Explore the Privacy & Security Hub
VPNs, password managers & antivirus — protect yourself for less.
Quick Comparison
| Antivirus | Price/Year | Devices | Detection | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender ⭐ | £17.99 – £34.99 | 1-10 | 100% | Overall Best |
| Norton 360 | £19.99 – £49.99 | 1-10 | 100% | All-in-One |
| Kaspersky | £12.99 – £39.99 | 1-10 | 100% | Best Value |
| McAfee | £19.99 – £74.99 | Unlimited | 99.7% | Unlimited Devices |
| Malwarebytes | £29.99 – £59.99 | 1-5 | 99.6% | Malware Removal |
Why You Need Antivirus in 2026
- Ransomware: Attacks up 150% in UK since 2024
- Phishing: 76% of UK businesses targeted in 2025
- Identity Theft: £1.2 billion lost to online fraud in UK annually
- Zero-Day Threats: New malware variants emerge daily
- Banking Security: Protect online banking and shopping
1. Bitdefender – Best Overall Antivirus
Price: £17.99/year (1 device) to £34.99/year (10 devices)
Detection Rate: 100% (AV-TEST)
Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (9.7/10)
- Perfect malware detection rate
- Minimal system impact (won't slow down PC)
- Advanced Threat Defence (behavioural detection)
- Ransomware protection with remediation
- VPN included (200MB/day free)
- Safe banking browser
- Webcam and microphone protection
2. Norton 360 – Best All-in-One Security Suite
Price: £19.99/year to £49.99/year
Detection Rate: 100%
- Norton LifeLock identity theft protection
- Unlimited VPN (Secure VPN)
- Dark web monitoring
- 50-75GB cloud backup
- 100% virus protection promise (money-back if infected)
3. Kaspersky – Best Value Antivirus
Price: £12.99/year to £39.99/year
Detection Rate: 100%
- Excellent value for money
- System Watcher (behavioural analysis)
- Rescue Disk for severe infections
- Virtual keyboard for safe password entry
4. McAfee – Best for Unlimited Devices
- Unlimited devices on premium plan (unique!)
- Identity theft monitoring
- Secure VPN (unlimited data)
- Works on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
5. Malwarebytes – Best for Malware Removal
- Excellent at removing stubborn malware
- Anti-ransomware and anti-exploit technology
- Free version for manual scanning
- Clean, simple interface
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Bitdefender | Norton | Kaspersky | McAfee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malware Detection | 100% | 100% | 100% | 99.7% |
| VPN Included | ✅ Limited | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ | ✅ Unlimited |
| Password Manager | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cloud Backup | ❌ | ✅ 50-75GB | ❌ | ❌ |
| Identity Protection | Premium | ✅ LifeLock | ❌ | ✅ |
Windows Defender vs Paid Antivirus
Windows Defender (free): 95-98% detection, basic protection, no extras. Paid antivirus adds: 99-100% detection, ransomware protection, VPN, banking protection, multi-device support.
Windows Defender is adequate for basic users. Paid antivirus is worth it for better protection and extra features like VPN and identity monitoring.
Best Overall: Bitdefender Total Security
Perfect malware detection, minimal system impact — £34.99/year for 10 devices
Get Bitdefender →Want more? Visit the Privacy & Security Hub
VPNs, password managers & antivirus — protect yourself for less.