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VANCOUVER –
Protecting our assets from criminals is something most of us do, whether it’s locking our house, our car, or even our bike. But what about protecting the personal information on your computer from viruses and cybercriminals? To help you out, Consumer Reports recently tested antivirus software and explains why you don’t have to pay a lot, if anything, to get solid protection.
With so many options available for antivirus software, it can be hard to tell which one would give you the best protection. And as a reminder, you need protection.
In its Internet Crime Report, the FBI claims to have received nearly 800,000 reports of cybercrime in 2020, an increase of 69% compared to 2019.
Consumer Reports put more than 30 antivirus programs through a battery of tests, exposing computers running both Windows 10 and macOS to malware, malicious websites and phishing attempts. CR also assigned each of the programs a data privacy score based on how the company reports collecting, sharing, and using your data.
The good news is, you don’t have to pay for solid virus protection that also protects your personal information. CR claims that Kaspersky Security Cloud Free and AVG Antivirus for Mac both offer very good threat defense.
That’s right, Macs need antivirus software too.
Both programs are free and they both scored Excellent for Advertising, which means you won’t be bombarded with ads to upgrade your service.
Still, CR says paid programs offer additional benefits. The top-rated F-Secure SAFE offers parental filter, banking protection, and anti-ransomware and spyware technology.
If you choose to pay for software, experts at Consumer Reports warn that a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean better protection.
Consumer Reports also says to make sure you download antivirus software from a trusted site instead of clicking an ad promising free virus protection. It is best to go straight to the source and manually enter the web address of the product you choose.
With files from Consumer Reports
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