One of the best security DVR software today, ZoneMinder is accessible from any device that has Internet access. It allows you to use IP and analog cameras so both DVR and NVR systems can be used with this program. Online security is a massive problem in 2018 so making sure you are protected is a must. So we have compiled a list of some of the leading security software to make the challenge of choosing your perfect protection much easier and we hope we can save you some money too!
The best internet security software of 2019
1. BitDefender Total Security Multi-Device 2018
2. Kaspersky Total Security 2018
3. McAfee LiveSafe
4. Symantec Norton Security Premium
5. BullGuard Premium Protection
With our mobile devices so central to everyday life, it pays to protect them from the evergrowing array of cyberthreats. That's why security suites that protect all your devices have become so popular.
But with so many options out there, where do you start? Our list of the best Internet Security software suites in 2019 can help.
The threat landscape has never been so varied and attackers have never been so sophisticated. This means that although our PCs are more secure than they have ever been, it's important to have the right security tools.
It’s hard to buy bad virus protection (especially if you chose them from our list of best antivirus) but many vendors offer packages of the basics plus other tools - such as firewalls and specific protections - that cover PCs, Macs and mobile devices.
But with wildly differing features and pricing it can sometimes be tough to pick the best one.
So if you're looking for some additional protection in the form of Internet Security, then you've come to the right place. Here are our picks
- This is our best antivirus buying guide
1. Bitdefender Total Security Multi-Device 2019
Bitdefender is a regular visitor to the top of the security charts, and with good reason – it’s lightning fast, exceptionally accurate and boasts a range of tools including secure browsing, a password manager and a very effective spam filter.
In its Total Security guise, it also delivers password management, secure browsing, battery management, VPN (with 6GB monthly allowance), Wi-Fi protection, ransomware protection, system optimisation, file encryption and shredding, and a licence for five PCs, Macs or Android devices (and up to 10) plus an option to get it installed and setup for you, presumably remotely.
The most recent version of the suite is Bit Defender Total Security 2019, which adds Ransomware Remediation, Network Threat Prevention, a new look dashboard and a more intelligent AutoPilot system.
Bitdefender is currently offering a a 50 percent discount which means you can protect up to five devices for £35 a year.
Note these discounts only apply to the first payment, but Bitdefender’s secret is simple: it’s very, very good at what it does.
2. Kaspersky Total Security 2019
Kaspersky is another name you’ll hear mentioned when talking about the top security players, and with good reason. If you look beyond the headlines, the company offers a seriously good protection package
Its Total Security product starts at £27.99 for one device, rising to £42 ($50) per year for five devices, with support for 10 devices and up to three-year subscription.
With Kaspersky Total Security 2019, smarter navigation makes it easier to understand the additional tools beyond the core functionality.
Total Security protects PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices, with very solid security scanning supplemented with file backup and encryption, password management, parental controls and child safety measures, along with privacy protection, including a VPN for trace-free browsing.
3. McAfee LiveSafe
A tried-and-trusted household name
At £89.99 or $94.99 per year, the Intel-owned LiveSafe isn’t the cheapest product out there, but it’s particularly user-friendly. There are parental controls and anti-spam, password management and identity protection, website scanning and a guaranteed 100% virus removal or your money back. The licence covers unlimited PCs, Macs, phones and tablets, although as with any such suite the PC gets all the toys while Macs and mobile get a subset of the main package.
4. Symantec Norton Security Premium
Norton Security Premium is usually £79.99 (around $110, AU$150) per year for up to 10 PCs, Macs, iOS and Android devices, but at the time of writing it’s just £39.99 (around $55, AU$75) – making it less than half the price of other premium suites.
Once again we have parental controls, identity protection and excellent malware scanning, and there’s also a useful Android feature that warns of dodgy apps – the biggest current source of Android malware. There’s a 100% virus removal guarantee, 25GB of cloud backup and a network firewall, but you don’t get a password manager or any system optimisation tools.
5. BullGuard Premium Protection
Here’s another security suite with big discounts: BullGuard is usually £69.95 (around $100, AU$130) per year for 10 devices but is always available for cheaper. Once again the basic protection is enhanced – you get parental controls, anti-spam, identity protection, 25GB of online backup and automatic upgrades, and BullGuard also offers to warn you about inappropriate content on your children’s social media. There’s no password manager or support for mobile devices, but BullGuard is a solid offering for protecting PCs.
