
Updated on: May 1, 2023
Short on time? Here’s the best antivirus for Chromebook:
- 🥇Norton Mobile Security: Powerful anti-malware protection, advanced Wi-Fi security, anti-phishing protection, and more. Norton doesn’t officially support Chrome OS, but its Android app works on Chromebook (tested & confirmed 2023).
Chromebooks have excellent built-in security features that can prevent viruses and malware. For example, ChromeOS, the Chromebook operating system, keeps users safe with a variety of tools, including sandboxing, limited user permissions, proprietary file formats, and verified boot.
However, Chromebooks are not completely secure. Even on ChromeOS, cybercriminals can compromise your personal information using a variety of methods, including fake Chrome extensions or Android apps, data-stealing phishing sites, website trackers, unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, and more.
The best way to counter these threats is by using a good internet security app. These programs protect users with tools like app scanners, anti-phishing protections, network monitors, and additional security features like parental controls, virtual private networks (VPNs), data breach monitoring, and more.
Android apps are actually the best antivirus apps for Chromebook. ChromeOS and Android are both built on the same Linux code base, so many Android security apps work perfectly with Chromebooks. However, a lot of Android apps are buggy on ChromeOS, so you have to be careful about which app you choose.
I found that Norton is the best choice to keep your Chromebook safe in 2023. However, I’ve tested dozens of other antiviruses and included some other apps that worked perfectly with my Pixelbook Go, which is running a fully updated version of ChromeOS.
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for Chromebook:
- 1.🥇 Norton — #1 Chromebook antivirus app in 2023.
- 2.🥈 Bitdefender — Excellent security features (all work on Chromebook) and a fast VPN.
- 3.🥉 TotalAV — Easy to use for new Chromebook users, good web shield, and great VPN.
- 4. Avira — Good free antivirus protection plan for Chromebooks.
- 5. Trend Micro — Decent antivirus with a dedicated Chromebook app.
- Bonus. Malwarebytes — Minimalistic antivirus designed for ChromeOS (with a decent VPN).
- Comparison of the Best Antiviruses for Chromebook.
🥇1. Norton Mobile Security — Best Overall Internet Security Suite for Chromebooks

Norton Mobile Security is my favorite antivirus for Chromebook — it provides an excellent array of helpful security tools, and it’s really easy to use. Even though it’s originally an Android app, all of Norton Mobile Security’s features worked perfectly on my Chromebook during testing.
Norton Mobile Security comes with:
- App advisor.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Wi-Fi monitoring.
- Security overview.
The app advisor analyzes apps and extensions for suspicious behavior. It does this before you download them, helping you avoid apps that contain adware and malware or that may otherwise pose a privacy risk. During my testing, Norton flagged several sketchy apps in the Google Play Store, including an ad blocker that was trying to track my location and a photo editing app with hidden subscription fees.
Norton’s anti-phishing protection also worked really well, blocking unsafe phishing sites that Chrome’s built-in protections failed to detect. Another thing I really like about Norton is its Wi-Fi monitoring, which alerts you if you try to connect to an unsecure network.
I found Norton’s Report Card and Privacy Report features very handy as well. They give you clear and actionable information about which apps on your device may present a privacy risk and suggest how to fix the issue.
Norton Secure VPN is pretty good, too. It’s available as a separate purchase or part of the Norton 360 Deluxe package. It includes great privacy protections like a no-logs policy, split-tunneling, and an ad-blocker, plus it provides fast connection speeds (and it can connect to Netflix). However, it doesn’t allow torrenting on all servers, doesn’t work with Disney+ or Hulu, and it’s not quite as fast as top VPNs like ExpressVPN.
