Which Antivirus is Right for Me?

As a cyber security professional, something I'm asked a lot is "Which antivirus should I use?"

As with all cyber security questions, this really depends on multiple factors. In this case, we'll examine my recommendations for home usage. If you're a corporate user, you'll want to look into centrally managed solutions instead, which I'll probably cover in a future article.

People are often surprised at my answer to this question. It really depends on what you do with your computer, and how tech savvy you are, as well as your budget.

Personally, I actually just use the free Windows Security, but that's because I need performance over protection. So let's take a look at what solution is right for you.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases using some of the links below. This compensation does not affect my recommendations.

Free Options

Best Performance - Windows Security (yes seriously!)

Windows Security is built in to Windows 10.  It's lightweight, and great for gaming. I caution though, Windows Security provides only a basic level of protection. If you're not a tech savvy user, or if you have children who might "click on bad links", then you're going to need something a bit more robust. While its predecessor Windows Defender left a lot to be desired, Windows Security has evolved into a very robust platform for basic malware protection.


Best Protection - ZoneAlarm

I absolutely love ZoneAlarm. Their free Antivirus + Firewall provides an excellent protection combination for home users. Be aware, there is a bit of a learning curve for what to allow and what to block for the firewall, and there is a bit of a performance hit. Gamers will probably want to steer clear.

Paid Options

Easiest to use - AVG (paid link)

In my experience, AVG has always been one of the easiest to use. As an added bonus, it includes a VPN to protect your web surfing privacy.

The interface is very simplistic, that even a novice computer user will understand what they're doing. If you're new to computers or just not very tech savvy, this will protect your computer, as well as your privacy.

Best Protection - Malwarebytes (paid link)

Malwarebytes is probably one of the best scoring antivirus engines available. This software is especially good at removing existing infections on an already compromised machine.

Best Performance - Bitdefender (paid link)

Bitdefender has consistently been ranked as one of the best performing antivirus programs for gaming. The software has an "autopilot" mode built in which makes it very easy to use, and it's intelligent to recognize your usage patterns so you shouldn't get alerts while you're gaming. And by the way, PC Gamer agrees on this. Autopilot does make me a little nervous, so I recommend checking on what it's actually doing every once in a while.

Ultimate Protection (but not great for non-technical folks) - Sophos

I like Sophos only because I've found them as always providing the best support any time I've emailed them new malware. However, Sophos has a learning curve with usage, so probably not recommended for the average user. Unfortunately this learning curve actually decreases your protection if you're not tech-savvy.

Concluding Thoughts

Antivirus is an ever-changing market, and many computer users have ever-changing needs. Always research any antivirus product before purchasing, to make sure it's right for you.

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Ken Buckler is a Cyber Security professional. The opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not reflect those of his employer or clients.