The Best Security Suite Deals This Week*
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
While you need an antivirus app to protect your PC, a full suite of digital protection is even better. But as a normal consumer, you can’t easily identify the best ones just by looking. We’ve been evaluating antivirus software for more than 35 years at PCMag to help you decide. When full-featured security suites emerged in the late ’90s, we started putting those to the test, too. Every year, we run new and updated security suites through a tough testing regimen, with a strict dedication to independent and ethical journalism. You can’t safely challenge a security suite with real-world ransomware at home, but we can handle those scary tasks for you.Of course, your needs may not match those of your neighbor. Of the 40+ suites we track, we’ve identified four that merit our Editors’ Choice accolade. For entry-level security suite protection, we like Bitdefender Internet Security. At the feature-rich mega-suite level, both Bitdefender Total Security and Norton 360 Deluxe earn our applause. If you want identity theft protection with your suite, Norton 360 with LifeLock is a top choice.We don’t give this award lightly; it’s based on numerous tests, hands-on product evaluation, and years of experience and expertise. This story covers those four standout security suites and another half-dozen that excel in their ways. See our top picks below, with links to the full reviews, followed by everything you need to know to determine which security suite is right for you.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Bitdefender Internet Security
Best for a Wealth of Bonus Features
Why We Picked ItBitdefender’s standalone antivirus packs in more features than some self-proclaimed suites, and Bitdefender Internet Security piles on even more. The core antivirus technology consistently earns perfect and near-perfect scores from independent testing labs, and its ransomware-specific protection aced our tests. Other key features include a no-hassle firewall, a simple spam filter, password management, file shredding, a full-powered parental control system, and more. And it wraps all this protection in an AutoPilot system that lets you sit back and enjoy your protection with minimal interaction.Bitdefender does include a VPN, but with limits. You can’t pick and choose among available servers, and you can only use 200MB of bandwidth per day. That’s enough to try out the VPN protection, but if you plan to make serious use of the VPN you’ll have to pay for an upgrade.Who It’s ForMaybe you’re torn between two choices. On the one hand, you want a security suite that packs in every important security component. On the other hand, you don’t want those components clamoring for your attention when you’re working, gaming, or relaxing with a video. Is that you? If so, then Bitdefender Internet Security, with its multitude of components reined in by AutoPilot, is just what you need.
PROS
Perfect scores in independent antivirus lab tests
Effective ransomware protection
VPN included
Full-featured parental control
Many bonus features
CONS
Parental content filter not fully effective
VPN requires separate subscription to remove limits
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Limited
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Bitdefender Internet Security Review
Norton 360 Deluxe
Best for Full-Featured VPN
Why We Picked ItWhen you buy a security suite, there’s an implied promise it will keep you safe. Norton 360 Deluxe makes that promise explicit. As long as you choose auto-renewal, you’ve got a guarantee Norton support will handle any malware that gets past the app’s protection. And that’s some powerful protection—the independent labs we follow frequently give Norton perfect to near-perfect scores. It also aces many of our hands-on tests.This suite includes a robust, intelligent firewall, a basic password manager, and a local spam filter, as well as a dark web monitoring system to warn if your private data is exposed. Your subscription lets you protect up to five devices running Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. It also gets you five full licenses for Norton’s VPN. That’s a rarity; many other suites make you pay extra to remove limits from their included VPN components. And the 50GB of online storage for your backups is a nice bonus.Who It’s ForNorton security programs have been around for decades, and the brand has plenty of fans. This is a good choice for anyone who wants a time-tested suite that covers all the bases, but it’s especially good for those who wisely opt to protect their connections with a VPN.