Norton Mobile Security ($14.99 / year) is available for individual downloads, but it’s a much better deal as part of the Norton 360 Deluxe package. Norton 360 Deluxe costs $49.99 / year, provides coverage for up to 5 desktop computers and mobile devices, and has tons more features, including the VPN, a password manager, cloud storage, parental controls, identity theft protection (not available in all countries), and a lot more. Norton backs all annual plans with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Norton Mobile Security provides excellent protection for Chromebooks. In my testing, Norton was able to flag unsafe or suspicious apps in the Google Play Store more accurately than any other antivirus. Its web shield is also a major improvement over Chrome’s built-in protections. If you have multiple devices, you should get it as part of the Norton 360 Deluxe plan, which includes coverage on 5 devices, provides more features, and offers a better overall value. There’s a 60-day money-back guarantee on all of Norton’s annual plans
🥈2. Bitdefender Mobile Security — Best for Antivirus + VPN Protection on Chromebook

Bitdefender Mobile Security has excellent security features and the fastest VPN on this list. In my testing, Bitdefender’s app scanner accurately detected and removed several suspicious apps, and its Autopilot feature correctly identified unsafe security settings and permissions on my Chromebook. There is a limitation, though: being an Android app, Bitdefender will only scan other Android apps on your Chromebook.
In addition to a good app scanner and Autopilot, Bitdefender also has:
- Anti-phishing protection.
- VPN.
- App locker.
- Anti-theft protection.
- Data breach monitoring.
Bitdefender’s anti-phishing protection detected phishing sites just as accurately as Norton, catching suspicious sites that browsers like Chrome and Firefox failed to flag in my testing.
I really like Bitdefender’s VPN, too — it’s one of its best features. During my speed tests, I had blazing-fast speeds for browsing, torrenting, and streaming HD video from nearby and even distant servers. However, the free version of the VPN that comes with Mobile Security only offers a meager 200 MB of daily data and automatically selects the closest server to you — so upgrading to the premium one is a good idea if you need a reliable VPN. Alternatively, you can get unlimited VPN data if you upgrade to Premium Security. It brings you access to 30 server locations around the world (but it doesn’t work with popular streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime).
Bitdefender also comes with good anti-theft features and data breach scanning — and both of these features worked seamlessly on my Chromebook during testing. However, Bitdefender’s app advisor can’t flag unsafe apps in the Google Play Store (unlike Norton), and Bitdefender’s interface is not as intuitive as Norton’s.
You can buy the Mobile Security app separately or as part of a bundle. Getting it as part of the Total Security ($35.99 / year) or Premium Security ($35.99 / year) plan provides multiple device coverage, also allowing you to protect Windows, macOS, and iOS devices. It also gives you access to more features, including Bitdefender’s excellent parental controls. A 30-day free trial of both Premium Security and Total Security is available for users who want to try before they buy. Bitdefender also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions.
Bottom Line:
Bitdefender’s excellent Android app works exceptionally well on ChromeOS. It also provides a ton of great internet security features for Chromebook users. Its malware scanner scored 100% in my device scanning and real-time protection testing, and its Autopilot feature is great for fixing unsafe device settings. I also really like Bitdefender’s VPN, but the version that comes with Mobile Security only provides 200 MB of daily data usage — you get unlimited data by upgrading to the Premium Security plan. Bitdefender comes with a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Bitdefender review
🥉3. TotalAV Total Antivirus & VPN — Best for Ease of Use on Chromebooks

TotalAV Total Antivirus & VPN provides good security for Chromebooks in an intuitive interface. This Android app works well on ChromeOS, mostly running smoothly in the background. I particularly like TotalAV’s dark color scheme, and its streamlined design makes it very easy to find and access all of its features, including:
- App monitor.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Secure browser.
- VPN.
- App locker.
- Data breach monitoring.
The real-time app monitor helps protect you from malicious apps and extensions, including deceptive apps that wait until after installation to change their behavior and compromise your security. In my testing, TotalAV gave me instant notifications about unsafe browser extensions in Chrome as well as about unsafe data-harvesting apps from Google Play. Also, TotalAV’s anti-phishing protection was able to detect an impressive number of phishing sites.
TotalAV’s VPN is my favorite antivirus-bundled VPN — it includes excellent security features, very fast speeds (but not as fast as Bitdefender), allows unlimited data, supports P2P traffic, and is able to access streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, and more.
Unfortunately, TotalAV doesn’t come with the comprehensive identity protections of Norton, and I wish it provided an Autopilot feature like Bitdefender. But TotalAV still provides excellent protection against Chromebook security threats like phishing attacks, unsafe apps, malicious web trackers, and even public data breaches.
