Microsoft Defender isn't bad, but it's not enough to fully protect your PC. You don't have to pay extra, though—just use one of the top free antivirus apps we've tested.

Discover the best antivirus software in the US for 2026. Compare top solutions like Bitdefender, Norton, and AVG to protect your devices and data.

In 2025, most devices feature built-in antivirus software that scans files you attempt to download, blocking anything it deems suspicious. Antivirus tools also perform automated scans to remove ...

Having an antivirus app on Windows is a must. While Windows Defender is certainly an option, Consumer Reports rates these ...

Your device's built-in antivirus software might not be enough because cyber threats continue to evolve. While a tool like Apple's XProtect offers basic protection, it often lacks essential features ...

Windows 11 users face growing cyber threats, from ransomware and phishing to occasional zero-day exploits. Choosing the right antivirus is no longer ...

Unlike your built-in laptop antivirus protection, modern antivirus software doesn’t just protect you from dodgy downloads—it can keep the kids from looking at web pages they shouldn’t or make sure ...

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. AVG offers a variety of cybersecurity tools to keep your ...

It’s no secret that the sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks have been growing steadily for the last few years, in part due to AI opening the doors to even low-skilled threat actors to launch ...

Over 300,000 new types of ransomware and other malicious software are discovered daily, according to the IT security research institute AV-TEST. Computer viruses can slow your devices, create a slew ...

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that ...