The best antivirus replacement for Windows and Mac monitors your devices, detects malware, and removes it before it causes damage or steals personal information. It also blocks new threats from infiltrating your system. Antivirus programs generally detect and shield against viruses as well as worms, Trojans such as spyware, adware, keyloggers, cryptojackers, and rootkits.

The program analyzes traffic and files to identify malicious code and checks for signs of infection. The software will also alert you of dangerous downloads and block malicious sites. Many antiviruses come with a network fire wall, a virtual private networking (VPN), password manager and parental controls. Some antiviruses are totally free and others require an annual subscription.

Unlike legacy software that relies on signature detection, modern antivirus software uses behavior analysis and machine learning to identify threats. They are particularly effective at stopping ransomware attacks and zero-day threats.

Antivirus programs also stop viruses from reproducing themselves while your operating system is active. To do this, they invoke a boot-scan command which shuts down your OS and scans your hard drive for affected files.

Bitdefender, Avast and Norton are the top-rated antivirus software solutions. They have exceptional rates of detecting malware. They’ve earned top marks from independent testing labs like AV Comparatives, AV-Test, and SE Labs and offer robust real-time protection. They how to implement board portals software are available for Windows, macOS and Android. Avira is another Kaspersky competitor, offers excellent malware protection without hogging your CPU. It’s also available for Windows, macOS, and Android and comes with a variety of other security tools.