All 3 of TotalAV’s plans include the Android app and work with Chromebook. TotalAV Antivirus Pro is the cheapest plan — it costs $19.00 / year and covers up to 3 devices, but it doesn’t include the VPN. The Internet Security plan is priced at $39.00 / year and offers the best value — you get coverage for 5 devices and the VPN with no limitations. The TotalAV Total Security plan covers 6 devices and adds an ad blocker and a password vault for $49.00 / year. TotalAV backs each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
TotalAV provides good security for Chromebooks in a really easy-to-use interface. I like its real-time app monitor, and its anti-phishing protection is much better than Chrome’s built-in protection. TotalAV also comes with an app locker, secure browser, and data breach monitoring. I’m also a huge fan of TotalAV’s VPN, which allows unlimited data, is very secure, very fast, works with all of the popular streaming services, and supports torrenting. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of TotalAV’s plans.
4. Avira Antivirus Security for Android — Best Free Antivirus for Chromebooks

Avira Antivirus Security for Android is a good free security solution for Chromebooks. It works well enough with ChromeOS, although I did experience some occasional bugs in my testing — sometimes Avira froze during a scan, or the interface wouldn’t register my clicks. I was easily able to get Avira working again by closing and re-opening the app window, but I wish that Avira’s Android app worked as smoothly on ChromeOS as Norton and Bitdefender.
That said, Avira provides an impressive array of helpful features, including:
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Anti-theft protection.
- App privacy advisor.
- VPN (100 MB daily limit).
- App lock.
- Wi-Fi scanner.
- Device optimizer.
- Phone locator.
Avira’s privacy advisor highlights apps that request access to sensitive information. It analyzed all of the apps on my Chromebook and helped me fix hidden privacy settings that were leaking my personal information, including my contacts, images, and browsing data. While this isn’t as useful as Norton’s real-time app scanner, it’s still a helpful way to improve privacy on your Chromebook.
I also like Avira’s device optimizer, which boosts your device’s performance in two ways: it scans and frees up memory by shutting down unnecessary background processes, and it cleans junk and duplicate files and clears your cache.
Avira is a great free antivirus, but it lacks the advanced features of Norton, TotalAV, and Bitdefender. For example, you need to upgrade to Avira’s paid plan if you want a VPN with unlimited browsing data. You can get Avira’s premium app with the Avira Prime package and cover 5 devices for $59.99 / year, including Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS devices. You can also cover up to 25 devices for a small price increase.
Bottom Line:
Avira provides a ton of good security and privacy features for free. The privacy advisor flags a lot of suspicious app activity, and I like its device optimizer, which can help you quickly get rid of junk files on your Chromebook. Upgrading to Avira’s paid plan (Avira Prime) is a good option for users looking for a VPN with unlimited data, and there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee on all of Avira’s yearly paid plans.
5. Trend Micro Maximum Security — Dedicated Chromebook App

Trend Micro Maximum Security is a decent antivirus program for Chromebooks. It has a dedicated Chromebook app, which means it can also scan non-Android apps. In addition to the ability to detect malicious apps and extensions, Trend Micro includes the following features:
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Privacy scanner.
- Pay Guard.
- Parental controls.
- Password manager.
I like Trend Micro’s Pay Guard feature, which opens a secure version of your browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) whenever you visit a banking or shopping website and helps to protect your financial and personal information.
Its privacy scanner also helped me identify potential privacy concerns on my social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn — such as who can see my email address and phone number — and allowed me to fix the issues easily. That said, I wish it could scan my apps for problematic privacy settings as well, like Norton can.
However, Trend Micro’s other additional features are unimpressive. Its password manager and VPN are fairly limited, falling short of the best standalone password managers and best third-party VPNs. Its parental controls are also pretty basic and proved inconsistent at filtering out problematic content (Bitdefender’s parental controls are much better, but you can also check out one of our top parental control apps instead).
