Alongside providing malware protection, many of the top antivirus packages today also shield users from suspicious websites, phishing attacks, and snoopers. Many offer multi-device plans.

The top-rated antivirus programs listed here provide superior protection. Many have achieved perfect results in independent labs for testing. They are easy to use and take up only a tiny amount of computer power.

Some of the more robust packages on this list have additional features like a VPN and password managers, as well as identity theft protection. These additional features may be worth it depending on your needs.

Another thing to take into consideration is how compatible an antivirus program is with your operating system and the amount of the resources of your computer will eat up while running in the background. Many antivirus programs can slow down your computer if they consume too much memory and CPU. Some antivirus programs run in the background quietly, without using too many resources. They won't cause your computer to crash or hang.

A constantly updated malware database isn't the only thing you'll need to look for in an anti-virus program. New cyber threats are constantly being developed, therefore it is crucial to find a provider that regularly updates its virus definitions as well as other malware detection tools.

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