This is an important one. Some free antivirus software programs claim they will offer real-time monitoring when you use them. This means that as you scroll on your phone or computer, or download items ...

In 2025, most devices feature built-in antivirus software that scans files you attempt to download, blocking anything it deems suspicious. Antivirus tools also perform automated scans to remove ...

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 ...

Keeping your Windows PC secure from viruses and malware is an essential part of being a Windows user. Microsoft has the Windows Security app built-in, but you might prefer something else. However, ...

Antivirus has become these days a catch-all term. It doesn’t just mean blocking literal computer viruses, trojans, and other bits of malicious code meant to attack your PC. When you opt to go beyond ...

Many Mac users wonder if they need extra antivirus software. The answer depends on what you use your Mac for and where you’re using it from. The macOS operating system is tightly controlled and uses ...

Marshall Gunnell is a Tokyo-based tech journalist and editor with over a decade of experience covering IT, cybersecurity and data storage. Alongside CNET, his work has appeared in ZDNET, Business ...

Over 300,000 new types of ransomware and other malicious software are discovered daily, according to the IT security research institute AV-TEST. Computer viruses can slow your devices, create a slew ...

You get what you pay for. That’s what they always say, right? And while that can be true for many things, antivirus software is a little different. There are reputable free antivirus solutions out ...

Cassie is a former deputy editor who collaborated with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about ...