Our Pick Of The Best Antivirus Software For Australians (May 2024)

According to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), your computer can be infected by malware in a range of ways, including:

• Clicking on infected website links. If something looks suspicious, don’t click on the link.
• Opening infected email attachments. Email attachments, like links, are a common way of downloading malware.
• Visiting websites that have been infected by malware.
• Downloading infected apps and files from the internet without realising it.

Let’s take a look out our pick of the best antivirus software options on the market. There are many free versions to choose from, but they will often have fewer features and sometimes, as the ASD points out, they will feature ads or sell your data to make money from their service. You may want to try out a free version of a program before upgrading.

Note: The below list represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

• Avira
• McAfee
• Avast
• Bitdefender
• Emsisoft
• F-Secure
• Malwarebytes
• Norton Antivirus

An antivirus is a program that protects your computer from viruses. It’s important to have an antivirus on your computer because there are many types of viruses that can damage your computer or steal your personal information.

Antivirus software works by scanning your computer for viruses and then removing them. Some even help prevent viruses and neutralise attacks in real-time. The best software takes a combined approach to security, using a variety of methods to keep your computer safe.

These methods include:

• Artificial Intelligence: Some antivirus programs use artificial intelligence to identify new threats.
• Signature-Based Detection: This is the most common method of detection and involves the antivirus program comparing files on your computer to a database of known viruses.
• Heuristic-Based Detection: This method looks for behaviour that is typical of viruses, even if the specific virus is not known.
• Behaviour Monitoring: This method looks for changes in how your computer operates that could be caused by a virus.
• Sandboxing: This method runs suspicious programs in an isolated environment where they can’t do any damage.

There are many antivirus programs available, and it can be difficult to choose the best one. The most important thing to consider is what type of protection you need. Some programs are better at detecting viruses, while others are better at preventing malware attacks. You should also consider how frequently the software updates, the compatibility with each of your devices and customer support.

Reliable Threat Protection

When it comes to choosing antivirus software, the most important thing to consider is the level of protection it provides against threats. The best antivirus software uses a variety of methods to protect your computer, including signature-based detection, heuristic-based detection, behavior monitoring, sandboxing and artificial intelligence.

Some threats, such as ransomware, are difficult to detect and require a multilayered approach to security. Others, such as viruses, are easier to detect but can still do a lot of damage if they’re not removed quickly. To assess how reliable antivirus software is, you should look at independent lab results and user reviews in addition to ensuring it takes a multilayered approach to threat prevention, detection and removal.

Frequent Updates

The best antivirus software is constantly updated to stay ahead of the latest threats. This is important because new threats are created all the time and old threats are constantly evolving. To ensure your computer is protected, you should look for an antivirus program that updates its database of known viruses regularly.

Your software should also update its virus definitions at least once a day, but more frequently is better. Some programs allow you to set the frequency of updates, while others update automatically. Most sales pages will tell you how frequently the software updates. If it doesn’t, ask before you purchase.

Cost

Users should expect to pay around $30 AUD to $70 AUD for a year’s subscription to an antivirus program that provides reliable threat protection, frequent updates and good customer support. This price may vary depending on the features offered by the program. For example, a business usually pays more for priority support than a home user. 

The main cost factors for antivirus software are the frequency of updates and the number of devices covered. Some programs offer discounts for multiple devices, while others charge extra for updates that occur more than once a day.

Compatibility and System Load

When choosing antivirus software, you should also consider how compatible it is with your operating system and how much of your computer’s resources it consumes. The best software is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, Mac and Linux.

It’s also important to consider how much of your computer’s resources the software uses. Some programs consume a lot of memory or CPU power, which can slow down your computer or even cause it to crash. You should look for an antivirus program that uses minimal resources so it doesn’t impact your computer’s performance.

Customer Support

​​Customer support is important in case you have any problems with the software or need help using it. The best antivirus programs offer 24/7 customer support, either by phone or live chat. They also have extensive online knowledge bases that can help you troubleshoot any issues you may have.

When considering customer support, you should also look for programs that offer a money-back guarantee. This way, you can be sure you’re getting a product you’re happy with and that you can get your money back if you’re not.

The best antivirus software can protect against a wide range of threats, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, rootkits, keyloggers and more.

• Viruses: Viruses are the most common type of malware and can cause a lot of damage to your computer if they’re not removed quickly. They can spread from one computer to another and are often used to steal personal information or destroy data.
• Worms: Worms are similar to viruses but can spread without any user interaction. They’re often used to create botnets, which are networks of infected computers that can be used to launch attacks or send spam.
• Trojans: Trojans are malware that masquerade as legitimate programs to trick users into installing them. Once installed, they can allow attackers to take control of your computer and steal your personal information.
• Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and holds them for ransom. The attackers will usually demand a payment to decrypt your files, but there’s no guarantee they will actually do so even if you pay.
• Spyware: Spyware is malware that’s used to collect your personal information, such as your passwords, credit card numbers and browsing history. It can also be used to track your movements and activities.
• Adware: Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted ads on your computer. It’s often used to generate revenue for its creators but can also be used to collect your personal information.
• Rootkits: Rootkits are a type of malware that’s designed to hide itself from detection. They can be used to gain access to your computer and steal your personal information or launch attacks against other computers.
• Keyloggers: Keyloggers are a type of malware that records everything you type on your keyboard. This can include sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers. They can also be used to track your activities and movements.

