Cybercriminals are always tweaking their methods, so you need a complete antivirus program to stay safe from the latest threats. A good antivirus program will scan, detect and delete viruses as well as trojan horses, worms and spyware. And some programs also include extra security features, like a virtual private network and parental controls, password management and protection against phishing.

Antivirus software should also protect your computer from keyloggers and rootkits which secretly record all the information that you type into your keyboard, including passwords and credit card numbers. It should also guard against ransomware that can take over your PC and hold files hostage until you pay a ransom.

The most effective antivirus software will have a high detection rate for known malware, and consistently high scores in independent testing labs. A good security suite will also have other security options, such as an algorithm-based detection system which looks for the kinds of behavior that viruses tend to exhibit. It should also come with a firewall and some programs have a sandboxing option that allows you to run suspicious software in an environment where they aren’t able to do harm.

A good antivirus program updates frequently, typically once or twice a day. It should be compatible with a www.easypcglobal.com/avg-ultimate wide range of devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones and smart homes. The price of antivirus programs varies and some offer low prices for introductory offers. Some offer monthly or annual subscriptions and others charge per device. The cost of a program should reflect the number of devices and kinds it protects, the frequency of updates, its ease of use, and other safety features.