If you keep your software up-to date make sure you imp source use strong passwords and steer away from phishing emails, you should be safe from malware. Even if you follow all the correct steps, an antivirus program is necessary as a safety measure in case of a mistake. Selecting the right antivirus depends on the operating system you are using as well as the number of devices you are required to secure and whether you’d like to add additional features like password management, VPN, dark web monitoring, or family protection.

When evaluating an antivirus it is crucial to know how it performs in independent tests. A good antivirus must be compatible with your operating system, and it should use a minimal amount of resources to not negatively impact the performance of your PC. It is also important to consider how often the antivirus is updated, and if it can be used on multiple devices.

In tests conducted by Macworld, Intego Mac’s Internet Security X9 performed very well. It includes VirusBarrier, an excellent antivirus, and NetBarrier, a firewall that is effective. It caught all their malware samples, and alerted them whenever uninvited software was being run on their Macs. It is compatible with macOS, and unlike other programs, it looks like an official Mac program. It also lets you buy backup services, Android apps for mobile security, and a more advanced firewall.

The power of TotalAV’s engine, its broad range of features, and a simple dashboard make it a great option for new users looking for something simple to grasp. Its heuristic-based detection system can identify viruses that aren’t in the database and its behavior monitoring detects changes in how a program behaves, while it runs malicious programs in a safe environment, ensuring they won’t cause any damage. In AV Comparatives tests it had the lowest false-positive rates and its speedy scan was extremely rapid.