While antivirus software is designed to protect against a wide range of threats, there are some it cannot protect against. These include:

• Phishing: Phishing is a type of scam where attackers try to trick you into giving them sensitive information, such as your passwords or credit card numbers. They often do this by sending fake emails or messages that look like they’re from a legitimate company or website.
• Social Engineering: Social engineering is an attack where the attacker tries to trick you into doing something, such as clicking on a malicious link or opening an attachment. For example, a person may call and pretend to be someone else while they forward you an email and ask you to click on a link.
• Zero-Day Attacks: Zero-day attacks are attacks that exploit vulnerabilities that have not yet been patched. They can be very difficult to protect against since there’s no way to know about them in advance.
• Malicious Websites: Malicious websites are websites that contain malware or try to trick you into giving them sensitive information. They may also try to install malware on your computer if you visit them.
• Malicious Ads: Malicious ads are ads that contain malware or try to trick you into giving them sensitive information. They’re often used to spread malware or collect your personal information.
• Drive-By Downloads: Drive-by downloads are malicious files that are downloaded and executed without your knowledge or consent. They often exploit vulnerabilities in your web browser or plugins to install malware on your computer.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus maintained a top spot on our list of the best antivirus software, and for good reason. The program offers excellent protection against all types of malware, including viruses, trojans, worms and spyware. It also features a simple interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners. However, it’s no longer on our list of recommendations.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has declared Kaspersky a national security risk. With the war in Ukraine, accusations of Russian espionage and the US government banning Kaspersky products from its own systems, we recommend Australian users proceed with caution if you choose to use Kaspersky.

In addition to antivirus software, we also recommend using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it unreadable to your ISP (internet service provider). It does this by creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between your computer and the VPN server. This can protect you from snooping and malicious attacks. See our list of the best VPN services for Australians.

Taking a multipronged approach to protecting your business from viruses and other cyber threats is important, however, there are some elements at higher risk than others. Employees are typically the weakest link in the security chain, therefore, it’s critical to concentrate on features preventing unsafe internet environments, such as through browsers and email. An antivirus service can help identify phishing emails and web links.

Ransomware can be especially devastating to Australian business. It’s important to have an antivirus service that offers protection against this type of malware, as well as the ability to recover data if it’s encrypted.

Forbes Advisor analyzed dozens of different antivirus companies across hundreds of data points based on features, price, ease of use and customer support. Each company was scored on price, features, customer reviews, value for money and ease of use. We weighted features such as malware protection, firewalls, PC cleaners and identity protection before coming up with our top eight picks.

A Note on Star Rankings

You will note that we have included a star rating next to each product or provider. This rating was determined by the editorial team once all of the data points above were considered, and the pros and cons of each product attribute was reviewed. The star rating is solely the view of Forbes Advisor editorial staff. Commercial partners or advertisers have no bearing on the star rating or their inclusion on this list. Star ratings are only one factor to be considered.

Featured Partner

1

Avast

Learn More

On Avast’s Website

Starting price

Free;

Inclusions

Firewall, email security and ransomware protection

Moneyback guarantee

30

2

Norton Antivirus

Learn More

Starting price

$84.99 AUD per year

Inclusions

Cloud-based protection

Money-back guarantee

60 days for annual, 14 days for monthly

3

McAfee

Learn More

Starting Price

Starting From $39.99USD Per Year

Inclusions

Firewall, Anti Virus and Expert Online Support

Moneyback Guarantee

30 Days

Anyone who owns a computer (or mobile device) should be aware of emerging trends and changes in the antivirus and cybersecurity market, but antivirus application is an especially important need in any business. Here are the major 2024 antivirus trends to keep in mind while traversing today’s virtual landscape.

Threats From Malware of All Types Are Increasing

An ANU study of 3,500 adults found that one in three Australians have had their personal data exposed due to a cyber attack. Meanwhile, a US study by the University of Maryland revealed an unsecured computer can be targeted as often as every 39 seconds. For businesses—and even those businesses with robust antivirus software protecting their systems—the potential threat may be even greater. It’s estimated that on average, companies are targeted by a ransomware attack every 14 seconds. Ransomware is one of the most lucrative types of malware cybercriminals can use to make a profit from vulnerable businesses.

Cybercrime in general is increasing—bad news for companies and individuals alike. Protecting yourself and your business in 2023 will become even more important as we continue to see upward trends in the amount and severity of cyberattacks. You can learn more about how to protect yourself through the Australian Government’s Ransomware site or the Australian Signals Directorate’s Protect Yourself Online guide.

Advanced Features

Technology in general is becoming more functional and sophisticated, and antivirus software is no exception. Most advanced software now includes real-time scanning, automatic updates, protection across multiple applications, auto-clean features and coverage for all types of malware. In 2023, we expect more software companies to include a full suite of features with more advanced functionalities in order to remain competitive in the growing market.

Antivirus Protection for Newer Technologies

Anything that connects to the internet is at risk of malicious cyberattacks. This means smart devices, appliances and even cars are at risk from cybercriminals. The damage is easy to imagine when you consider attackers’ ability to target moving cars or a smart fridge full of life-saving medication.

As more technologies and devices interconnect by way of the internet, it will be crucial for antivirus software companies to adapt products and extend protection to vulnerable technologies. Remaining competitive in 2023 will mean building this important coverage into antivirus products and adapting to new threats as they appear.

Additional research: Anna Rey