The Top 6 Antivirus Programs for Windows Users in 2024
Every Windows system requires safeguarding against malicious software such as malware, spyware, worms, and bots by utilizing antivirus applications. Nevertheless, malware represents just one of the numerous cybersecurity threats confronting businesses. Cybercriminals infiltrate corporate networks through methods like phishing, malicious websites, and compromised cloud platforms.
Providers of antivirus solutions for businesses frequently integrate more advanced endpoint protection features to assist organizations in combating sophisticated threats effectively. This article examines the top six antivirus programs for Windows 10 and 11 based on their fundamental functionalities, pricing, and security.
Comparison of Top Antivirus Software for Windows
Each antivirus software listed below offers malware protection for endpoints, such as laptops and desktop computers, while also providing additional functionalities like intrusion prevention and defense against unauthorized external devices such as USB drives. For the sake of this evaluation, the yearly pricing for servicing 10 endpoints was considered.
Bitdefender GravityZone: Top Choice
Bitdefender has gained popularity for its complimentary antivirus software, but its enterprise solutions also deliver outstanding value. The GravityZone platform furnishes advanced protection for endpoints against ransomware, malicious PowerShell commands, phishing websites, and real-time exploits within common applications like browsers, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Reader.
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Upgraded packages come with additional features such as web control and filtration, attack forensics and visual representations, and a sandbox environment for testing suspicious files or scripts securely.
Reasons for Choosing Bitdefender GravityZone
Bitdefender provides a comprehensive set of security features at prices that are within reach for most businesses. The IT community regards it positively for safeguarding user data privacy, even with its complimentary products. Overall, it strikes an excellent balance between cost, capabilities, and security.
Pricing Details
- GravityZone Small Business Security: Includes anti-phishing, ransomware protection, and web security for $199.49 per year for 10 devices (discounts available for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
- GravityZone Business Security: Offers protection against network-based attacks, web access control, peripheral device protection, and analytics for $258.99 annually for 10 devices (discounts for 2- or 3-year commitments).
- GravityZone Business Security Premium: Features machine learning detection, sandbox environment, defense against script and memory-based attacks, and Microsoft Exchange anti-spam and anti-malware for $570.49 per year for 10 devices (discounts available for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
Notable Features
- Ransomware prevention, mitigation, and decryption capabilities.
- Protection against fileless attacks.
- Anti-phishing and anti-fraud safeguards.
- Advanced real-time exploit detection.
- Intrusion prevention for networks.
- Risk management for security postures.
- Web content filtering and control.
- Forensic analysis and visual representations of attacks.
- Sandbox for analyzing files.
Advantages and Disadvantages
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ESET PROTECT: Ideal for Comprehensive Protection
ESET PROTECT serves as an all-encompassing antivirus solution designed for Windows 10 and 11 endpoints, as well as Windows servers, mobile devices, Exchange and IBM email servers, and various cloud applications like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
VIEW: 9 Top Antivirus Software Options for Businesses in 2024 (TechRepublic)
Despite ESET’s relatively higher pricing within its category, I was impressed by the multi-layered security controls inherent in the PROTECT platform, which encompass an encryption solution for system disks, partitions, and devices, in addition to innovative threat detection and endpoint patch management.
Optionally, businesses can subscribe to additional security offerings at an extra cost,
can acquire managed detection and response solutions from experts in threat hunting or extended detection and response by utilizing cutting-edge AI and ML technology.
Reasons for Selecting ESET PROTECT
ESET PROTECT offers comprehensive protection that can potentially safeguard an entire IT setup of an organization, spanning from endpoints to infrastructure and cloud applications. Its advanced features and managed services make it an excellent option for companies with intricate security requirements and limited IT resources.
Price Options
- Secure Entry: Comprehensive network defense, device management, anti-phishing, and server security priced at $422 annually for 10 devices (discounts offered for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
- Secure Advanced: Includes mobile threat prevention, full disk encryption, and advanced threat protection for $550 per year for 10 devices (discounts available for 2- or 3-year subscriptions).
- Secure Complete: Offers vulnerability identification, patch administration, mail server protection, and cloud application security for $575.45 per year for 10 devices (discounts provided for 2- or 3-year commitments).
