You need to replace Kaspersky’s antivirus ASAP. Try one of these alternatives

Time’s running out—Kaspersky antivirus finishes its US shutdown at the end of the month. In June, the Russia-based company was classified as a risk to national security, resulting in a ban on operations inside the United States and on any hardware owned by US residents.

If you’re still using Kaspersky, you’ll need to remove the app from your PC and switch to replacement software that will continue to get regular updates. For free users, the simple choice is to fall back to Windows Defender, while paid users get an automatic rollover to rival company Pangos’ UltraAV software at no cost.

But should Windows Defender lack features—or UltraAV’s lower prominence cause concern—and you want a closer replacement for Kaspersky and its features, you can try one of the options below.

Best antivirus replacement for Kaspersky Standard Plan

AVG Internet Security gets top marks from reviewers (including PCWorld) and for good reason. It offers top-ranked defense against malware, as well as email, network, and web threats. It also provides features that Kaspersky’s Standard Plan doesn’t like dark web monitoring, safeguards against webcam takeovers, and sensitive data protection.

AVG’s only real drawback is the number of devices covered by its plans—you can only choose between support for one device ($47 for the first year, $78 thereafter) or ten devices ($60 for the first year or $100 thereafter). So you could end up paying more than Kaspersky’s three-device plan, though that can be avoided by purchasing licenses through authorized third-party retailers.

Overall, AVG Internet Security is reliable antivirus software with a user-friendly interface and minimal impact on system resources. It gives deeper control and more expansive protection than Windows Defender while not overly stuffing features into the app that inflate the yearly subscription price. 

Best antivirus replacement for Kaspersky Plus Plan or Kaspersky Premium Plan

Norton 360 Deluxe has consistently held the top spot in our picks for the best antivirus software, and for good reason—the app offers solid, broad protection at an affordable price. You can expect similar features to Kaspersky’s top-tier Premium Plan, but at a lower cost.

For antivirus performance, Norton offers strong online protection, with minimal impact on system resources for average users. You also get PC utilities that include the ability to monitor for outdated hardware, 50GB of cloud backup storage, dark web and privacy monitoring, webcam safeguards, and phishing protections. An unlimited VPN, password manager, and parental controls are also part of the subscription, with controls that are simple to navigate.

Norton’s lone quirk is an app containing two different user interfaces, which can slow you down when looking for settings or features. But that minor drawback is easily forgiven given the plan’s pricing and overall value. You’ll pay just $50 during the first year for 5 devices and $120 per year thereafter—and sometimes you can get it even cheaper through third-party retailers.

More antivirus replacement options for Kaspersky

Looking for yet other alternatives like software specifically geared toward beginners or ones packed with other helpful utilities for your PC? You can also consider the options below.

For a full rundown of them (and yet more suggestions), check out our top picks for antivirus in our roundup, as well as our breakdown of the best free antivirus. 

Best for privacy: McAfee Total Protection

These days, online threats extend beyond just malware. McAfee’s Total Protection suite focuses as much on identity and privacy issues as it does ransomware and phishing sites. This particular plan includes dark web scanning for personal information (email address, phone number, social security number, passport, driver’s license, date of birth, tax ID, credit card, usernames, and more), and also helps with password changes for online accounts when applicable.

Best for beginners: Avira Prime

If you need more help with managing your PC, Avira Prime unifies strong online protection with services like a password manager and unlimited VPN in a clean, attractive interface. It also includes a boatload of PC utilities that (among other things) can apps up to date, securely delete files, and back up data.

Most feature-rich: Panda Dome Complete

This suite offers a ton of utilities, including a virtual keyboard to thwart keylogging malware, advanced virus removal, an update manager for Windows apps, and startup apps manager. A password manager, parental controls, and limited-bandwidth VPN are also part of the app. And despite squeezing in so many features, Panda Dome Complete has one of the most minimal impacts on system performance we’ve seen. In fact, it’s so minor that no real difference exists.

Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor, PCWorld