Pros: Built into Windows 10. Good hands-on test scores. Simple ransomware protection. Easy access to Windows security features. Always on if no other antivirus is present. Avira Antivirus 2019 won AV-Test’s Top Product award Protection Performance Usability Take a no-compromise approach, like we did: Next-generation malware protection with a real-world detection score of 99.6%, performance that won’t slow your system down, plus stunning simplicity and ease of use.
“Do I need antivirus software?” It’s one of the most frequently-asked questions by new PC buyers, as evidenced by the top search autocomplete suggestions from both Google and Bing:
Unfortunately, there’s still no easy, one-size-fits-all answer. In this short guide, we’ll take a look at the state of antivirus in Windows 10. The objective is to help inform you so you can make the right decision when deciding if you need antivirus software. As ever, a usual disclaimer comes first: this article is of advisory nature only, and we cannot be held responsible if your system gets infected after following the guidance.
Windows Defender
Out-of-the-box, Windows 10 is much more secure than any previous version of Windows. You’ll find Windows Defender is enabled straightaway, a built-in security suite that offers antivirus and malware protection.
For many people, Windows Defender will be the only antivirus that’s required. While benchmark tests show that Defender still isn’t quite as accurate or reliable as some paid third-party alternatives, it’s generally capable of catching everything a typical PC user will encounter.
Defender includes periodic threat scans, a folder protection option to defend against ransomware, integrated firewall controls and automatic scanning of new files downloaded from the web. In addition, Defender includes simple parental controls to block websites in Microsoft Edge, limit purchase activities and enforce screen time controls.
Defender then is a rounded security suite with one big advantage: it’s free and integrated directly into Windows 10. Security definition updates are issued daily through Windows Update, so you should never need to think about whether your system is protected. If you only browse reputable websites and exercise some caution when downloading files, you shouldn’t encounter problems when relying on Defender as your sole antivirus provider.
What about the others?
This isn’t quite the end of the story though. While Windows Defender is now more advanced than it’s ever been before, it’s still not quite as accurate or reliable as brand-name third-party providers. You can generally count on Defender to catch most major threats, but it tends to be less adept at identifying zero-day vulnerabilities in software such as web browsers.
While the short answer is that Defender is sufficient, this should be qualified with a condition: if you use Defender alone, you should remain vigilant. Although this will (hopefully!) be basic advice that you’ve heard before, staying away from ad-ridden, suspicious-looking websites can prevent you from coming into contact with more severe digital threats. The same goes for hyperlinks in unexpected emails – be wary of what you click.
With that said, sometimes Defender just won’t be the most suitable solution. Perhaps you do have more demanding requirements of your security software, because your device is used for work and you handle sensitive files. Alternatively, you might be configuring a PC on behalf of a less technically-savvy user – in this case, you may choose stronger, third-party protection in case they do find their way off the beaten track online.
Going shopping
When shopping for antivirus software, you don’t necessarily need to buy the most expensive product. A free or basic package will often give you all you need. More expensive suites tend to pad out their contents with unnecessary bloatware, such as system cleaners, browser extensions and adblockers. Generally, this style of all-in-one package should be avoided – much of the software is unneeded and it clutters up your system. Sometimes, the “extras” can expose security issues themselves.
If you came here looking for a short answer, we’re sorry that there still isn’t one available. The good news is that Windows 10’s built-in protection should now be “good enough” for the majority of home users who are willing to stay vigilant online.
Ultimately, it’s up to you where you draw the line. As long as you’re making regular system backups, you should be able to recover from a virus should disaster strike. Ensuring you have some antivirus software, remaining aware of potentially risky activities and maintaining a regular backup schedule may be more beneficial overall than paying for a bloated third-party protection package.
Further reading: Antivirus, Windows 10, Windows DefenderIf you use a Windows 10 system then you're an attractive target for hackers simply because Windows is the world's most popular PC operating system. The security situation on Windows has improved dramatically over the last few years, but the sheer number of users mean it is still under threat - that's where getting a Windows 10 antivirus comes in.
Best Windows 10 antivirus
Read on for our detailed analysis of each app
Yep, we're afraid that the reality remains that you still need a regularly updated antivirus package to keep you safe from the latest threats. That's because the bad guys are constantly looking for new ways to access your data and control your system.