6. Trend Micro Maximum Security
A multitude of tools available
Oh look! Trend Micro is on sale! We’re starting to detect a trend here, and that trend would make us very wary of signing up for any security suite that isn’t currently offering a big discount on the RRP. You don’t want to be the only person who paid full price for a sofa, after all.
Trend Micro’s Maximum Security protects up to 10 PCs, Macs or mobiles for $59.95 or £29.95 per year (it’s usually $99.95 or £69.95), and the suite includes ransomware protection, identity protection, parental controls and a password manager. It also offers PC optimisation tools to speed up sluggish computers.
7. Avast Internet Security
Going beyond the call of duty
Avast is well known for its excellent free product, and its paid-for Internet Security starts at $47.99 (around £35, AU$65) per year for one PC. In addition to the core antimalware product you get router security, browser clean-up, password management, sandboxed downloads, DNS hijacking protection, secure browsing and anti-spam. It’s a very good product but it can’t help but look awfully expensive when everybody else appears to be offering double-digit discounting.
8. Panda Dome Advanced
Panda Security’s free tool has its supporters (it’s in our list of the best, for example), offering effective protection against threats but without offering too much in the way of added extras.
Panda Dome (re-branded from Panda Global Protection) alleviates that issue by providing all of the company’s security tools into a single suite. What you get included depends on whether you opt for the Essential, Advanced, Complete or Premium options.
All packages include AV capabilities, firewall and USB device protection, but if you’re willing to pay more you can get parental controls, password managers and even premium technical support. No matter which option you go for, PC, Mac and Android devices are all covered.
Prices range from £26.24 or $35.24 a year for Essential to £89.24 or $116.24 a year for Premium.
9. AVG Ultimate
AVG has done well from the freemium model, offering a very good package for nothing in the hope that it’ll drive sales of its paid-for products.
At $79.99 or £69.99 per year for unlimited Windows, Mac and Android devices, AVG Ultimate is good value for money, especially if you’re a small business with lots of different devices.
The suite also boasts one of the fastest malware scanners around – although in independent testing that speed meant it was found to be missing some potential threats.
There’s no password manager, secure browser or parental controls, but it’s a good option for protecting multiple PCs, Macs and Android devices.
10. F-Secure Total
F-Secure’s flagship product has three pricing options, to cover three, five or seven devices at $89.99/£79.99, $109.99/£99.99 and $129.99/£119.99 per year respectively.
That’s at the higher-end of the market, but you do get a lot of tools for your money including a private VPN for encrypted connections to Wi-Fi hotspots and to evade geoblocking.
In actual fact, F-Secure Total is two products bolted together: the F-Secure SAFE security suite and F-Secure Freedome VPN. The suite covers Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices, although the Mac component is just virus protection.
What's the difference between antivirus and Internet Security?
Whereas antivirus (AV) software provides a basic level of protection for your system, Internet Security expands on capabilities such as scanning files and software, activity monitoring and vulnerability search with features tailored for Internet use.
Indeed, many Internet Security products are marketed as ‘suites’ because they contain several different programs that can be accessed by a single interface.
These might include a firewall, anti-spam controls, ad blockers, webcam protection, keylogger protection, parental controls and credit card safeguards. There might also be additional protection against web-specific types of malware such as spyware and adware.
However running so many different types of program might mean that Internet Security suites use more of your system resources than conventional AV.
Can I create my own free Internet Security suite?
There are many advantages to purchasing a premium Internet Security suite from a trusted vendor, but it is perfectly possible to create your own modular suite by picking the most suitable free products.
While this might mean you save money, it does mean you have to do much of the work yourself. You will have to identify the best components, whether its virus protection, firewall or backup software, and fix any problems yourself.
The more components you introduce will increase complexity and system resource use. You will also suffer from the pitfalls of using free services such as frequent adverts urging you to upgrade.
Using a premium Internet Security suite means the vendor integrates several services into a single package that can be managed from a single interface. What’s more, they might cover several different types of device and offer different tiers of protection.
What should I look for in an Internet Security suite?
All of the products on this list offer effective capabilities, so the difference is in additional capabilities. If there is a particular type of threat that concerns you, such as ransomware or phishing, check to see if there are specific protections included.
Banking safeguards, firewalls and parental controls are also areas you should consider – especially if there are multiple users on your computer. And of course, you should consider whether you need protection across multiple devices, such as smartphones.
The number of additional features and devices may impact cost though.