PROS
Award-winning antivirus
VPN with no bandwidth or server limits
Hosted online storage for backups
Protection against dangerous and fraudulent websites
Streamlined mobile apps
Data-broker opt-out system
Powerful, self-sufficient firewall
CONS
Parental control unavailable on macOS
Online backup strictly for Windows
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Norton 360 Deluxe Review
Bitdefender Total Security
Best for Unusual Bonus Features
Why We Picked ItYou almost certainly have security protection for your PCs, but have you protected your other devices? Bitdefender Total Security pours all the excellent, well-behaved features of Bitdefender Internet Security into your Windows boxes and goes on to offer protection for your macOS, Android, and iOS devices. It also kicks its Windows game up a notch with system optimization and an unusual anti-theft component.You can manage your installations (or launch new ones) from the handy Bitdefender Central online console. When installing protection on a Mac, you get Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac, an Editors’ Choice in its own realm, and the same limited VPN you see in Windows. The password manager and parental control features also support macOS.Installed on Android, Total Protection brings a comprehensive collection of security features. It scans for malware on demand and scans every new application. If you lose your phone, you can log in to Bitdefender Central and locate, lock, or wipe it. Scam Alert flags suspicious text messages, Web Protection fends off malicious and fraudulent web pages, App Lock adds a second PIN for your most sensitive apps, and Account Privacy checks known data breaches to see if your email was involved. This is an impressive Android app.The same Apple-enforced strictures that make writing iOS malware difficult also interfere with creating security software for iOS. As with all cross-platform suites, Bitdefender’s iOS protection is relatively limited. You do get Account Privacy and the same limited VPN as on other platforms. However, there’s no antivirus component, nor does anti-theft make an appearance. Web Protection is limited. On the plus side, as long as you don’t enable Web Protection, your iOS installation doesn’t use up one of your licenses.Who It’s ForBitdefender Total Security protects your Windows devices just as Bitdefender Internet Security does, which should make anyone happy. But Windows boxes are only part of the picture. Total Security adds award-winning protection for your Macs, a comprehensive suite for your Android devices, and even a modicum of security for iOS. If you need to secure and manage a household full of disparate devices, this one’s for you.
PROS
Award-winning antivirus
Protects Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices
Online management and remote control
Many bonus features, including VPN and system tune-up
CONS
Full VPN access requires separate subscription
Parental content filter not fully effective
Support for iOS is limited
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Limited
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Bitdefender Total Security Review
Norton 360 With LifeLock
Best for Privacy Protection
Why We Picked ItNorton’s security software can protect your devices and your local data, but it can’t reach out into the real world and protect your identity. That’s why you want Norton 360 with LifeLock. This suite starts with everything we like about Norton 360 Deluxe and adds identity monitoring and identity theft remediation supplied by identity pioneer (and Norton property) LifeLock.Once you’ve set up LifeLock, Norton monitors the dark web for any sign that your identity has been compromised. It tracks possible misuse of your SSN, unexpected new accounts in your name, and anomalous financial transactions. If you lose your wallet (or have it stolen), Norton can help deal with the fallout. You get periodic credit reports, along with help freezing your credit if necessary. And if the worst happens and your identity is stolen, Norton will spend up to a million dollars on remediating the theft.At the basic Select level, this suite costs about $30 more than Norton 360 Deluxe alone, and you still get just five security suite licenses and five VPN licenses, though storage for your backups rises to 100GB. At the Advantage level, which costs $100 more per year, you get 10 of each license type and 250GB of storage, along with enhancements to monitoring and larger payouts for losses. Spend another $100 and you reach Ultimate Plus, which maxes out monitoring options and payouts and lets you install security suite and VPN protection on every device in your household.Who It’s ForAre you horrified to think that some malefactor could masquerade as you, open accounts in your name, spend your money, even get arrested while posing as you? Yes, identity theft can be a nightmare. Norton 360 with LifeLock protects your devices against malware and such, and also functions as an early warning system so you can nip identity theft in the bud. What a combination!
