Internet review security software suite

Hardened browser: No. Parental controls: Yes. Password manager: Yes. Ransomware rollback: No. Webcam protection: Yes. VPN: Unlimited. Reasons to avoid - Heavy slowdown during full scans - Parental controls, cloud storage don't work on Macs. Bitdefender Premium Security. Specifications Anti-theft: Yes. Backup software: No. Hardened browser: Yes. Ransomware rollback: Yes.

Reasons to avoid - Heavy background system impact - Password manager only for Windows. Kaspersky Total Security. VPN: Limited upsell. McAfee Total Protection Ultimate. Webcam protection: No. Trend Micro Premium Security. Specifications Backup software: No. Firewall: No. Virtual keyboard: No. Most computers come with a built-in firewall these days, but the best internet security software will come with its own more powerful firewall.

Using a VPN, you can encrypt your network signal and bounce it off a server anywhere in the world. This stops advertisers from targeting you with specific ads, but also stops hackers from getting into your network. You can also use a VPN to access region-locked content. One of the big hitters when it comes to the best internet security software, Bitdefender lives up to the company's sterling reputation by providing an excellent selection of software for you to choose from.

When tested by the experts at AV Test and AV Comparatives, Bitdefender performed very well, blocking almost all of the viruses and malware tests programs that were set against it. There are a ton of pricing options available, letting you choose which program you want, how many devices to cover and for how long.

Norton is one of the biggest names in town when it comes to antivirus protection and internet security, so it should be no surprise to see it at the top end of our list. Norton offers several tiers of internet security software for users to consider, with each successive tier adding on extra layers of protection. For the average user, Norton Standard will more than suffice. Later tiers bring in additional layers of defense including identity theft protection and financial coverage should you become the victim of identity fraud, while the top package offers coverage for unlimited devices and k monitoring to keep your retirement investments safe.

The only real mark against it is that a lot of the parental controls are locked behind the more pricey option, Kaspersky Total Security, but even this is very reasonably priced. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We love Avast because it makes us feel like pirates whenever we say it, but beyond that it also offers a compelling choice for those looking for free antivirus software.

You get the standard antivirus and firewall protection along with a nifty tool that lets you run suspicious apps and programs in a walled-off sandbox to test it before letting it loose on your computer, but the features set is a little anemic beyond that.

VPN access is walled off behind Avast Ultimate, the most expensive option. Parental controls are nowhere to be found, locked away in Avast Omni, a home internet security solution that requires the installation of a specific device. McAfee Total Protection is the only internet security software that it offers and while there are a few pricing options depending on the number of devices you need to cover, the core software is the same.

Those are good numbers, but they do lag behind other options on the market. Considering none of the competition has this limitation, McAfee is a difficult sell. As such you get a very powerful antivirus program at the heart of this package.

That means protection from malware, spyware, phishing schemes and more. Beyond that you also get multi-device coverage including support for iOS and Android. This even lets you remotely control your device so as to secure your data should you misplace your phone or have it stolen. F-Secure SAFE is a light running system which means it's good for older machines too, since it can be fast to operate and won't put a strain on system processing resources.

Most Internet security suites are initially offered as trial versions. But once you are about to make a decision, what are the factors that you should consider when choosing an Internet security suite?

Your Internet security software must perform scheduled scans to search for malicious apps you might have downloaded and running on your device. Look for the one that notifies you as soon as possible threats emerge. Some Internet security solutions are incompatible with some operating systems. One example is a virtual private network VPN. Some Internet security software have this to hide you from cybercriminals when you are online. A VPN masks your identity and location to protect you from any threats.

DNS hijacking happens when an inauthentic website lures you to visit it instead of the authentic ones. Camfecting has become more prevalent these days and while the cybercriminals behind this threat do not attempt to get your bank info, they go after your privacy and capture intimate footage for their pleasure.

Make sure that your Internet security software has an anti-phishing feature that can identify phishing content in emails and websites. This feature warns you when you are about to disclose information to threats. You might encounter an issue or have a question about your Internet security solution. Make sure that the company behind it offers aftersales support as some will just leave you behind after you pay.

Evaluate the prices offered. Some Internet security software will be cheaper than others but will ask you to shell out extra bucks if you want to add or keep some additional features for added security. Comodo Internet Security. Software firewall. Zero Trust architecture. Sandbox for untrusted apps. Zero Day Protection. Check Latest Price. Kaspersky Internet Security. Bank-grade Encryption. Webcam Protection. McAfee Internet Security.

Safe Internet Browsing. Performance Optimization. Cross-Platform Multi-Device. Recommended Content. What Is Internet Security Software? Check Price. Norton delivers good basic protection — although some of the independent test lab results have been a little mixed — alongside a wealth of features, including webcam protection and dark web monitoring the latter is for US users only, mind , an impressively smart firewall, plus a system of parental controls.

The parental controls are top-notch, by the way, including in-depth monitoring systems to keep an eye on what your kids are doing online, and even GPS tracking for their mobile devices. There are some truly worthwhile extras included here, too, like a fully integrated Norton VPN which could be a big money-saver in itself and 50GB of online backup storage ditto. Pricing is highly competitive compared to rivals, so you should definitely consider this Norton package compare it to the company's other offerings with our guide to choosing your Norton plan — particularly for family usage given the very thorough parental controls.

Kaspersky Total Security is another veteran of the security world and, as you might expect, it delivers top-quality defenses plus a very light touch in terms of using hardly any system resources. New for are performance options to minimize any battery drain for laptop users as well.

The latter is an excellent parental controls system with some smart social media monitoring tools. Trend Micro is highly ranked by the independent testing labs, and it offers sterling multi-layered anti-ransomware defenses, too. The package also gives you first-class URL filtering for safer web browsing, and this system is smartly configurable.

It also boasts data theft prevention countermeasures, a secure vault for storing sensitive files, and a decent integrated password manager.

Less tech-savvy types will appreciate the ease of use here, which also goes for the capable mobile apps. Avast is best known for its excellent free security product, but the firm also provides an impressive all-round security solution in the form of Avast Ultimate. This is another offering which bundles a full VPN, giving you far more protection online than a typical antivirus suite, and making Avast Ultimate a value-packed buy for those who are also thinking of picking up a cheap VPN.

Avast Ultimate also sports a decent password manager, a secure browser, and some excellent network protection measures. This suite has plenty of options for experts to play with in terms of configuration, and has good enough defenses, backed up by a commendable Ransomware Shield for extra protection on that front. But these niggles aside, if you need a VPN as well as regular virus protection, Avast Ultimate is a great choice. Webroot majors in being incredibly lightweight and fast-performing.

Yet despite this minimal impact on your machine, Webroot Internet Security Plus comes with plenty of features. That includes parental controls, webcam protection, network monitoring, additional network protection, and an anti-theft feature for Windows devices allowing for location tracking, and more is an interesting bonus.

Furthermore, Linux systems are covered here, as well as Windows and Mac computers. However, while ESET delivers lots of features, their quality can be variable. For example, the system of parental controls is very barebones, but the password manager is well fleshed-out. ESET also offers plenty of configuration options, which will please experts, although computing novices may find it tricky to get to grips with in some respects.

Smart Security Premium does provide some interesting extras, including the aforementioned password manager, and a secure file vault to protect any sensitive data on your PC, which some folks will doubtless find very useful additions. For not much more money — or indeed Multi-Device is sometimes even cheaper, with the deals McAfee offers periodically — you get a sound security suite which protects up to five Windows or Mac computers, and Android or iOS devices.