The Best Internet Security and Antivirus Software of 2020

All antivirus and internet security solutions aim to protect devices against malware, viruses and other issues that originate from surfing the web without some safeguards in place. As with most tech-based services, it all comes down to the features that set companies apart. In many cases, the business-facing versions of these programs are often based on the consumer versions, usually including more specialized features on top of those offered to the average user.

When evaluating antivirus and security software solutions, look for the following features and protection methods for your business:

• Email scanning: Every business relies on email. With the right software, all email messages and incoming attachments can be scanned for infected files and other intrusion methods.
  
  
• Phishing: This technique involves getting a potential victim to click on a link in an email or website that then downloads identity-stealing code. A good security solution uses its email-scanning capabilities to ensure the links in a message are safe.
  
  
• Ransomware protection: Costly ransomware attacks have made the news in recent years and for good reason. They are costly intrusions where computers get locked down unless a fee is paid, so any tool that can preemptively avoid this issue should be considered.
  
  
• Sandbox: If you're an IT administrator trying to see if an unfamiliar app is safe for the company to use, a good internet security solution will provide a secure area on your computer to limit any potential damage.
  
  
• Distributed denial of service (DDOS) protection: DDOS attacks occur when a series of systems or automated bots overwhelm your server with requests, often shutting the entire network down. The best server security software can respond to this type of attack.
  
  
• Data shredder and encryption: Every company has confidential material, and using either file- or disk-level encryption can keep it secret. Shredding a file is more complete, because rather than only removing its file allocation table entry, this technique overwrites it several times to make the file disappear.
  
  
• Firewall: Firewalls separate a system from the dangers of the online world. The best offer ultimate protection by blocking unauthorized data coming in and going out while allowing important data to pass unmolested.
  
  
• Patch management: Staying on top of the latest patches available for your software is important. Patches can do everything, from optimizing a program to addressing security issues that may have been found since the last update.
  
  
• User interface: A good, easy-to-understand interface is important. It doesn't matter how good a tool is if you can't use it.
  
  
• Compatibility: Our technologically reliant world lives on more than just PC or Mac desktops. Since viruses can attack everything from our home computers to the tablets and smartphones we carry with us, it's important that an antivirus solution protect all of your devices.

Keep in mind that this list is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to internet security features. You may need all or none of these things, depending on the reality of your business. Always look at the optional features provided by certain companies. In some cases, companies also offer access to third-party services, such as a VPN.

Other features that would be good to keep an eye out for but were not necessarily deal-breakers include a hardened web browser or encrypted keyboard, since both provide an extra layer of protection.

With billions of people on the internet, it's impossible to know who's trying to access your systems and to what end. It's with that uncertainty in mind that internet security and antivirus software exist. Your business has sensitive data, whether it's your customers' credit card information, HIPAA-regulated patient data or any other information you want to keep secure. The right internet security software can help ensure that your data is at least protected.

Depending on the software suite and service tier you select, internet security and antivirus software can protect against a range of scenarios. Malware can cause major slowdowns on your machine, block you from accessing certain parts of your system, or cause other major headaches on your device and others on the same network. Ransomware is a type of malware that can lock down your machine, with the promise of unlocking it once you pay a fee. Phishing uses email messages to make you accidentally give up your personal information, like passwords and credit card numbers.

Along with file protection, some internet security programs also deal with a device's surroundings. Other features, like remote access and remote wipe, can help protect secure data if a device is lost or stolen. Wi-Fi monitoring functionality can keep your system safe from unprotected networks as well.

Can antivirus software remove existing viruses?

Antivirus software scans the existing files on your computer's memory and storage. In the event that a file is infected, most solutions "quarantine" the file by deleting it from its original location, rendering it inert and moving it to a new location. This can take place regardless of how long the file in question has been infected.

Is free antivirus safe? Free antivirus software protects against viruses and malware, just as the paid versions do. The main difference between the two versions is the paid solution more often detects newer threats quicker and may come with additional features that don't exist in the free version. Paid software could potentially run faster or be significantly more thorough in its searches compared to free software.

How does computer security software work?

Computer security software works by regularly searching for any vulnerabilities in a system. That usually includes scans for malware, virus and other malicious code. Such software also seeks out and protects against potential security lapses. Some options include blocking the use of unauthorized USB devices and restricting users from making modifications to the system itself. Computer security software is often extremely modular, so the features and protections provided depend on your business and its needs.

How do you get malware infections on your computer or mobile device?

