Q: 🙅♂️ Can I just turn off my antivirus while my games are open?

You can, but hackers are expecting you to do this. Malware that can detect when you’re in full screen mode and hacked mods that deploy when you run a game are just a couple of the many dangers of gaming without an antivirus. The reality is, gamers are a huge target for cyber attacks because of their reputation for connecting to the internet without protection. When you have so many gaming-optimized antivirus options , there’s no reason why you should ever turn off your antivirus, even during intense gameplay.

Q: 💻 Are all gaming modes in antivirus software the same?

Yes, and no. Many of the top tier antivirus programs now include a “game mode” which will suspend notifications and scans while you’re in full screen mode. But then there are some — like BullGuard — which will boost your PC’s performance and your processing power will actually improve. Furthermore, customization options, ease of use, and the overall drag on performance are all unique to each program.

Question 1

🕹️ Will an antivirus affect my gaming?

Accepted Answer

Most of them will, yes. Pop-up notifications will jump on screen at bad moments, and virus scans are notorious for their high CPU load. If your antivirus starts scanning files while you’re gaming, it can cause noticeable lag and other performance glitches.

But the best antiviruses — like BullGuard and Norton — won’t affect gameplay at all.

Question 2

🙅‍♂️ Can I just turn off my antivirus while my games are open?

Accepted Answer

You can, but hackers are expecting you to do this. Malware that can detect when you’re in full screen mode and hacked mods that deploy when you run a game are just a couple of the many dangers of gaming without an antivirus.

The reality is, gamers are a huge target for cyber attacks because of their reputation for connecting to the internet without protection. When you have so many gaming-optimized antivirus options, there’s no reason why you should ever turn off your antivirus, even during intense gameplay.

Question 3

💻 Are all gaming modes in antivirus software the same?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and no. Many of the top tier antivirus programs now include a “game mode” which will suspend notifications and scans while you’re in full screen mode. But then there are some — like BullGuard — which will boost your PC’s performance and your processing power will actually improve.

Furthermore, customization options, ease of use, and the overall drag on performance are all unique to each program.

Question 4

🆓 Is there a free antivirus that offers a Game Mode?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, all the best antiviruses make you pay for their game modes. But if you’re a gamer on a budget and really need a good free antivirus, I would recommend Avira. It offers fast, high-performance anti-malware protection, even though you’d still need to sacrifice a fair amount of convenience to keep yourself protected.

Question 5

Are antivirus apps safe?

Accepted Answer

Android antivirus apps are not always safe, especially free ones.

Scanning for malware requires deep-level access to the most sensitive parts of your device. Malicious antivirus apps can easily compromise your privacy and security and steal your info.

I’ve thoroughly tested the 5 apps on my list. Each one comes from a brand with a strong reputation for creating excellent cybersecurity software. For example, my top free antivirus provider, Bitdefender, has over half a billion total users worldwide.

Question 6

Why does android need an antivirus?

Accepted Answer

Your Android device is a valuable possession that contains highly sensitive data. And when compared to other platform providers like iOS, Android is not a secure operating system.

In addition to visiting malicious websites, various Android apps can easily access all areas of your device. Even many of the apps available on the Google Play Store have been known to contain malware.

Question 7

Which Android devices will these apps work with?

Accepted Answer

All of the Android antivirus apps on this list will work with any Android smartphone or tablet running Android KitKat 4.4 (released in 2014) or above.

Question 8

What kind of features can you get with an android antivirus app?

Accepted Answer

In addition to detecting and removing malware, a free Android antivirus application can:

Keep your personal information private (I recommend Avira Antivirus for privacy protection).
Protect you from malicious websites (ESET Mobile Security provides a free anti-phishing tool).
Prevent loss or theft of your device (McAfee Mobile Security has some particularly effective anti-theft tools).
Ensure you’re connected to a secure Wi-Fi network (McAfee can also do this).

Most antivirus apps also offer additional paid premium features, and for every free app out there, there are dozens more premium apps. If you know that your phone contains sensitive info that you don’t want getting out, it’s always better to go with a low-cost premium option like Norton.

Question 9

🤔 Can Macs get viruses?

Accepted Answer

There’s a good reason why the myth that “Macs don’t get infected” continues. By design, the Mac operating system is less vulnerable to viruses than Windows.

Mac is based on the Unix operating system, which is sandboxed. This means that even if malware somehow ends up on your Mac, it won’t be able to spread. Also, the chances of malware infecting your device in the first place are slim. Apple’s built-in Gatekeeper function stops you from downloading apps that haven’t been approved by Apple.

