Are you short on time? Here is the best antivirus for Windows 10 and 11:

• : Powerful malware protection against viruses, spyware, ransomware, adware and more. It features a VPN, parental controls, secure storage, and a password manager.

I tested dozens of antivirus on my Windows PC and Surface tablet, using the latest hacker tools to test the malware scanner, web Protection, firewall and other security features of each. antivirus software. The 10 antiviruses on my list are the best internet security tools for Windows 10 and 11 that I could find in 2022.

It was no easy feat to find reliable antivirus protection for Windows. There are a lot of really bad software on the market. Even some well-known services do not reach the level of protection I expected, leaving various ransomware and spyware accessing my systems. Other programs, on the other hand, had bugs and slowed down the system, while some also provided good protection, yes, but at extremely high prices.

Whether you use Windows to work, play, unleash your creativity or even just browse online, all the antiviruses on my list provide a great set of excellent features for all versions of Windows (including Windows 11) at reasonable prices .

1. – The best PC security suite of 2022

is the king of antivirus software in 2022, providing excellent anti-malware protection and best features additional than any other service on the market.

During my malware tests, Norton achieved a 100% detection rate on Windows 8, 10 and 11 devices. Its SONAR system uses machine learning to detect malware based on its behavior, so it can also detect zero-day threats, i.e. vulnerabilities unknown up to that point and therefore not present in any malware database. Norton’s real-time protection scans all downloads and running processes, blocking malware files before they can infect your Windows device.

Norton’s 360 package also includes:

• Anti-phishing protection.
• Integrated firewall.
• Secure VPN.
• Password manager.
• Parental control tools.
• Monitoring of the dark web.
• Protection against identity theft (for the United States only).
• Cloud backup (up to 500 GB).

Norton’s additional features are very good. In my tests, its anti-phishing protections blocked malicious sites and other unsafe sites more accurately than the protections built into Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browsers, while Norton’s firewall detected unsafe network activity that went unnoticed. to the built-in firewall of your Windows PC.

Norton also provides one of the best built-in password managers compared to other antivirus on the market , as well as equally excellent parental controls , with content filtering, tracking and scheduling of mobile device use, and more. In addition, US users have access to the outstanding identity theft protection, LifeLock, which provides real-time credit monitoring, personalized fraud support and insurance coverage of up to $ 1 million for victims of identity theft.

While it includes tons of features, Norton is still very easy to use, thanks to an intuitive desktop application and an online dashboard that is even more so, facilitating access to all Norton features.

Starting at just US $ 19.99 / year, provide excellent value. I find the best choice, as it gives you all the additional Norton features covering up to 5 devices for the modest price of US $ 49. 99 / year. Plus, all Norton plans come with a 60-day money back guarantee.

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In summary:

Norton’s suite of cybersecurity tools perform much better than most other antiviruses. Fast and easy to use, Norton’s software offers advanced anti-malware protections that our tests have achieved 100% threat detection rate. If you need a really strong antivirus for Windows, Norton is the best solution on the market. Each Norton package offers a money back guarantee of up to 60 days.

2. – Best for advanced malware protection

uses a powerful cloud-based anti-malware engine that does not slow down Windows computers : I was extremely impressed with how Bitdefender ran smoothly on my PC, with no impact on the CPU or RAM even during full system scans.

To detect unsafe files, Bitdefender’s anti-malware engine uses machine learning, advanced heuristic analysis, and a huge malware database. In my tests, Bitdefender achieved a 100% detection rate, blocking Trojans, rootkits, ransomware, spyware and other threats. Bitdefender also offers a ransomware attack repair tool, which backs up of important data if suspicious activity is detected and restores it after the threat is removed.

Bitdefender also offers some excellent additional features, including:

• Anti-phishing protection.
• VPN.
• Parental control tools.
• Protected browser.
• System tuning tools.

During my tests, Bitdefender’s web protection detected all phishing sites and other unsafe portals. I also really like Safepay, a cryptographic secure browser window that provides a secure means of accessing your financial accounts. I’m also a huge fan of Bitdefender’s VPN, which uses Hotspot Shield’s super-fast VPN protocol. I was then able to enjoy HD video streaming, download files, and browse online with almost no connection slowdown on my Windows PC. Bitdefender also provides a complete set of parental control tools, including content filtering, device usage monitoring and geofencing, which allows you to receive notifications if your children leave a predetermined safe zone.

