Antivirus, Internet Security

Top 5 Antivirus Programs for 2018

2017 was a critical year regarding digital security. News outlets reported many security breaches on important websites and applications used…

2017 was a critical year regarding digital security. News outlets reported many security breaches on important websites and applications used by people all around the world, such as the Equifax breach, as well as new and increasingly more dangerous virus and threats targeting personal users and businesses, that aim to steal important information from their systems.
One important component in order to stay protected while using your devices and browsing the internet is a good and efficient antivirus program. Stay protected during 2018 with this list of the top five antivirus programs for you!

Avast Antivirus

Avast is a lightweight but powerful antivirus available for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, and with a special edition for businesses. The basic antivirus, with an easy-to-use interface, offers protection from offline and online threats, malware, ransomware and spyware, and is free for personal users. Avast also offers a paid package, Avast Ultimate, that includes more efficient protection, as well as a VPN, a password manager and a cleanup utility, providing a more complete security suite.

AVG 2018

AVG 2018 is a free antivirus for Windows 10 and Mac, with a special version for mobile devices, that can protect your device from virus, spyware and information theft. This program does not slow down your device, thanks to its minimal resource consumption, and has a special component for internet content analysis. AVG also offers a premium program, AVG Internet Security, with a wider array of tools to protect your information, e-mail and online payments and transactions.

Kaspersky Antivirus

Kaspersky Lab, the group behind the Kaspersky Antivirus, is one of today’s highly rated digital security experts. Their security suite comes in several components: an Antivirus program, an Internet Security module and a more complete, Total Security tool. All of their programs have versions for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, and are easy to use, providing an unbeatable protection for your devices with a minimal impact on its performance.

Norton Security Deluxe

Norton Security Deluxe is Norton’s premium antivirus for PCs, Macs and mobile devices. This security suite, presented as an evolution of the company’s previous antivirus, protects each device from virus, spyware and other malicious threats, as well as your online identity. The subscription to this security tool also comes with a firewall and 24/7 customer support from security experts that can help you remove any virus from your devices.

Sophos

Sophos might not be as well known as the other antivirus programs listed above, but is another powerful solution for digital and internet security. Sophos Home, the version for personal use, is free and comes with advanced digital protection, with an easy installation process and even easier user interface. It also comes with tools for controlling online traffic and website access, If you’re looking for a security tool aimed on businesses, Sophos also offers three premium tools for firewall control, real-time protection and end-point security that can be installed as standalone products or all together as a complete security suite.

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Antivirus

Moonlock review: We put MacPaw’s new antivirus suite to work

Macworld At a glanceExpert’s Rating Pros Excellent viral and malware protection and detection Good purchase options Access to learning tools and YouTube links Cons Security Advisor module lacks functionality Menus don’t offer enough clarity sScan scheduler only allowing for 15-minute increments VPN auto-connects to the closest server Our Verdict Moonlock isn’t perfect…

Macworld

At a glanceExpert’s Rating

Pros

Excellent viral and malware protection and detection

Good purchase options

Access to learning tools and YouTube links

Cons

Security Advisor module lacks functionality

Menus don’t offer enough clarity

sScan scheduler only allowing for 15-minute increments

VPN auto-connects to the closest server

Our Verdict
Moonlock isn’t perfect…
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Antivirus

Avast Free Antivirus for Mac review: Basic protection, for free

Macworld At a glanceExpert’s Rating Pros Easy installation and setup Solid customization options such as whitelists, exceptions, and scheduled scans Handy network tools like Traffic Monitor and Network Inspector Cons Steady stream of ads, upgrade prompts, and assorted locked features The Web Guard module failed to catch obvious scam links The Scam Guard failed to

Macworld

At a glanceExpert’s Rating

Pros

Easy installation and setup

Solid customization options such as whitelists, exceptions, and scheduled scans

Handy network tools like Traffic Monitor and Network Inspector

Cons

Steady stream of ads, upgrade prompts, and assorted locked features

The Web Guard module failed to catch obvious scam links

The Scam Guard failed to detect scam…
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Antivirus

OpenAI’s shiny new Atlas browser might have some serious security shortcomings – and it’s not the only one under threat from dangerous spoof attacks

Fake AI sidebars can perfectly imitate real ones to steal secrets, experts warn Malicious extensions need only minimal permissions to cause maximum chaos AI browsers risk turning helpful automation into channels for silent data theft New “agentic” browsers which offer an AI-powered sidebar promise convenience but may widen the window for deceptive attacks, experts have


  • Fake AI sidebars can perfectly imitate real ones to steal secrets, experts warn
  • Malicious extensions need only minimal permissions to cause maximum chaos
  • AI browsers risk turning helpful automation into channels for silent data theft

New “agentic” browsers which offer an AI-powered sidebar promise convenience but may widen the window for deceptive attacks, experts have warned.

Researchers from browser security firm SquareX found a benign-looking extension can overlay a counterfeit sidebar onto the browsing surface, intercept inputs, and return malicious instructions that appear legitimate.

This technique undermines the implicit trust users place in in-browser assistants and makes detection difficult because the overlay mimics standard interaction flows.

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How the spoofing works in practice

The attack uses extension features to inject JavaScript into web pages, rendering a fake sidebar that sits above the genuine interface and captures user actions.

Reported scenarios include directing users to phishing sites and capturing OAuth tokens through fake file-sharing prompts. It also recommends commands that install remote access backdoors on victims’ devices.

The consequences escalate quickly when these instructions involve account credentials or automated workflows.

Many extensions request broad permissions, such as host access and storage, that are commonly granted to productivity tools, which reduces the value of permission analysis as a detection method.

Conventional antivirus suites and browser permission models were not designed to recognize a deceptive overlay that never modifies the browser code itself.

As more vendors integrate sidebars across major browser families, the collective attack surface expands and becomes harder to secure.

Users should treat in-browser AI assistants as experimental features and avoid handling sensitive data or authorizing account linkages through them, because doing so can greatly raise the risk of compromise.

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Security teams should tighten extension governance, implement stronger endpoint controls, and monitor for abnormal OAuth activity to reduce risk.

The threat also links directly to identity theft when fraudulent interfaces harvest credentials and session tokens with convincing accuracy.

Agentic browsers introduce new convenience while also creating new vectors for social engineering and technical abuse.

Therefore, vendors need to build interface integrity checks, improve extension vetting, and provide clearer guidance about acceptable use.

Until those measures are widely established and audited, users and organizations should remain skeptical about trusting sidebar agents with any tasks involving sensitive accounts.

Security teams and vendors must prioritize practical mitigations, including mandatory code audits for sidebar components and transparent update logs that users and administrators can review regularly.

Via BleepingComputer


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The best antivirus for all budgets

Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

➡️ Read our full guide to the best antivirus
1. Best overall:
Bitdefender Total Security
2. Best for families:
Norton 360 with LifeLock
3. Best for mob

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Antivirus

Your AI Agent Is Now a Target for Email Phishing

Email security has always been a cat-and-mouse game. Viruses are invented, and antivirus software is invented to catalog known viruses and detect their presence in email attachments and URLs. As viruses morphed into more sophisticated forms of malware, cybersecurity tools adapted to be able to scan for and detect these new threats…

Email security has always been a cat-and-mouse game. Viruses are invented, and antivirus software is invented to catalog known viruses and detect their presence in email attachments and URLs. As viruses morphed into more sophisticated forms of malware, cybersecurity tools adapted to be able to scan for and detect these new threats…
Read More

Continue Reading