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Best antivirus software in Australia for 2021

Protect all your devices with the best antivirus software for Windows, Mac and Android.

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Tim Falk
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The best antivirus software in Australia

How did we pick this list?

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.

Best overall antivirus software: Bitdefender Internet Security

Pros

  • Award-winning protection
  • Includes VPN

Cons

  • This particular product is for Windows PCs only
  • Price doubles after the first year
Price (RRP): From $34.99 (1-year plan for 1 device)
Buy at eBay
Buy at Bitdefender

Why we chose it

If you're searching for the best antivirus software for your computer, our top pick is Bitdefender Internet Security. This highly-rated antivirus program provides multilayered protection against a huge range of threats, includes a number of useful privacy tools, and comes with a price tag that isn't going to break the bank.

Bitdefender Internet Security has also picked up its fair share of awards. These include an Outstanding Product Award in independent testing organisation AV-Comparatives' 2020 summary report, plus the Best Protection 2020 Award from AV-TEST Institute.

As a result, Bitdefender Internet Security is our top pick if you're searching for antivirus protection for your PC. If you're a Mac user, Bitdefender also offers a range of products suitable for MacOS devices. And if you want protection for Windows and Mac operating systems as well as Android and iOS devices, you can also upgrade to Bitdefender Total Security.

Designed to protect Windows PCs against all online threats, Bitdefender Internet Security provides real-time data protection against viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware, phishing, zero-day exploits and more. It can identify suspicious activity and block attacks before they begin, and testing from the 2 independent labs mentioned above proves that it's very effective at what it does.

It also boasts a range of features to ensure that it offers antivirus protection with minimal impact on your PC's performance, including a battery mode for use on laptops and tablets. Other features include access to a VPN with 200MB of encrypted traffic a day, an anti-tracker extension, and microphone and webcam protection.

You also get the flexibility of choosing a 1-, 2- or 3- year plan for 1, 3, 5 or 10 devices, making Bitdefender Internet Security a convenient option to help keep your PC safe.

Best free antivirus software: Avast Free Antivirus

Pros

  • Award-winner
  • Comes with a number of extra safety and performance tools

Cons

  • No parental controls
  • Some complaints about in-program advertising to encourage you to upgrade
Price (RRP): Free
Buy at Avast

Why we chose it

Searching for free antivirus software to provide an extra layer of protection against malware and a range of other threats? We recommend checking out Avast Free Antivirus.

This free software is designed to offer cloud-based protection without slowing down your PC, and it offers a host of other features beyond protecting your computer against viruses and malware.

It's also picked up its fair share of awards and positive reviews. These include a Top-Rated Product Award for 2020 from AV-Comparatives, and being named a Top Product by the AV-TEST Institute following evaluation of its performance during the May-June 2021 period. As a result, Avast Free Antivirus is our number-one pick as the best free antivirus software.

Available for Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone, Avast Free Antivirus makes antivirus protection easy. Its user-friendly interface allows you to scan your computer and remove threats within seconds, and it safeguards you against viruses, malware, phishing, ransomware and a range of other threats.

It also offers features like pop-up-blocking Do Not Disturb mode, Behaviour Shield to check apps for suspicious behaviour, and a Wi-Fi Inspector to detect any weak points in your home Wi-Fi network.

Finally, it's worth mentioning that if you're looking for antivirus protection for Android or iPhone, you might want to check out the Avast Mobile security app. It's free to download and with an average score of 4.7/5 from over 6.6 million Google Play customer reviews and over 45,000 App Store reviews, it has certainly won plenty of fans.

Best antivirus software for small businesses: Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • 24/5 support (or 24/7 if you purchase Premium Technical Support)

Cons

  • No Android support
  • Some competitors offer more in-depth reporting
Price (RRP): $82.97 (1-year plan for 1 device)
Buy at Avast

Why we chose it

Looking for the best antivirus software for your small business? There are lots of good reasons why you should check out Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus.

Designed to protect your business against ransomware and advanced cyber attacks, Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus provides protection for Windows, Windows Server and Mac. This endpoint protection solution has picked up plenty of positive customer reviews, while it also scored a perfect 6/6 in the categories of protection, performance and usability in the AV-TEST Institute's May-June Product Review and Certification Report. Combined with its affordable price tag, this makes Avast Business Antivirus Pro Plus our top pick as the best antivirus software for small businesses.

