The integrated Web Shield wards off malicious sites, while the Extension Guard warns you about malicious extensions.

It also comes with Privacy Cleaner, which clears your browsing history, cached images, and cookies.

All in all, Norton Private internet tool is a solid free choice, especially for beginners.

Norton

I really like Nortons dark web monitoring, too.

Norton also has thebest antivirus-bundled password manageron the market.

While Nortons password manager is great, its not as feature-rich asstandalone password managerslike1Password.

Bitdefender

Nevertheless, it provides all the basic password management features, and they all work as advertised.

Every Norton plan comes with a risk-free 60-day money-back guarantee.

Bitdefender also provides:

I like Bitdefenders VPN.

TotalAV

It does let you make multi-hop connections, which is a plus.

Bitdefenders secure web net online gate, Safepay, is really great.

It also provides you with a virtual keyboard to prevent keylogging.

McAfee

I like using SafePay whenever I shop on my MacBook, as it gives me peace of mind.

Another notable feature is Bitdefenders anti-theft protection.

I tried it out with my HP EliteBook, and it accurately pinpointed its location.

Intego

It also has an alert feature and a remote lock function that both worked well in my tests.

I only wish Bitdefenders anti-theft tools worked for macOS and iOS as well as Windows and Android.

Bitdefenders OneClick Optimizer is decent it freed up 1.3 GB on my notebook.

Quick Summary of the Best Antiviruses for Notebooks in 2025

However, I genuinely felt a boost in my notebooks speed post-optimization.

Both plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bitdefender offers unbeatable protection against all sorts of malware threats.

Norton

With an abundance of features, it caters to various security needs and provides comprehensive protection.

All plans come with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee.

Its net online gate cleanup, software uninstaller, and startup manager tools also worked well in my tests.

Norton

Other TotalAV features include:

TotalAVs anti-phishing protection, WebShield, is also pretty good.

When I tested it out, it successfully blocked many malicious sites.

That said, I find that Nortons anti-phishing protections are more advanced.

Norton

I found TotalAVs data breach monitoring to be pretty basic, especially compared toNortons dark web monitoring tool.

It also supports torrenting and streaming, and it has unlimited browsing data.

All plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Norton

TotalAV offers comprehensive protection for notebooks, with a powerful malware scanner and efficient optimization tools.

However, unlikeNortonandBitdefender, it might somewhat slow down notebook performance during full scans.

I was impressed with McAfees web protection.

Bitdefender

McAfee also offers additional features like:

I think McAfees firewall is really good.

Its a beginner-friendly connection protection tool, supplementing the in-built firewalls included with Windows and Apple laptops.

However,Nortons Smart Firewallcaught more web link intrusions during testing.

Bitdefender

McAfees included VPN is also pretty decent.

Its not perfect, but its definitely suitable for notebook users who need secure and casual browsing.

I only wish it was available on MacBook and not just Windows notebooks.

Bitdefender

Overall, McAfee is a solid option for notebook users who need comprehensive protection.

Also, all its plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try McAfee out risk-free.

McAfee offers a well-rounded antivirus solution suitable for notebook users.

Bitdefender

Its ability to scan external drives and iOS devices further enhances its appeal for MacBook users.

Whats more, the scans didnt significantly impact my MacBooks performance.

VirusBarrier also offers a Safe Browsing On feature, which checks whether your browsers anti-phishing protection is on.

TotalAV

NetBarrier, Integos advanced firewall, outshines many Mac-focused antiviruses.

Integos Washing Machine, a Mac system optimizer, is also quite impressive.

Intego stands as the best overall antivirus for MacBooks.

TotalAV

Theres a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans, so you’re free to try Intego risk-free.

Yes, notebooks need antivirus protection.

Antivirus software acts as a vital shield, continuously scanning and monitoring the system for suspicious activities.

TotalAV

Investing in a reputable antivirus solution likeNortonensures that your notebook remains safe and your sensitive data is protected.

Which antivirus makes a laptop faster?

Antivirus software likeNortonandBitdefendercan help boost laptop performance alongside its core security functions.

TotalAV

Which laptop does not need antivirus?

No laptop is completely immune to the need for antivirus protection.

In fact, the growing popularity of these platforms has led to an increase in targeted attacks.

McAfee

Will antivirus software slow my notebooks speed?

The antiviruses on my listshouldnt impact on your notebooks speed, even if its an older model.

But there are products out there that will slow your system down, so check that to choose carefully.

McAfee

Quick Overview of My Top Recommendations:

McAfee

Intego

Intego

5. Intego — Best Choice for MacBook Users

Bitdefender

TotalAV

McAfee