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 ...

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 ...

Whether you’ve been shopping the best gaming PC deals or already have a lot invested in one of the best gaming PCs, some antivirus software is the first step in keeping it secure. With a lot of games ...

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 ...

Every time I've had the pleasure of troubleshooting a slow computer, I've discovered that viruses were sapping the PC's performance—and that's included my own. However, you don't have to start pricing ...

The word 'virus' gets tossed around a lot. Here's what actually counts, what to watch for, and how to stay two clicks ahead A computer virus is a type of program that, much like a regular virus, ...

Over 300,000 new types of ransomware and other malicious software are discovered daily, according to the IT security research institute AV-TEST. Computer viruses can slow your devices, create a slew ...

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 ...

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that ...