PROS
LifeLock identity theft mitigation
Excellent device-level security protection
Full VPN with no bandwidth limits
Supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Identity theft remediation guarantee
CONS
Security protection is limited on iOS devices
No parental control or backup for macOS
Cannot actually prevent identity theft
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Norton 360 With LifeLock Review
Avast One Platinum
Best for Families
Why We Picked ItInstead of the typical geometric shapes, Avast One Platinum decorates its display with color splotches, doodles, and happy people. If you like top-notch lab scores, you’ll be happy too. The labs all keep an eye on Avast, and it earns perfect scores in almost all of them. It rates near the top in our hands-on tests, too, and its full scan is faster than most. If malware interferes with Windows itself, Avast’s boot-time scan takes care of it, and it balks ransomware by banning unauthorized file changes.Antivirus protects your data locally, while a VPN protects it in transit. Avast’s VPN isn’t the most feature-rich, but you can use it with no limits. Among other unusual security features, Avast can protect sensitive documents from others, including other accounts on the same PC, prevent the use of the webcam by untrusted programs, and check to see if any of your passwords got exposed in a breach. You also get a set of performance enhancement features liberated from the limits imposed in Avast’s free edition.In addition to powerful device-level protection, the Platinum subscription includes identity theft protection for you and five family members. It alerts you to data breaches and other dangers, with easy access to dedicated resolution specialists and a promise to spend up to $2 million to remedy the damage. You also get concierge-level 24/7 support for all your tech problems.Who It’s ForAvast is a household name around the world, with millions relying on its free antivirus. If you’re an Avast aficionado looking to kick your security game up a notch and add whole-family identity theft protection, this suite is the way to go.
PROS
Identity theft protection for you and five family members
Device-level security for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows
Excellent antivirus lab scores
24/7 support for all tech problems
Thorough monitoring of credit and data breaches
Dedicated resolution specialists help remediate identity theft
CONS
Device-level protection limited on Android, more so on iOS
Doesn’t add much to security suite features available in free edition
Cannot actually prevent identity theft
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Avast One Platinum Review
McAfee+
Best for Multi-Device Households
Why We Picked ItYou’ve installed security on your PC, your Mac, and your mobile devices. But what about your partner’s devices and all those electronic devices that so enrapture your children? You could be looking at quite an expense to get them all secured. Unless that is, you turn to McAfee+. This generous suite lets you protect every device in your household, whether it runs Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. It even supports Chromebooks and ARM-based laptops. That protection includes the use of McAfee’s VPN with no limits on bandwidth or server choices, as well as numerous security bonus features. Better still, the antivirus component aces our hands-on protection tests.McAfee+ comes in three tiers: Premium, Advanced, and Ultimate. You get basic Dark Web monitoring of personal information at all three levels. The Advanced and Ultimate levels include full-scale identity theft monitoring and remediation, roughly parallel to Norton’s LifeLock. It doesn’t monitor quite as many different aspects of your identity, but it hits the important ones. And, like LifeLock, it comes with a guarantee. If you suffer identity theft, McAfee will spend up to a million dollars helping you to a full recovery.Who It’s ForIf you live in a Manhattan rent-controlled apartment with your cat, your Mac, and your iPhone, this isn’t the suite for you. But if you have a house full of modern, digitally active people, it can be a godsend. More than 10 devices? More than 20? Relax, they’re all covered!