You can manage your Avast antivirus software from the Business Hub, a cloud-based platform where you can access comprehensive reporting and monitor threats in real time. There are 7 layers of protection to protect your business against malware and cyber attacks, with those layers including a web shield, a static scanner, and Avast CyberCapture that locks suspicious files and sends them to the Avast Threat Labs for analysis.

Server protection is also included, along with privacy and identity protection to ensure that all your sensitive passwords and bank details stay safe. 24/5 support is also available via email, chat and phone, but you can also upgrade to Premium Technical Support if you want 24/7 assistance and a guaranteed 1-hour first response time.

Finally, this Avast business software also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out before deciding whether it's the right fit for your business.

Best Android mobile antivirus software: Bitdefender Mobile Security

Pros

  • Multi-award winner
  • Anti-theft protection

Cons

  • 200MB/day of VPN data may not be enough for some
  • Unlimited VPN data is a costly add-on
Price (RRP): $19.99 (1-year plan)
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing
Buy at Amazon
Buy at eBay
Buy at Bitdefender

Why we chose it

If you want to protect your Android smartphone against viruses and malware, we recommend checking out Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android.

This highly-rated mobile antivirus program offers cloud-based malware detection, anti-theft protection and secure VPN access. It's such an impressive package that the AV-TEST Institute has given Bitdefender Mobile Security the Best Android Security Award in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020, while AV-Comparatives found that the program delivered a 100% protection rate with zero false positives in its 2021 Mobile Security Review.

It's been well received by consumers too, with an average score of 4.7/5 from over 295,000 Google Play customer ratings. As a result of all these factors, Bitdefender Mobile Security is our number-one pick as the best antivirus for Android.

Bitdefender Mobile Security features a malware scanner that provides in-depth information about the threats it blocks, with on-demand scanning available whenever you want. An anti-phishing system protects you while browsing the web, while access to Bitdefender VPN and 200MB of data a day helps protect your online privacy.

Another key feature is Bitdefender Anti-Theft, which provides protection if your phone is lost or stolen by allowing you to locate, wipe or send a message to your device. And with the Bitdefender Mobile Security app specifically designed to help maximise battery life, it's a versatile and effective layer of protection that provides great peace of mind for Android users.

It's priced at $19.99 for a 1-year plan, but you can also bundle it together with protection for up to 5 devices (Windows, Mac, Android and iOS) under a Bitdefender Total Security package.

Best antivirus software for Windows: Kaspersky Internet Security

Pros

  • Award winner with impressive results in independent testing
  • Webcam protection

Cons

  • Watch out for price increases upon renewal
  • 300MB daily VPN data may not be enough
Price (RRP): From $20.95 (1-year plan)
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing
Buy at Amazon
Buy at eBay
Buy at Kaspersky

Why we chose it

Bitdefender Internet Security, which we chose as our top overall pick, is obviously well worth a look if you're searching for antivirus software for your Windows PC. But so too is Kaspersky Internet Security, which offers a host of useful features and is backed by impressive reviews and test results.

Kaspersky Internet Security offers real-time protection against hacking, viruses and malware, offers free VPN access, and includes a range of other features to help you protect your privacy. It's also produced plenty of impressive results during independent testing, with AV-Comparatives awarding it the Product of the Year Award in 2020. And in the AV-TEST Institute's June 2021 Product Review and Certification Report, Kaspersky Internet Security scored a perfect 6/6 across all 3 categories of protection, performance and usability.

As a result, it takes the win here as the best antivirus software for Windows.

Designed to provide advanced antivirus protection, Kaspersky Internet Security takes a proactive approach to detecting threats. It protects against common threats like worms, trojans, keyloggers and phishing, as well as against more sophisticated attacks.

To protect your privacy online, you can access a free VPN with up to 300MB of daily data. Anti-phishing technology warns you about spoof sites and dodgy emails, while webcam protection ensures that you don't have to worry about unauthorised use of your webcam.

Other features include a zero-distraction gaming mode, an ad blocker, and the ability to easily manage your PC security from a user-friendly dashboard. So if you're searching for the best antivirus protection for your Windows PC, there's plenty to like about Kaspersky Internet Security.

Best antivirus software for Mac: Norton 360 Standard

Pros

  • Impressive test results
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Renewal price is a fair bit more than first-year price
  • Standard only protects 1 device
Price (RRP): From $59.99 (1-year plan)
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing
Buy at Amazon
Buy at eBay

Why we chose it

If you're searching for the best antivirus software for a Mac operating system, we recommend checking out what Norton 360 Standard has to offer. This popular antivirus program offers advanced protection against a wide range of Mac-related threats, and handy features like a password manager and secure VPN access.