Priced at US $ 32.00 / year, includes features such as real-time virus scanning, protection anti-phishing and parental control (but only for 3 Windows devices), while the plan adds device optimization tools and covers up to 5 Windows, Android, Mac or iOS devices at a cost of US $ 36.00 / year. While these are great packages, they both put a limit on the daily use of the VPN (only 200MB per day). By switching to , instead, you get all the features of Bitdefender plus the VPN with unlimited data for only US $ 69, 99 / year.

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In summary:

Bitdefender offers complete internet protection for Windows, with a cloud-based antivirus supported by machine learning. Offers state-of-the-art privacy and security features, such as robust anti-phishing protections, a VPN quick and good parental control tools. You can try Bitdefender risk-free thanks to its 30-day money back guarantee.

3. – The best antivirus + VPN package for Windows

is a powerful and easy-to-use option to protect Windows devices in 2022 – Offers a good virus scan, an excellent VPN, comprehensive identity protection tools, and some of the best PC performance tuning tools I’ve ever tested.

In my tests, TotalAV’s advanced virus scan detected and blocked 99% (out of nearly 1,000) of the malware files on my Windows PC.

Windows users looking for additional privacy when browsing, streaming and torrenting will love TotalAV’s VPN. It is among our best solutions antivirus + VPN combo for 2022 , because it offers:

• AES 256-bit encryption.
• Kill switch.
• No-log policy.
• Servers in more than 30 countries.
• IKEv2 and OpenVPN protocols.

Thanks to TotalAV’s fast and secure protocols, I was able to torrent and enjoy streaming HD content without slowing down (plus, unlike Bitdefender , TotalAV’s VPN gave me access to streaming sites like Netflix, Disney + and Hulu).

TotalAV’s performance optimization tools are also excellent: I was able to remove junk files, clean up the system startup sequence, uninstall outdated applications, and clear browser cookies that were slowing down my Windows PC.

However, TotalAV’s password manager isn’t that great: it doesn’t sync across devices like Norton does, and it doesn’t include any password vault checking tools, unlike best services available on the market .

TotalAV offers 3 plans: includes anti-malware system and optimization tools, covering up to 3 devices. is my favorite, because it adds TotalAV’s excellent VPN and covers 5 devices, while adds an ad-blocker, password manager and coverage for 6 devices. Plus, all TotalAV products come with a 30-day money back guarantee.

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In summary:

Of those with built-in VPN, TotalAV is my favorite antivirus for Windows 10 and 11 in 2022. The virus scanner is powerful and lightweight, while the VPN provides high-speed encrypted browsing. Plus, its system optimization tools make it really easy to clean up and get your PC back in shape. While I’m not a big fan of TotalAV’s password manager, it does provide a number of additional features that are worth a look. Plus, all TotalAV plans offer a 30-day money back guarantee.

4. – Best for additional security features

has an excellent anti-malware scanning system and provides a wide range of security features for Windows . In my tests, McAfee detected over 99.7% of malware, thanks to a scanner that uses the latest technology for heuristic analysis and machine learning to detect malware files. Unfortunately, McAfee’s full disk scan slowed my device significantly during testing ( Bitdefender and TotalAV didn’t slow my system at all, even during full scans) .

Additional McAfee features include:

• Web Security Tools. Includes Wi-Fi scanning, intelligent firewall and anti-phishing protection.
• Battery optimization. Offers an option to reduce battery consumption on laptops.
• System optimization. Improves the performance of a computer by deleting unnecessary files that can slow down the operation of the PC.
• Destruction and encryption of files. Securely deletes files or makes them unreadable if stolen.
• Vulnerability scanner. Review and install important Windows and application updates.
• Secure VPN. Encrypt internet traffic with decent bandwidth speeds and unlimited browsing data.
• Protection against identity theft (available for the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many European countries). Monitors credit reports for unusual activities and includes substantial insurance compensation.