Notable Attributes
- Prevention of network intrusions.
- Control of unauthorized devices.
- Security measures for mobile threats.
- Data encryption for full disk protection.
- Defense mechanisms against ransomware and emerging threats with automated fixes.
- Management of vulnerabilities and patches for automatic resolution of security loopholes.
- Enhanced safeguarding for Exchange and IBM email servers.
- Protection for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace through cloud security protocols.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Malwarebytes ThreatDown: Leading managed detection and response solution
Malwarebytes has established a strong presence in the IT industry by offering a complimentary, on-request scanning tool that is designed to detect specialized malware overlooked by other software.
VIEW: Windows 11 Cheat Sheet – Comprehensive Guide (TechRepublic)
The platform also delivers an endpoint security solution named ThreatDown for enterprises, offering advanced features like automated incident responses, ransomware reversion, and DNS filtration.
The extended ThreatDown package incorporates managed threat tracking from cybersecurity professionals, while the Elite bundle offers an exhaustive managed detection and response package.
Selection of Malwarebytes ThreatDown
While the costs of ThreatDown bundles exceed those of other alternatives mentioned in this compilation, Malwarebytes stands out for its impressive detection accuracy and commitment to user privacy. Its robust managed services grant companies access to top-notch security expertise at a fraction of the expense incurred in hiring an internal team.
Pricing Details
- Essential: Incident handling, device monitoring, app blocking, and vulnerability evaluation for $690 annually for 10 devices.
- Enhanced: Incorporates ransomware reversion, endpoint detection, response capabilities, patch administration, and managed threat detection for $790 annually for 10 devices.
- Premiere: Includes managed detection and response incorporating threat tracking for $990 annually for 10 devices.
- Supreme: Integrates DNS filtration for $1,190 annually for 10 devices.
Characteristics
- Actions to handle and respond to incidents.
- Regulation of peripheral devices.
- Restriction of applications using blocklists.
- Assessment of vulnerabilities for improved security.
- Capability to reverse ransomware attacks to restore files and configurations.
- Identification and response to endpoint threats.
- Administration of patches for effective security updates.
- Managed detection and response featuring expert-driven threat tracking.
- Content filtering for web pages using DNS.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Avast: Top choice for small enterprises
Avast presents endpoint protection functionalities tailored for small enterprises. Besides identifying ransomware, phishing attacks, harmful websites, and unauthorized USB devices, Avast also offers data leak prevention to halt crucial data theft and a VPN service for private browsing.
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Although I found Avast products impressive in terms of features and defense provided, the company recently received a fine from the FTC for trading user data, affecting my evaluation.
Reasons for Choosing Avast
Avast offers a comprehensive set of security and privacy features to offer small enterprises holistic protection. Its pricing falls in the lower end of the spectrum, making it a viable investment for businesses with tight budgets.
Pricing Details
- Avast Small Office Protection (up to 10 devices): Data leak protection, 24×5 support, phishing and fake website defenses, and ransomware safeguards for $139.99 per year (discounts available for 2- or 3-year contracts).
- Avast Essential Business Security: Adds an online management platform for $296.72 per year for 10 devices (discounts available for 2- or 3-year contracts).
- Avast Premium Business Security: Includes VPN, web control, and USB defense for $374 yearly for 10 devices (discounts apply for 2- or 3-year contracts).
- Avast Ultimate Business Security: Incorporates patch management for $454.16 per year for 10 devices (discounts available for 2- or 3-year contracts).
Capabilities
- Ransomware safeguarding.
- Data leak prevention.
- Intrusion prevention.
- Phishing defense.
- Web control.
- VPN service.
- USB protection to block unauthorized storage gadgets.
- Patch management.
Advantages and disadvantages
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Trend Vision One by Trend Micro: Ideal for personalized security bundles
Featuring an array of adaptable security products, the Trend Vision One solution from Trend Micro enables businesses to create tailored protection packages.
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Instead of the conventional licensing approach, clients of Trend Micro acquire credits to access a spectrum of independent security services from the Trend Vision One platform. These services encompass endpoint behavior analysis utilizing machine learning, secure remote employee access under the zero trust principle, and managing attack surface risks.
