There is a lot of scary stuff in the world today. We can’t attest to crime rates or whether they’ve grown, but our awareness of them certainly has. The media is in our face all the time, making us paranoid about robberies, kidnappings, shootings, and more.

Since the invention of the Internet, criminals have also learned how to take our information without hardly lifting a finger. Heck, they don’t’ even have to leave home. Not good, right? Look, we’re not trying to make you even more paranoid, but the unfortunate reality is that it happens.

People fall victim to viruses, malware, phishing, and other computer-related crimes regularly. So, how do you protect yourself? It’s essential that you have reputable software protecting your computer at all times.

Of course, there are quite a few different antivirus software options on the market today. We’re here to help by taking a look at two of the leading products, Malwarebytes and Avast, so you can make an informed choice with your digital security tools.

About Malwarebytes Cybersecurity

The American-based Malwarebytes Corporation is an international provider of computer security software. Beginning in 2006, their initial offering was a tool to remove malware from your computer, but that has evolved into software with a robust feature set and compatibility with PC, Mac, and Android.

Malwarebytes Premium offers everything you need to protect your computer from the threat of viruses, malware, and other cybersecurity breaches. Malwarebytes Premium 3 is the latest fully-featured version with a complete solution to your needs. Combined with a free Windows Defender tool to provide backup monitoring for viruses, you will be ultra-secure.

Malwarebytes Pros

• Active browsing protection gives you the ultimate security while you surf the Internet. Crowdsourced protections provides continuous updates as users from around the world discover new threats. You’ll always be safe from viruses you didn’t even know existed.
• Machine learning technology enables your software to draw from a large pool of resources and other users of the software. It can learn how to stop issues like zero-day threats before they start. This behavior provides superior protection because it can prevent malware or an infection before it even makes it to a watch list.
• Multi-platform tools give you coverage on your PC, Mac, or Android device, so you are protected no matter how you decide to use the Internet.
• Community knowledgebase availability and extensive tech support give you the peace of mind to know you have help when you need it. Malwarebytes users are extremely active in their forums, so you have access to questions and answers anytime. They also provide live chat support on their website and through your account if you need it.
• Scan scheduling features allow you to run scans daily at whatever time works for you or plan them for intervals that are more convenient, like every Saturday when you’re not working or using the computer as much.
• A clean interface makes Malwarebytes Premium easy for you to use and works well for even beginner antivirus users.

Malwarebytes Cons

• The free version isn’t as robust or feature-rich as Malwarebytes Premium, and it can only detect malware that is already known. It won’t learn or offer the superior protection you may need.
• Sometimes Malwarebytes gets a bit protection-happy, blocking sites that aren’t dangerous, like other competitor antivirus sites. Although, maybe that’s just a clever tactic to keep you from switching to the other guys?

About Avast Antivirus

Avast has been around since 1988 and was founded as a Czech company. There are currently more than 10 million users nationwide, and they are a huge player in the computer security market. They have developed an extensive suite of protection products throughout their time as a provider, but the most important one for you to remember is Avast Internet Security.

Avast offers a few different levels of security, so you can choose which tier of features works best for you. Although the Avast Internet Security and Premier versions offer solid protection, if you want a VPN and dedicated password storage, the Avast Ultimate is the way to go.

Avast fares well in ruthless virus, phishing, and malware site tests. It’s gotten great reviews from many well-known and respected software review sites, and experienced users tout its greatness around the Internet.

Avast Antivirus Pros

• Wi-Fi security scans will make sure your Wi-Fi connection is secure, and it will also detect any unfamiliar devices trying to connect to your home network.
• Password storage gives you a safe place to encrypt your passwords, so you don’t have to remember every passcode you use for every one of your favorite websites. It will also help you identify weak passwords, so you don’t use the same password more than once.
• Phishing site detection prevents you from getting tricked by sourcing phishing sites and alerting you.
• Sandbox apps allow you to perform specific tasks in a sandbox, preventing those activities from affecting your computer, just in case they contain viruses.
• Active virus blocking helps to stop threats before they impact your device. Avast uses intelligent behavior protocols, much like Malwarebytes, to stop zero-day threats.

Avast Antivirus Cons

• Avast can be resource heavy, which slows down your computer and impacts performance at times.
• Even if you use the free Avast solution, the system cleanup option requires an additional purchase.
• Avast offers a lot of bells and whistles, but your free version requires an upgrade first.

The Malwarebytes vs. Avast Verdict

It was a stiff competition! Both Malwarebytes Premium and Avast Internet Security Ultimate put up a good fight. Malwarebytes Premium is the best solution for front line defense because it is lightweight, the protection is just as good, and it’s a bit cheaper.

However, Avast Internet Security Ultimate provides a few extra features that Malwarebytes Premium doesn’t. We’re talking specifically about the sandbox feature for risky apps, a password vault for extra account security, a pop-up blocker for game mode, and browser cleanup tools.

Ultimately, it depends on your budget and your desire for deeper digital security tools on your device. Avast may be right for you if you need something more feature-rich and you can afford the slightly higher price tag. For someone interested in the basics of malware and virus protection as a lower cost, Malwarebytes Premium is the way to go.