I really like McAfee’s web protection: McAfee detected phishing sites that Chrome and Edge didn’t detect, and the Wi-Fi network scanner notifies me whenever changes have occurred in my network. In addition, the firewall provides active protection against network-based hacking threats.

McAfee Total Protection Individual is a good option if you want to protect just one Windows PC, for only US $ 84.99 / year. However, users with multiple PCs (and mobile devices) should opt for the Multiple Devices plan, which also includes protection against identity theft, or the Family package , which adds parental control tools and coverage for up to 10 devices. Additionally, the Multiple Devices and Family plans are available at a significant discount on the 2-year subscription, making McAfee one of the most affordable internet security suites for Windows for 2022.

In summary:

McAfee offers excellent malware protection and a huge variety of additional security features. I was really impressed with McAfee’s web protections such as anti-phishing, Wi-Fi scanning. Fi is the secure VPN. McAfee also comes with useful extras like system tuning tools, file shredding, and identity theft protection. Plus, it offers one of the most affordable 2-year plans of any antivirus on my list, plus a risk-free 30-day money back guarantee.

5. – Best for fast scans and automatic software updates

Avira Prime combines a powerful anti-malware scanner with tons of useful features, including a great tool for Windows software update. Like Bitdefender , Avira uses cloud-based technology to scan devices, minimizing system slowdown and achieving 100% detection rate against sample old and new malware. Avira’s scan was also the fastest in my tests, running full scans in 20 minutes on my 500TB gaming PC.

In addition to a state-of-the-art virus scanning system, Avira offers:

• PUA Shield. Protects against Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) that may lurk within legitimate software.
• Firewall management. Optimize the firewall settings to the desired security levels.
• Web protection. Protects against all kinds of malicious web content and phishing sites.
• VPN. Hides your IP address using an encrypted server to improve online privacy.
• Password manager. Automatically generates, stores and inserts your credentials for greater security and convenience in password management.
• Software updater. Automatically updates many popular programs.
• Advanced system optimization. Records complete performance data, deletes junk files, improves PC startup times and optimizes PC performance while playing.

Outdated software can expose systems to threats such as exploit attacks, so I was reassured to find that the Software Updater feature now identifies programs and even updates them automatically. I also really like the system optimization features of Avira, which managed to improve the performance of one of my old test PCs (which still has Windows 8 installed), while I find I think its password manager is one of the most popular options. intuitive that there are.

Avira’s only flaws are that its VPN is not as fast as and it lacks dark web monitoring and parental controls, unlike .

Avira offers several plans, but my favorite is , which includes Avira’s Phantom VPN (with unlimited browsing data ) and protects up to 5 devices, including Mac, Android and iPhone. Avira also offers the best free antivirus on the market , but it lacks many of the most important additional features of Avira Prime.

In summary:

Avira provides a 100% malware detection rate, is light on the system even during scans and includes an excellent set of tools for protecting Windows PCs. The automatic update tool software keeps all applications and drivers up to date, which is very important for the safety of the device. In addition, the password manager and system optimization functions provided by Avira are among the best on the market. Avira Prime is a little expensive, but comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.

6. – Best for encrypting files and saving infected PCs

has a good virus scanner and some unique security features that are really useful. It detected 95% of my sample malware, a very good result, but not as impressive as 100% of Norton ). On top of that, for phishing links, Panda only achieved a 50% detection rate in my tests, which leaves a lot to be desired.

These are the protections that distinguished Panda during my tests:

• File encryption.
• Destruction of files.
• Rescue Kit for PC.

Panda made it super easy for me to encrypt my really important business documents with a secure password to protect them from malware and ransomware.

The Rescue Kit disinfects PCs that are already blocked by malware – this is useful for those emergency situations where a device is completely inaccessible. Just load the Rescue Kit onto a USB drive, insert the USB drive into the infected device, start it and Panda will automatically delete the malware and make the device usable again.

Panda packages also include features such as web protection, a VPN, a password manager and a secure browser, but these are extras that don’t hold a candle to top competitors, above all Norton and Bitdefender . Panda’s premium plans are also quite expensive compared to other services that offer a comparable range of features (also covering more devices). but it’s a good option, with real-time anti-malware scan, Wi-Fi scanner and a VPN (with 150 MB per day) for a reasonable price of US $ 28.79 / year.

