Rating
Choosing the best antivirus solution for your computer can be a daunting task due to the number of criteria that must be considered. You may want a basic security solution for your PC or laptop or a highly advanced protection system for the entire family, capable of shielding your devices from viruses, hacker attacks, and fraud. If you’re having trouble making up your mind, then the following reviews are just for you. All of our reviews are designed to help our readers determine which antivirus solution is the best for them.
Norton, the antivirus brand trusted by 500 million-plus users across 150 countries, is one of the world's leading providers of consumer cybersecurity products and a pioneer in antivirus protection. This brand has won multiple antivirus awards from leading online test laboratories, including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, PCMag, and The Anti-Malware Testing Standard Organization.
Updated on:
27 October 2025
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Rated #1 best antivirus software of 2025. High-accuracy, low-impact antivirus solution with online backup capabilities
Price: 120$
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Provides excellent virus protection, includes an extensive list of great features, and has minimal impact on system performance.
Price: 120$
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Award-winning antivirus solution featuring privacy & performance tools for all your devices
Price: 120$
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Smart, fast, and reliable antivirus solution with limited impact on system performance
Price: 120$
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Powerful security protects you from numerous forms of online and offline danger
Price: 120$
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Highly effective, low-impact, and affordable antivirus solution
Price: 120$
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Award-winning premium antivirus solution suitable for all devices
Price: 120$
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Well-balanced security solution with powerful antivirus capabilities
Price: 120$
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Privacy-focused antivirus combines the power of real-time scanning with cloud protection and other comprehensive security features.
Price: 120$
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Fair
Website available in English
Fortect is a comprehensive solution that optimizes PC performance and provides robust real-time malware protection.
Price: 120$
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Rating
Detection Capabilities
System performance
Features
Value For The Money
Protection
Real-Time Protection
Removes Malware
Removes Spyware
Removes Adware
Dedicated Ransomware Protection
Anti-Phishing
Anti-Fraud
Rescue Mode
Features
VPN
Safe Online Banking
Webcam Protection
Parental Advisor
Vulnerability Scanner
Firewall
Quiet Mode
Social Network Protection
Password Manager
Anti-Theft
Data Shredder
Battery Mode
Support
Phone Support
Live Chat
Compatibility
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
iOS
Choosing the right antivirus software largely depends on who you decide to trust. With numerous scams and fraudulent review sites flooding the internet, finding a credible source can be challenging. Sadly, many antivirus review sites are run by teams that have never actually tested or installed the software they promote. Would you really want to buy an antivirus product from a Top 10 list created by fake reviewers?
Committed to being the most reliable and respected antivirus buyer's guide, we chose to take a different path from the outset. Instead of quickly assembling a Top 10 list based on the highest-paying affiliate programs, we started with in-depth market research to identify the most reputable antivirus brands. We only included well-established companies recognized throughout the industry for their excellence. After purchasing premium packages from each provider, we conducted thorough online research and evaluated each product using our proprietary scoring system (details available on our blog).
But who are we? Who are we? We are a dedicated team of software testing and review experts with over 30 years of combined experience. Our mission is to bring a fresh perspective to antivirus software reviews, grounded in integrity, transparency, and trust.
We dedicated countless hours to investigating the most reputable antivirus testing laboratories and gathering extensive data on virus and malware detection rates. AV Comparatives and AV Test have consistently proven to be trustworthy sources, yet our research extended further. We examined numerous white papers and expert articles released by organizations such as The Anti-Malware Testing Standard Organization, PcMag, Google's Project Zero, and Ars Technica, among others. This thorough approach enabled us to pinpoint the critical technical aspects of antivirus software and assign a detection rating to each product.
While detection ability is vital, there are additional essential criteria to consider when choosing the optimal antivirus solution. These include software features, user-friendliness, and system impact. To evaluate these, we tested various antivirus products on multiple PCs and Macs in our office. After defining the features and establishing a scoring system for each, we installed and rigorously tested the software ourselves. Although this process was more time-intensive than anticipated, it yielded valuable insights that we plan to share on our blog in the upcoming weeks. Ultimately, we compiled a comprehensive scoring table, but there remained one last factor to address—pricing.
IIt’s common for antivirus packages loaded with premium features to carry a steep price. Some vendors even add niche or “exotic” functionalities to justify charging more. But are all those extras truly worth the additional cost? Alongside strong detection performance, we decided to focus only on essential features such as ease of use, system impact, and overall cost. During our research, we found that certain antivirus suites brimming with fancy extras were overpriced compared to their value.
