
We also read up on the viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other malware of recent years to learn what threats try to get onto most people's computers today. We spent dozens of hours for this guide reading results from independent labs like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, features at many publications such as Ars Technica and PCMag, and white papers and releases by institutions and groups like Usenix, Google's Project Zero, and IEEE. Why you should trust usĪs writers and editors for Wirecutter, we have combined decades of experience with different computers and mobile devices, and their inherent vulnerabilities. Check out our guide to setting up those layers here. You should have good virus and malware protection, yes, but you also need secure passwords, two-factor logins, data encryption, and smart privacy tools added to your browser. Relying on any one app to protect your system, data, and privacy is a bad bet, especially when almost every security app-including Malwarebytes and Windows Defender- has proven vulnerable on occasion. But information security experts repeatedly recommended it as a useful anti-malware layer, one of multiple layers of security you need for your devices, coupled with good habits. Malwarebytes is not an all-in-one option for protecting your system against exploits, malware, and other bad stuff.

These options provide reliable protection without slowing your computer significantly, installing unwanted add-ons, or harassing you about upgrades.
#Best antivirus for mac? Pc
Information security experts told us that the built-in Windows Defender is good-enough antivirus for most Windows PC owners, and that both Mac and Windows users should consider using Malwarebytes Premium, an anti-malware program that augments both operating systems' built-in protections.

The "best antivirus" for most people to buy, it turns out, is not a traditional antivirus package.
#Best antivirus for mac? free
And after all that, we learned that most people should neither pay for a traditional antivirus suite, such as McAfee, Norton, or Kaspersky, nor use free programs like Avira, Avast, or AVG. We set out to do a standard Wirecutter guide to the best antivirus app, so we spent months researching products, reading reports from independent testing labs and institutions, and consulting experts on safe computing. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter.
