Still, apps like Norton offer vital protections that keep you safe while using your Chromebook in 2025.
These include:
The app advisor analyzes apps for suspicious behavior.
This can help you avoid any that will compromise your privacy or your devices security.
Nortons anti-phishing protection works really well, blocking unsafe phishing sites that Chromes built-in protections failed to detect.
Dangerous websites are one of the biggest threats to any Chromebook user.
I recommend adding it to Chrome alongside the Norton app.
I found Nortons Report Card and Privacy Report features very handy as well.
Norton VPNis pretty good, too.
Its available as a separate purchase or part of the Norton360 Deluxepackage (which contains Nortons mobile app).
It includes great privacy protections like a no-logs policy, split-tunneling, and an ad and tracker blocker.
Plus, it provides fast connection speeds and works with Netflix.
Norton backs all annual plans with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
NortonMobile Securityprovides excellent protection for Chromebooks despite not being officially supported.
Its surfing app extension is also a major improvement over Chromes built-in protections.
Theres a 60-day money-back guarantee on all of Nortons annual plans.
It was also free of bugs and worked in full screen.
It blocked more phishing sites than Chrome protecting me from scammers out to steal my passwords.
It also color-codes search results based on the risk posed by the website.
I really like Bitdefenders Chromebook VPN its one of its best features.
Bitdefender also has good anti-theft features and data breach scanning, which worked well on my Chromebook.
The app lock worked great, though, allowing me to protect sensitive apps behind PIN codes.
However, Bitdefenders interface is not as intuitive as Nortons.
you’re free to buy theMobile Securityapp for IDR254,150 / year.
However, if you have other devices to protect, opt for theInternet Securityplan (IDR720,390 / year).
It gets you 3 licenses that you could use on all major operating systems.
The app locker worked fine in my tests and detects suspicious apps in the Play Store.
Bitdefender comes with a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
This Android app works well on ChromeOS, mostly running smoothly in the background.
In my testing, TotalAV notified me whenever it detected unsafe data-harvesting apps from Google Play.
The net web client extension likewise blocked the vast majority of dangerous websites.
I like how easy it is to set up and use TotalAV.
TotalAVs WebShield extension did a great job protecting my Chromebook from dangerous phishing sites.
It even alerts you when you navigate to a website thats been involved in a data breach.
it’s possible for you to get theMobile Securityapp for your Chromebook by purchasing any of TotalAVs bundles.
The TotalAVTotal Securityplan covers 8 devices and adds an ad blocker and a password vault for IDR830,760 / year.
TotalAV backs each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
TotalAVs Android app is easy to use and works great on ChromeOS devices.
TotalAV also has an app locker, a secure online window, and data breach monitoring.
Im also a huge fan of TotalAVs VPN, which allows unlimited data and works with popular streaming services.
Theres a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of TotalAVs plans.
When it comes to protecting you from dangerous websites, Avira is great.
I added the web app Safety extension and saw that it stopped most threats.
The fact that it also blocks trackers is a nice plus.
I did experience a couple of visual bugs, but these werent a big deal.
It covers 5 devices for IDR1,017,090 / year, including Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS.
Avira has a solid Android app that offers good protection to Chromebook users.
The app actually functions well in full-screen mode, something many Android apps struggle with when used on Chromebooks.
Trend Micro includes the following features:
I like Trend Micros Pay Guard feature.
It didnt block every dangerous site, but it does a decent job of blocking ads.
The Trend Micro ID Protection web client extension does far more than block dangerous websites.
It also blocks ads and trackers and doubles as a password manager.
However, Trend Micros other additional features are unimpressive.
Trend MicrosMobile Security & Antivirusdoes a good job of protecting Chromebooks.
you might get the premium version by purchasing Trend MicrosMaximum Security.
This plan, however, lacks a VPN or identity theft protections.
All of Trend Micros plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Trend Micro has a great online window extension and a solid app for Chromebooks.
Its good at detecting phishing websites and comes with numerous extra features.
The Pay Guard feature provides additional security for sensitive financial information.
Upgrading to Trend MicrosPremium Security Suitegives you access to a VPN, credit monitoring, and more.
Trend Micro offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all subscriptions.
Malwarebytes provides a few well-designed security tools for Chromebooks, including an app scanner and a nifty privacy tool.
If you install web app Guard, youll also get anti-phishing protection, plus an ad and tracker blocker.
It blocked most phishing sites in my testing, but not as many asNortonandBitdefender.
Malwarebytes detected the majority of the unsafe apps when I tested it on my Chromebook.
For most users, getting a Malwarebytes bundle is the best way to getMobile Securitys protection.
I recommend the theStandardplan, which covers between 1 and 20 devices and starts at IDR762,780 / year.
Upgrading to the MalwarebytesPlusplan, which costs IDR1,017,090 / year, adds a decent VPN.
TheUltimate plan(IDR2,034,340 / year) adds a slew of identity theft protection tools.
Malwarebytes has a minimal antivirus app that works fine on ChromeOS.
Malwarebytes backs all of its plans with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Also, while AVG looked great on my Chromebook, it didnt work perfectly.
