The best antivirus software for keeping PCs and Macs protected

It’s important to have a great antivirus software package that can protect your PC from threats while you browse online. Viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats are all potential dangers when you’re online, even if you think you’re being careful. New threats are emerging every day, which is why many antivirus software manufacturers take a holistic approach, protecting your system from all kinds of potential threats, not just the obvious ones.

There are plenty of options out there so it’s important to find the right one for you. While free apps are available, they typically offer fewer features. Generally, you get what you pay for, so it’s important to purchase the right paid antivirus software.

A dangerous virus or piece of ransomware can lock you out of your system. You could lose banking details, private documents, and personal photos that can never be recovered. Fortunately, if you install the right paid antivirus software, you won’t have to worry. 

There are a lot of options out there, but we’ve picked out nine packages that are the best around. Here’s our pick for the best antivirus solutions:

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’ve updated this story to remove Kaspersky, following plans for the US government to ban the software. Mashable will continue to monitor the situation, and update this story with any new developments.