6 Best Antivirus Software in 2025 to Protect Your Data Privacy

Bitdefender stands out as the top antivirus for small business owners if you need advanced protection against sophisticated cyber threats that exploit human error to infiltrate networks. Having tested Bitdefender, its layered ransomware defense and anti-phishing capabilities are exceptionally reliable. It’s particularly effective for businesses dealing with sensitive client data or handling confidential communications.

Besides its core protection, Bitdefender excels with features like advanced threat defense, a secure VPN, and vulnerability assessment. Looking at forum discussions, users ask, “Is Bitdefender good for ransomware protection?” Based on my evaluation, Bitdefender is top tier as it features a ransomware remediation that backs up your files in case of ransomware encryption.

However, one limitation of Bitdefender is its 200MB daily traffic cap for VPN, which can be restrictive. If extensive VPN usage is crucial for your operations, Norton is a practical alternative. Norton provides unlimited VPN data, making it ideal for secure browsing, remote access, and streaming tasks.

• Digital footprint radar: Monitors your online presence, alerting you in cases of data breaches and potential impersonation on social media platforms.
  
• Scam copilot: This AI-powered tool detects and blocks online scams in real time, providing proactive protection against digital fraud.
  
• Anti-tracker: Prevents websites from tracking your online behavior by blocking third-party cookies and trackers, enhancing privacy, and improving browsing speed.
  
• Built-in VPN: Offers unrestricted, encrypted internet access through a global network of servers, ensuring complete online privacy and anonymity.
  
• Content control: Allows admins to enforce company policies by managing web access, data protection, and application usage across the network.

McAfee is the best antivirus for business teams that frequently handle sensitive financial information or employee personal data. Identity theft monitoring and real-time financial alerts significantly enhance security against sophisticated cyberattacks. It can scan up to 60 types of personal data and alert you up to 10 months earlier than similar antivirus services. 

You’ll also benefit from 24/7 monitoring of financial activity across your bank accounts, credit cards, and government IDs. This protection is reinforced with features like credit monitoring, identity restoration support, and lost wallet protection.

In case you’re wondering if McAfee has the potential to slow down your computer, the answer is yes, especially on older systems. This significant resource consumption can noticeably impact system performance.For lightweight yet strong protection, ESET is an excellent alternative. It offers robust cybersecurity features without performance drawbacks, making it suitable for resource-conscious users.

• Social privacy manager: Control over 100 privacy settings across your social media accounts so your personal data is only visible to certain people.
  
• Lost wallet protection: Assists in canceling and replacing its contents, such as credit cards and identification documents.
  
• Identity monitoring: Monitors the dark web for your personal information, including emails and government IDs, and alerts you if your data is found.
  
• Security freeze: Prevents companies from making unauthorized access to your credit profile, bank, and utility accounts
  
• Credit monitoring: Monitors any changes to your credit score, report, and accounts, providing timely notifications and guidance to help address potential identity theft or fraud. 

ESET works if your priority is robust cybersecurity with minimal system impact. It features an idle-state scanner that performs scans during low system activity, lessening the impact on real-time performance. You can also set custom scans or enable the rule learning mode to train ESET on your system behavior, reducing unnecessary scans. 

From personal testing, I appreciate ESET’s efficient, lightweight design, ideal for businesses that need uninterrupted productivity and professionals with intensive software workloads. Other standout offerings include patch management, mobile threat defense, and full-disk encryption. 

On the downside, a common concern in online discussions is ESET’s antimalware protection. While decent, independent tests suggest there’s room for improvement. For superior malware detection and real-time protection, Bitdefender consistently ranks higher. Its robust performance in cybersecurity tests makes it the preferred choice for businesses prioritizing maximum malware defense.

• Patch management: Automates the detection and remediation of vulnerabilities in operating systems and apps, helping to prevent security breaches from outdated software.
  
• Mail server security: Provides comprehensive protection for mail servers by filtering spam, blocking phishing attempts, and detecting malware to ensure secure email communications.
  
• Mobile threat defense: Protects Android and iOS devices with multilayered protection, including antimalware, anti-theft, and mobile device management.
  