Malware can infect your computer or device when you download and install infected software, though it can also spread through email or an unsecured internet hyperlink. Usually, this happens when a bad actor online alters a program to include the malware. Once on your system, malware generally tends to alter existing files on the computer and spread throughout a network. This action can often lead to users getting locked out of the system, inexplicable popups showing up on the screen or major performance issues on the infected device.

What is the difference between antivirus and internet security?

Antivirus software protects against malware, viruses and other malicious code. Internet security software casts a wider umbrella of protection, usually including antivirus, firewalls and other protective measures.

What are the different types of internet security?

Internet security is more of a blanket term for the different types of protective services out there. Generally, internet security software can do the following: firewalls, antivirus, endpoint security, sandbox capabilities, ransomware and phishing protection, file shredding, data encryption and other services.

There are almost as many reasons why a company would choose one solution over another as there are platforms available at any given moment. Since the field is so diverse, and opinions are so varied, we turned to the small business community to understand which solutions they were using and why.

One consideration we consistently saw was the need for a solution that was quick and easy to implement. For Sophie Summers, who serves as a vice president of marketing at Proprivacy, that easy solution was Bitdefender.

"I have been using a total security version of Bitdefender for all our Windows-based PCs for the last two years," Summers told business.com. "You only need to install and set it once, and then it will keep doing its job silently ... [only taking] minutes to scan the whole PC files without slowing down the system."

Along with the fact that it is compatible with the rest of her computer's functions, Summers pointed to other features like a startup optimizer, which helps speed up the PC overall. Add in the software's compatibility with leading browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox, as well as the inclusion of Bitdefender's own hardened browser, and you have a solution that she called "the best software for scanning the system, removing suspicious files and preventing online infectious content."

While some of the individuals we spoke with had stuck with their chosen solution for years, others shared their stories for why they jumped ship from one option to another. Hassan Alnassir, the founder and CEO of Premium Joy said his company had tried multiple options before choosing Kaspersky for its internet security solution.

"I have tried cybersecurity solutions from several popular brands like Norton and McAfee, but they all don't compare to Kaspersky when it comes to not slowing down the PC," he said. "I also find Kaspersky's app interface to be pretty clean and simple to use without any complications whatsoever."

When asked what he especially liked about Kaspersky, Alnassir said the software's ability to block malicious sites while browsing online is a huge help.

Similarly, Dustin Vann, owner and CEO of Trusy Social said his company switched to Bitdefender from the solutions at McAfee because they just needed a stronger safety net than the latter company could provide.

"We changed from McAfee as it didn't offer the added layer of security that Bitdefender did, plus it was harder to automate tasks with regular errors," Vann said. "We liked the option where you could grant or deny access to websites and applications, essentially avoiding any services that have the potential to cause problems."

We researched a wide range of antivirus software and internet security solutions, including their plans and features. The process began by compiling a list of vendors. Along with the service providers we were familiar with from past reviews, we added vendors we found in our research, those that regularly appeared on other reputable online lists and reviews, and companies that reached out to us asking to be considered for review.

Then, we visited each vendor's official website, taking notes of their features and pricing structures. When possible, we downloaded and tried the software if a free trial was available. When a trial period wasn't an option, we watched product demos and tutorials to get a feel for how the product worked and understand its key features.

After the testing phase, we reached out to our finalists, posing as a potential customer with questions about their platform. We asked everyone the same set of questions when applicable while taking note of the quality of service we received.

Finally, we arrived at our final determination by considering which software solutions struck the best balance of price, feature set and ease of use. Here are the criteria we used to evaluate each option:

• Pricing structure: Affordability is important to any business. We looked for a variety of pricing options with the express intent of seeing whether their offerings could be helpful to a wider range of needs and budgets.
  
  
• Features: We looked for features that defended against the largest number of attacks. Most antivirus and internet security solutions handle many of the same types of intrusion, so any additional bells and whistles that make the process more comprehensive were a plus.
  
  
• Ease of use: Having a program that's too hard to implement is of no use to anyone. While some of our options may be more worthwhile if your business has a dedicated IT professional on staff, we sought out options that were easy enough for anyone to install and utilize.
  
  
• Compatibility: Unless every computer in a company is set up at the same time, it's hard to find a scenario where every machine is exactly the same. If your security solution doesn't work on every machine your business uses, then it's not worthwhile. We sought out options that worked with the most recent versions of Windows and Mac OSX, though Linux was often also covered.
  
  
• Mobile security: Businesses are increasingly mobile these days. If a provider offered security measures for Android and iOS devices, that was a major plus in our search.
  
  
• Server software: Though mostly important to businesses that run their own servers, a good software package for IT departments requires a feature set that allows for remote management while also protecting against network threats like DDoS attacks.