Trend Micro’s Maximum Security plan covers up to 5 devices. In addition to your Chromebook, you can use it to protect your Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS devices for just $49.95 / year. This plan, however, lacks a VPN or data breach monitoring. If you want those features, you’ll have to upgrade to Premium Security Suite, which covers up to 10 devices for $59.95 / year. All of Trend Micro’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Trend Micro is one of the few antiviruses on the market with a dedicated Chromebook app. In addition to defending your device from malicious apps and phishing websites, it comes with numerous extra features. Its Pay Guard feature provides an additional layer of security for sensitive financial information, and its privacy scanner helps you fix privacy settings on social media accounts that may be leaking personal information. Upgrading to Trend Micro’s Premium Security Suite gives you access to a VPN and dark web monitoring. Trend Micro offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions.
Read the full Trend Micro review
Bonus. Malwarebytes for Chromebook — Best Minimal Antivirus App for Chromebooks

Malwarebytes isn’t as full-featured as the other Chromebook antiviruses I recommend, but it’s one of the few antivirus apps with an interface designed specifically for ChromeOS. After testing out so many Android apps that only occupy the very middle of my Chromebook’s screen, I really appreciate that Malwarebytes occupies the whole screen with its clean, intuitive interface.
Malwarebytes provides a few well-designed security tools for Chromebooks, including:
- App scanner.
- Privacy scanner.
- Anti-phishing protection.
- Ad blocker.
Malwarebytes detected the majority of the unsafe apps on my test Chromebook, but it wasn’t quite as successful as Norton or Bitdefender which both blocked even more suspicious apps. That being said, I really like Malwarebytes’s privacy scanner, which was able to flag apps with a lot of privacy permissions — and it also displayed which apps were able to track my location, monitor my on-screen activity, and share my data in an easy-to-read privacy report.
I was also impressed with Malwarebytes’s free Browser Guard extension — it blocked the vast majority of phishing sites in my testing, but not as many as Norton and Bitdefender.
Malwarebytes is very minimal: it doesn’t have parental controls, a password manager, data breach monitoring, or anti-theft tools like the other apps on my list, but it’s a dependable antivirus app for Chromebooks that you can get for free. If you want advanced antivirus and anti-malware protection, consider buying the Premium plan, which covers 1 or 5 devices and starts from $44.99 / year. Upgrading to the Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy VPN plan, which costs $99.99 / year, adds a decent VPN.
Bottom Line:
Malwarebytes for Chromebook is a minimal antivirus app designed for ChromeOS. It does have an app scanner, but it wasn’t as good as Norton‘s and Bitdefender’s scanner during my testing. However, Malwarebytes has a great privacy scanner that lists all of the app permissions on your Chromebook in one easy-to-read location, and its anti-phishing protection is really good, too. Malwarebytes for Chromebook is free, while the Premium and Premium + Privacy plans offer advanced protection and additional features. Malwarebytes backs all of its plans with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Malwarebytes review
Comparison of the Best Antiviruses for Chromebook
How to Choose the Best Antivirus for Chromebook
- Ensure your pick offers Chromebook compatibility. The best antivirus apps for Chromebook are actually Android apps. However, there are also many Android apps (especially antivirus apps) that don’t work well with ChromeOS. I tested every app on this list and confirmed that each one works properly with Chromebooks, whether they’re Android apps or designed specifically for Chromebook.
- Search for an antivirus with solid protection. Look for apps that provide app scanning tools (Norton scans apps before you install them) to block malicious apps, web protections to block unsafe phishing sites, Wi-Fi monitoring tools to block unprotected networks, and privacy monitors to make sure your apps aren’t harvesting your personal data.
- Look at the extra features offered. If you want to enhance your privacy online and access streaming sites, look for an app with a fast VPN like TotalAV. Norton’s 360 Deluxe package includes an identity theft protection service for US users that is very impressive, while some apps like Bitdefender can scan your device settings and notify you of any security risks.
- Choose an option that’s easy to use. Look for apps that have easy-to-navigate interfaces with plenty of customization options. For example, Malwarebytes makes it easy to scan your apps, look at the app permissions and privacy settings on your device, and see previous scan logs so you can analyze security trends on your device.
- Check the price. There are some free apps on my list, but for the most part I recommend purchasing a reasonably-priced antivirus that supports Chromebook. All of the antiviruses on this list offer an affordable annual subscription, and each purchase is backed by either a free trial or a money-back guarantee (my top choice, Norton, offers a generous 60-day money-back guarantee).
