Top 5 Best & Worst antivirus software! (2023 Edition)

Hello everyone, today we will discuss 5 of the best & worst antivirus software in 2023. We know it is important to protect our computers from all types of malware, ransomware, security vulnerabilities and hackers attempting to steal or corrupt your data. However, there are many different anti-virus software's on the internet, but don't worry, we'll look into each of these programs, review them and put down our final verdict in order.

Continue reading our blog post to determine which antivirus software is good enough for you or should not be used daily.

Top 5 Best & Worst Antivirus Software

In terms of the least effective options, it's important to note that these products may not provide adequate protection for your computer. Some of the programs that have received poor reviews include:

WORST AV

1. Norton AntiVirus

What made them receive such a poor reputation?

This software has been known to cause frequent crashes and additionally, it often misses a significant number of threats and would detect more false positives than an actual threat to your PC. If you have a budget PC or work laptop at your disposal, chances are that Norton will cause your computer devices to slow down due to its heavy use of your hardware's resources.

Final verdict: Might as well use the 360 and endpoint editions of Norton since it has received fair praise from old and new users using its products. If you can afford it.

2. Kaspersky Anti-Virus

What made them receive such a poor reputation?

If you care about your privacy so much? This program is not for you since Kaspersky has been linked to spying and data breaches, making it a controversial choice for many users. Honestly, there isn't much to dislike about Kaspersky in general besides its secret ties to the Russian Federation and the negative press it received from governments around the world.

Final verdict: You can use Kaspersky all you want, but beware of the controversies this program has caused worldwide.

3. McAfee LiveSafe

What made them receive such a poor reputation?

This software is often described by many users as being bloated and difficult to use. It also tends to be more expensive than any other antivirus software. The program used to be popular back in the old days, however, it now has mediocre protection nowadays, compared to other antivirus software.

Final Verdict: The software is mediocre at best and should be uninstalled and replaced with a different antivirus software or better yet, use Microsoft Defender/Security instead.

4. Avast Free Antivirus

What made them receive such a poor reputation?

While this program is free, some users have expressed concern about Avast collecting and selling their data to third parties. Avast and its counterpart AVG were caught selling customer data to corporate clients last year and were supplying the information to Jumpshot, which in turn resold the data to corporate clients. They can slow down your computer performance if it's an older model with limited hardware capabilities. Also, if you're a free user, you will be bombarded by many advertisements promising free gifts only for you to put in your credit card info.

Final verdict: Not an excellent program to "protect" your user data and would potentially cause many problems to your PC in the future. You can also put AVG here since it has been bought and had a similar design change that was acquired and replicated by Avast themselves.

5. Trend Micro Maximum Security

What made them receive such a poor reputation?

This software has been criticised for its poor performance and lack of features compared to other options. They just won't stop with the annoying popup messages telling you to upgrade to a better version of their product. Its configuration is like trying to play the maze game back in 2006, it's just that tricky to set up (and scary 👻).

Final verdict: If you're used to popup ads coming in every time you do something, then this antivirus might just be for you. In all honesty, look for better alternatives.

Now that we got that out, it's time to review our 5 best antivirus software in 2023. In this pick, we analysed and read reviews based on these products and concluded their positive reputation compared to the other worst antivirus programs we just reviewed earlier.

On the other hand, some anti-virus software programs are highly recommended due to their robust protection and user-friendly features. Some of the best options include:

BEST AV

1. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

What made them an excellent choice for many users?

Bitdefender is consistently ranked as one of the best anti-virus software products on the market. It's known for its accuracy and ease of use. If your hardware is limited and cannot do high-performing tasks, luckily for you Bitdefender has a meager impact when running full scans. Finally, they offer a vast range of extra tools and functions, including a VPN and other higher-end suites.

Final verdict: A very powerful software capable of preventing even the most dangerous types of malware from entering your computer. Both thorough and lightweight, you can sleep in peace knowing they too have a free version to protect your device from any active threats coming your way.

2. Malwarebytes

What made them an outstanding choice for many users?

Malwarebytes is a powerful anti-malware software that protects your devices from various threats. It has an excellent score and has a free extension (on any web browser) that can block and prevent viruses from entering your system. We already talked about the program here and here.

Final verdict: A highly recommended program which we highly recommend. It works best together with Microsoft Defender/Security. A free version although, has no real-time protection, its high malware, phishing and other behaviour-based detection rates are excellent.

3. Kaspersky Total Security

What made them a brilliant choice for many users?

While the company's antivirus product may be controversial, the Total Security suite is a highly effective option. Kaspersky Total Security has the highest detection rate (99.9%) compared to its other editions and its competitors. Looking for antivirus software with tons of useful features to protect your devices from the dangers lurking on the web? This right here might be for you.

Final verdict: An excellent antivirus software with built-in features and an almost perfect detection rate is enough to benefit it from the doubt. You can download the trial version to test out its full capability.

4. Avira Antivirus Pro

What made them a perfect choice for many users?

Avira is a lesser-known brand, but its Antivirus Pro software is highly rated for its protection and performance. Similar design to Avast and AVG, it's still a better pick than any of these two. Avira is one of the few antiviruses that offer real-time protection. This program can do better managing your systems recourses and will be noticeable most of the time. Avira does come with a free package, however, when it comes to paid services, Avira will offer you the necessities to your needs, making it a far better option than Avast. 

Final verdict: You do not need to worry about any data collection scandals since that's what made Avira an excellent choice.

5. ESET Online Scanner

What made them a great choice for many users?

ESET is an easy-to-use software that works best with existing antivirus software and it has a lightweight scanning capability with little performance impact. With a nearly perfect detection rate and a trustworthy antivirus company, this program provides extra protection for all your devices. You don't need to register to use this product, just download it and scan your device with it.

Final verdict: A great software to perform one task at a time. Despite its slow scanning process, its detection rate proves to be successful and high as always. Do give it a try if you need something with Windows Security together.

If you're interested in learning more about any of these products, you can find additional information on their respective websites:

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus - https://www.bitdefender.com/

Malwarebytes - Cyber Security Software & Anti-Malware | Malwarebytes

Kaspersky Total Security - https://www.kaspersky.com/

Avira Antivirus Pro - https://www.avira.com/

ESET Online Scanner - ESET Online Scanner | ESET

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