Best antivirus software 2024 (Australia)

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for an AU audience.

Finding reliable antivirus software is as important as a keyboard and mouse. It’s completely insane to go without it, to be honest. It doesn’t matter what computer you have, there’s always something bad lurking out there.

Staying safe from viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats is just the beginning. A strong antivirus software package can protect you from more. It’s not so much hardware that’s at risk, but things like your private documents, bank details, and personal photos that can be vulnerable to hackers.

Free antivirus software is an option but, in general, free solutions are limited. Fortunately, there are many options out there for protecting your PC, even if that can make it difficult to know which package to buy. Buying these things can be a chore, with a lot of jargon and impenetrable tech-speak to wade through. That’s why we’re here to help point you in the right direction. Here is some useful information you should know.

What is antivirus software?

Antivirus software is a program designed to detect and remove viruses and other harmful software (or malware, as it is better known) from your computer. They detect, isolate, and remove viruses, preventing malware from harming your device. Antivirus products update automatically to provide protection against the latest viruses and malware.

What is the difference between a virus and malware?

They are different but also the same. Malware is an umbrella term for all types of malicious software. Viruses are just one type of malware. Other types include trojan, spyware, ransomware, and scareware.

How do computer viruses work?

A computer virus will replicate and spread to devices as widely and quickly as possible (hence the name virus). Computer viruses attack applications and emails. They are sent through websites, email attachments, storage devices, and even routers. Simple viruses can damage the hard disk or delete files. More advanced viruses can cause you to spam or have clever ways to avoid detection.

What is anti-malware software?

Antivirus software detects and removes viruses and other types of malicious software, while anti-malware is a program that protects the system from all types of attacks. Anti-malware is constantly dealing with new, sophisticated threats. Antivirus software usually comes built into a new PC (don’t let that stop you from upgrading to something more sophisticated) while anti-malware is usually an add-on.

What are the best features of antivirus?

It’s tricky to choose just one antivirus software because each one will suit different people and different types of computer usage. It’s good to remember that having multiple antivirus programs installed is standard cause problems, so it is better to stick to only one. There are factors to look for that will help you make your choice. For example, many threats come from online browsing so protecting against phishing is an important aspect. Spyware and adware are also a problem, so it’s worth checking out antivirus software options that can scan for these as well.

Finally, you need to the software which provides in-demand malware scanning, and vulnerability scanning, so you can control what’s happening with your data. Security is a fast-moving field so you want software that stays on top of the latest trends, such as the latest rise in ransomware eager to steal your files from under you.

What is the best antivirus software?

If that all sounds complicated, don’t fret – we’ve reviewed paid antivirus software solutions and explained why they’re worth the money. Generally, you get what you pay for, but what price would you put on keeping your computer (and, more importantly, the data on it) safe from potential threats?

These are the best antivirus solutions for all situations in 2024.