Finally, think about usability and the impact on system performance. Do you want a high level of customization or do you want an easy-to-use interface and do you want a program that is capable of fast scans or one that requires minimal system resources?
Windows 10 comes equipped with Windows Defender Security Center that does a great job fighting against viruses and other types of malware. Many users will say Defender is all they need, while others want a third-party option handling their PC's security.
If you're interested in taking your security to another level, check out this roundup of the best antivirus software available in 2017.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2018
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus provides amazing protection against system-crippling viruses and other annoying malware.
Its robust protection is built on the data gathered from over 500 million Bitdefender users — algorithms measure the data to uncover unknown threats and to discover new threats just now hitting the internet.
Chosen as the best basic antivirus by Tom's Guide and as Top Ten Review's first choice overall choice, it's clear you're getting your money's worth. From Top Ten Reviews:
Impressive performance, useful features, solid support and a superb user experience make Bitdefender Antivirus Plus an excellent antivirus.
This program also includes an anti-ransomware feature to protect against having your files maliciously encrypted, a web filtering feature that makes online banking more secure, and an anti-rootkit feature that ensures your PC boots safely each time.
If you're looking for antivirus software with strong security and up-to-the-minute threat protection, but don't want to spend a fortune, check out Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2017. It starts at about $40 for one year of protection, and it is available for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and later.
See at Bitdefender
Bitdefender Internet Security 2018
Bitdefender's Internet Security 2018 is like the bigger, stronger sibling of their Antivirus Plus package. You get the same leading security against crippling viruses and other annoying malware, as well as a bunch of extra features that protect you from threats against your computer and against your privacy.
You're getting a two-way firewall that keeps viruses already on your PC from communicating with the internet, a standalone internet browser designed for secure banking, a thorough virtual file shredder that will remove all traces from your PC, and webcam protection that keeps you from being spied on. In their review, Tom's Guide talked about added features:
While Internet Security adds antispam tools, file encryption, and a two-way firewall, the big step up is the addition of Bitdefender's Parental Advisor.
These features are a bonus to Bitdefender's proven antivirus technology, anti-ransomware and anti-phishing features, and rescue mode that ensures your PC boots in safety from rootkits.
If you're in the market for strong security and constantly updated protection, as well as extra features like a secure internet browser, webcam protection, and a virtual file shredder, check out Bitdefender Internet Security 2018. It starts at about $50 for one year of protection, and it is compatible with Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and later.
See at Bitdefender
Kaspersky Total Security
Kaspersky's most complete antivirus software comes, as the name implies, with Total Security. This suite of tools is designed as a sweeping safeguard for you and your PC — Kaspersky Total Security includes a kid-safe mode to protect your young ones from inappropriate content and messages, a built-in password manager to keep track of your ever-expanding list, and an online backup to keep your files safe.
Selected as the best premium PC security suite on Tom's Guide, they had this to say in their review:
Kaspersky Total Security lives up to its name with a slew of protective services and features that range from traditional viral scanning to a password manager and backup software and can often be found heavily discounted online.
These features are, of course, an added bonus to what you'd normally expect out of antivirus software. You're getting a firewall to protect against unknown connections, adept anti-malware security to catch viruses before they infect your PC, and anti-phishing protection to help keep your personal information safe.
If you don't mind spending a premium amount for your antivirus software and you need something that works on multiple platforms, Kaspersky Total Security is where it's at. It starts at about $60 for one year of protection, and it can be installed on up to five devices. It is compatible with Windows XP and later, as well as macOS, iOS, and Android.
Editor's note from June 2018: The media narrative that Russian spies are using Kaspersky Antivirus to 'attack American computer networks' continues. We're still not aware of any concrete evidence that backs these claims up, and so far sources for outlets have remained anonymous. Kaspersky issued an official statement last year, claiming, 'As a private company, Kaspersky Lab has no ties to any government, and the company has never helped, nor will help, any government in the world with its cyberespionage efforts.' Germany's BSI found no evidence that Kaspersky was used by Russian hackers. We will update this post with more information when it is available, but for now, Kaspersky stays on the list.
See at Kaspersky
Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus
Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is an interesting package — its signature database is stored in the cloud, which means it only takes up about 2MB of space on your hard drive and doesn't require constant updates. It also only takes up about 4MB of RAM during system idle, which is especially important for those of you that don't have much RAM to spare.