Regrettably, Trend Micro does not disclose the credit requirements for each service or their individual costs, although AWS Marketplace offers them at $1.05 each.
Reasons for Choosing Trend Vision One
The Trend Vision One solution empowers organizations to construct a fully customized XDR platform to achieve comprehensive protection tailored to their specific environment and risk profile. Targeted at larger enterprises with intricate security needs, it can reduce licensing expenses by enabling organizations to pay only for the services they require.
Price Structure
Trend Micro employs credit-based pricing for its diverse range of Vision One security products, thus it is advisable to reach out to their sales team for precise cost details.
Characteristics
- Endpoint behavioral analysis.
- Web reputation supervision.
- Prevention of data loss.
- Control over applications.
- Prevention of intrusion.
- In-depth inspection of logs.
- Security for email, mobile, and cloud.
- Secure access adhering to the zero trust principle.
- Detection and response managed by professionals.
- Management of risks related to attack surfaces.
Advantages and disadvantages
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McAfee: Ideal for novices
McAfee presents a selection of cost-effective antivirus solutions tailored for households or small enterprises.
Despite covering only six individual users, the McAfee+ plans allow deployment of endpoint protection agents on unlimited devices. Several features of McAfee are designed to safeguard individual privacy and reduce financial impacts in case of a breach, including managing social media privacy, monitoring bank account transactions, and automatically freezing credit.
Historically, the company had a negative reputation for intrusive software and unwanted add-ons, but modern McAfee products are more secure and less obtrusive.
Reasons for Choosing McAfee
Although I’ve had negative experiences with McAfee in the past, I was impressed by their latest offerings. With affordable pricing, lightweight software agents, and advanced privacy features, it stands as an excellent option for small startups and family businesses with limited budgets.
Pricing
- McAfee+ Premium: Includes text scam detection, parental controls, social privacy management, VPN, password manager, and identity monitoring and alerts for $69.99 per year for unlimited devices (excluding certain features).
- McAfee+ Advanced: Adds security freeze, credit monitoring, and identity theft coverage for $119.99 per year for unlimited devices (excluding certain features).
- McAfee+ Ultimate: Adds live assistance for setup, bank account monitoring, ransomware coverage, and credit locking for $249.99 per year for unlimited devices (excluding certain features).
Characteristics
- Detection of text scams.
- Web protection with color-coded links.
- Parental control functionality.
- Privacy management for social media (for up to 6 individuals).
- VPN access.
- Cleanup of personal data and online accounts (for up to 2 individuals).
- Monitoring and alerts for identity protection.
- Password management.
- Insurance against identity theft and ransomware (for up to 2 individuals).
- Monitoring of transactions related to banks, credit cards, investments, and loans (for up to 2 individuals).
- Freezing of credit, bank, or utility accounts for security.
- Support for setting up McAfee Assist protection.
Advantages and disadvantages
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How can I select the supreme Windows antivirus for my corporation?
While contemplating antivirus selections for Windows 10 and Windows 11, you will face a compromise between the price and security, with pricier options usually presenting more thorough endpoint safety.
Assessing your security stance and existing IT assets sincerely is essential to determine the suitable equilibrium for your establishment.
Corporations in regulated sectors like healthcare or finance, particularly those with modest IT squads or lacking dedicated security experts, ought to opt for comprehensive products such as Malwarebytes ThreatDown solution.
Contrarily, small businesses conscious of their finances, with relatively low risk profiles, might manage well with a more economical product like McAfee or Avast.
In essence, Bitdefender provides an optimal blend of essential characteristics, reasonable cost, and user safeguarding, rendering it an outstanding option for nearly every establishment.
Strategy
I deduced the inclusions in this register as each offering distinct, commercial-focused attributes with excellent client endorsements. I scrutinized public-facing product sites and fact sheets thoroughly and, if conceivable, downloaded free trial versions to evaluate individual functionalities. In certain instances, I have hands-on familiarity with these products in the industry, complemented by perusal of industry platforms and publications for gauging their safety and convenience.
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