Best Antivirus Software UK: Top 7 Reviewed for 2023

The best antivirus software UK protects both your device and your personal information from all types of malware and viruses, as well as cyber-attacks, hacks, DDoS, and tracking attempts. If you want to ensure that you’re completely safe online and that advertisers, snoopers, and other unauthorised third parties don’t have access to your personal information, you need a secure, reliable antivirus solution.

To help you make the right choice, we’ve reviewed and compared the most popular antivirus solutions in the UK. Read on to find out how providers like TotalAV, McAfee, and Norton can help you boost your online security and ensure complete safety and anonymity.

Best Antivirus Software UK — Top 7 Shortlist

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here are our final rankings for the best antivirus software in the UK in 2023:

1. TotalAV — The best antivirus software in the UK for total protection against malware and viruses, TotalAV disables tracking cookies and is compatible with every OS.
2. McAfee — A top antivirus software for Windows, McAfee has a built-in VPN and an advanced Identity Monitoring feature to prevent phishing, data leaks, and threats.
3. Norton — This well-known antivirus software promises 100% virus protection and offers real-time Dark Web monitoring. Its SafeCam protection prevents potential webcam threats.
4. Avast — The best free antivirus software for individuals in the UK. Avast has a secure and fast VPN to protect against malware, ransomware, and spyware.
5. Nord Threat Protection — An add-on to NordVPN, this affordable antivirus software has a built-in ad blocker and offers a URL trimmer for added security.
6. Surfshark — One of the more lightweight antiviruses, Surfshark is strong enough to protect against same-day threats as well as disable ads and trackers.
7. Intego — The best in antivirus software for Mac users in the UK. Intego has a strong firewall, blocks phishing attempts, and offers 24/7 real-time scanning.

Top UK Antivirus Programs Reviewed

Here are our detailed reviews of the best antivirus software for UK users, so you can see exactly what all the different providers offer and choose the one that’s best for you:

1. TotalAV — Overall, the Best UK Antivirus

TotalAV is more than just an antivirus — it’s a robust online security tool that offers real-time protection, safeguards your device from malware and viruses, and helps you avoid online scams.

It proactively scans all downloads and executable files (.exe) before your device accesses them, making sure the threats are detected and quarantined before they have time to infect your PC, laptop, or phone.

You can also use it to detect and remove any existing threats from your system, ensuring optimal performance and preventing unauthorised parties from accessing your data.

Another reason to opt for TotalAV over other antivirus software providers is that it automatically blocks all tracking cookies. This way, websites won’t be able to gather your data and sell it to advertisers, so you won’t be constantly bombarded by promotional offers.

Additionally, TotalAV can continuously monitor the web and notify you the instant any of your email addresses appear in a data breach.

This extra layer of security ensures that, even on the off chance that hackers get hold of your email account and password, you’ll have the chance to react and update your credentials before they can cause any harm.

Pros

• Disables tracking cookies
• Lets you schedule Smart Scans
• Scans all downloads and executables
• Compatible with all devices and operating systems
• Instant notifications about potential data breaches
• One of the best server antiviruses

Cons

• No browser extension for Edge or Firefox

Pricing

TotalAV offers three subscription packages — Antivirus Pro, Internet Security, and Total Security. If you’re interested solely in the antivirus, you can get it for just £25 for the first year. The subscription will auto-renew for £100/year thereafter.

The Internet Security software package also includes a VPN and starts from £32 for the first year, while the Total Security package adds an ad-blocker and a password vault into the mix for £40 for the first year.

2. McAfee — Award-Winning Antivirus Software With a Built-in VPN

McAfee is an award-winning antivirus software and a veteran of the industry, with over 30 years of experience providing premium cybersecurity to millions of users around the world.

Although a powerful antivirus that offers real-time threat protection, McAfee’s strong suit lies in the fact that it monitors up to 60 different types of personal information and safeguards your passwords.

If any of your data is detected on the Dark Web or as a part of a data breach, McAfee will immediately notify you, so you can take the necessary measures.