Here's how the cloud-based Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus works: new files and programs are scanned and their signature is sent to the cloud to be analyzed. In the meantime, the file or program in question is kept in a quarantine state with some of its function unusable. When Webroot determines the file or program to not be malicious, the quarantine state is lifted. If you don't have internet access, programs and files you've previously accessed on your PC remain usable, but new ones will be placed in the quarantine state until you reconnect to the internet.
Chosen as an Editors' Choice on PCMag, they remarked in their review:
In my malware-blocking, antiphishing, and malicious URL blocking tests, its scores were perfect, excellent, and very good, respectively.
If you're someone who is always connected to the internet and could use the extra space on your hard drive, have a look at Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus. It starts at about $30 for one year of protection, and it can be installed on up to three devices. It is compatible with Windows 7 and later, as well as macOS.
See at Webroot
Norton Security Standard
Norton has been around for a long time, so it has had time to make plenty of friends and plenty of enemies — many people swear by it, many people hate it. In a review conducted by Tom's Guide, malware protection was praised while system impact was listed as a concern. Likewise, Top Ten Reviews gave it an almost perfect rating, citing this:
In tests by respected software lab AV-Test, Norton Security accomplished a perfect protection score for the most recent Windows operating systems — Windows 10, 8 and 7. [...] Norton tends to cause your computer to slow down a bit, but it will still run faster than average for computers running antivirus software.
Like most big security companies, there are multiple options to choose from — the simplest, Norton Antivirus Basic, costs only about $20 and was named an Editors' Choice by PCMag. The step up, though, comes with a firewall, great customer support, and a few other extras that make it worth the $35 per year.
See at Norton
Avast Pro Antivirus
Avast has a great free option that many people take advantage of, but this step up into their paid selections is perfect for anyone who wants a few more tools when it comes to protecting their PC.
In their review, PCMag identified exactly why you might want to upgrade:
To the cornucopia of bonus features found in its free counterpart, it adds protection against DNS poisoning and a sandbox for running iffy programs safely.
While this might not be enough of a reason for many people to buy this $50 yearly subscription, it's great for anyone who trusts the Avast name.
As far as protection goes, Avast's security performed perfectly in tests done by AV-Test. On top of general protection, you get a Wi-Fi scanner that detects problems on your network, you can create bootable environments for extreme cases, and there's a simplistic password manager.
Trend Micro Antivirus+
Trend Micro's Antivirus+ option is one of the cheaper selections on our list at $25 for a yearly subscription, but that doesn't mean it isn't a decent antivirus. Testing conducted by independent lab AV-Test saw Trend Micro's protection work perfectly.
A review by Tom's Guide confirmed the lab's protection testing:
Trend Micro's security programs provide most of the protective services you'll need, are fast to scan and provide a near-perfect shield against malware.
There are differing opinions about how this AV affects the performance of a PC, but overall it's no worse than the average. If it's a powerful antivirus you need but don't want to shell out as much money, Trend Micro Antivirus+ might be your best option.
McAfee AntiVirus Plus
Like Norton, McAfee has been around for a long time, and many people have already formed an opinion. Regardless of whether or not you like McAfee, one thing is certain: a $55 one-year subscription provides protection on an unlimited amount of devices, including Android, macOS, and iOS. That's a pretty sweet deal, but keep in mind that not all features are found on all devices.
What you get on PC is great malware protection, a simple user interface, wonderful tech support, and a firewall. Chosen as an Editors' Choice by PCMag, they had this to say:
It has a huge feature set when installed on your Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It's that amazingly broad protection that earns McAfee an Editors' Choice for commercial antivirus.
While Kaspersky and Bitdefender might perform a bit better when it comes to protection, you can't deny that McAfee is great for anyone with a household full of devices.
Windows Defender
Microsoft ships its own full-featured antivirus software with Windows 10 called Windows Defender. Previously, this suite used to be ranked behind others but the company has invested time and effort in bringing Defender up to speed with other security solutions. In 2017, Windows Defender is adaquate enough for use.
There's also the bonus that Microsoft doesn't bundled pointless bloatware with its security protection, because it doesn't need to. Microsoft also has the user's best interest at heart, instead of making ends meet through sales and subscriptions. And AVTest, while finding the suite slow in areas of application installing compared to other security software, rates Windows Defender to offer a good level of protection.
More antivirus goodness
Not sure if you want to shell out money for an antivirus? There are plenty of great free alternatives!
Updated June 19, 2018: We refreshed this list to ensure you're still getting the absolute best options when it comes to your PC's antivirus.
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