Anti-Malware Software Review

The best anti-malware software blocks and removes malware effectively and efficiently. It includes the same core security features as internet security suites without extras modules such as parental controls or password managers. If you are the only one who uses your personal computer or laptop, in most cases, anti-malware software is all you need for reliable, essential internet security.

The best malware protection software protects your computer from malware tricksters such as viruses, Trojans, spyware, keyloggers, pop-ups, rootkits, adware and scripts. You don't have to go out looking for trouble online anymore; trouble is now looking for you. These days the internet is saturated with malware that is programmed to look for vulnerabilities indiscriminately. Anti-malware software is the perfect solution for those who know they need internet protection and the best malware removal but do not want to be interrupted by it.

If you are looking for anti-malware software that you can install and forget about, check out Bitdefender Antivirus Plus with autopilot. For world leading online and offline malware protection, see Kaspersky Antivirus. For dependable protection with low-resource malware scanning, consider F-Secure Antivirus. For more information about malware and internet security, see our articles about antimalware software.

Anti-malware Software: What to Look For

To be counted among the best anti-malware software, an application must perform two functions: detect malware and remove it. If the anti-malware software cannot perform those two tasks, its other features provide little value. We looked for light-running anti-malware software with a proven ability to identify and eradicate malware. We also compared how these products manage malware and the technical support provided by the software developer.

Malware Detection
Anti-malware software cannot remove malware that it cannot detect. We gathered numerous efficacy scores to evaluate which product has the most dependable performance in detecting malware. The performance tests not only incorporate known threats, but also newly emergent threats and suspiciously behaving scripts. The best anti-malware software does not produce a significant number of false positive results.

Malware Removal
Removing malware that has already infected a system is a more difficult task than detecting it. We rated most favorably the anti-malware applications that can safely remove malware from an infected system successfully and restore it to its pre-infected state. We also considered whether the software can detect malware on a PC while the antimalware software is being installed and the installation process and whether it can reboot from a rescue disc should Windows become locked down or dangerous to run.

Malware Management
If you are looking for a tool to remove malware, you are likely looking for a product that runs light and can be customized to handle malware the way you desire. We not only looked at the types of scans the software can run, but also whether those scans can be adjusted to use system resources the way you want. Some features that can help you maximize the performance of your PC during scans include full-screen modes, scan throttling, low-use detection and the ability to create white lists.

Help & Support
We evaluated the type of customer assistance and technical support the manufacturers provide. The best anti-malware software providers offer telephone, chat and email support, as well as user manuals and online documentation. Many also provide virus and threat information, user forums, free tools and the ability to submit suspicious files for evaluation.

Anti-malware software runs light and is not loaded down with features you may not need. However, despite their low use of resources, these applications can protect your PC from malicious attacks from the internet, downloads, emails, links, external drives and chat conversations.

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