The AV-TEST Institute also named Norton 360 the winner of its Best MacOS Security 2020 Award, and the program scored a perfect 6/6 for the categories of protection, performance and usability in the institute's March 2021 Product Review and Certification Report. With all these factors in mind, Norton 360 Standard is our top pick as the best antivirus software for Mac.

The Standard plan offers protection for 1 device against spyware, viruses, malware and ransomware. It includes a firewall to monitor and block any unauthorised communication, and a password manager so you can easily generate and store passwords along with sensitive information like your credit card details.

Another handy feature of Norton 360 Standard is access to a no-log VPN, helping you protect your privacy online and browse anonymously. And while some features of this software are only available on Windows devices, such as a cloud backup service and webcam protection, it still offers an impressive level of protection and functionality for Mac users.

Of course, if you want additional features such as parental controls or cover for up to 3 devices, you can upgrade to Norton 360 Deluxe or Premium which cost $50 and $95 more per year respectively after the first 12 months.

Best antivirus software for families: Kaspersky Total Security

Pros

  • Protection for up to 5 devices
  • Parental control features

Cons

  • Price doubles after first year
  • One user reports that Safe Kids features don't work perfectly on iOS devices
Price (RRP): From $74.95 (1-year plan for 5 devices)
Amazon pricing: From $99.64
Buy at Amazon
Buy at eBay
Buy at Kaspersky

Why we chose it

When you need antivirus protection for a whole family's worth of devices, there are plenty of good reasons why you should check out Kaspersky Total Security.

This comprehensive security suite offers a triple-layer protection system to protect up to 5 Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices at once, plus includes Kaspersky Safe Kids Premium to help keep your children safe online. Throw in the fact that Kaspersky has demonstrated impressive performance in testing by AV-TEST Institute, not to mention that it won a 2020 Product of the Year Award from AV-Comparatives, and it's easy to see why it's our top pick as the best antivirus software for families.

Kaspersky's software provides 24/7 protection against viruses, ransomware, malware and hacking. It detects and neutralises a wide range of threats, with the latest independent testing showing it to be a reliable performer.

A free VPN is included to help protect your online privacy, with up to 300MB of data per day. Anti-phishing and webcam protection are also available for added peace of mind, while Kaspersky's password manager allows you to create an encrypted vault for all your sensitive passwords.

Parents will also appreciate some of the features provided by the Safe Kids Premium parental control app. These include blocking access to adult content and inappropriate YouTube search topics, customising sites your child can only visit with your permission, and monitoring and managing their screen time. You can even use GPS tracking to define a safe area, ensuring an alert is sent to you if they leave it.

Combined with the award-winning security that Kaspersky offers, these added features make Kaspersky Total Security a great choice for families.

Best complete online security suite: ESET Smart Security Premium

Pros

  • Protect multiple devices on the 1 licence
  • Parental controls

Cons

  • No VPN
  • There are cheaper options available
Price (RRP): $99.95 (1-year plan for 5 devices)
Buy at eBay
Buy at ESET

Why we chose it

ESET Smart Security Premium is our top pick as the best complete online security suite for a number of reasons. This comprehensive antivirus package lets you protect multiple devices on the one licence, helps you secure your identity and make safe online payments, and offers a range of handy extras to help maximise your online security.

Then there's the fact that ESET's Internet Security won an Outstanding product Award in the AV-Comparatives 2020 Summary Report, and has also picked up plenty of positive customer reviews. As a result of all these factors, it's our top pick as the best complete online security suite.

Providing protection for Windows, MacOS and Android devices, ESET Smart Security Premium safeguards your computer against viruses, malware, ransomware, hacking and more. In terms of data privacy, it also lets you encrypt your files and removable media for safekeeping, while anti-phishing protection prevents you from falling victim to fraudulent websites. There's also a password manager that allows you to generate and store passwords, and fill in forms automatically for added convenience.

If you want to manage what your kids get up to online, parental control options allow you to determine what they can and can't access. Banking and payment protection ensures that your financial information is kept safe, while location tracking and a number of other features help protect against theft.

There are 1-, 2- and 3-year plans of ESET Smart Security Premium available, and you can purchase protection for up to 10 devices. So if you're looking for antivirus software that can take care of just about everything, it's definitely worth a closer look.

Amazon prices last updated on 26 October, 2021 at 06:00 am

Methodology

20+
Brands considered
50+
Products compared
8
Best products chosen
  • We considered antivirus software from over 20 leading brands.
  • Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest software.
  • The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

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