I could use it in full-screen mode, even though its optimized for Android.
I was able to open 2 without the program giving me any warning.
AVGs Chrome extension effectively detects phishing attempts, but it doesnt work 100% of the time.
But if youre concerned about phishing,Nortons antivirusworks better on Chromebooks.
AVG also offers an app lock feature, but it isnt as good asBitdefenders.
AVGAntiVirus & Securityis an okay antivirus app that works well on Chromebooks.
That said, it isnt good at detecting malicious apps and lacks anti-theft tools.
I found it quite frustrating to use ESET on my Chromebook.
That said, some apps run far more smoothly.
Id putNortonon the silkier side of the spectrum and place ESET somewhere on the sandpaper side.
That said, ESET provides effective security features to protect your Chromebook.
Its also missing a VPN.
Once activated, activity on these apps will be hidden from other programs.
The free version ofMobile Security Antivirusreally only gets you a basic scanner.
Since many features dont work well on Chromebooks, I advise against getting the premium mobile plan.
Your best bet is to get one of ESETs bundles.
This gives you access to paywalled Chromebook features and protects your Windows/Mac computer.
ESET also offers a remarkably affordablePremium Securitybundle.
ESETMobile Security Antivirusoffers reliable protection for ChromeOS devices, effectively safeguarding them from online threats.
However, it can be challenging on Chromebooks, requiring regular app restarts to use its features.
I think the Protected Payment feature is particularly good.
I also explored every additional feature and assessed the apps usability on ChromeOS.
Each product that made it onto the list filled all of my criteria.
Heres what I did:
Are Chromebooks Protected From Viruses?
Chromebooks have built-in security measures to protect against most viruses.
On the other hand, ChromeOSs tighter permissions reduce the potential for malware disruptions.
In short, Chromebooks are insulated against traditional types of malware.
The problem is that in 2025, some of the most common threats arent the conventional sort.
Phishing and data harvesting are rife nowadays; even Chromebook users need extra tools to avoid these dangers.
In Chrome, tap the 3 dots in the top right corner and selectSettings > Privacy and Security.
If any of your extensions are flagged by Chrome, you should remove them immediately.
And if any of your passwords have been breached, you should change them immediately.
The best way to create strong passwords and keep them safe is with a quality password manager like1Password.
This means your account remains secure even if your password is breached.
In your Google Account, selectSecurity, look underSigning into Google, and choose2-Step Verification.
This is due to hardware limitations.
Whats more, good antivirus apps offer various additional features, such as:
5.
Dont Enable Developer Mode
Unless youre an experienced user, keeping Developer Mode turned off is advisable.
Switching on Developer Mode could allow hackers to change your Chromebooks system, making Chromes inherent security functions useless.
After purchasing, go to the Play Store and download that companys app.
Once installed, you should be prompted to enter a code you got after checking out.
Avoid third-party app stores and sideloading apps using .apk files.
In any case, youll actually need to download the app from the Play Store.
Simply search for the antivirus and install it.
If youve already purchased through the developers website, simply provide your details.
If not, the charge will be made through your Google account.
The app will then ask you to change your permissions to work properly.
If youre trying to install an antivirus that isnt on this list, see to it its legitimate.
Finally, add a web app extension using the Chrome Web Store.
Most antivirus programs offer extensions that block dangerous sites.
Check the reviews and note how many other users have downloaded the extension.
you’re free to also review the developers contact information.
Yes while ChromeOS has some built-in security features, its not 100% safe.
Whats the best antivirus for Chromebooks?
NortonMobile Securityis the best antivirus for Chromebooks.
Is there a free Chromebook antivirus?
Yes,Aviras free antivirusis especially well-suited for Chromebooks.
However, paid apps provide many more useful features.
Do Chromebooks need a VPN?
Can you get viruses on a Chromebook?
No, but they can be infected with other types of malware.
Theyre also no less susceptible to phishing than Macs or PCs.
Can a Chromebook get hacked?
Yes and its not as uncommon as you may think.
Chromebooks are synced up to your Google account, and Google account users have their passwords breached every day.
Chromebooks can also be hacked by malicious apps.
The best way to avoid getting hacked on a Chromebook is to usea secure antivirus.
I recommend subscribing to a premium antivirus from the companys website and not through the Google Play Store.
Once youve paid, youll be given a code.
You might find this in an email or under your account information when you log into the website.
you’ve got the option to then download the app from the Play Store and enter the code.
This should activate your premium subscription.
How do I protect my Chromebook from malware?
Atrustworthy antivirus appis the best tool for protecting your Chromebook in 2025.
What to do if your Chromebook gets malware?
you could also try looking for sketchy-looking web app extensions in Chrome.
surfing app extensions are frequently responsible for any issues youre having while connecting to the internet with your Chromebook.
Does Chromebook have a built-in antivirus?
No but thats because it doesnt need it.
Chromebooks haveexcellent built-in security protectionsthat make it nearly impossible for ChromeOS to get infected with a virus.
However, Chromebook security isnt perfect.
The best antiviruses also come with excellent web protection to keep you safe online.
