Keep your computer and other devices safe from viruses and other harmful software with these top-rated antivirus programs.

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that ...

My new favorite Windows app made my PC safer and more reliable - and it's free ...

PCWorld highlights Smart App Control, a crucial Windows 11 security feature that screens apps through Microsoft’s cloud service to protect against malware and compromised executables. A February 2026 ...

Using a Windows 11 PC is a great experience, but what about protecting it from cybercriminals with bad intentions? Fortunately, your Windows 11 PC comes with Windows Security built in, and it does a ...

And it's almost always disabled.

Antivirus software is simply essential, but if you've upgraded to Windows 11, the built-in security suite might be good enough on its own. Microsoft Defender Antivirus is included for free as part of ...

Windows Defender has several security settings, including some you need to switch on to get the utmost protection. Here's why.

Your old PC isn't aging badly — this Windows security layer is just too heavy for it, so you need to disable it.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how security experts found new malware, Lumma Stealer, spreading via fake verification pages.

Best Antivirus Best Antivirus Software for Windows PCs in 2026 Discover the highest ranked antivirus programs for Windows 10 and 11. See whether you need to save or splurge to protect your device, ...