Best antivirus software in Australia for 2024

The best antivirus software in Australia

• Best overall antivirus software: Bitdefender Total Security
• Best free antivirus software: Microsoft Defender
• Best free antivirus software for mobile: AVG AntiVirus Free
• Best antivirus software for small businesses: Sophos Intercept X
• Best Android mobile antivirus software: Bitdefender Mobile Security
• Best antivirus software for Windows: Bitdefender Total Security
• Best antivirus software for Mac: Avast Security For Mac
• Best antivirus software for families: Norton 360 Deluxe

Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on expert testing and actual customer reviews. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the antivirus software with the highest review score and best test results within those parameters.

All choices are independently made based on our combined 60+ years of reviewing experience and are not based on commercial relationships.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

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A total package with good detection rates

Bitdefender's Antivirus Security scores well with reviewers and independent AV labs for its detection rates and general performance, making it an easy recommendation for anyone wanting a set-and-forget style product.

That's for the full Bitdefender Total Security package, however, which includes client coverage for Macs and Android along with Windows. If you opt for the cheaper Antivirus Plus or Internet Security suites, you're only getting coverage for Windows PCs, although that could suit your needs quite nicely.

In independent lab tests, AV-Test noted that Bitdefender Security captured 100% of 0-Day malware attacks and new malware samples between September 2022 and October 2022, which is pleasing to see. However, they did score it downwards slightly for performance when not running scans, indicating that its memory footprint is on the larger side. That could be a concern if you're planning to use it on an older or slower PC in the first place, where you'll feel the impact of that memory footprint that much more.

Like many of its competitors, it's well worth considering which features are actually important to you when considering which level of Bitdefender it's worth subscribing to. As an example, some reviewers noted that it's annoying that while a VPN is included at some levels, if you want unlimited VPN access, you'll have to subscribe to a higher tier than the basic Antivirus Plus, which has a limited data allocation.

How do Australians rate Bitdefender's antivirus software?

87% of surveyed Australians recommend Bitdefender

4.6

Overall rating

4.2

Value for Money

4.33

Features

4.2

Customer support

4.73

Device compatibility

How Bitdefender compares

In the 2020 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 14,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 156 product categories.

For antivirus software, Bitdefender was ranked 2nd for value for money, 2nd for features, 2nd for customer support and 1st for device compatibility.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Microsoft’s basic security package covers the basics well

For the longest time, Microsoft's in-house antivirus products were a bit of a joke. Yes, they were better than absolutely nothing, but time and time again, when they were evaluated by independent labs, they were found badly wanting when it came time to detect actual viruses.

That's changed markedly in recent years, with Microsoft truly stepping up its game and delivering a free antivirus solution that often ranks right up there with the very best in terms of detection and prevention. Ultimately, that's what you want out of an antivirus package.

Not that you get everything and that it's all perfect. Some tests noted that Microsoft Defender is rather more happy to declare a false positive result when scanning than other suites. As such, you may spend more time working out whether you actually do need to quarantine or delete a "suspicious" file if you're certain it's on the level.

Not surprisingly, it's also strongly tied into Microsoft-specific services and software, so there's no coverage for Macs, Android devices or other platforms, and if you're not using Microsoft Edge, there are some features that just plain won't work.

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AVG's free antivirus app is our pick for Android and iPhone

AVG AntiVirus Free is our top pick for free mobile antivirus software. The app is available for iPhone and Android (tested), and comes with a comprehensive suite of security tools. This includes viruses, ransomware and phishing scams.

The app allows you to run complete scans of your phone and reports back with any anomalies. You can then review each vulnerability before taking action. Crucially, it includes a forced uninstaller to remove persistent, recurring malware. You can also set up alerts if you receive any phishing attempts via texts, emails or chat apps.

We were particularly impressed by AVG AntiVirus Free's user interface - it's clean, fast and easy to understand. Even if you're a self-described Luddite, protecting your phone is extremely straightforward thanks to the prominent Scan Now button.

In addition to protecting against malware, phishing and email scams, the app comes with a handful of other useful tools including a junk cleaner and speed checker.

On the downside, the app is ad supported and encourages you to upgrade to a paid version, which can be slightly intrusive at times. Nevertheless, this is a small price to pay for free and comprehensive protection.

How do Australians rate AVG's antivirus software?

66% of surveyed Australians recommend AVG

3.8

Value for money

3.9

Overall

4

Performance

3.6

Customer service

4

Ease of use

3.9

Features and design

How AVG compares

In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.

For antivirus software, AVG was ranked 9th for value for money, 8th for performance, 9th for customer service, 8th for ease of use and 9th for features and design.

10 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Get back to business with this comprehensive security suite

Business security needs are quite different to the needs of consumers. It's not so much that the malware varies, because it's often the same exploits and the same weaknesses being targeted, so much as it is a need for both secure software and an easily deployable solution that can be scaled according to the size of your businesses.

Reviewers noted the appeal of Sophos's Intercept X for both its high level of tested malware detection as well as the power of its applications that cover everything from simple malware detection to ransomware protection.

The big challenge here, especially for smaller businesses, is that Intercept X's policy dashboard is very powerful, but it requires fine-tuning to cover your specific needs. For some very small enterprises, it may be more challenging to set up. You're covered for Windows, Mac and Android devices, but not Linux workstations if that's important to you.

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Keep your smartphone safe the smart way

The Android malware field is a smaller one than for Windows, but it's still definitely an issue, and one that Google's own Play Protect service does a mediocre-at-best job of addressing.

Bitdefender's Mobile Security is a standalone package available either as a free basic package or as a subscription app that adds features such as website analysis and scam alerts. It's also part of some of the company's full security suites, so it's well worth checking if you do need to pay more if you're already a Bitdefender subscriber. Naturally, the same advice applies if you're a subscriber to other security suites – always check if Android is covered by the fee you're already paying.

In terms of detection and ease of use, Bitdefender Mobile scored well at AV-Test and AV-Comparatives, with notably high levels of malware detection and notable ease of use as positive factors. One downside here is that the basic product doesn't include VPN access, and even at higher tiers, you may only get a small quantity of covered VPN data to use.

How do Australians rate Bitdefender's antivirus software?

87% of surveyed Australians recommend Bitdefender

4.6

Overall rating

4.2

Value for Money

4.33

Features

4.2

Customer support

4.73

Device compatibility

How Bitdefender compares

In the 2020 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 14,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 156 product categories.

For antivirus software, Bitdefender was ranked 2nd for value for money, 2nd for features, 2nd for customer support and 1st for device compatibility.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Easily detect and delete malware – before it does its worst.

There's a lot of choice in the Windows AV market, and that shouldn't surprise anybody. While there has been growth in Mac and Android malware in recent years, Windows is still the target of choice when it comes to malware writers. That's to an extent less to do with inherent security and more to do with its popularity as the desktop operating system of choice worldwide. There are more Windows machines out there, so there's a lot more malware as a result.

That's why Bitdefender's Total Security gets our pick as the best of the best when it comes to Windows AV suites. When it comes time to scan, independent tests show it detecting to be among the very best that you can get for any consumer suite, while eating up relatively few system resources while doing so. While the Total Package covers additional platforms, if you're only looking to cover a Windows PC, you can get by with the lower-tier solutions instead.

In independent lab tests, AV-Test noted that Bitdefender Security captured 100% of 0-Day malware attacks and new malware samples between September 2022 and October 2022. However, it did score a little worse for its memory footprint, which is the quantity of memory it needs just to stay resident and protect you. If you're installing it on a very low-power Windows PC, this is worth keeping in mind.

The Total Security package is Bitdefender's full-fat solution with all the trimmings, and it's smart to consider which features you'll actually need and are worth paying for – or those that are omitted at the cheaper tiers. As an example, while you get Bitdefender's VPN at all suite levels, the basic Antivirus Plus package only covers a meagre 200MB of usage per day.

How do Australians rate Bitdefender's antivirus software?

87% of surveyed Australians recommend Bitdefender

4.6

Overall rating

4.2

Value for Money

4.33

Features

4.2

Customer support

4.73

Device compatibility

How Bitdefender compares

In the 2020 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 14,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 156 product categories.

For antivirus software, Bitdefender was ranked 2nd for value for money, 2nd for features, 2nd for customer support and 1st for device compatibility.

8 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Yes, you very much can get malware on your Mac – so it's best to stay safe.

Viruses on Macs? Really? Yes, despite all those ads years ago assuring Mac users that viruses were a Windows-only problem, the online threat landscape now also encompasses Macs. That's why it's genuinely a good step to ensure that your Mac is covered by some kind of AV solution.

Avast scored well with reviewers for a couple of reasons. If you're a consumer using your Mac for non-business purposes, its free tier does very well, covering the basics of security and AV scanning in a speedy and relatively unobtrusive way. Paid tiers do offer additional features, most notably ransomware scanning and support for multiple Macs if that's important to you. Avast's UI is quite simple, which will suit basic users nicely, although power users might find it a touch on the plain side.

In independent lab tests, Avast also scored well, with AV-Comparatives noting that it detected 100% of Mac malware, 99% of potentially unwanted applications and 100% of its test Windows malware files. You might be thinking that Windows detection on a Mac isn't important, but it's a useful feature to ensure that you don't pass on dodgy apps to your Windows-using colleagues as well.