In summary:

Panda’s virus scanner performed well in my tests and I really enjoyed certain additional features , especially the Rescue Kit. I wasn’t impressed with some of the other features, though, and I also think Panda’s packages are a little too expensive. That said, they do give a 30-day money back guarantee, so it’s worth trying Panda 100% to see if it’s the best antivirus for your PC. Last but not least, you should also know that its user interface supports Italian.

7. – Best for ease of use

provides a secure malware scanner for Windows, plus some excellent additional features and a very intuitive dashboard .

Kaspersky’s real-time malware scanning engine detected an impressive amount of viruses, spyware and ransomware in my tests.

Kaspersky also has:

• Anti-phishing. Prevents deceptive websites from stealing your data.
• Safe money. Protects shopping and banking in a special secure browser.
• Privacy protection. Ensures that external programs do not access webcams or microphones without permission.
• Parental controls. Block unsafe content and monitor device location.

Priced at US $ 29.99 / year, is sufficient if you are looking for basic protection for Windows. However, plans that cover up to ten devices (including Mac, Android, and iOS) are much better value for money. For US $ 44.99 / year, is priced similar to Norton 360 Deluxe and offers some of the best parental control tools on the market, however other security features can’t compare with Norton’s.

In summary:

Kaspersky Total Security is a high-level security program that is super easy to use and navigate and supports English. If you’re looking for an easy-to-install and forgetful antivirus for your Windows PC, Kaspersky is a good option, and it comes with a no-obligation 30-day money back guarantee.

8. – the best in terms of basic cybersecurity protections

is a simple virus scanner with excellent malware detection rates ; during my tests, Malwarebyte’s on-demand scanner managed to detect around 90% of the test malware, however its real-time protection managed to block almost 99% of the same files, on par with some of the names largest in the industry, such as TotalAV .

Malwarebytes also offers excellent antiphishing protection, with near-perfect detection rates and a respectable VPN. Although Malwarebytes VPN is not as feature rich as a standalone VPN than other competing services, it still remains a viable choice for those looking for an easy-to-use VPN with fast speeds.

Unfortunately, Malwarebytes does not offer other features, however, its simple design and lack of additional features may attract the interest of users who are looking for a basic antivirus program.

That said, with a starting price of just US $ 39.99 / year, Malwarebytes is priced similar to Norton and Bitdefender , both of which offer more protection. . In any case, if you’re interested, Malwarebytes offers a , so you can try it without any risk.

Conclusion:

Malwarebytes is a good anti-malware scanner with anti-phishing protection; you have the option to upgrade to Malwarebytes’ more expensive plans to get a VPN, but nothing more. If you want more functionality, take a look at other brands on the list. However, if you are content with a simple antivirus, Malwarebytes is a good choice. All Malwarebytes plans offer a generous 60 day money back guarantee.

Read the full review on Malwarebytes & gt;

9. – The best for safe browsing and online banking

has a good malware scanner and decent internet security tools for Windows users. strong >

I think it’s really cool how Trend Micro shows users which sites are safe: it offers a simple color coding system to rank Google search results from green (safe) to yellow (unsafe) to red (dangerous).

Trend Micro also includes:

• Monitoring of data breaches.
• VPN.
• Password manager.
• Safe browser.

I really like Trend Micro’s data breach monitoring, which uses encryption to search online databases for passwords, logins, and even credit card information that could be subject to hacker attacks. In addition, Trend Micro’s social media privacy tool has made it easier for me to access and change all the privacy settings of my social accounts.

After the recent update, Trend Micro’s VPN now offers decent service (it was pretty bad). It provides unlimited data, a range of server locations and acceptable speeds. But if you’re looking for really fast speeds and advanced security features, consider a stand-alone VPN like ExpressVPN or ProtonVPN .

If you are looking for intuitive web protection and a good malware scanner, then is a respectable choice; but I think it needs to provide some extra premium features in order to compete with similarly priced competitors like and .

