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.

Antivirus has become these days a catch-all term. It doesn’t just mean blocking literal computer viruses, trojans, and other bits of malicious code meant to attack your PC. When you opt to go beyond ...

ZDNET tested the best antivirus software on the market, with support for multiple operating systems, VPNs, and robust protection.

Both Avast One Basic and AVG AntiVirus Free provide excellent antivirus and security protection at absolutely no cost. Is one better than the other? I compare their most important capabilities and ...

Bitdefender Antivirus Free scans and cleans your system using only the resources that you, your software or your operating system are not using, thus achieving near-zero impact on your activities.

Pirated media and free games are common culprits, as well as phishing attacks where you click on an unsafe link, button, or email attachment. Once clicked, the virus or other malware installs itself.

Antivirus software can be confusing. If security protections are already built into Windows, what makes a third-party alternative worth the switch, much less the money you might pay for it? And heck, ...

Dianna Gunn built her first WordPress website in 2008. Since then, she's poured thousands of hours into understanding how websites and online businesses work. She's shared what she's learned on blogs ...

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 ...

Dianna Gunn built her first WordPress website in 2008. Since then, she's poured thousands of hours into understanding how websites and online businesses work. She's shared what she's learned on blogs ...