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.

Looking for a new antivirus? My tried and tested favorites will improve the security of your desktop PC, laptop, and mobile devices.

Having some sort of antimalware protection is a must on Windows PCs, but if you're trying to pick between Bitdefender and McAfee, Consumer Reports may help.

I’m a Windows user, and after looking at third-party antivirus tools for my PC with the release of Windows 10, I abandoned them. Many big-name third-party antivirus tools can get complicated, and they ...

Mike De Socio is a CNET contributor who writes about energy, personal finance, electric vehicles and climate change. He's also the author of the nonfiction book, "Morally Straight: How the Fight for ...

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. This content originally ...

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 ...

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 ...