From ransomware to fileless attacks and blended malware, there are plenty of threats out there - some you'll know the names of, other's you'll never even heard of - and there's the danger is great on Windows 10, no matter how careful you are online.
So which are the best virus protecting products for Windows 10 you can get right now, and is Windows Defender sufficient to keep you safe these days? Find out woth TechRadar's guide to the best Windows 10 antivirus.
- Want your company or services to be added to this buyer’s guide? Please email your request to [email protected] with the URL of the buying guide in the subject line.
Here are the best Windows 10 antivirus of 2019
1. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019
Consistently high test scores
Basic licence covers three devices
Monitor the testing lab reports on most antivirus products and you'll normally find results varying over time: one generation works well, the next edition has some problems initially, the company goes to work and performance improves.
Bitdefender is far more consistent. AV-Test, for example, has been running its in-depth antivirus tests since 2010, and Bitdefender has achieved a 100% protection rating in 17 out of the 20 reports produced to date (the last 'fail' was in December 2014).
That's important as it suggests Bitdefender's products aren't just accurate right now, but they're likely to be just as good next month, next year, and on after that. That makes it a fantastic pick for our best Windows 10 antivirus countdown
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 combines its excellent core antivirus engine with an array of smart technologies to keep you safe from harm. Accurate web monitoring detects and blocks malicious links, and a vulnerability scanner alerts you to missing security patches or poorly chosen system settings which could compromise your PC.
A secure browser prevents malware from snooping on your banking and online shopping transactions, and specialist ransomware protection ensures that even if something does penetrate your defenses, sensitive documents will still be safe.
Bitdefender's starter price is pretty competitive too, considering the power of the security tools you get with it. For one device for one year you're looking at around $25/£25, with extra for more PCs and mobiles and a reduction if you crank up the term.
Get Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 up to 60% off
Great news! You can currently score up to 60% 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:
Great news! You can currently score up to 60% 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:
- Australia: Get Bitdefender for
AU$69.99AU$28 a year
2. Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security
Excellent scores in recent tests
Great value
Trend Micro may not have the profile of some of the big-name antivirus competition, but don't let that put you off - its products have a lot to offer.
The baseline Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security has all the essential features you need - antivirus, ransomware protection, email checks and web filtering - but isn't weighed down by unnecessary extras you'll never use.
Independent testing reports that Trend Micro delivers excellent results. As we write, the last five AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Tests - September, October and November 2018, along with February and March 2017 - all show Trend Micro protecting against 100% of test threats.
Pricing is fair and transparent. The headline prices aren't only available if you pay for two or three years up-front, and they don't suddenly jump up after the first year: they're just good value, full stop.
A simple one PC, one-year licence is cheap at only £19.95 ($28). Extend the term and add support for more PCs and the costs fall even further, so for example a three computer, three-year licence costs only £53.27 ($74.60), or £5.92 ($8.29) per year per PC.
Moving up to the top-of-the-range Trend Micro Maximum Security gets you protection for Android, iOS and Mac, as well as Windows, and adds features including parental controls, password management, social media monitoring, device optimization and more. Prices start at £24.95 ($38) to cover any mix of five devices for one year.
3. Kaspersky Free Antivirus
Free version
Accurate and reliable engine
Kaspersky has been one of the top antivirus companies for a very long time, and its products regularly appear at or near the top of the scoreboard for most of the main testing labs.
Kaspersky Free Antivirus gives you the company's top-rated antivirus engine and intelligent blocking of malicious links for absolutely nothing. You don't even have to put up with ads - just leave the app running in your system tray and you'll barely know it's there.
Kaspersky's commercial antivirus and security suite products add features including online banking protection, parental controls, password management, file backup, and coverage for your Windows, Mac and mobile devices. They're priced from £22.49 ($30) for a one computer, one-year licence.
You might have seen Kaspersky making the headlines for less welcome reasons, recently, with both the US and UK governments restricting the use of Kaspersky products by some government agencies to avoid possible security risks.
