The best antivirus software in 2025: top picks ranked and reviewed for PC

 I’ve Compared the Best Antivirus Software — And Bitdefender Comes Out on Top

Why You Need Antivirus — And Our Top Picks for 2025

Antivirus software is essential for protecting your digital devices from harmful threats that can take control of your system, steal sensitive data, or even lock your files and demand a ransom to restore them.

Without reliable antivirus protection, your device is left vulnerable to a wide range of malware. For example:

→ A hacker could send you an email with a malicious attachment
→ Clicking it could infect your device in seconds
→ Your personal data, internet activity, and files could be compromised or stolen

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Our Testing Process — Why You Can Trust Our Recommendations

At TechRadar Pro, our team has over 30 years of combined experience testing and reviewing antivirus software. We take security seriously, using industry-standard tools like EICAR test files to see how antivirus programs react to potential threats.

We also compare our in-house results with independent test labs, including:

→ AV-Comparatives
→ AV-TEST

This ensures that our reviews are accurate, unbiased, and based on real-world performance.

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Our Expert Picks — The Best Antivirus Software

Based on our rigorous testing:

→ Bitdefender is the best antivirus solution for most users, with unmatched protection scores in both industry and our own tests.
→ Norton and McAfee also offer excellent antivirus security, with strong malware defense and useful extras.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly options, we’ve also rounded up:

→ The best free antivirus software
→ The best antivirus for Mac users, ideal for keeping Apple devices safe