PROS
Identity protection and remediation available
Protects all devices in your household
Helps remove abandoned online accounts
Effective social media privacy control
Excellent antivirus lab test scores
No-limits VPN
CONS
Missed one hand-modified real-world ransomware attack
Familiar features no longer present
Children’s identity features limited in Family Plan
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
McAfee+ Review
Trend Micro Maximum Security
Best for Cross-Platform Users
Why We Picked ItWhat kind of security do you want for your devices? Maximum security, naturally! Trend Micro Maximum Security has you covered, with protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Three of the four antivirus testing labs we follow consider the Trend Micro antivirus engine important enough to merit examination, though it doesn’t always get the best scores. It did score very well in our hands-on tests defending against malware-hosting websites and phishing frauds.On Windows, Trend Micro presents a wide array of features, among them multi-layered ransomware protection, protection for online transactions, a PC Health Checkup system, a scanner for privacy lapses in social media, an advanced encryption system for your sensitive documents, and a file shredder to securely delete originals after encryption. A few of its features aren’t quite as stellar. The parental control system is limited, password management handles just the basics, and spam filtering works only with Outlook. Even so, the collection of security features is impressive.In cross-platform suites, it’s not uncommon for Windows to get all the goodies, leaving Macs with just a basic antivirus. Not so with Trend Micro. The macOS edition gets top scores from the testing labs. It scans for malware on access, on demand, and on schedule and also scans any removable drives you mount. Other features include ransomware protection, detection of web-based threats, prevention of misuse of the camera and mic, parental control, and the same social network scan as on Windows. Android users likewise get a feature-complete security suite, and it offers more protection than most on iOS devices.Who It’s ForOn Windows, Trend Micro Maximum Security is feature-rich but has a few rough edges. But on macOS, Android, and iOS, it outperforms the competition. It’s a great choice if you need to protect across multiple platforms and even greater if Windows isn’t your primary platform.
PROS
Excellent scores in our phishing and malicious download tests
Comprehensive Android security
Protection for macOS beyond the basics
Unusually feature-rich iOS protection
Many useful security features
CONS
Lab scores from perfect to dismal
Poor score in hands-on malware protection test
Parental control weak
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
None
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Trend Micro Maximum Security Review
Avira Prime
Best for Forward-Looking Users
Why We Picked ItAn Avira Prime subscription gets you every security tool from Avira, but that’s not all. You get that any time Avira comes up with a new security app, too. Many of these are available separately in both free and Pro editions—Avira Prime users naturally get the Pro editions. It also supports Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.All the independent labs I follow include Avira, and it aces most (but not all) of their tests. In my own hands-on tests, though, it came up a bit short. On the plus side, you can use its VPN freely, with no limits on bandwidth or server choices. System Speedup Pro With HyperBoost aims to fine-tune performance, Software Updater Pro automatically finds and applies needed security patches, and Password Manager Pro adds an advanced security report that’s not available in the free edition.Other than removing VPN limits, Avira’s Pro-level macOS edition doesn’t add a lot beyond what you can get for free. Android users wind up installing three apps: Antivirus Security Pro, Phantom VPN Pro, and Password Manager Pro. On an iOS device, Avira’s scan covers Protection, Privacy, and Performance, but not malware. The password manager and VPN are among the other apps that have an iOS presence.Who It’s ForWhen Avira Prime is your suite, you don’t have to fear missing out on the latest and greatest features. Whatever marvel Avira’s developers and wizards come up with, it’s yours. Avira is the no-FOMO choice.
PROS
Includes Pro editions of all current and future Avira tools
Protection for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices
No-limits VPN
Mostly excellent scores from antivirus testing labs
CONS
Lacks many expected suite features
Poor score in malware-hosting URL test
Dark Web Monitoring did not work in testing
Browser-independent Web Protection not effective
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
Avira Prime Review
ESET Home Security Essential
Best for Techies
Why We Picked ItThat blue-eyed cyborg peering at you from the main window makes it clear that ESET Internet Security leans toward high technology. For example, it offers a Device Control system that gives you granular control over what device types and devices can connect to your PC. You could block USB drives in general but allow the use of those you’ve personally vetted, for example. This suite comes with a big set of security tools, some that are fine for all users and some that require serious tech expertise.An impressive Network Inspector lets you see all the devices connected to your network, with an option to get notified when new devices connect. It also checks your devices for security problems, such as ports open that shouldn’t be. Avast once boasted a similar feature but no longer does so. Other ESET features include a firewall, a spam filter, an anti-theft for laptops, webcam security, banking protection, and a limited parental control system.As for the core antivirus protection, ESET slips a bit. Its test scores, from just two labs, range from average to excellent, but it tanked our malware protection test. On the positive side, it scored well when we tested its protection against malicious and fraudulent websites. ESET’s Android edition provides a comprehensive set of security features, and the labs give it top marks. As for protecting your Macs, ESET offers antivirus, firewall, parental control, and simplified device control. However, the labs no longer put it to the test, and it failed our hands-on phishing protection test.Who It’s ForQuite a few features in the ESET Internet Security suite require an uncommon level of technical expertise. If you’re that rare person whose expertise rises to the necessary level, this suite is for you. You’ll use the Network Inspector to gain full insight into your devices, take system status snapshots with SysInspector, and build a perfect set of device control rules. Not you? Maybe look elsewhere.
