We've devised a system for aggregating their results to yield a rating from 0 to 10. We follow four labs that regularly release detailed reports: SE Labs, AV-Test Institute, MRG-Effitas, and AV-Comparatives. Of course, high scores in the tests are also important. It means the lab considered the product significant, and the company felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. The simple fact that a company's product shows up in the results is a vote of confidence, of sorts. We take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs very seriously. It doesn't appear in this roundup of commercial antivirus products, naturally. The combination of good lab scores and a great score in our hands-on malware protection test was enough to bring it up to 3.5 stars. However, Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center is looking better and better lately, with some very good scores from independent testing labs. These commercial products offer protection beyond the antivirus built into Windows 10 the best free antivirus utilities also offer more than Windows does. If you have malware, one of the products listed in this article should take care of the problem. Out of that extensive field we've named four Editors' Choice products, honored others with a four-star rating, and bestowed 3.5 stars on several more. As noted, PCMag has reviewed more than 40 different commercial antivirus utilities, and that's not even counting the many free antivirus tools. Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more. Ransomware and data-stealing Trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot-herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Malware these days is about making money, and there's no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. We call it antivirus, but in truth it's unlikely you'll get hit with an actual computer virus. Whether you’re getting protection for the first time or casting a speculative eye on your existing antivirus, our reviews of more than 40 antivirus products can smooth the decision process. If you do, take a look, make sure it’s active and has all the needed updates.

If you don’t have one installed, now’s the time to bundle up. Brr! You can avoid the shocking chill by wrapping your PC in the protection of a powerful antivirus utility. Experiencing a malware attack, or worse, ransomware, is like a freezing gust, ruining your comfort. During the chill, snowy days of winter most of us prefer to spend time inside, where we can check social media, view videos of baby animals, or engage in whatever online activity brings warm feelings.

The best pc protection software reviews