If you’re looking for antivirus protection, look for software that can identify and block malware. Malware is official statement a program designed to cause damage to laptops, computers, take data or corrupt systems. Malware can be spread through malicious emails and attachments, embedded in dubious USB drives, or even in advertisements on the internet.

The best antivirus programs can identify and deflect cyber threats. They also offer excellent customer support. They could also be backed by a money-back guarantee.

The majority of the antivirus software we tested for this article offered several features that prevent or detect infections. These include signature- and heuristic-based protection, which analyzes the files or programs that are being downloaded with known malware signatures. The heuristic feature also examines the behavior of the program by looking for anomalies and unusual activity.

Many programs also come with a firewall that monitors the activity of certain ports and blocks them to stop attacks. Certain programs also offer ransomware protection, which encrypts data so that you’ll need to pay a fee in order to decrypt it. Some offer protection on the internet through browser extensions or plugins that block suspicious websites or prevent you from accidentally giving out your personal details to criminals.

In addition, a lot of these programs depend partially or completely on cloud-based verification of URLs, files and other information. They upload a list with all the installed and running applications along with their metadata and signatures into the cloud to be compared with the company’s database. The companies differ in the way they share this information and whether you have the option of opting out.