | Full list | |
Encrypted file storage | | | | Full list | |
Identity theft protection | | | | Full list | |
Safe family | | | | Full list | |
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
(3)
Feature | Free | 1 Device | 3 Devices | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Windows | |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Windows | |
Ransomware shield | | | | Windows | |
Secure VPN | | | | Windows | 200 MB/day/device |
Monitor social media | | | | Windows | |
Wi-Fi VPN | | | | Windows | |
File Shredder | | | | Windows | |
Password manager | | | | Windows | |
Feature | Free | Yearly | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | Windows |
Ransomware shield | | | Windows |
Scan email | | | Windows |
Safeguard payment | | | Windows |
Feature | NOD32 AntiVirus | Internet Security | Smart Secuirty | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Windows Mac Linux |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Windows Mac Linux |
Ransomware shield | | | | Windows Mac Linux |
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list |
Ransomware shield | | | | Full list |
Firewall to internet | | | | Full list |
Encrypt for transaction | | | | Full list |
Safe family | | | | Full list |
Stop webcam hijack | | | | Full list |
Password manager | | | | Full list |
Encrypt data | | | | Full list |
Feature | Free | Premium | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | Full list |
Safe web | | | Full list |
Web Protection | | | Full list |
Remote Control | | | Full list |
Anti identity theft | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | Full list |
Kaspersky Anti Virus & Security
(7)
Feature | Anti Virus | Internet Security | Total Secuirty | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Windows |
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list |
Stop webcam hijack | | | | Windows Mac |
Encrypt for transaction | | | | Windows Mac |
Safe family | | | | Full list |
Password manager | | | | Full list |
Backup to cloud | | | | Windows |
Quick Heal Internet Security
(8)
Feature | One User | Two Users | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | Windows |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | Windows |
Safe family | | | Windows |
Ransomware Protection | | | Windows |
Safe Banking | | | Windows |
Email Protection | | | Windows |
Automatic Backup | | | Windows |
Feature | One PC | Two PC | Device |
---|
Virus scanner | | | Windows |
Behavior monitoring | | | Windows |
Email scanning | | | Windows |
Exploit protection | | | Windows |
G DATA BankGuard | | | Windows |
Anti-Ransomware | | | Windows |
USB Keyboard Guard | | | Windows |
Update Management | | | Windows |
Feature | One PC | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | Windows |
Realtime anti-phishing | | Windows |
Ransomware shield | | Windows |
Vulnerability Scanner | | Windows |
Game Booster | | Windows |
Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home
(11)
Feature | One PC | Three PC | Device |
---|
Virus scanner | | | Windows |
Anti-Phishing | | | Windows |
File Guard | | | Windows |
Safe web | | | Windows |
Feature | Antivirus | Internet Security | Total Security | Device |
---|
Ransomware Protection | | | | Full list |
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list |
Browser Cleaner & Manager | | | | Full list |
Cloud Scanning | | | | Full list |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list |
Secure Password Vault | | | | Full list |
Feature | Free | Complete | Device | Note |
---|
Defense Technology | | | Full list | |
Antivirus | | | Full list | |
Auto Containment Technology | | | Full list | |
Cloud-based Antivirus | | | Full list | |
Secure Shopping | | | Full list | |
Safe web | | | Full list | |
Encrypted file storage | | | Full list | 50G |
Wi-Fi VPN | | | Full list | 10G |
K7 Antivirus & Secuirty
(14)
Feature | Antivirus | Total Secuirty | Ultimate Secuirty | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list |
Safe web | | | | Windows iOS Android |
Safe family | | | | Windows |
Firewall to internet | | | | Windows |
Protect device from thieves | | | | iOS Android |
Backup and Restore | | | | Windows iOS |
Feature | Free | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | Windows Android | |
Secure VPN | | Windows Android | limited 150MB/day |
USB protection | | Windows | |
Panda rescue kit | | Windows | |
Game mode | | Windows | |
Location | | Android | |
Avast Antivirus & Security
(16)
Feature | Free Antivirus | Premlum Security | Premlum Security | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Scan Wi-Fi | | | | Full list |
Ransomware security | | | | Full list |
Secure Shopping | | | | Full list |
File Shredder | | | | Full list |
Safe web | | | | Full list |
Scan email | | | | Full list |
Firewall to internet | | | | Full list |
Feature | Antivirus Pro | Internet Security | PRIME | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Secure Shopping | | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list |
Secure password vault | | | | Full list |
Password generator | | | | Full list |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list |
Malwarebytes Security
(18)
Feature | Premium 1 | Premium 5 | Premium + Privacy | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list | |
Crushe ransomware | | | | Full list | |
Safe web | | | | Full list | |
Anti identity theft | | | | Full list | |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | Unlimited traffic |
Wi-Fi VPN | | | | Full list | |
Webroot SecureAnywhere
(19)
Feature | AntiVirus | Internet | Internet Complete | Device | Note |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Windows Mac | |
Anti identity theft | | | | Full list | |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list | |
Firewall to internet | | | | Full list | |
Safe web | | | | iOS Android | |
Password manage | | | | Full list | |
Eliminates online traces | | | | Full list | |
Backup to cloud | | | | Full list | 25G |