Microsoft Defender isn't enough to fully protect your PC. You don't have to pay extra, though—just use one of the top free ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Both Avast and Bitdefender originally built their reputations on their high-quality, free solutions. Even though they've both ...

We know, it sounds too good to be true. Security isn't free, right? Well, in some cases it is. You can get everything from anti-virus to a firewall for less than a penny. In a pinch, it's a nice ...

This is an important one. Some free antivirus software programs claim they will offer real-time monitoring when you use them. This means that as you scroll on your phone or computer, or download items ...

With the ever-growing threat of malware, ransomware, and phishing scams, a solid security app is essential for any Windows PC, even for savvy internet users. While Windows 11 comes with built-in ...

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 ...

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 ...

One big reason an antivirus company might offer protection for free is to gain mindshare. A CISO (chief information security officer) who uses free protection at home will at least pay attention when ...

Marshall Gunnell is a Tokyo-based tech journalist and editor with over a decade of experience covering IT, cybersecurity and data storage. Alongside CNET, his work has appeared in ZDNET, Business ...

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 ...