PROS
Excellent antivirus lab scores
Full-featured Android protection
Small impact on performance tests
Useful home network security scanner
Anti-theft for laptops and Android
CONS
Limited parental control
Poor score in hands-on malware protection test
Unusually annoying firewall pop-ups
No enhancements for macOS
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
None
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
ESET Home Security Essential Review
F-Secure Total
Best for Multiple Licenses
Why We Picked ItF-Secure’s entry-level suite is a bit light on features, but F-Secure Total tips the scales the other way. It adds a cross-platform VPN, a password manager, and a monitor to warn if your personal information turns up in a breach. Its pricing is quite competitive for those who also want 10 or more licenses.The integrated password manager handles all the expected basic tasks, though it doesn’t fill web forms with personal data. It also lacks secure sharing, password inheritance, and multi-factor authentication.The simple VPN is also integrated right into F-Secure Total, and it’s a snap to use. It includes useful features such as a Kill Switch and split tunneling, but its network of servers is sparse compared to the best VPNs.Who It’s ForFinland-based F-Secure has been around for decades, and the brand has a devoted following. If you’re part of the fanbase, you’ll find that this is the most complete suite ever from F-Secure, and it’s quite a bargain if you protect a large number of devices.
PROS
Protects Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Includes cross-platform VPN
Password manager syncs on all devices
Identity monitoring warns of breaches
Attractive, streamlined user interface
CONS
VPN lacks geographical diversity
Password manager is missing advanced features
Easily defeated parental controls
Behavioral detection missed two ransomware samples
SPECS
Name
Value
VPN
Full
Firewall
Antispam
Parental Control
Backup
Tune-Up
Learn More
F-Secure Total Review
Buying Guide: The Best Security Suites for 2024
Basic vs. Advanced Security SuitesMost security companies offer at least three levels of security programs, including a standalone antivirus utility, an entry-level security suite, and an advanced suite with additional features and enhancements. Most entry-level suites include antivirus, firewall, antispam, and parental control. The advanced “mega-suite” typically adds a backup component and some form of system tune-up utility, and some also add password management, a VPN, or other security extras.When a new or updated security line comes out, we start by reviewing the antivirus. In our review of the entry-level suite, we summarize results from the antivirus review and dig deeper into the suite-specific features. For a mega-suite review, we focus on the advanced features, referring to the entry-level suite review for features shared by both. Your choice of a basic or advanced security suite depends entirely on what features matter to you and what you’re willing to pay for them.The suites we’ve rounded up here aim to protect consumers. You can use any of them in a small business, but you may need to switch to a SaaS endpoint protection system as your company grows. This type of service lets an administrator monitor and manage security for all the company’s computers.