Many antivirus providers offer notable discounts, though these deals often aren’t easy to spot on their websites. Prices can sometimes be slashed by up to 50% for various reasons, causing the landscape of choosing the best antivirus to be quite dynamic. Who wouldn’t prefer a solution with all the necessary features of a competitor but at half the price? By working with several affiliate programs, we deliver direct access to discounted antivirus deals. These special offers are factored into our listings, helping you choose the best protection for your digital security without overspending.
The Internet may be a good source of
information and entertainment, but it can also be a dangerous place with
all sorts of threats lurking around every corner. You may think that
simply avoiding dangerous files and downloadables is enough to keep you
safe, but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Viruses can slip into your system without warning. Before you know it,
you may find yourself the owner of an inoperable system, or worse,
discover that your personal data has been stolen. Often, by the time you
even realize you’ve been victimized, it's already too late. We protect
everything that matters in life: we lock doors; shield our bank pin when
withdrawing cash; and make use of home security measures — why wouldn’t
you want to protect your online life? Even if you’re on a tight budget,
there are plenty of amazing antivirus solutions that feature adequate
protection capabilities.
Installing antivirus protection across your devices is the best way to
protect your software and personal data. A viable solution ensures your
files stay safe from corruption and your computer remains shielded from
any number of direct hacker attacks. It's the only way to truly have
some peace of mind while working, streaming videos, or online gaming.
Although there are plenty of free antivirus solutions out there,
purchasing a solution is always a recommended course of action due to
the many advantages it brings. Think about it — would you trust a free
home security system to protect your family? With a premium antivirus
solution, you’ll have access to a much wider range of features and
services than you would with a free, generic solution. For starters,
you’ll be able to shop online safely, shield your children from
inappropriate content, and secure your entire home network.
There are viruses out there that will slow down your system and make it
almost impossible to open your files. Often, these viruses are so
discreet that it’s extremely difficult to tell if something malicious
has infected your computer. Relying solely on your intuition to avoid
threats is simply unrealistic. With an efficient antivirus solution, you
can relax, knowing that you’re safe from threats — even ones that are
difficult to trace. Furthermore, should you encounter any difficulties
or experience an attack, you can count on professional assistance from
an experienced technical support team to help you get things back on
track.
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the
best antivirus solution for your computer. Most of them offer similar
protection mechanisms, involving comparing files to malware signatures,
analyzing application behavior, and analyzing samples of zero-day
malware so that everyone can benefit from more effective protection.
However, what differentiates a GOOD solution from the BEST revolves
around what it has to offer in addition to its basic protection
capabilities.
A common reason people cite for avoiding some of the best antivirus
solutions on the market includes the notion that such software will slow
down their computer, making it difficult to perform routine tasks. This
is not the case nowadays. The latest antivirus programs have evolved
significantly over the past few years alone. They are no longer the
resource hogs they once had a reputation for being. From the most basic
to the best antivirus solutions, all of them feature a series of
advanced mechanisms which can identify viruses and other threats before
anything bad happens to your system and data.
Now, you could protect your computer from various forms of malware with a
standard base package, but the best antivirus software will provide you
with more than one solution, each tailored for a specific task. Many
companies offer premium packages with additional features designed to
help you plug security gaps to prevent hackers from gaining access to
your personal files. They’ll also warn you if you’re about to connect to
a fraudulent website where you could end up relinquishing a password or
credit card details. It can’t be considered one of the best antivirus
solutions if it doesn't include online banking and shopping features.
The best antivirus solutions are defined by their features that are
designed to address particular needs. Depending on your needs, you can
opt for a basic package designed simply to protect your system, or you
could choose to spend a little more and opt for a solution that provides
security for the entire family, protecting all of your devices from
data theft and viruses.
Security products are in a constant state of evolution. New features and
better protection measures to fight against the latest spyware, adware,
worms, Trojans, rootkits, ransomware, and many other threats are always
being developed. Regardless of the level of protection you seek,
there’s an antivirus solution suitable for everyone — regardless of
budget.
The reviews, classifications, and content presented on guardsweb.com represent the informed opinions of our reviewers. Our mission is simple: to help our visitors choose the antivirus solution that’s right for them. Our company receives monetary compensation when users buy the products that we recommend by clicking the links featured on our website, guardsweb.com. Our editorial team puts countless hours of effort into providing accurate information regardless of the amount of monetary compensation received from affiliate links.