If you opt for the Premium or Advanced versions of the software, you’ll also be able to take advantage of financial transaction and credit monitoring, plus credit score reports.

This eliminates the chances of hackers stealing your banking information and draining your accounts since you’ll know the second someone else tries to make a purchase using your credit card or transfer the funds to a different account.

Another advantage of McAfee is that it comes with a built-in VPN (virtual private network), which protects your personal data, hides your IP and physical address, and wards off cyber-attacks. The VPN is part of all three pricing plans, so you’ll stay protected while browsing the web regardless of which plan you opt for.

Pros

• 24/7 real-time threat protection
• Powerful VPN included in all pricing plans
• Advanced identity protection features
• Proactive financial transaction monitoring
• One of the best Windows 10 antiviruses

Cons

• Expensive if you want access to all security features

Pricing

You can get the base McAfee antivirus without any additional security features for £32.76/year for the first year. Afterwards, the subscription plan will renew every 365 days at £99.

If you want to take your online security to the next level, there’s also the Premium plan at £50/year, and the Advanced plan at £73.73/year for the first year.

3. Norton — Cybersecurity Veteran that Offers Excellent Value for Money

Norton is another well-known name in the cybersecurity sphere. The company’s antivirus is widely regarded as one of the best by millions of users around the world, and the level of protection you get for your money with Norton is superb.

With the Norton Antivirus, you get complete protection from ever-evolving viruses, malware, ransomware, and spyware, as well as a secure firewall for your PC or Mac to prevent any network attacks.

The company offers a 100% virus protection promise, offering to give you a full refund if the antivirus is unable to detect or remove a threat from your device. This goes to show you how confident Norton is in its security tools.

Additionally, you get from 2-75Gb of secure cloud storage with different pricing plans, so you can safely store all of your critical data on the cloud. The plans also include a password manager.

This helps you generate uncrackable passwords and stores them safely in an online vault, minimising the chances of having your credentials stolen by hackers.

Other notable features include a secure VPN and Safe Cam, which monitor your device’s camera and ensure hackers can’t access it remotely and take photos without your knowledge.

Pros

• 100% virus protection promise
• Real-time Dark Web monitoring
• Industry veteran trusted by millions of users
• Secure VPN and a strong firewall for PC and Mac
• Online storage and a password manager

Cons

• Confusing pricing structure

Pricing

Norton’s pricing plans are confusing at first since the company offers a bunch of different products and several subscription tiers. If you want to protect your PC or laptop, you can grab the standard Norton subscription package for as little as £12.28 for the first year.

Other plans that give you access to advanced security features range from £25 to £41 for the first year. If you’re looking for an iOS or Android antivirus, both versions of the app start from £25. Keep in mind they’re standalone products, so you’d have to buy them separately from the PC/laptop version of the antivirus.

4. Avast — Best Free Antivirus Software UK That Analyses Suspicious Apps and Files in the Cloud

Avast is the best free antivirus software UK users can take advantage of, given that it offers a free forever plan that provides security on par with leading premium antivirus software solutions.

In addition to being free, the biggest advantage of Avast over other powerful antivirus solutions is the fact that it analyses suspicious apps and files on the cloud.

This sandbox testing method ensures your device stays 100% safe since malware, viruses, and other threats are detected in a safe environment and quarantined before they ever have time to interact with your system.

Avast also ensures Wi-Fi network security by proactively scanning Wi-Fi networks before your device connects to them and notifying you of potential security risks so you know what public networks to avoid.

It’s also a great way to keep people from connecting to your home Wi-Fi network, whether it’s your pesky neighbours that somehow cracked your password or hackers looking to steal your sensitive data.

If you upgrade to a paid plan, you’ll also have access to a fast, secure VPN that’ll protect you from online scams, shady websites, and malicious links. Avast will also help you remove any junk files and unwanted apps from your device, increasing speed and improving performance.