In summary:

Trend Micro has a good cloud-based malware scanner, as well as decent extras like data breach monitoring and email phishing protection. I think it’s a bit overpriced, but it’s a lightweight program that has some good internet security protections, and its interface can be viewed in Italian and 19 other languages. Trend Micro offers a 30-day free trial and up to 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.

10. – Best for PC gamers

offers a really good anti-malware system, with appreciable additional functions and a good game booster that optimizes PC performance while playing.

In my tests, BullGuard removed 100% of the malware from my gaming PC and Surface tablet, but this took some time, almost twice as long as Norton and Bitdefender .

I’ve tried BullGuard on my gaming PC with a few different games, including,, and. I tested CPU performance, RAM usage, frame rate and load times, and was surprised to find that BullGuard significantly improved my computer’s performance in each of these categories! Anyway, Norton’s specialized gaming antivirus surpassed BullGuard in every respect: it’s my favorite antivirus for PC gaming, but sadly it’s not available everywhere. p>

Aside from the improved performance, BullGuard also offers other Internet security protections, such as:

• Firewall.
• Parental control.
• Cloud backup manager.
• VPN (separate purchase).
• Protection against identity theft (US, Canada and EU only).

BullGuard’s extra features have been a bit of a hit and a bit of a failure. The firewall is really good, but the parental control failed to block most of the inappropriate content in my tests. Instead, BullGuard’s identity theft protection is excellent, providing real-time credit monitoring across Experian’s international network. BullGuard’s VPN is decent, but not worth the extra cost it requires (especially when there are so many dedicated VPN services that are much better suited for online gaming span>).

The basic package, , includes only antivirus and game booster, and covers only one device. If you want to take advantage of most of the features described above, you need . adds ID protection and a network scanner.

In summary:

BullGuard has a good malware scanner, a decent range of extras, and an advanced game booster that increases frame rates and decreases load times while playing . I’m not a fan of the BullGuard user interface (which, by the way, is available in English, German, Danish, French and Spanish), and the parental controls could be much better. However, all the other features are satisfactory: if you’re looking for a cheap and safe antivirus for your gaming PC, BullGuard is a good option (it also offers a money back guarantee of up to 30 days).

Bonus: – Good malware scanning and advanced diagnostics

provides advanced anti-malware and diagnostic tools for security experts on Windows. As ESET is a good choice for highly advanced users, standard ones should rely on other services.

That said, ESET’s malware scanner uses advanced heuristics to catch zero-day malware threats, achieving near-perfect detection rates across all of my tests.

ESET also has:

• Advanced diagnostics.
• Anti-phishing.
• Data and device encryption.
• Anti-theft.

ESET’s advanced diagnostic tools are some of the best on my list – these have provided me with a comprehensive list of all my device’s files, drivers and registry entries so that any expert can easily analyze any changes to my system in an emergency.

ESET is a good anti-malware tool with some unique security features. However, the plan with the best value for money, covers only one device and requires an extra cost for each additional device, as it can get quite expensive pretty fast. ESET also offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

In summary:

ESET provides secure antivirus protection along with some unique features for advanced users. If comprehensive system usage reports and device encryption tools seem like an attractive extra, then ESET is a great choice. If you have no idea what these functions are, then take a look at one of the other programs on my list. Note that its user interface is localized in many languages, and Italian is one of them.

Comparison of the best antivirus for Windows of 2022

Antivirus
Starting price
Firewall
Phishing protection
VPN
Warranty duration
1.
US $ 19.99 / year
Yup
Yup
Unlimited data
60 days

2.
US $ 23.99 / year
Yup
Yup
Unlimited (with Bitdefender Premium Security)
30 days

3.
US $ 19.00 / year
Yup
Yup
Unlimited (with TotalAV Internet Security)
30 days

4.
US $ 39.99 / year
Yup
Yup
Unlimited data
30 days

5.
US $ 45.99 / year
Yup
Yup
Unlimited data (with Avira Prime)
30 days

6.
US $ 28.49 / year
Yup
Yes (only 50% detection)
Unlimited (with Panda Dome Premium)
30 days

7.
US $ 29.99 / year
No
Yup
300 MB per day
30 days

8.
US $ 39.99 / year
No
Yup
Unlimited (with Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy)
60 days

9.
US $ 19.95 / year
No
Yup
Unlimited (with Premium Security Suite)
30 days

10.
US $ 9.99 / year
Yup
Yes (only with BullGuard secure browser)
Yes (only with separate purchase)
30 days

Bonus:
US $ 39.99 / year
Yup
Yup
No
30 days

How to choose the best antivirus for Windows 10 and 11

If you’re buying an antivirus, you’ll certainly want to make sure it offers significant improvements over the security protections built into Windows 10 and 11. Here’s what to look for in a good antivirus for Windows in 2022:

