Antivirus software safeguards computers from malicious software (malware) threats, such as viruses that suck up information as well as worms that attack the system, and trojans that serve as platforms for other payloads. Antivirus software protects against phishing which is the use of fake email links to steal account and password information.

Some programs offer additional features to keep you safe. These features include a cloud storage service or a password manager as well as performance optimization tools. The majority of the top antivirus software programs also have support for multiple devices and are made to work with Android and iOS phones, too.

Norton 360 Antivirus Plus is one of our top picks for antivirus software It's a good option if you need multi-device security. It's a powerful program that guards against all kinds of the best privacy browsers threats that include ransomware, spyware and file infectors. It always scores top marks in lab tests from AV-Comparatives and AVTest, making it an excellent choice to protect your Windows PC against malware.

Another good option is Bitdefender's Internet Security, which has amazing malware detection capabilities and comes with a a robust set of extra features. It includes a password manager, dangerous site alerts and VPN. This program comes in three different levels. One is free for a single device, and the remaining two are more basic and cost around the same as Norton's top-rated product.