Pros

• Free antivirus, on par with premium solutions
• Analyzes suspicious files and apps on the cloud
• Protects you against ransomware and spyware
• Scans public Wi-Fi networks for vulnerabilities
• Top Reddit-recommended antivirus
• Prevents anyone unauthorised persons from using your home Wi-Fi

Cons

• Will slow down lower-end PCs and phones

Pricing

You can use Avast for as long as you like without ever having to pay a cent. The level of protection you get with Avast’s free plan is excellent and will satisfy the needs of most average users.

That said, if you want to crank the protection up a notch and take advantage of a secure VPN, block ads and trackers, and safely make purchases online, you can get Avast Premium Security for £30 or the Avast Ultimate for £41.

5. Nord Threat Protection — Popular Online Security Tool That Blocks Intrusive Ads and Tracking Attempts

Nord Threat Protection is an addition to the NordVPN security suite that protects you from malicious websites, blocks annoying and intrusive ads, and prevents any tracking attempts from the websites you visit.

You can get Nord Threat Protection as a standalone product, and it doesn’t require a VPN connection to function. The app runs in the background, scanning all websites you visit for malicious software code and blocking your access if it detects any unusual or suspicious activity.

This ensures your device and data stay safe since the connection is blocked before your malware and viruses even get a chance to interact with your system. In addition to protecting you from all manner of online threats, Nord Threat Protection will provide a detailed weekly summary of all the threats you avoided.

The insights from the report are crucial for determining which of your online habits expose you to danger and open up vulnerabilities that malicious individuals can exploit, so you’ll know what websites to steer clear from.

Another reason to choose Nord Threat Protection is its URL trimmer functionality, which prevents URL tracking, ensuring that your online business is only your own.

By shortening the URLs, the app makes it virtually impossible to track your online activity, even if trackers and snoopers somehow manage to bypass all your defences, which is highly unlikely.

Pros

• Built-in Ad blocker
• Proactive website scanning
• Analyzes suspicious files in the cloud
• Prevents tracking attempts
• Affordable
• One of the best VPN providers

Cons

• Primarily a VPN add-on that works best with NordVPN

Pricing

If you’re not interested in the VPN, you can get Nord Threat Protection as a standalone product for just £2/month. That said, for complete protection, it’s best to pair it up with the powerful, secure NordVPN.

You can get NordVPN, Nord Threat Protection, a data breach scanner, and 1 Terabyte of cloud storage for just £6.

6. Surfshark — Lightweight Antivirus Solution With Superb Zero-Day Threat Protection

Surfshark antivirus is a lightweight app that protects you from malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats, without hogging your device’s resources.

The antivirus features a proprietary Surfshark Cloud Protect system, which analyses same-day threats on the cloud to ensure malicious files never have time to interact with your system. It also protects your device’s camera from unauthorised access by blocking third-party attempts to access it.

Another advantage of Surfshark is that it comes with built-in online protection, so you won’t have to worry about ads, invasive cookies, trackers, malware, or phishing sites when browsing the web.

Beyond this, Surfshark also hides your IP and physical location, making it impossible for anyone to monitor your online activities. Plus, you’ll get an instant notification if any of your email addresses, passwords, or bank account details appear in a data breach.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to use
• Protects you from same-day threats
• Analyzes suspicious files in the cloud
• Disables ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups
• Notifies you if your information appears in a data breach

Cons

• Not available for iPhone

Pricing

If you take advantage of the promotion, you can get Surfshark for less than £3/month on a two-year plan.

If you don’t want to commit to a 24-month plan, you can choose the annual plan at £4.49/month or the standard monthly plan at £11.83/month.

7. Intego — Mac-Specific Antivirus That Automatically Scans all External Drives

Intego is a Mac-exclusive antivirus that’s designed to combat threats that are specific to MacOS, which most other antiviruses wouldn’t be able to deal with. With the vast majority of antivirus solutions being coded primarily for Windows, Intego is the superb option for Mac users.

Rather than bundling all security products together, Intego offers a security suite that includes an antivirus, a network security tool, parental control solution, and a privacy protection tool.

The antivirus offers 24/7 real-time scanning, helping protect your Mac device from malware, viruses, spyware, and ransomware. It also safeguards your data by blocking phishing attempts and malicious websites.

