Performance Matters Almost as Much as Protection

A bloated antivirus can cost you more time in slowdowns than most malware infections would. We measure boot time, file-copy speed, and app-launch delay for every product in our rating.

What we measured

Across this year's test cycle, the gap between the lightest and heaviest suites was larger than we expected — some products added measurable seconds to everyday tasks.

What to do about it

If you're on older hardware, check our lightweight antivirus roundup before buying.