Antivirus software protects against computer-based malware like viruses and trojans. Internet security software protects against network-based malware like spyware and ransomware. That said, today, many internet security suites like all on this list offer both an antivirus engine and internet security protection in the same product. Free internet security software usually comes with a couple of caveats. It either has severely limited functionality, major product flaws, notifications that prevent you from normally using your device, or a secret agenda like stealing your data.
That said, not all free security software is bad. Internet security protections from Google and Apple and Microsoft have come a long way, but none of them are even close to as good as those offered from major cybersecurity brands like Norton and Bitdefender.
Most antivirus software in offers far better protection than anything found in Google Chrome. Professional Reviews. Affiliate Commissions. Reviews Guidelines. Ben Martens Updated on: January 1, This article contains. Short on time? Comes with a VPN, parental controls, secure storage, a password manager, and a lot more. Quick summary of the best internet security software of 1. McAfee Total Protection — Excellent antivirus with good internet security tools.
BullGuard Premium Protection — Good antivirus great for gamers with online protections. Comodo offers a variety of advanced settings for experienced users. But during my tests, Comodo missed some malware files that the brands on this list all detected. Plus, Comodo significantly slowed my computer down. ESET is a lightweight internet security suite with pretty good malware protection. However, ESET is not as good at detecting internet-based malware like ransomware as the other programs on this list.
Are there any free internet security programs? Share It: 0. Updated on: January 1, About the Author Ben Martens is a cybersecurity journalist with a background in internet ethics, malware testing, and public policy. He resides in Oregon, and when he's not advocating for the rights of internet users, he's walking with his dog and inventing stories with his daughter.
If you use more than one device -- like most of us do -- that makes it even more difficult and expensive to be vigilant and keep yourself safe.
That's where all-in-one security suites come in. They protect not just a single device, but multiple ones, and offer comprehensive security for a far lower price than if you had to buy software individually for each of your devices. All of the suites reviewed here protect Windows, Macs and Android devices. A few add iOS security as well.
Most offer some kind of Web-based dashboard for installing and managing the software on each individual device. The downsides are that neither the VPN nor the parental controls work on Macs, and that there's no webcam protection, hardened browser or backup software.
But if you want all-encompassing protection at a bargain rate, you could do a lot worse than McAfee. There's also what Trend Micro calls "ID Protection," which actually just monitors the dark web for your data and can be accessed only through mobile apps.
On the antivirus side, Trend Micro does very well in lab tests of malware detection and also provides ransomware rollbacks, a file shredder, file encryption and a system optimizer. Trend Micro's malware engine has a remarkably small impact on Windows system performance when running in the background, but can eat up a fair amount of resources during full scans. Read our full Trend Micro Premium Security review. ESET is one of the biggest names in antivirus protection in Europe, and while its top-end Smart Security Premium suite doesn't pack in VPN service, backup software or identity protection, it's still remarkably light, fast and efficient.
ESET Smart Security Premium does have a password manager, parental controls, anti-theft protections for laptops, dedicated webcam protection, a dedicated secure browser and even home-network-management software. It even includes bare-bones antivirus software for Linux machines, and its Windows malware-detection engine does very well in lab tests.
The only downside is that the parental controls don't work on iOS. Most antivirus brands tier premium subscriptions at five, 10 and sometimes 15 devices. So do you really need all these extra features with your antivirus software? Well, it's hard to argue against using a password manager. Beyond that, you have to consider your personal circumstances. If you've got young kids or teenagers at home, then you might want parental-control software to keep tracking of what your children are doing online or to track the physical location of their phones.
If you're a person of means, then investing in identity-theft protection might be wise. If you travel a lot, you'll want to use a VPN while in hotel rooms and airport lounges.
To get a better idea of the stand-alone services these premium security suites compete with, visit our buying guides for the best identity theft protection , best cloud backup services, best parental-control apps and best password managers. You just have to decide which ones you really need. Paul Wagenseil is a senior editor at Tom's Guide focused on security and privacy. He has also been a dishwasher, fry cook, long-haul driver, code monkey and video editor. He's been rooting around in the information-security space for more than 15 years at FoxNews.
One of the best internet security suites you can buy right now will protect a household's worth of PCs, Macs, iPhones and Android phones from malware, phishing scams and malicious websites. Norton with LifeLock Ultimate Plus. Specifications Anti-theft: No. Backup software: Yes. Firewall: Yes. Game mode: Yes.
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