But that doesn’t mean you’re immune from problems just because you’re on a Mac. There are all kinds of other serious threats that you need to be protected from, like malware, ransomware, spyware, adware, and phishing attacks. As more and more people use Mac computers, more and more hackers develop new ways of attacking those Mac computers — leaving you vulnerable to cybercrime.

Find yourself a Mac antivirus that fits your specific needs.

Question 10

💪 Are free antiviruses for Mac good enough?

Accepted Answer

It depends what you mean by “enough”. If you want basic protection against the most common threats, then yes. All of the 5 products listed here will protect you from viruses and malware. But they won’t necessarily protect you from other threats like ransomware, spyware, and adware.

If you’re looking for serious protection, you will need to upgrade to a paid product. And this is exactly the trick antivirus companies are using. They offer a very basic free antivirus that’s only giving you simple protection. When you realize you need something more powerful, you already have their product installed on your computer, so you think “I’ll just upgrade to the full version”. By that time, you no longer want to do research and compare brands to find the best product. Instead, you just upgrade whatever free antivirus you already have installed.

I think you shouldn’t make this mistake. If you care about your files, your emails, and your privacy, you should check out the complete list of the best antiviruses for Mac and select the best product for you, even if they don’t offer a free version to upgrade from.

Question 11

🤷 Can I just use a free online virus scanner and not download anything?

Accepted Answer

You can, but you shouldn’t. Most of these online programs which offer free virus scans scare you into thinking your computer has malware — even though it doesn’t — and then force you to download their product to “remove” it.

It’s better to download a reputable antivirus program from the beginning so you don’t accidentally infect your computer with spyware or ransomware from an online virus scanner.

Question 12

🧐 Why do these companies offer free antiviruses?

Accepted Answer

It depends. Many companies like to give you a taste of their premium product so that you’ll realize how valuable their product is and ultimately subscribe to their paid plan. Some companies will even offer free trials of their premium plan so that you can get a sense of what “full protection” looks and feels like, and then they’ll make you pay the upgrade cost to keep your system secure.

There are also companies who realize that cybersecurity is important, and they want to give each person the ability to stay protected in order to guarantee their online safety. All of the companies on our list are committed to protecting each one of its users, regardless of whether or not they’re a paying customer.

Question 13

🛡️ Which Mac operating systems (OS) do these antiviruses protect?

Accepted Answer

In general, most antivirus products will be available for OS X 10.10 and later. There are certain instances where newer Macs and operating systems benefit from better service. For instance, my top free antivirus for Mac, Avira, is only available for OS X 10.13 and later.

As a rule, it’s always a security issue to not have the latest OS running on your computer. One reason Mac offers updates is because there are vulnerabilities that hackers can break into on older, outdated operating systems. Make sure your computer has an updated OS, and make sure your antivirus is compatible with your system.

Always check with the antivirus company before downloading to guarantee that the software will work as intended.

Question 14

🤔 Does having a VPN replace an antivirus?

Accepted Answer

No! A VPN and an antivirus are not the same thing. An antivirus protects your device by finding, analyzing, and destroying potentially harmful data, preventing malware from opening on your computer, and blocking outside users from operating your keyboard and screen. A VPN hides your IP address to allow for private browsing — but you can still be exposed to viruses without an antivirus program.

Question 15

💻 Does an antivirus work with a VPN?

Accepted Answer

Yes! A VPN does not compromise the functionality of your antivirus program, whether it is offered as part of the package or bought as a separate service. If anything, it guarantees extra protection for your device and identity online. All of the antiviruses on this list offer an included VPN.

Question 16

🛡️ Can VPN providers be trusted?

Accepted Answer

While a VPN shields your browsing from third-parties, your history can be logged by some VPN providers. All the same privacy risks of browsing without a VPN come into play with VPNs that log your history — your data can be sold, lost, and otherwise misused. This is why a no-logs policy is a useful part of any VPN service. You should only be using products from well-known, reputable companies — Norton 360 is my top choice and can 100% be trusted.

Question 17

📱 Can a VPN be used on multiple devices?

Accepted Answer

It depends on which antivirus package you get. Avira Prime is my top choice for most people looking to protect multiple devices with a single antivirus/VPN package. But if you want to protect your family online, I recommend Panda Dome because of its flexible subscription options and parental controls. Norton 360 also offers some of the best parental controls on the market.

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