How do Australians rate Avast's antivirus software?

85% of surveyed Australians recommend Avast

4.2

Value for money

4.1

Overall

4.2

Performance

3.8

Customer service

4.2

Ease of use

4.2

Features and design

How Avast compares

In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.

For antivirus software, Avast was ranked 3rd for value for money, 6th for performance, 8th for customer service, 3rd for ease of use and 3rd for features and design.

10 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Keep the entire family safe no matter what you do online

Keeping your family safe online is a tricky business because the needs of families small and large vary a lot, as do their online activities. That's where a complete security suite like Norton 360 Deluxe may suit you well. It's the full-fat version of Norton 360 with coverage for Windows, Android, iOS and Macs included as standard.

Reviewers noted that it was particularly family-friendly for Windows households, thanks to specific parental control features that work across Windows, iOS and Android, but annoyingly not the Mac platform. They allow you to set effective rules for your child that can be monitored and modified over time as your child's needs and online wants change.

In terms of straight malware protection, Norton 360 scored well, with AV-Test awarding it top marks for protection, performance and usability as well as noting its 100% success rate in detecting Windows-based malware. It's notable that Norton has improved markedly in recent years in AV-Test's scoring system where it used to struggle with performance and detection rates rather badly.

How do Australians rate Norton's antivirus software?

81% of surveyed Australians recommend Norton

3.9

Value for money

4.2

Overall

4.3

Performance

4

Customer service

4.1

Ease of use

4.2

Features and design

How Norton compares

In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.

For antivirus software, Norton was ranked 8th for value for money, 4th for performance, 7th for customer service, 6th for ease of use and 3rd for features and design.

10 brands were rated across these decision criteria.

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Save on Antivirus with these deals and discounts:

Norton

Up to $46 off Norton 360 and Antivirus Plus

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Avast Software

16% off Antivirus with Patch Management

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Avast Software

10% off Antivirus Pro

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ESET Software

Secure all your devices with ESET

Get the best annual security with ESET; Smart Security Premium for $79.95, ESET Internet Security for $59.95, and ESET NOD32 Antivirus for $49.95.

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Avast Software

33% off antivirus

Ends 1 Jan 2026

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Avast Software

20% off Antivirus Premier

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Avast Software

20% off business antivirus

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Show more

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Amazon prices last updated on 17 December, 2024 at 12:01 pmeBay prices last updated on 17 December, 2024 at 04:02 pm

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I really need any kind of AV at all?

  Yes, you really do, even if you think that you don't visit unusual websites or put yourself at particular risk online. The statistics around malware and loss related to computer security in Australia are truly staggering, with more than a million dollars lost just to ransomware in 2021 alone according to Scamwatch. While operating system makers such as Microsoft and Apple do bake in a degree of security into their platforms, it's an ever-evolving threat landscape, and AV software is the equivalent of your armour against it.

• Is it important to keep my subscription active?

  Yes, it is. It's not enough to buy an AV package and let its updates lag because you're effectively trapping yourself at a moment in time. As new malware threats emerge, you won't be protected against them unless your AV software is up-to-date.

• Will AV software slow down my computer?

  As with any other software package, AV software does require a certain quantity of resources on your computer to both install and run. Because good AV software is effectively always checking in order to keep you safe, it will use up some of your computer's memory, potentially affecting performance. For the packages we've selected above, we've kept this in mind, noting where software was noted to particularly affect computer performance and marking down accordingly.

• Do I have to opt for paid AV software?

  Not entirely, but you do need to be careful to get a reputable package when selecting a "free" AV option.

  There's a lot of malware out there that masquerades as security software, so carefully check and compare, and make sure that the package you're getting is what it claims to be. If you've never heard of the brand before, it may well be that it's a scam application designed to create the very problems you're trying to solve.

• Do you need antivirus software if you have a firewall?

  Antivirus software is installed on your computer to protect it from malware and viruses. It helps contain the infection to avoid compromising your data. A firewall acts as a barrier between your computer and external networks. To ensure your computer is well-protected, you need both antivirus software and a robust firewall, especially in a day and age when cybercriminals are getting more and more sophisticated.

• Can antivirus software protect your device from hackers?

  Your antivirus software can protect your device and your data from hackers. It works by neutralising attacks, preventing them from stealing data and infecting your computer with malicious malware or a virus.

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Customer satisfaction rating breakdown

The Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards is an annual national survey conducted in partnership with research firm Dynata. With over 30,000 real shoppers participating, the awards serve as a reliable reflection of Australian consumers' preferences and opinions.
Here are scores for antivirus software brands from 2023/2024.

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