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After years of warnings and threats, the US has officially banned Kaspersky, the Russian-backed antivirus software and cybersecurity firm.
Antivirus software is supposed to keep your devices safe from malware, ransomware, and other cyberthreats that may steal data from unsuspecting users. However, Kaspersky has a long history of presenting more threats than they solve, particularly in the US.
Now, the company is entirely banned from operating in the US, which means any leftover users are going to need an antivirus alternative to keep their data secure. Luckily, we can help/
US Bans Kaspersky
The Biden administration announced this week that all Kaspersky products are banned from use in the US, over fears that the company is a willing participant in Russia’s attempts to use the data to subvert US interests.
“Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive U.S. information, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard U.S. national security and the American people.” – Gina Raimondo, US Secretary of Commerce
The ban doesn’t go into effect immediately, though. Users have Kaspersky products have 100 days to find an alternative, at which point these services will be entirely unavailable in the US.
Best Kaspersky Alternatives
While 100 days may seem like a long time, you’ll definitely want to lock down a Kaspersky alternative sooner rather than later. After all, the last thing you want is to have a lapse in your antivirus software that could lead to lost data before you find a viable alternative.
Luckily, we’ve done the research to help you find the best Kaspersky alternative to protect your data online.
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Check out our best antivirus software providers for more information
Norton
Price: $29.99 per year
In our research, we found Norton to be one of the best antivirus software options on the market, thanks to its flexibility for usage. You can customize just about everything, including what gets flagged in scans and how you actually monitor your device. There’s also a top tier mobile app available, so you can scan phones, tablets, and any other device you may want to keep secure.
Another benefit of Norton is that it offers a lot of different pricing plans, so you can find exactly what you need for the right number of devices. You can protect either one, three, five, or 10 devices, as well as adding additional features like VPN functionality and dark web monitoring if you pay more.
McAfee Antivirus
Price: $39.99 per year
Considered one of the most well-known cybersecurity platforms in the world, McAfee Antivirus offers an intuitive interface as well as 24/7 live chat and phone support to help you solve any problems that might arise. This makes it perfect for those less familiar with antivirus software as a whole and maybe need a bit of guidance.
When it comes to key features, McAfee provides excellent identity theft protection with regular monitoring and helpful notifications to keep you in the know. You’ll also get protection and scam scores, which help you understand your vulnerability to different types of cyber threats.
Check out our Norton vs McAfee comparison guide for more info
Surfshark One
Price: $3.19 per month for two-year contract
Surfshark is one of our favorite cybersecurity providers, offering a comprehensive platform that can help you shore up your entire security setup, rather than just a single option. Admittedly, you can’t get Surfshark Antivirus by itself, but the Surfshark One platform provides you with a VPN, an ad-blocker, and 24/7 antivirus protection.
As for what the antivirus software can do, you’ll be able to schedule regular scans, customize which files get scanned for efficient security, and opt for short scans for faster results. You’ll also get cool features like webcam locking, which lets you know when apps try to access your camera, and data breach alerts, so you know exactly when your data is compromised.
Avast One
Price: Free
Yes, you read that right, Avast One is a free cybersecurity platform that includes antivirus functionality. Obviously, compared to some options above, it’s a bit basic, allowing only for basic malware protection, network security, and advanced firewall functionality. You’ll have to go with one of their paid plans, which start at $2.99 per month, to get features like webcam and scam protection.
Like Surfshark, the Avast One platform provides more than just antivirus software. You’ll get a 5 GB per day VPN as well as the ability to check for compromise passwords on your device, all in addition to the antivirus functionality.
Bitdefender
Price: Free
Avast isn’t the only free antivirus platform on this list. In fact, Bitdefender offers its service for free as well, stopping everything from ransomware and malware to zero-day threats and cryptojacking. Even better, it’s not very demanding, so won’t slow down your device too much while it’s active.
Perhaps the best part of Bitdefender is that, in addition to the free plan, it offers a vast selection of pricing plans to mix-and-match features, so you only pay for what you actually need for your security setup. We counted 15 different pricing options, which should be more than enough to help you find what you need in a Kapersky alternative.
Check out our Avast vs Bitdefender comparison guide for more info
How to Stay Safe Online
If you want to stay safe online, antivirus software is a vital tool that will regularly scan your computer for viruses, malware, and everything in between.
However, there’s more to protecting yourself online than just antivirus software. In fact, there are a wide range of tools that you can use to ensure that your data is safe, your scrolling is secure, and your passwords aren’t just floating around the black market waiting to be used by a nefarious third party.
Password managers are a great place to start, allowing you to not only store your hundreds of login credentials, but also suggest more complicated codes to keep you safe. VPNs are another helpful tool that can hide your web activity from anyone that might be watching.
All that to say, antivirus software is just the tip of the iceberg, and if you want to stay safe online, there’s a lot more you can do to shore up your security.
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