Antivirus

Antivirus software here is sold as a retail licence for a stated number of devices and a stated term, most commonly one year.

Modern security suites do considerably more than scan for viruses, and the tier you choose is really about which extras you want. A standard licence covers malware protection and a firewall for one device. Deluxe and higher tiers add more devices and usually bundle a VPN, a password manager, cloud backup and dark web monitoring — features you might otherwise pay for separately, which is what makes the higher tiers better value than they first appear.

Three things to check on the listing before ordering: the device count, the term, and the platforms covered, since some licences span Windows, macOS, iOS and Android and others are Windows-only.

Worth saying plainly: Windows includes Microsoft Defender, which is competent baseline protection. A paid suite is worth it for the additional features and for covering several devices under one licence.

The range here is Norton. See also VPN software.