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1. Technology

THE BEST ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE OF 2020

David Court05:00, Oct 10 2020
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2m 22s

What is ethical hacking and what is it doing for cybersecurity?

Hackers today are capable of stealing your bank details in seconds by simply
holding your debit card to their phone.

Trustworthy, accurate and reliable news stories are more important now than
ever. Support our newsrooms by making a contribution.

An updated version of this article is now available, assessing the best
anti-virus software for 2021.

The way most people think about security software hasn't changed much in a
decade. Most of us think antivirus software's job is to stop a user from
downloading an iffy email attachment.

And while this may have been the case ten years ago, the industry has advanced a
lot since then – which is a sugar-coated way of saying the threats we face are
more advanced too.

Yes, Windows 10 is a more secure operating system these days. Credit needs to be
given to Microsoft for continually developing and patching its security
credentials.

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1m 1s

Spain detains John McAfee - police source

John McAfee, an antivirus software creator indicted in the United States on
fraud charges, has been arrested in Barcelona airport, a Spanish police source
says.

However, every system has flaws that can, and will, be exploited.

READ MORE:
* Be careful what you click on: Stephen Curry, Reese Witherspoon the most
dangerous celebrities to search online
* NZX attackers have eluded authorities for 2 years, GCSB director believes
* Three easy steps to (hopefully) stay safe online
* Hackers target torrent downloads of Game of Thrones

We only have to look back to 2017 when a serious security flaw with the Internet
Explorer and Edge browsers created the potential for malicious sites to take
control of users’ systems. That year also saw PCs targeted with the infamous
WannaCry ransomware attack.

History suggests malware will find a way to infect PCs again, sooner or later.

Which is why it’s a good idea to have a solid antivirus system installed on your
PC. If not for the known malicious attacks that we face right now, then for the
unknown attacks we will almost certainly face in future.

PAID VS FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

Let's start by tackling the biggest question: do you still need to pay for
antivirus software in 2020?

Unfortunately, there's no simple answer to that question. Some users will feel
confident sticking free antivirus software or simply using their operating
system's built-in protection (Windows Defender).

Kathryn George
Not everyone is capable of spotting a dangerous phishing scam all the time.

And there's nothing wrong with that. On a basic level, Windows Defender – and
other free third-party AV programmes – are capable of detecting, and stopping, a
virus infecting your PC as well as any paid-for security software.

But as you probably know, viruses aren't the only threat we face any more. Some
people will want or need anti-ransomware protection, or web protection with
anti-phishing tech too. As I said before, if you're a savvy web user, you might
not need to pay for these features.

Unfortunately, not everyone is capable of spotting a dangerous phishing scam,
all of the time. If that sounds like you, or someone you know, then I think
paying the $20-$40 a year for premium AV software is a worthwhile investment.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE IN 2020?

Picking the best antivirus for your PC isn't straightforward. As we've said
above, finding security software that protects your computer against traditional
malicious threats isn't difficult any more. But basic protection against malware
isn't the only criteria that matter.

Here are the three key things to look out for:

PROTECTION

A quick look at the latest data from the excellent researchers at AV-TEST GmbH
(industry leaders at testing antivirus software) shows that 13 of the 22 biggest
security software producers achieved perfect 6 (out of 6) score for “protection
against malware infections (such as viruses, worms or Trojan horses)”.

So that's the logical place to start your research – discount any software
without a perfect score (see below).

David Ramos/Getty Images
Microsoft Defender is a great free option for those confident in their
scam-spotting abilities.

PERFORMANCE

Performance is the next criteria I suggest looking out for. This isn't something
you'll see advertised often, but it's vital. Running antivirus software on your
PC can have a negative effect on performance. Simple things like launching
software applications, copying files, and visiting popular websites will be
slowed down by a poor antivirus program as it scans for malicious files.

FALSE POSITIVES

The final category AV-TEST measures is something called False Positives. This is
when AV software wrongly shows a warning, or blocks an action, for non-malicious
actively.

THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE OF 2020

WINDOWS DEFENDER

If you're confident you can spot a scam or a phishing scheme, and you're not
prone to clicking suspicious links, then Microsoft Defender is a great free
option.

Like Norton, and every other brand featured in the list below, it scored top
marks in the most recent group test from AV-TEST for protection and will have
minimal impact on your PC's performance.

It doesn't offer some of the premium add-ons that most high-end (paid-for) AVs
provide, but I'd argue that these aren't necessary for competent PC users.

Click here for Microsoft Defender software

Unsplash
The top three premium antivirus software scored perfect marks.

THE BEST PREMIUM ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE OF 2020

1. NORTON 360

30-day free trial; $74.99 for one year (one device)

Like all the AVs featured in this group test, Norton scored perfect marks in
virus detection tests while adding little impact to performance.

As well as protection from malware, Norton 360 gives users 100GB of backup to
the cloud, a VPN, additional browser safety tools, secure password manager,
parental controls, and identity theft protection (with fraud alert).

Advanced users won't need all of these features. But if you're not confident
with online security, and are looking for the ultimate protection, then Norton
360 is a great all-in-one solution.

However, its $74.99 price tag for a one-year licence also means you're paying
top dollar for your safety.

Click here for Norton Antivirus software

2. KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY

30-day free trial; $25.17 for one year (one device)

Kaspersky also scored tops marks in protection, performance and false positives.
And the only reason it's not claimed the top spot in this list is because of the
bad headlines the Moscow-based security company has had over the past few years.
Specifically, a federal ban that blocks US government agencies from using
Kaspersky products, due to fears the company might be vulnerable to Russian
government influence.

If you can look past that, Kaspersky represents great value. Giving users access
to the following features: Webcam protection; Payment protection (Kaspersky
launches an encrypted browser to protect online transactions); Password manager;
File protection; and a “bad content” blocker for kids.

If you're not confident with the basic protection Windows Defender offer,
Kaspersky Internet Security is a solid choice and represents good value at $25
for a year's protection.

Click here for Kaspersky Antivirus software

3. MCAFEE TOTAL PROTECTION

30-day free trial; $53.95 for one year (one device)

McAfee is another household name that scores well in the most recent AV tests.
Like Norton and Kaspersky, McAfee also realises that it has to offer more than
just good antivirus protection to compete with Microsoft Defender.

McAfee Total Protection gives users access to the following additional features
too: encrypted storage, a digital file shredder, and a secure password manager.

4. AVIRA ANTIVIRUS PRO – $75.99

5. F-SECURE SAFE 17 – $107

6. G DATA INTERNET SECURITY – $60

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