Best Antivirus for Your Mac and Windows Computers

Both Windows PC and Macs have a lot of first-party security features that make them harder to hack into. Plus, both Microsoft and Apple are constantly updating their operating systems to try to stop potential new threats before cyber criminals can take full advantage of them.

However, there’s only so much these companies can do to keep you safe. You need to do your part to protect yourself properly as well. While that includes being careful around the internet, it also helps to get some tools to protect yourself.

Enter antivirus software. These apps are powerful tools to keep you safe both online and offline. They’ll constantly scan your computer to hunt down and get rid of any malware that might get on there.

Further, most antivirus software packages come with a bunch of extra features to protect your passwords and your data against potential scams.

With so many antivirus apps out there, which one should you be using? To help you out, we’ve rounded up a list of the best ones you can try on your Mac or Windows computer.

Norton Antivirus

You’ve probably heard of Norton Antivirus before — and for a good reason. This app is one of the best antivirus tools you can find online. 

Not only will it constantly scan your computer for malware or viruses, but it also comes with many other useful features, including dark web monitoring that will automatically notify you when Norton discovers something about your personal information on the web. 

Moreover, it also comes with 50GB of cloud storage and a VPN service to keep you safe when you browse the web, plus a password manager to keep your passwords safe without you having to remember them all the time. 

But by far, one of the coolest features Norton comes with is called SafeCam, which constantly protects your computer from malware that tries to activate your webcam without your permission. You’ll also get notified when that happens.

BitDefender

BitDefender is another one of those apps you’ve probably heard of, which means they’re really effective in what they do.

Besides keeping track of your computer for any potential malware, BitDefender also offers a VPN service to visit any website you want safely and an anti-tracker feature that blocks all those annoying trackers that websites use to get a hold of your browsing activity and other private information.

It also comes with safe online backing, which lets you make transfers or purchases online while keeping your data safe and avoiding fraud, and a Wi-Fi Security Advisor feature that analyzes the Wi-Fi networks you use and engages the VPN when you’re connected to one that might be insecure.

Another cool feature BitDefender offers that you won’t see on all Antivirus apps is a Social Network Protection feature, which protects your accounts from any social media spam. Have you ever gotten a strange message from a friend telling you to click on a shady link to win money or something? That’s what BitDefenders protects you from. 

Avast Antivirus

Avast is another really popular antivirus in today’s day and age, and there’s a reason for that. On top of being one of the best antivirus tools to protect you against viruses and malware, Avast comes with a really useful data shredder to permanently and securely get rid of any files you don’t want laying around.

It also comes with a webcam shield, so no one can turn on your webcam without your consent, and a password manager. One of Avast’s coolest features is its sandbox technology, which puts any file in an isolated environment to scan it for possible threats even before it’s allowed to run on your Windows computer or smartphone. 

Avira Antivirus

Avira is another easy-to-use but effective antivirus. You can quickly scan your computers with just a few clicks, and it also protects your devices from Ransomware.

Additionally, it comes with a Phantom VPN service to browse the web safely and anonymously and a password manager to keep your most important data protected, plus a file shredder and a device optimization feature that will find useless files and delete them automatically for you. 

McAfee Antivirus

McAfee is also one of the oldest and most reliable antivirus apps you’ll find today, and the best part is that it comes with every tool you need to keep yourself protected online.

For starters, its antivirus scanner will keep your Windows or Mac safe and sound against any potential threats. Not only that, but it comes with a firewall that’ll block any potential malware trying to get into your computer.

Like other options on the list, it also comes with a VPN service so you can browse the web safely, plus a password manager and even a parental control feature that you can use on your Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

Lastly, there’s also a secure file shredder, which helps you completely delete any file you want and get rid of any traces of it.

Protect Your Computer Today

It doesn’t matter if you’re using a Mac or Windows computer, they’re all still targets of cyberattacks. Whether it’s a simple virus or someone actually trying to get a hold of your information, you need to protect yourself as much as possible.

Using one of these antivirus apps will help ensure that your computer and your personal information are safe behind a wall that’ll be pretty hard to get through.