• Full disk encryption: Secures data on your devices by encrypting entire hard drives, so sensitive information remains protected even if a device is lost or stolen.
  
• Server security: Delivers robust protection for servers against malware and other threats, ensuring the safety and continuity of business-critical data and services.

Malwarebytes is excellent for solopreneurs or small teams looking for straightforward, reliable malware protection. If you’re already using another antivirus or prefer to avoid complex, feature-heavy tools, Malwarebytes delivers a streamlined, effective solution that pairs well with other security software.

All plans include proactive cybersecurity programs that let you browse the internet safely, efficiently scan for infected devices, and receive monthly security reports. From my use, Malwarebytes works with various devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Chromebook, and Android. 

In my experience, Malwarebytes works well as a second layer of defense but isn’t always the most reliable, especially for businesses needing consistent, proactive threat blocking. If you’re looking for stronger detection capabilities, ESET is a more reliable alternative

• Tamper prevention: Protects Malwarebytes settings by preventing unauthorized modifications, ensuring that security configurations remain intact.
  
• Brute force protection: Monitors and blocks suspicious login attempts via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), protecting against unauthorized access through repeated login attempts.
  
• Rootkit protection: Detects and removes malicious software designed to hide the existence of certain processes or programs.
  
• Online personal data remover: Scans data broker databases for your personal information and assists in its removal, helping to protect your privacy online.
  
• Ad blocking: Prevents intrusive ads and trackers from loading, enhancing browsing speed and protecting against potential online threats. 

Avira is best suited for freelancers or small operations needing streamlined yet effective security solutions. Personally, I’ve found Avira’s intuitive interface and lightweight system usage perfect for professionals seeking simplicity. Its ease of use is particularly beneficial if you prefer straightforward protection without overly complex configurations.

Highlight features include safe shopping tools, system speedup utilities, and Phantom VPN. However, users frequently discuss Avira’s limited capabilities for complex cybersecurity demands and challenges. If your business requires deeper security layers, Bitdefender’s enterprise-grade tools offer comprehensive protection even at the consumer level.

• Safe Shopping: Works as a browser extension that helps you find the best deals from secure websites and alerts you to potentially unsafe sites while shopping online.
  
• Password Manager: Securely stores your passwords, automatically logs you into your accounts, and alerts you if any of your accounts have been compromised.
  
• System Speedup: Optimizes your device’s performance by cleaning junk files, managing startup programs, and improving boot times.
  
• Phantom VPN: Encrypts your internet connection, allowing you to browse anonymously and securely, especially on public Wi-Fi networks.
  
• Device Cleaner: Removes unnecessary files from your device, freeing up storage space and enhancing system performance. 

Norton shines as the best antivirus software for businesses requiring extensive VPN use for secure communication and browsing. Priced at $39.99, its dedicated VPN service lets you stream seamlessly and download files 26% faster than competing solutions. Plus, it has a strict no-log policy that doesn’t track, record, or save your browsing activities.

For combined browsing and data protection, Norton offers an integrated VPN and cybersecurity plan that lets you manage your passwords, avoid targeted ads, and block hacking attempts. Overall, my experience with Norton confirms its exceptional ease of use and reliability, making it ideal for businesses with remote teams or frequent travelers. 

However, a common complaint I’ve encountered is Norton’s significant price increase after the first year. This unpredictability can complicate budgeting for small businesses. For more consistent pricing, ESET offers transparent renewal rates, providing predictable costs that align with long-term budget planning.

• Social media monitoring: This feature monitors your social media accounts for suspicious activities, such as unauthorized logins, risky links, and potential threats.
  
• Cloud backup: Norton’s Cloud Backup securely stores copies of your important files on remote servers, protecting your data from loss due to device theft, hard drive failures, or ransomware attacks.
  
• Driver updater: Norton Driver Updater automatically detects and updates outdated or vulnerable drivers on your Windows PC, helping to maintain system stability and security.
  
• Utilities ultimate: This suite includes tools to optimize your PC’s performance, such as cleaning up unnecessary files, managing startup programs, and securely deleting sensitive data.
  
• Financial monitoring: Norton connects to your financial accounts to track transactions and alert you to any unusual or potentially fraudulent activity.