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut:
- McAfee. McAfee’s Android security app is one of my favorites, but unfortunately, it was really buggy during my Chromebook testing. The app scanner wasn’t able to provide ratings for some apps, and the anti-theft features just didn’t work on my Chromebook.
- Webroot. Webroot’s low-impact cloud-based scanner is a great lightweight solution, but there are better options for users looking for a no-frills antivirus. Webroot is a bit more expensive and it doesn’t provide the high-quality privacy monitor or anti-phishing protections of Malwarebytes.
- Panda Dome. Panda’s Android antivirus app is pretty decent. Its real-time protection blocked every malicious app I tried to download. However, its anti-phishing protections are very lacking, which is a serious concern as phishing attacks are one of the main ways that Chromebooks are attacked.
Are Chromebooks Protected From Viruses?
Chromebooks are partially shielded from viruses by built-in security measures. The most fundamental protection is this: ChromeOS can’t execute Windows-based .exe files, which are the most common file types used by hackers. Chromebooks are severely limited in terms of the file types they can execute, ensuring that most malware files simply can’t infect ChromeOS. But that’s not all.
User permissions are very limited on ChromeOS, too. Windows users are given administrator privileges, which allow programs to access system files and basic processes — but these access privileges can be exploited by malware apps to infect your system and deceive your operating system. ChromeOS doesn’t give users (or potential malware files) this level of access.
Besides these passive protections, Chromebooks also protect users with:
- Sandboxing — Runs every file and browser window in an isolated environment to prevent unsafe processes from spreading.
- Verified boot — Resets the OS to default settings every time you boot your Chromebook.
- Recovery mode — Manually restores the OS to its default settings in case of an infection that isn’t erased by verified boot.
- Automatic updates — Automatically installs the latest security patches, closing any vulnerabilities before hackers have a chance to exploit them.
But ChromeOS users can still get hacked in a variety of other ways, such as:
- Phishing attacks — Fake emails, websites, text messages, and DMs that trick users into sharing personal information, login details, and financial information.
- Browser hijackers — Deceptive browser extensions that steal user data and re-route search engines to unsafe sites.
- Fleeceware — Apps that use deceptive language and marketing to severely overcharge users (especially kids). One fleeceware palm reading app (with over 10,000 downloads from Google Play) charged users $50 a week!
- Spyware apps — Apps that ask for a ton of user device permissions in order to monitor and share user data with hackers.
- Spoofing — Attacks that use fake network protocols to steal user data. This occurs when a user logs onto an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection.
To sum up: you need a good antivirus to protect your Chromebook in 2023.
Tips for Protecting Your Chromebook
Chromebooks automatically acquire new software updates, so just connecting to the internet will protect your Chromebook from the latest exploit attacks and software vulnerabilities. But while Google will automatically keep your ChromeOS up to date, there are still a few things you should do yourself to protect your Chromebook, such as:
1. Use Safety Check to Make Sure Chrome Is Protected
Chrome’s Safety Check feature is an excellent first step to ensure your browser extensions, logins, and future browsing are as safe as possible.
In Chrome, click on the “3 dots” symbol in the top right corner, and select Settings > Privacy and Security. Then, select the Safety Check option, which gives you an overview of your phishing protection, extensions, and history of breached information. If any of your extensions are flagged by Chrome, you should remove them immediately. And if any of your passwords have been breached, you should also change them immediately. The best way to create strong passwords and keep them safe is with a quality password manager like 1Password.
You should also select the Safe Browsing option in Chrome, which filters out suspicious websites — I recommend that you use Standard Protection, because Enhanced Protection is sometimes too vigilant (in my experience, Google often mistakenly flags safe extensions and websites when Enhanced Protection is on).
2. Secure Your Google Account With 2FA
Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides double protection, as it requires you to provide both your password and a second piece of verification to log into an account. This means your account remains secure even if your password is breached.
In your Google Account, select Security, look under Signing into Google, and choose 2-Step Verification. This will walk you through the steps to have temporary one-time passcodes (TOTPs) sent to your secure authenticator app. Once set up, the authenticator app will generate a new one-time passcode every 30 seconds — you’ll now need the correct TOTP and your password to log into your Chromebook.