Intego also automatically scans all external drives and USB devices the moment they’re mounted, ensuring that any infected files and executables are quarantined, so they can’t get in contact with your operating system.

Pros

• Specifically designed for MacOS
• Provides a strong firewall for your Mac laptop
• Protects your system and your data
• Automatically scans external drives

Cons

• Not available for iPhone

Pricing

If you’re only interested in the antivirus, you can get an annual Mac Premium Bundle X9 licence for £58 for a single Mac.

Other products in Intego’s suite include the Mac Internet Security X9, Mac Washing Machine X9 (file cleaner), and ContentBarrier (parental controls), all of which are £32/year individually.

Best UK Antivirus Apps Compared

Here’s a quick comparison table of the best UK antivirus apps:

Why You Need An Antivirus in 2023

As technology evolves, so do cyber threats. Hackers and malicious individuals are always finding new ways to break through built-in defences on PCs, laptops, and mobile devices and are coding increasingly elusive malware that can cause serious damage to your device.

On top of that, online scams are running rampant. From phishing attempts where individuals pose as banks or other institutions to malicious links in emails and website banners, a single wrong click can mean you’re exposing your system and personal data.

Since the internet has become such an integral part of our lives, it only makes sense to stay protected while you’re browsing the web and downloading movies, TV shows, and games.

If you want to ensure that nobody can track your online activity, steal your personal and banking information, or infect your device with viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats, you absolutely need a reliable, strong antivirus solution.

Best Free Antivirus Software UK 

Without a doubt, the best free antivirus software for UK users is Avast. It offers superb online protection on the free plan, which is more than enough to protect an average internet user.

That said, if you’re constantly downloading files from the web, making online purchases, or visiting obscure websites, it’s best to upgrade the level of protection and opt for a premium antivirus like TotalAV.

Free antiviruses offer only a basic level of protection. To ensure complete online safety and security of your data, you want an antivirus that offers advanced security features like ad and tracker blocking, data breach monitoring, and a password vault.

TotalAV provides all this, plus a secure, high-speed VPN to ensure nobody can track your online activity, hack into your network, or see what websites you visit.

How We Ranked the Best UK Antiviruses

When comparing and ranking the best UK antivirus solutions, it’s only natural to look at the level of security each of the providers offers.

The ones that provide advanced security features on top of real-time threat protection, such as data breach monitoring and a VPN, rank higher on our list. Other criteria that contributed to our final decisions include:

• Reliability
• User feedback
• Customer support
• Resource utilisation
• Data breach monitoring
• Ad-blocking capabilities
• The value for money (price vs functionality)

The best antivirus solutions must excel in all of these areas without considerably slowing down your device or hogging your resources (CPU and RAM). After we compared the top 7 providers head-to-head, TotalAV came out on top as the clear winner.

How to Use An Antivirus

Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up an antivirus and running your first scan, using TotalAV as an example:

Step 1 — Get TotalAV

Visit the official TotaAV website and click/tap on the Protect Your PC Now button. Choose one of three available pricing plans and press BUY NOW.

Step 2 — Complete the Purchase

Check the box at the bottom of the screen to accept the Terms of Service. Press the Checkout With PayPal Now button to proceed. A new window will pop up. Enter your PayPal account information to log in and authorise the purchase.

Step 3 — Download and Install TotalAV

Download TotalAV from the official website and follow the simple installation instructions. Once the installation is complete, use the login credentials provided to you by the company via email.

Step 4 — Initiate Your First Virus Scan

From the dashboard, click Enable Protection to allow TotalAV to protect you against malware, viruses, and other cyber threats.

If you have reason to believe your device is already infected, start a Smart Scan to have the TotalAV antivirus scan the critical files and folders on your device. If it detects any issues, you can quarantine the threats and remove them from your system.

We also recommend running a full scan in this case. Otherwise, just leave TotalAV on, and you’ll be 100% protected while browsing the web, reading your emails, and downloading files from the internet.

UK Antivirus FAQs