Cybercriminals are always changing their tactics, which is why you require a comprehensive antivirus to be protected against the newest threats. A good antivirus program can scan for, identify and remove viruses, trojans as well as worms, spyware and trojans. Some programs also offer additional security features, such as a virtual private network as well as parental controls, password management and protection against phishing.

Antivirus software should also guard against keyloggers and rootkits which can secretly record everything you type on your keyboard — including passwords and credit card numbers. It should also prevent ransomware, which can hijack your computer and keep files hostage until you pay a ransom.

The most reliable antivirus software will have a high detection rate for known malware, and consistently high scores in independent labs of testing. A good security suite has other safety features such as a detection system based on algorithms that search for the kinds of behavior that viruses are known to exhibit. It should also include an antivirus program and some programs offer sandboxing, which lets you run suspicious programs in a safe environment where they aren’t able to do harm.

A reputable antivirus program updates often, usually every two days. It should also be compatible with a wide variety of devices, ranging from PCs and Macs to smartphones avg antivirus and smart homes. Certain antivirus applications offer low cost introductory pricing. Certain antivirus programs cost monthly or annually, whereas other charge per device. The price of an antivirus program must be evident in the number and types of devices it safeguards as well as the frequency of updates, how easy it is to use and what other safety features it includes.