Logging in with 2FA can be kind of tedious, but password managers like 1Password provide built-in TOTP authenticators that can generate and auto-fill your one-time passcodes quickly and securely.
3. Keep in Mind That Older Chromebooks Can Be Vulnerable
Chromebooks can’t run the latest versions of ChromeOS after about 5 years (don’t worry, though, as your Chromebook will notify you when this occurs). This is due to hardware limitations. While your device may still have plenty of life left in it after 5 years, without regular updates and security fixes, it will become more vulnerable to cyberattacks each day. Your best option is to upgrade to a new device if the latest version of Chrome can’t support your device.
4. Use a High-Quality Antivirus Suite
A good antivirus app provides protection at the device and browser levels, including tools that ChromeOS doesn’t provide. The antiviruses on my list catch unsafe apps that get past Google Play’s protections and detect unsafe websites more accurately than Chrome’s built-in protections.
What’s more, good antivirus apps offer various additional features, such as:
- VPN. Encrypts your online activities (browsing, torrenting, and streaming) and helps prevent web trackers, your internet service provider (ISP), and hackers from monitoring your online activity. Here are some of the best antivirus-bundled VPNs in 2023.
- Parental controls. Helps parents limit and monitor screen time (and filter out adult content). Here are some of the best antiviruses with parental control apps in 2023.
- Password manager. Generates secure passwords, stores all of your passwords in an encrypted vault, and conveniently auto-fills logins with a single click. Here are some of the best antiviruses with password managers in 2023.
- Data breach monitors and identity theft shields. Give you notifications if your information is leaked in a data breach or if any of your information shows up in a credit report.
5. Avoid Downloading Apps for Your Chromebook From Third-Party App Stores
A quick Google search will yield dozens of sketchy app stores, supposedly offering high-quality free versions of apps that normally cost money in the Google Play Store. When it comes to free apps on the internet, always keep in mind that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. These pirated apps are buggy at best, and at worst, will likely harvest your data, hijack your browser, and give hackers access to your sensitive online accounts.
6. Don’t Enable Developer Mode
Developer Mode should always be disabled unless you’re an experienced user. When you enable Developer Mode, it allows potential hackers to make changes to your Chromebook’s system, essentially negating all of Chrome’s built-in security protections. If an app asks you to enable Developer Mode before installing it, make sure to confirm 100% that it’s coming from a trustworthy source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Chromebooks need an antivirus?
Yes — while ChromeOS has some built-in security features, it’s not 100% safe. ChromeOS users remain vulnerable to:
- Fake Chrome extensions.
- Scam Android apps.
- Data-stealing phishing sites.
- Website trackers.
- Unsecured public Wi-Fi.
- Data breaches.
Today’s best antivirus apps for Chromebooks (Norton is my favorite) can protect you and your family from all the latest cyber threats in 2023. They analyze your apps for permission abuse and data theft, block unsafe websites, protect your browsing data with secure VPNs, and provide anti-theft features, data breach monitoring, and parental controls.
What’s the best antivirus for Chromebooks?
Norton Mobile Security is the best antivirus for Chromebooks. Even though it’s an Android security app, during my testing, all of Norton’s security features (app advisor, anti-phishing protection, Wi-Fi monitoring, and identity theft protection) were 100% compatible with my test Chromebook and worked exceptionally well.
Other really good competing options out there include Bitdefender (provides good app scanning, excellent web protections, and a super-fast VPN), TotalAV (provides good security tools with an intuitive interface), Avira (provides most of the essential Chromebook security features with its free app), Trend Micro, and Malwarebytes (both offer apps that are designed exclusively for ChromeOS).
Is there a free Chromebook antivirus?
Yes, Avira’s free antivirus is especially well-suited for Chromebooks. It provides a good app scanner, privacy monitor, data breach monitoring, and even a decent VPN (but with only a 100 MB daily browsing limit), all of which are helpful supplements to ChromeOS’s built-in protections. However, paid apps provide many more useful features. Upgrading to Avira Prime (Avira’s paid app), for example, gets you an excellent password manager, anti-phishing protections, device cleanup, and a VPN with unlimited data.
Do Chromebooks need a VPN?
Yes, a VPN protects Chromebooks from leaking user data online (personal information like your name, address, and even banking information). All of the antivirus programs on my list also include a VPN, with TotalAV being my favorite antivirus-bundled VPN in 2023 — it’s fast, secure, works with many streaming services (including Netflix), and has unlimited data.
Can you get viruses on a Chromebook?
No, but they can be infected with other types of malware. Chromebooks use a variety of system protections, like sandboxing, verified boot, and automatic updates, which make it impossible for viruses, worms, and trojans to spread on ChromeOS. However, these limitations also mean that Chromebooks can’t run a lot of the software and file types that Windows and macOS can.
While Chromebooks can’t get viruses, they can be infected with malware apps, and malicious browser extensions can steal your data and hack your online accounts through Chrome. That’s why I recommend that most users download a secure antivirus app like Norton to keep their devices and online data safe from the latest internet security threats in 2023.
Can a Chromebook get hacked?
Yes — and it’s not as uncommon as you may think. Chromebooks are synced up to your Google account, and Google account users have their passwords breached every day. Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs, and dozens of other sites rely on your Google account to log you in. If your information is stolen in a phishing attack or a data breach (or if you use a weak password that is cracked by a hacker), then hackers can easily access your files, your Chromebook, and all of the accounts in your Google ecosystem.
Chromebooks can also be hacked by malicious apps — Google Play hosts millions of apps, and some of them are tricky spyware apps that get past Google’s algorithmic protections. These apps can steal your data, monitor your browsing, severely overcharge you, or heavily slow down your Chromebook.
The best way to avoid getting hacked on a Chromebook is to use a secure antivirus. Norton, my favorite Chromebook antivirus in 2023, has an app scanner, data breach monitoring tools, and a password manager to keep your apps, personal information, and logins as secure as possible.
How do I protect my Chromebook from malware?
A trustworthy antivirus app is the best tool for protecting your Chromebook in 2023. My favorite antivirus is Norton: it flagged 100% of the unsafe malware apps in my testing, and it also provided better anti-phishing protections than Chrome.
In addition to using an antivirus app, there are a lot of small things you can do to protect your Chromebook, like using 2FA to log into your Google account and avoiding sketchy apps.
What to do if your Chromebook gets malware?
If you think your Chromebook has been infected by malware, you should:
- Restart your Chromebook.
- Restart your Chromebook in Recovery Mode.
- Scan your apps using a secure antivirus app.
- Remove any unknown browser extensions from Chrome and check your security settings.
Restarting a Chromebook will usually wipe out any changes that an unsafe file could have made on your device — if not, then restarting in Recovery Mode should work (the steps to restart in Recovery Mode are different depending on what kind of Chromebook you have). However, if restarting your device fails to get your Chromebook running properly, you need to get a secure antivirus app.
You can also try looking for sketchy-looking browser extensions in Chrome. Browser extensions are frequently responsible for any issues you’re having while connecting to the internet with your Chromebook. To do this, click the “3 dots” symbol in Chrome, click Extensions, and remove any browser extensions that you don’t recognize.
How to install an antivirus on Chromebook?
- Pick an antivirus for Chromebook. Norton is my favorite Chromebook antivirus in 2023, as it comes with an app advisor, anti-phishing protection, Wi-Fi monitoring, a VPN, parental controls, and more.
- Purchase the antivirus through its website. I recommend buying one of these apps through their official websites because they offer discounts and deals on their web stores that aren’t available from the Google Play Store.
- Download and install your chosen antivirus app. Once you’ve bought the antivirus, find that app in the Google Play Store app on your Chromebook, download the app, and follow the install instructions. Then, restart your Chromebook and sign into your new antivirus. That’s it — your Chromebook is now protected from all types of malware and internet security threats!
Does Chromebook have a built-in antivirus?
No — but that’s because it doesn’t need it. Chromebooks have excellent built-in security protections that make it nearly impossible for ChromeOS to get infected with a virus.
However, Chromebook security isn’t perfect. It doesn’t have features like app scanning, Wi-Fi network monitoring, a VPN, and app privacy monitoring to block malicious apps and intrusive online trackers. If you want to keep your Chromebook as secure as possible, you need to download a standalone internet security app like Norton.