Best Antivirus 2026: A Tight Race, but Two Providers Lead the Pack

Privacy and security on the internet James Martin/CNET

Your entire life relies on your devices staying safe, which makes it important to choose the right antivirus. If you’re choosing antivirus software bundled with other services like identity monitoring, it’s even more crucial to ensure you’re signing up for quality services. When choosing the right software, consider things like effectiveness, efficiency, usability and the quality of other cybersecurity tools you can get alongside your antivirus. You’ll also want to select antivirus offering protection for all of the devices you use.

Effectiveness

Every antivirus company will tell you its software can block viruses, ransomware and other forms of malware — but that doesn’t mean you should take their word for it. The best antivirus companies submit their programs to regular testing from third-party labs like AV-Test or AV Comparatives

You should be able to find tests conducted within the past six months, and the company you’re considering should have high protection and

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