• Malware detection rate. Look for scores close to 100%, as well as antivirus using advanced tools such as machine learning and advanced heuristic analysis (such as ). They will be able to detect malware that defies traditional signature-based scanning methods.
• Web protection. You need to protect your online activity with features like anti-phishing protection, safe browser environments, and anti-tracker tools that really work.
• Performance. A good antivirus program runs smoothly in the background without slowing down your computer. Although some processes, such as the full disk scan, can slow down the system a bit, you should look for antivirus that do not drain your resources or cause performance problems. Of all the antiviruses on my list, and are the ones that provide the best performance.
• Innovative functions. Internet security tools such as monitoring for data breaches, automatic software updates, file encryption, game optimizer and protection against identity theft are not found everywhere. If you need very specific protection, carefully review the characteristics of each antivirus (also make sure that they are really effective).
• Value. Some antivirus programs are very cheap but provide only basic protection, while some premium-tier suites cost more, but offer a lot more features. Make sure you get a service that’s covered by a money-back guarantee, so you can get your money back in case you’re not satisfied.

The best brands that didn’t make it into the rankings

Some of the best antivirus brands for Windows failed to make it to my top 10 despite recommendations from many other review sites. Among them:

• . Offers advanced protection to the various layers of the network by blocking malware before it reaches your device, but this software is far too complex for most home users, and doesn’t provide many of the additional features provided by other antivirus for the same price.
• . Lightweight, fast and easy to use antivirus with a good range of features, but with not quite satisfactory detection rates during my tests, which cost him a spot on my list.
• AVG / Avast. Avast and AVG, owned by the same company, have been accused of selling their users’ data to third parties. They’ve lost my trust, and that’s why they don’t deserve a spot on this list. You can learn more about these allegations by reading here .

Windows doesn’t already have antivirus installed?

Yes, most Windows computers have Windows Defender pre-installed, which offers much better protection than a few years ago. However, this does not provide the same malware protection provided by the other antivirus on this list .

For protection from ransomware, spyware, adware, and other threats like phishing and identity theft, Windows Defender won’t help you. Even if Windows Defender is sufficient as basic protection , it won’t protect you against advanced malware.

If you are very careful and don’t have important files to protect on your PC, Windows Defender will be enough for you. If you keep sensitive login information, passwords, banking information, photos and so on on your computer, you should find something that can guarantee your safety as .

Are free antiviruses good enough?

While there are some free Windows antiviruses that do a good job of protecting your PC , none of them will truly protect all of your data. These are always lacking in the functions most necessary for complete virtual security, such as:

• Protection on the web.
• Ransomware protection.
• Phishing protection.
• Theft protection.
• VPN.
• Archiving of encrypted files.
• Automatic backups.
• and much more…

Antivirus such as Norton and McAfee have a huge range of essential security features which ensure that the your computer and all your important data are fully protected from the latest virtual threats.

Will an antivirus slow down my computer?

It depends on how you use your computer.

The wrong antivirus could give you problems if:

• you are a gamer.
• you need to use CPU-intensive apps.
• you have an old computer.
• you watch a lot of streaming content online.

All antiviruses on this list will run smoothly, quickly and without performance issues.

The best antivirus for Windows 10 and 11 of 2022, , won’t slow down your PC system at all, no matter how it is use.

Which antivirus is best for both Windows and Android / iOS / Mac?

Many antiviruses cover multiple operating systems on Windows, Android, iOS, and Mac devices, and the same goes for most of those in this list .

All of these antiviruses have been evaluated and rated for Windows, but they also support other operating systems. For example, my favorite Windows antivirus – – includes 5 licenses for all Windows, Android, iOS and Mac.