It’s Surprisingly Easy to Be More Secure Online
Is Windows Defender Good Enough? Over the years, the Windows Defender program built into Windows 10 and 11 has evolved into Microsoft Defender Antivirus. In addition to antivirus protection, it manages Windows Firewall and other Windows security features. It doesn’t truly qualify as a suite; it’s just an antivirus that manages other Windows components. Independent antivirus test scores for Windows Defender have literally come in below zero in the distant past, but its scores have been steadily improving. You can still get better overall protection from the best third-party free antivirus utilities, but Windows Defender is looking better all the time. Even so, it can’t replace a full-scale security suite.Fighting Malware, Adware, and SpywareMalware protection is the heart of a security suite; without an antivirus component, there’s no suite. Naturally, you want a suite whose antivirus is effective. When evaluating an antivirus, we look for high marks from the independent antivirus testing labs. The fact that the labs consider an antivirus important enough to test is a vote of confidence. The very best antivirus utilities get high ratings from many labs.We also perform our own hands-on testing. For one test, we use a relatively static set of malware samples that we replace once per year. We note how the antivirus reacts when we try to launch those samples and score it on how well it protects the test system. For another, we try to download very new malicious files from URLs no more than a few days old. Lab test results, our own test results, and other aspects like ease of use go into our antivirus rating.What Do You Want in a Firewall?A typical personal firewall offers protection in two main areas. On the one hand, it monitors all network traffic to prevent inappropriate access from outside the network. On the other hand, it keeps a watchful eye on running applications to make sure they don’t misuse your network connection. The built-in Windows Firewall handles monitoring traffic but doesn’t include program control. A few security suites skip the firewall component, figuring Windows Firewall already does the most essential firewall tasks.The last thing you want is a firewall that bombards you with incomprehensible queries about online activity. Program KiberViyna.exe wants to connect with IP address 212.164.137.233 on port 8080? Incoming or outgoing? Allow or Block? Once, or always? Plastic or paper? Modern firewalls cut down on these queries by automatically configuring permissions for known programs. The very best also handle unknown programs by monitoring them closely for signs of improper network activity and other suspicious behaviors.Spam Filtering Is Mostly Built InThese days, most of us hardly ever see spam messages in our inboxes because our email providers filter them out. If you don’t get this service from your provider, it can be hard to even find your valid mail amid all the offers of male enhancements and magic COVID-19 cures.If your provider doesn’t squelch spam, it’s smart to choose a suite with built-in spam filtering. Look for one that integrates with your email client. Client integration lets it divert spam into its own folder and sometimes lets you train the spam filter by flagging any spam messages that get through or, worse, valid messages that wound up in the spam pile.Prevent Phishing and Protect Your PrivacyThe best antivirus in the world can’t help you if a fraudulent website tricks you into giving away your security credentials. Phishing sites masquerade as bank sites, auction sites, and even online dating sites. When you enter your username and password, your account is instantly compromised. Some clever frauds will even pass along your credentials to the real site to avoid raising suspicions. You can learn to avoid phishing scams, but having some backup from your security suite is important when you’re not as alert. We test phishing protection using real-world fraudulent sites scraped from the internet.Steering users away from phishing sites helps protect privacy, but that’s not the only way suites can keep your private information out of the wrong hands. Some offer specific protection for user-defined sensitive data, credit cards, bank accounts, and that sort of thing. Any attempt to transmit sensitive data from your computer sets off an alarm. Some contract with third-party companies to offer credit protection. Other spyware protection techniques include foiling keyloggers, preventing misuse of your webcam, and supplying a hardened browser that lets you do online banking in an environment isolated from other processes.Content Filtering and Parental ControlWe don’t penalize a suite for omitting parental control. Not everyone has kids, and not every parent feels comfortable controlling and monitoring their children’s computer use. In fact, we don’t even recommend buying a third-party parental control utility, not when Apple, Google, and Microsoft offer such services at no cost. Even so, if a suite puts forth parental control as one of its components, it had better work properly.Blocking inappropriate websites and controlling how much time the child spends on the internet (or on the computer) are the core components of a parental control system. Some suites add advanced features like instant message monitoring, limiting games based on ESRB ratings, and tracking the child’s location. Others can’t even manage the basics successfully.VPNs Protect Your CommunicationsLocal antivirus and security suites protect your data and documents, but their protection doesn’t extend to your internet communications. A virtual private network, or VPN, secures your internet traffic and can hide your IP address or location from snoops. Most VPN companies have just one product, but some security suite companies have ventured into the VPN realm.Often, though, you don’t get full VPN protection as part of your suite. Some install a free edition or a free trial. Others offer a link that sends you online to subscribe. Avast One, Norton 360, McAfee+, and Panda Dome Premium are exceptions, offering VPN protection without such limits.Will a Security Suite Slow Down My PC?One big reason to use a security suite rather than a collection of individual utilities is that the integrated suite can do its tasks using fewer processes and a smaller chunk of your system’s resources. Few modern suites have an appreciable effect on performance.For a hands-on measure of the effect of running a suite, we time three common system actions with and without the installed suite, averaging many runs of each test. One test measures system boot time, another moves and copies a large collection of files between drives, and a third zips and unzips that same file collection repeatedly. Suites with the lightest touch have no measurable effect on the required time.Do I Need Backup and Tune-Up Utilities?In a sense, having a backup of all your files is the ultimate security. Even if a sample of asteroid dust goes astray and destroys your computer, you can still restore it from a backup. Some companies reserve backup for their mega-suite offering, while others include it in the entry-level suite. Read our reviews carefully, as backup capabilities vary wildly. At the low end, some companies give you nothing you couldn’t get for free from IDrive or another online backup service. At the high end, you might get 25GB, 50GB, or even more online storage hosted by the company, along with the separate ability to make local backups.
