While the quality of the protection you get is the most
important thing about security software, its not necessarily the only thing you
should consider: there's also price, features and the number of supported
devices to take into account. This year, we've been very impressed by the
calibre of the security software that we've tested. When looking at the
paid-for software, F-Secure Safe, Trend Micro Internet Security, Comodo
Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Sophos Home Premium and
Symantec Norton Security all protected against every single threat. Just below
that, McAfee Internet Security and Eset Internet Security only allowed a single
piece of ma ware through their defenses; Check Point ZoneAlarm did, too,
although it was far less successful at outright blocking attacks. Based on
this, if you currently have any of these applications, then you can consider
yourself safe, and may only want to change your package when your
subscription is up for renewal. For those running free software, Microsoft
Windows Defender was the surprise winner, only being compromised once, while
Avira Free Security Suite, Avast Free Antivirus and AVG Antivirus Free Edition
were all compromised twice. As such, Windows Defender is the best basic
protection application at the moment, but the competition isn't far behind.
You'll get better protection by paying for software, but if you don't want to,
the free software we've tested here has a decent level of protection.
Free Security Software
1. MICROSOFT Windows Defender
4 out of 5 stars
Included with Windows 10
It feels strange to be recommending Windows Defender,
given how poorly the software has performed in previous years. NOW, however,
the Story is different, and Windows Defender had the best results Of any of the
free software we tested, blocking 98 threats, neutralizing one and only being
compromised once.
One Of the issues with Windows Defender was that it used to
be very heavy-handed when dealing with legitimate software, but that statistic
has changed this year, too, with the software scoring high and allowing
legitimate applications to be installed,.
Given the simple interface and the fact that Windows
Defender is built into Windows 10, PC users can rest safe with this
application. If you need more features and the best overall protection, take a look
at one of the paid-for suites, but the Defender is otherwise a great choice.
2. AVAST Free Antivirus
4 out of 5 stars
Free From www.avast.com
While
Windows Defender was our surprise top-choice for free software, Avast Free
Antivirus wasn't far behind. Given that Windows Defender is best on Windows 10,
if you have a different operating system, you'll need a different free security
suite.
This package blocked 95 threats, neutralized three and
allowed two to compromise the test system. With this latest version, the
software is far less annoying, and the irritating pop-ups that tiled to
persuade you to buy the paid-for version are gone. In fact, the new Interface
now makes it far clearer as to what's in the free version compared to the
premium one. Its slightly frustrating that performing a scan also looks for
performance issues, which require an upgrade to fix, but that's a minor
complaint.
If you need protection for an operating System Other than Windows 10,
Avast Free Antivirus is a good choice, but you'll get better protection if you
upgrade to a paid-for suite.
PREMIUM SECURITY
If you're going to get the best
protection and range of features, you'll have to pay the annual fee to get
them. While the competition was very close this year, we've picked our top
three security packages based on features, performance and price. Just make
sure that you buy the appropriate version for your needs and number of devices.
1. KASPERSKY Internet Security
5 out of 5 stars
From
www.amazon.com
Kaspersky Internet Security has long been one of our
favorite security suites, and it remains so this year. We believe that the
Total Security package is the best-value option for most people, but there is
a range of other options with different features that you should look at.
The main thing with Kaspersky is the quality of
protection. In terms of raw results, Kaspersky blocked 99 threats, neutralized
one, and was never compromised. It scored perfectly when it came to legitimate
software, too. Taking a more nuanced look at how it defended and how it dealt
with legitimate software,.
As good as the protection is, it's the quality
of the software that really shines through. The main interface is clean, with
plenty of white space, making it easy to find the features you There are in
too, including Trusted Applications mode. This blocks all software that isn't
on the company's whitelist, building in a high-level of security for the less
savvy user. The Money Browser is a neat option, launching a secure browser when
you buy anything.
There's also a software cleaner, a webcam protection
module to stop spying, a software updater and a parental control suite. Pretty
much whatever you need is included in this suite, making Kaspersky more
valuable than simply a tool to prevent malware from getting on to your computer.
Even better, Kaspersky is one of the few products that are still available
through online retailers, so you can get a real bargain on it, too. If
you're looking for premium protection, this is the software to buy.
2. SOPHOS Home
Premium
5 out of 5 stars
From home.sophos.com
Sophos is
another name that we hadn't expected to do quite so well, yet Home Premium
impressed us with its level of protection. As with Kaspersky, Sophos Home
Premium blocked 99 threats and neutralized one, and never allowed the test
machine to be compromised. It scored perfectly in the legitimate software test,
too, allowing everything to be installed without fuss.
Looking at the Total
Accuracy score, which takes a more nuanced look at how the software defends
against threats. Built on technology from the company's business division, Sophos Home Premium
uses an online dashboard to monitor and control installations of the software.
That' handy if you've got multiple devices in your home that you want to
manage, but its not quite as friendly for some people as having everything
available in the app.
There are some other powerful tools in the suite,
including CryptoGuard, which monitors your system for any encryption of the
sort used by ransomware. Parents will be pleased to see the parental control
option to filter what children can look at. There's also built-in privacy
protection to guard against a hacker accessing your webcam or microphone.
We like the Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) module, too, which looks out for
useless bundled utilities that often come as an 'extra' when you install free
software.
A powerful security suite, Sopho's cloud control may be a benefit to
many, letting one family member manage all devices no matter where they are,
although this reliance on an internet connection may put some people off.
Kaspersky Internet Security is the friendlier software, but Sophos isn't far
behind, and its protection is excellent. Its good value, too, with this version
covering 10 devices, making it a good choice for homes with a lot of devices.
3. SYMANTEC Norton Security
5 out of 5 stars
From www.amazon.com
Norton is another very familiar name in internet security, and this
year the software continues to do well. It's Norton 360 Deluxe that we
recommend as the best package, which you can pick up for f 19 on Amazon,
including support for up to five devices. That's a quite incredible value.
Norton has
been through a bit Of a confusing time recently, with Norton 360 originally
being discontinued in 2014 and replaced by Norton Security, which is now being
replaced by the new Norton 360. As with the old version, Norton 360 is about
giving you a stack of features both covering security and general PC use.
What you get is a bit of a mixed bag. There are no complaints about the unlimited
VPN, for example (most other vendors have a traffic limit unless you pay
extra). However, the 50GB of online backup isn't particularly generous, and if
you want more, you're better off going with an established system such as
Dropbox or Google Drive.
Also included with Deluxe are parental controls,
SafeCam for PC (this protects your webcam against hacking), a password manager
and the 100% Virus Protection Promise, which offers your money back if you get
a virus that Norton's experts can't remove.
As good as all these additional
features are, the interface is a little cluttered, and trying to find all the
options aren't as easy as with some other applications. If you want all the
features, such as the VPN, Norton is excellent value, but the simpler Kaspersky
Internet Security is a touch easier to use, and Sophos Home Premium is better
value if you need more devices covered.
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