1. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
Best Windows 10 antivirus is bristling with features
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum devices covered: 10Stand out features: Safepay banking protection, Wi-Fi Security Advisor, web protection
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₹ 2,500
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₹ 498
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₹ 1,225
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REASONS TO BUY
+Superb antivirus engine
+Loads of features
+Nicely user-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID
- Minor ransomware clean-up niggles
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus delivers excellent antivirus for Windows 10 PCs, regularly being the top performer with independent antivirus testing labs. One of those big-name labs, AV-Test, gave Bitdefender a 100% protection rating in its most recent test (only a few false positives – errant detections of malware – stopped it from getting full-marks all-round). AV-Comparatives also ranked Bitdefender highly, and in its summary report for 2020, gave the antivirus an ‘outstanding product award’ (as Bitdefender scored an ‘Advanced+’ rating across all seven tests during 2020).
As well as this superb core antivirus engine, you get competent anti-ransomware protection, and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is one of the best products out there when it comes to blocking malicious websites on Windows machines.
The package delivers a range of other features, including Safepay – a well-designed and fully secure browser with which you can carry out sensitive tasks like online banking – plus a password manager, vulnerability scanner, and a Wi-Fi Security Advisor which evaluates any wireless networks you use, rating them for security.
While it’s easy-to-use for beginners, Antivirus Plus also offers some nifty, more in-depth settings, like being able to set up profiles to, for example, keep any background activity to a minimum when you’re on a laptop using battery power. In the past, Bitdefender has been a bit more resource-hungry than some antivirus apps, but these days, it runs with far less impact on system performance, another useful improvement.
To sum up, this is a well-featured package with some brilliant touches, and the icing on the malware-busting cake is that it’s good value for money, particularly considering everything you get here.
For those who want more features still, there’s also a top-end package, Bitdefender Total Security, which is worth considering, adding functionality like PC maintenance tools (and bonus mobile apps that could come in handy). This flagship product can work out with discounts as not much more expensive than Bitdefender Antivirus Plus so that it could be well worth a shot for some users.
Get Bitdefender Antivirus Plus with 50% off.
Great news! You can currently score 50% off our #1 rated antivirus. It's a special software treat for TechRadar readers. It means that fantastic virus protection for your PC is now even more affordable - check out the exact pricing in your locale below, or head to Bitdefender's US site if your country isn't listed:
US and RoW: Get Bitdefender for $39.99 $19.99 a year
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Australia: Get Bitdefender for AU$69.99 AU$35 a year
R #1 rated antivirus. It's a special software treat for TechRadar readers. It means that fantastic virus protection for your PC is now even more affordable - check out the exact pricing in your locale below, or head to Bitdefender's US site if your country isn't listed:
US and RoW: Get Bitdefender for $39.99 $19.99 a year
UK deal: Get Bitdefender for £39.99 £20 a year
Australia: Get Bitdefender for AU$69.99 AU$35 a year
Norton AntiVirus Plus for Windows
(Image credit: Norton)
2. Norton AntiVirus Plus
Top-quality Windows 10 antivirus that keeps you well informed
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum devices covered: 1Stand out features: Intelligent firewall, PC maintenance features, backup tool, Norton Insight
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₹ 999
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₹ 699
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₹ 1,299
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REASONS TO BUY
+Great web protection
+Many useful tools beyond antivirus defenses
+Even includes a backup option
REASONS TO AVOID
-Uses more resources than some rivals
Norton AntiVirus Plus gives you coverage for one device, but if you only have a single Windows 10 PC that needs protecting from online threats, then it’s a sterling option for many good reasons.
The core malware protection provided is among the best in the business, alongside the likes of Bitdefender, and offers a novel touch for more tech-savvy types in the form of the Norton Insight tool. This gauges the reputation of any given file on your system and may help pinpoint more obscure threats.
Furthermore, on the web, Norton AntiVirus Plus does a great job of blocking malicious sites, and you also get an ‘intelligent’ firewall that keeps you well-informed on any potential risks to your computer.
3. Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security
Commendably beginner-friendly Windows antivirus
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum devices covered: 1Stand out features: Ransomware monitoring, Pay Guard banking protection, high-quality URL filtering
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₹ 1,297
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₹ 1,389
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₹ 1,399
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REASONS TO BUY
+Easy-to-use
+Folder Shield anti-ransomware layer
+Good antivirus engine and web surfing protection
REASONS TO AVOID
It-Not very configurable
-Doesn’t have that many features
Trend Micro’s entry-level Windows 10 antivirus is another product designed for a single PC (indeed, this baseline package is Windows-only, although there’s a separate app for Macs – and coverage for multiple devices via a flagship security suite, which we’ll come back to).
One of the major strengths of Trend Micro Antivirus Plus is that it emphasizes making things easy for novice PC users. This is an antivirus app you can install and then forget it’s there, letting it work away in the background keeping the computer safe, with no need to tweak or configure anything much. But while this is a great choice for the less tech-savvy, more demanding users will probably want to steer away from it due to the lack of configurability and options available.
This product also benefits from a good quality antivirus engine, with Trend Micro being rated highly by the independent test labs. That said, one slight weakness is more false positives, or errant detections of malware, occurring compared to the average antivirus.
Antivirus+ also delivers strong ransomware protection, with a dedicated Folder Shield that could help block even undiscovered ransomware trying to compromise your PC.
While Trend Micro Antivirus+ weighs a littweighs in resource usage than some rivals,thant’s a high-quality antivirus package. True, it’s not loaded with features, but you do get impressive URL filtering, plus a Pay Guard feature to keep your online banking secure.
Those wanting more features and coverage across multiple devices (or different platforms) should look at Trend Micro Maximum Security, which supports up to 10 devices (Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS), adding a secure file vault and password manager into the mix.
4. Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Windows
Strong malware protection from a well-respected provider
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum devices covered: 5Stand out features: Highly configurable virus scans, self-protection defense, System Watcher module
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₹ 1,350
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₹ 799
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₹ 1,198
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10 Amazon customer reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
REASONS TO BUY
+Highly accurate antivirus engine
+User-friendly
+Very low impact on system performance
REASONS TO AVOID
-Rather feeble extras
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Kaspersky is another veteran of the security world. While the company hasn’t made many changes to Kaspersky Anti-Virus in the past couple of years, it didn’t really need to. That said, some useful honing and tweaking has been applied with the 2021 version, including new performance options which minimize battery drain when running on a laptop, slimming down the Windows 10 antivirus app’s system impact even further - Kaspersky is a very streamlined program already.
This isn’t just a lean antivirus, but a mean one when it comes to combating malware. Kaspersky is highly rated by the independent test labs, recently proving itself by scooping a ‘Product of the Year’ award for 2020 from AV-Comparatives. It offers a good amount of flexibility when configuring virus scans, too, with a System Watcher module that allows Kaspersky to pick up undiscovered threats like fresh ransomware.
All the main pillars of Kaspersky Anti-Virus are rock-solid in terms of keeping your PC safe, then, although the program’s extra features aren’t as good as you’ll find with some rivals. There are some passably useful bits and bobs like a vulnerability scanner and privacy cleaner, but some of the wizards provided are a bit feeble.
In short, don’t expect much over and above the anti-malware protection that Kaspersky delivers – but that core protection is unwaveringly solid. For more features, you can always push the boat out to buy Kaspersky Total Security, a suite that provides a fully-fledged system of parental controls and a password manager, among other goodies, at a reasonable price.
5. Avira Antivirus Pro
Our exclusive price makes Avira a very attractive Windows 10 antivirus
SPECIFICATIONS
Maximum devices covered: 5Stand out features: Anti-ransomware, privacy tools, software updater
REASONS TO BUY
+Super easy to use
+Strong malware defenses
+That price!
REASONS TO AVOID
-Lacking features
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Avira antivirus is engineered in Germany, which immediately makes it feel like a trustworthy option. But it really has the goods to back that up, attracting plaudits from independent testing labs that have rated it highly for its pure virus protection.
Outside that, we like how easy Avira Antivirus Pro is to install and subsequently use. You won’t feel all at sea here, wondering how to set up scans and shields. This software is a doddle to operate.
Now you might read that and consider it as a slight negative. If it’s that simple to use, does that mean it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles seen elsewhere? Well, it’s true – Avira’s entry-level plan certainly isn’t as feature-fuelled as the likes of Bitdefender and Norton.
But if you're just after a trusted antivirus that's a step up from a free program, then Avira is well up to the task, especially when you check out the exclusive price you can currently get as a TechRadar reader - a whole year for less than $10/£10!
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