While this is a concern, as we've seen no evidence to support the restrictions, we're not going to allow them to influence our current thinking. We suspect you're far more likely to be targeted by hackers and malware than Kremlin surveillance, and overall Kaspersky does an excellent job of keeping you safe.
Top-rated free option
Above average prices for paid products
Panda Security has been developing quality antivirus software for many years, and its latest Windows detection engine is one of the best around.
For evidence, just point your browser at the results for AV-Comparatives Real Word Protection tests. These are a tough check of antivirus ability, but the last summary report (July - November 2017) ranked Panda Free Antivirus in first place as the only product to receive a consistent 100% protection score.
If you're on a budget, then, Panda Free Antivirus may be your best option, but the company also produces more powerful commercial tools which could be interesting.
Panda Dome Essential takes the core antivirus features and adds a personal firewall, Wi-Fi protection and a secure browsing environment to protect online shopping and banking activities. It's priced at £26.24 ($36.75) a year for a one device, one-year licence, rising to £35.24 ($48.99) in year two.
Moving to a higher plan could get you specialist ransomware protection, parental controls, app locking, a call blocker, anti-theft, device optimization, remote device management, unlimited VPN use and more.
Dome can be licenced for 1, 3, 5, 10 and even an unlimited number of devices, and these can be any mix of Windows, Mac and Android systems.
For us, Panda Free Antivirus is the star product here, but if you're looking for more of a security suite, the Dome range may also be interesting. Take the free month trial for a spin if you'd like to find out more.
5. Windows Defender
Lightweight
Average detection rates
Windows Defender has been trying to protect PCs from viruses since the days of Vista, but originally with little success. Independent testing regularly placed Defender at the bottom of the protection rankings, with detection rates as low as 60-70 per cent.
Today's product is very, very different. Check out AV-Comparatives' Real-World Protection Tests and the last summary report (July - November 2017) gave Microsoft a 99.1 per cent protection rating. That translates to 13th place out of 21, so plainly isn't ideal, but still outperformed several big-name commercial engines: ESET, McAfee, Emsisoft, Fortinet, Adaware and more.
There are plenty of other reasons to like Windows Defender. It arrives with your PC and is enabled by default, so there's nothing to learn or configure. It's lightweight, grabs very few system resources and is most unlikely to conflict with anything else. All you need to do is get on with using your PC, and Defender handles everything else in the background.
Windows Defender still has its issues. Test results can be inconsistent over time and between labs, and most reports suggest it raises more false positives than average. But even with these problems, it's clear that Defender now offers genuinely useful protection at a similar level to many commercial products. If your needs are simple, or you're familiar with and like the package, it could be a sensible choice.
Should I get free or premium antivirus?
Many vendors offer free and paid-for versions of their antivirus. Why? Well, the free product acts as a gateway to the premium edition, while it also allows cybersecurity vendors to gather more data on threats, so they can protect their entire customer base.
It’s therefore not in their interest to water down the protection offered by the free version.
The difference between the two is in additional capabilities, not in the antivirus capabilities. Premium editions include features like advanced firewalls, parental controls, internet banking protection, and safeguards against social engineering.
They might also use fewer system resources and don’t have the adverts urging users to upgrade.
If you’re looking for a base level of protection for your Windows 10 system, then a free version is more than capable. But if you have more than a few systems, or you have a small business, then a premium service might be more suited.
Is Windows Defender good enough to secure Windows 10?
Accessing the Internet on some earlier versions of Windows without third-party antivirus software was a bit of a suicide mission. Windows was notoriously riddled with bugs and a huge installed user base meant it was the target for viruses and other forms of attack.
But these days, the OS is protected by Windows Defender out of the box, and the Windows 10 version does a pretty good job. As mentioned above, it is enabled by default, and compares favourably to the competition.
But do you need another antivirus if you have Windows Defender? It really depends.
Windows Defender is lightweight and does a good job at detecting threats, but it does leak some false positives and occasionally gives users the option to execute malware rather than blocking it entirely.
Your system is secure with Windows Defender, but if you want added piece of mind, it might be worth investing in an additional safeguard that Bitdefender Plus and the other best Windows 10 antivirus packages afford.
- This is our best antivirus software buying guide
- Also take a look at the best internet security suites