Re: Avg 7.5 Professional Antivirus Download
Irmgard Verzi
An antivirus app sits on your device like a guard dog, watching over the entire system and sniffing out suspicious intruders. In short, it offers real-time defenses against viruses or other threats, which, if detected, are immediately dealt with, preventing them from carrying out their destructive payload. As well as this automated protection, you can run manual virus scans whenever you wish.
Today's best antivirus programs can help prevent identity theft by keeping an eye on the dark web, where all sorts of personal information is bought and sold. You'll also get protection against phishing scams, and block messages designed to trick you into handing over personal information to dodgy third parties.
More and more antivirus software includes a VPN, too, which will safeguard your browsing sessions regardless of the device you're using. You'll be able to bypass geo-restrictions and blocks, and avoid cookies, trackers, and invasive ads.
A good free antivirus can boost your digital security, and a lot of folks will rely on Microsoft Defender to do the job. The good news is that Microsoft Defender is a decent option that'll cover all of the basics when it comes to putting a stop to viruses and malware.
However, premium antivirus programs offer extra features above and beyond the fundamentals. A robust system of parental controls could be a huge win for those with kids, for example. Or, a dedicated anti-ransomware layer of protection that only comes with the paid-for product could help catch one of the most dreaded infections and halt it in its tracks.
The methods cybercriminals use to infect your devices with viruses and malware are constantly changing as they attempt to steal your personal information, and potentially take your money or assume your identity.
Each service was tested on its ability to handle websites that typically contain some shady files, and how fast the antivirus spots a threat, finds where it's hiding, and throws it into quarantine, alongside other rigorous methods. Here are my top three recommendations:
Whether you're looking for the total antivirus package or hunting for specific features, like banking protection, my guide has you covered. Keep reading to check out my top 10 favorite antivirus solutions (and a few honorable mentions).
Bitdefender consistently impresses with its ability to identify threats and stop them in their tracks. Malware files are pinpointed even before they begin downloading, web trackers are likewise rooted out and blocked, and if you try to access a site with known threats you'll receive a warning that's hard to miss (or ignore.)
There are three Bitdefender plans on offer, and they all come with useful security tools. If you really want to get your money's worth, however, you'll want to opt for the Total Security package, which includes safe banking tools, a (admittedly limited) VPN, social media protection, file shredder, parental controls, and much more. There's even a handy vulnerability scanner that'll find weak spots in your network and offer suggestions on how to resolve them. You'll be able to use Bitdefender on any device, too, thanks to user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, and take advantage of multiple licenses (up to 10) to protect the entire family.
Bitdefender gets straight to work with a full scan when you start using it, and combs through your system in its entirety to look for threats and intruders. This is par for the course, although Bitdefender took almost a full hour to complete a scan of 50 Gb executable files. It's possible to configure scans, customize them, and set them to run on a schedule or on-demand, and Quick Scans can even be run once a day, or weekly, and dig into individual files.
Norton is tough on threats and has earned excellent scores in several third-party protection tests, including our own. Apps are available for just about all operating systems, too, so you can secure every internet-enabled gadget in the home with a single subscription. Regardless of the plan you choose, you'll have access to a long list of features designed to protect against malware, cybercriminals, and malicious URLs.
Norton is also incredibly good at blocking dangerous URLs and preventing you from landing on a page that's determined to ruin your day. You'll see a warning message with additional information about the malware and a heads-up about other sites that contain the same threat. The Safe Web browser extension gives you even more peace of mind by adding site ratings to search results, helping you steer clear of dodgy domains.
The Norton Secure VPN isn't my favorite VPN on the market, but does a solid job of keeping your IP address hidden, your browsing private, and can even unblock a decent amount of streaming services. Combining the VPN with the intelligent firewall really maximizes your digital security, and you'll be alerted right away if an untrustworthy program attempts to connect to the internet. You can allow or block the connection, and Norton gives you plenty of detail (like the age of the program and the URL it's attempting to reach) to help you make a security-conscious decision.
Avast One is the newest offering from Avast, and comes packed with all of the malware protection, advanced features, and ease of use you'd expect from an industry veteran. You'll also be able to use the solution on any Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device.
Avast One's scan speeds were pretty average, taking 32 minutes to complete a scan of 50 Gb of executable files. These scans are hugely customizable, too, and give you granular control over where you want the solution to focus. Smart Scans take a few seconds to check for malware and dodgy browser add-ons, Targeted Scans look at specified folders and files, and Full Scans comb through your entire system.
Very few providers can keep up with Avast One when it comes to identifying and removing malware. None of my tests were able to crack its protection, and the latest report from AV-Comparitives revealed that it scored an outstanding 99.97% detection rate. So, you can rest assured that no threats will make it through to your device unseen.
Avast One shores up its security with a firewall that keeps tabs on your network traffic to thwart hackers, and can block your access to malicious websites to prevent infections. I also like that its Ransomware Shield was able to find folders containing user documents and automatically add them to its protect list.
Opt for a more expensive subscription and the VPN breaks free of these shackles. You'll have more than 50 server locations to choose from, and you'll also be alerted if you try to access a banking site, sensitive domain, or even a store without switching the VPN on first. This is a lifesaver if you want to go about your business without leaving an identifiable trail.
Avast One's features just keep coming. Subscribers get a password manager that'll check for compromised details, parental controls, webcam monitoring, and anti-phishing tools that ensure all aspects of your online life are secure.
If you're ready to take the plunge, there are three paid subscriptions to choose from. The Individual plan gets you access to all of the aforementioned tools and licenses for five devices, whereas the Family and Premium plans bump this number up to thirty (the latter also comes with an identity monitory that'll let you know if your data ends up on the dark web). Thanks to the Essential plan, however, you can try a limited version of the product without paying a penny.
McAfee has moved on from its Antivirus Plus and Total Protection packages with McAfee+. The McAfee+ subscriptions still include all of the standard malware protection while adding important identity theft monitoring tools.
You can upgrade to a Premium or Advanced plan, although the Premium offering is somewhat disappointing. Its only advantages over the Essential plan are its system scans (it won't actually do any of the clean-up afterward, however) and unlimited device protection. I'd expect a lot more from a "premium" subscription.
However, I am impressed by McAfee's family protection. All family plans come with personalized insight and advice, and the Protection Score feature keeps tabs on everyone's digital security to generate that custom guidance. Armed with this information, you and your family will be able to navigate the web with more savvy, which is doubly important if you're sharing devices. McAfee's parental controls allow you to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content, manage screen time, and monitor their location.
One more important note, the VPN is available without any data restrictions regardless of the McAfee+ subscription you choose. However, it is only available if you agree to the McAfee autorenewal program.
Network protection keeps an eye on your internet connection, router movements, and everything that connects to your Wi-Fi, looking for anything suspicious. Ultimately, the feature acts as a shield against hackers attempting to break in through weak spots in the connection, and will warn you before they can do any real damage.
As with most of my top picks, F-Secure comes with its own built-in VPN. It's not a showstopper, and can't really compare to the likes of ExpressVPN when it comes to quality and quantity of features, but if you need an extra layer of protection when you're shopping online, accessing your banking accounts, or connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, then it's well worth having.
Getting started with F-Secure isn't too difficult. It'll walk you through the download and install process, though there are a lot of pages to click through, which can be overwhelming to new users. On that note, configuring the various tools and options isn't the most intuitive process.
Thankfully, F-Secure is one of the few antivirus software companies that has 25/7 live support available. You can reach out to an agent via live chat and, if you encounter a particularly tricky issue, the agent can even connect to your device remotely to fix it from their device.
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