Recommended by Our Editors
Tuning up your system performance has no direct connection with security unless it counteracts the security suite’s performance drag. However, tune-up components often include privacy-related features such as clearing traces of browsing history, wiping out temporary files, and deleting lists of recently used documents. What Can I Do About Identity Theft?No software solution can guarantee malefactors won’t capture and misuse your personal information. What they can do is alert you when they find evidence your data has been compromised so you can head off full-scale identity theft. This kind of dark web monitoring is becoming more common.If the worst happens and your identity is thoroughly stolen, you can get help. McAfee+ includes identity theft remediation at its two higher pricing tiers, and Norton offers suites that include LifeLock identity protection. The top-level suites Bitdefender Ultimate and Avast One Platinum enhance already impressive security with identity theft remediation and a no-limits VPN. All four will assign a caseworker to help you recover and spend what it takes to remediate the problem, typically up to a million dollars.Do Suites Provide Mac, Android, and iOS Security?Windows still dominates the desktop, but many households include Macs as well. Cross-platform multi-device suites give you one source of protection for all your devices. Typically, you don’t get as many features on macOS. In fact, most companies just offer a Mac antivirus, not a full suite. Be sure to take advantage of the option to protect your Macs. They’re not immune to malware.Android devices are ubiquitous, and the Android platform isn’t locked down the way iOS is. Even if you stay away from third-party app stores and refrain from jailbreaking your device, you can still get hit with Trojans, ransomware, and other kinds of Android malware. Smart users protect their devices with an Android antivirus. Most Android antivirus utilities include antitheft features such as locating, locking, or wiping a lost or stolen device. Some include bonus features like blocking unwanted calls or warning when you connect to an insecure Wi-Fi network.As for iPhones and other iOS devices, Apple’s built-in security makes life tough for malware coders and antivirus writers. Many cross-platform suites simply skip iOS; those that don’t typically offer a seriously stripped-down experience. Given the platform’s intrinsic security, it rarely makes sense to expend one of your licenses installing protection on an iPhone.What Else Isn’t Here?We’ve evaluated nearly 40 security suites, including entry-level suites, feature-packed mega-suites, and suites that extend protection across multiple different platforms. The suites listed in this article have all received at least 3.5 stars, and their antivirus components have been vetted by from two to four independent labs.Multiple suites from the same company appear in the chart only if both hold the Editors’ Choice honor. For example, Bitdefender Internet Security is an Editors’ Choice winner for entry-level suites, and Bitdefender Total Security earned the same honor as a security mega-suite. Norton also claimed two entries, an Editors’ Choice for cross-platform suite and another for security suite with identity theft remediation.Editors’ Note: Based on the increasing censure and criticism of Kaspersky by US government agencies, foreign agencies, and informed third parties, we can no longer recommend Kaspersky’s products. We continue to evaluate these products on their merits and report on them for those who wish to decide for themselves.
