6 of the best antivirus software options

Antivirus software is an essential part of any PC owner's arsenal. Staying safe from viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats is just the beginning when it comes to what a good antivirus software package can protect you from. Many manufacturers now take a holistic approach to keeping your data safe, tackling more than just the odd suspicious file that might end up on your system. 

There are plenty of options out there for securing your PC, so it can be hard to know what package to purchase. Free antivirus software is an option but, typically, free solutions have fewer options and features than paid software. Generally, you do get what you pay for, and what price can you put on keeping your computer (and, more importantly, the data on there) safe from potential threats? It's not so much the hardware that's in danger, but details like your private documents, banking details, and personal photos that could be at risk here. Don't sweat it — we've checked out the best paid antivirus software solutions and will outline why they're worth the money.

Having multiple antivirus software programs installed often causes issues and clashes, so you want to commit to one great tool instead. It's important to look out for more than just antivirus protection. Many threats stem from internet browsing so phishing protection is a now vital feature. Spyware and adware is also a problem, so it's worthwhile checking out the best ways of scanning for these. 

Finally, you need software that provides an on-demand malware scan, as well as a vulnerability scan, so that you're always in control of what's going on with your data. Security is a fast-moving field so you want software that keeps on top of new trends, such as the recent growth in ransomware keen to steal your files from under you. 

These are the best antivirus solutions for every situation: