The best antivirus software to protect your computer in 2026

This ZDNET-style 2026 buyer’s guide evaluates and compares consumer and business antivirus solutions—covering product features, pricing, platform support, performance, and extras (VPNs, password managers, dark web monitoring)—and discusses broader trends like AI-driven threats and ransomware; it provides recommendations for different user types but does not report a specific cybersecurity incident, malware sample analysis, or indicators of compromise.