With cyber threats coming from seemingly every side, having antivirus software to protect your computer has never been more critical. It helps you to quarantine malware before it wreaks havoc on your computer and prevents you from getting infected with a digital virus in the first place.
You may think you are safe without such software if you've a Chromebook. After all, operating systems are created to run each application inside its container. Also, Chromebooks cannot run .exe files, which are the source of many malware infections.
However, they are not safe from danger. Still, Chromebooks can be infected with malicious code like trackers and spyware that can compromise accounts and slow down devices. This malware can also come from browsing compromised websites or downloading the Google Play store apps. That's why you will still need the best Chromebook antivirus to keep computers safe.
Many apps created for Android gadgets will also work on Chromebooks. Although, not every Android app is compatible with the operating system. So make sure to check out whether the software will work with the device before installing it. Here are the top five Chromebook antivirus of 2022.
Bitdefender Mobile Security
Bitdefender Mobile Security is one of the best virus protection apps for Chromebooks. The software is loaded with features to keep the device secure, including an autopilot mode that notifies you whenever it is time to run another scan or if Bitdefender detects suspicious behavior from an app. The notifications may not seem significant, but many other security platforms don't provide them. As a result, it's all easy to forget to scan a computer more often than you should.
Bitdefender has several ways to help you secure a device when it is out of hand. For example, you can protect every individual app on your Chromebook with a PIN to prevent unauthorized access. While plenty of competing software platforms do this, Bitdefender automatically unlocks your apps by recognizing your home Wi-Fi network when you're at home. Plus, you can log in to your Bitdefender account from any smartphone or computer to track your Chromebook and lock or wipe the device if it's stolen remotely.
One thing where Bitdefender falls off the mark is its built-in VPN. While it is essential to secure browsing to manage privacy, the VPN can be somewhat slow and comes with 200MB of data per day only. After that limit, your browsing is vulnerable, so if you're looking forward to it, you're probably better off checking out the Chromebook VPN guide instead. Bitdefender Mobile Security has a 14-day trial, so if you're unsure at all, you can try it before you buy.
Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes has one of the most customer-friendly antiviruses for Chromebook tools out there. It's effortless to use, and you can start a scan in just a few clicks. Even better, Malwarebytes supports scheduled malware scans. So, don't worry about checking for spyware and adware that may be lurking on your device for a week.
Remember that Malwarebytes is somewhat focused on malware detection and removal. You would not find a built-in VPN or other flourishes in this software, nor features for tracking devices or password-protecting access to individual apps. However, we don't think it's a huge issue, as plenty of free apps covers these security aspects.
We particularly like Malwarebytes that you can run a security audit on all the apps installed on your Chromebook. It is easy to see if they're leaking data or potentially gaining access to information such as location or stored passwords. Malwarebytes comes with a free option, or you can upgrade to a premium subscription for other features.
Norton Mobile Security
Norton Mobile Security takes a proactive approach to keep Chromebook secure from threats. Although the software includes a powerful virus scanner, many of the features included are created to prevent you from getting malicious code on your device in the first place.
For example, when you browse, Norton automatically loads websites behind a firewall and scans them for malware before they can access you. The browser-based firewall works with any browser, including Chrome, and does not slow downloading. Also, Norton's Chromebook app scans Wi-Fi networks before you connect so you can avoid joining networks that are actively being attacked.
Another feature of Norton Mobile Security is pre-installation app scanning. Before you include an app to your Chromebook, the software will check it out for malicious code and report what privacy permissions the app takes by default.
The app provides a report card to monitor your device's suspicious activity or data leaks easily. One downside with this Chromebook antivirus is that you can't schedule a device-wide scan ahead of time. You've to initialize them manually.
Avira Free Security
Avira Free Security provides one of the best packages to protect your Chromebook on a budget. Avira Chromebook software is entirely free to use, and the malware scanner. The only difference is that you've to run scans automatically, there's no way to schedule scans, and the software doesn't provide reminders to scan your device frequently.
Remember that many of Avira's security tools are reactive rather than proactive. For example, the software enables you to monitor apps' privacy settings and permissions, but you can't check out what permissions an app will take or scan for malware before installing it. You can scan a Wi-Fi network to see if other devices are connected to it, but only after you've connected to that network. The good thing is that Avira provides real-time protection as you browse and will prevent you from connecting to websites with malicious code.
Avira comes with some additional free tools, including a system optimizer and a VPN. Avira VPN does a great job but only includes 100MB of data per day. In addition, your browsing is vulnerable. You can also remotely track and lock your device if lost or stolen.
TotalAV Antivirus & VPN
TotalAV Antivirus & VPN provides everything you need to protect your Chromebook at a surprisingly affordable price. The software was the top-rated scanner for malware detection by AV-TEST in 2020, so you can find any malicious code on your device.
Plus, TotalAV's app provides some proactive tools to keep your Chromebook safe. The app integrates with the browser to scan for websites before you connect and automatically blocks any sites that look dangerous. Also, it scans apps from the Google Play store before you download them, eliminating one of the most common entry points for malware.
TotalAV enables you to lock individual apps with a PIN or pattern on your computer. However, this software doesn't support remote tracking, locking, or wiping your Chromebook if it's lost or stolen. While there are many free apps you can install separately to add functionality, it's a feature you will find out built-in to most of the other antivirus platforms on this list.
TotalAV is entirely free to use if all you need is a virus scanner. However, if you want the broad protection provided by an included VPN with web and app scanners, or unlimited data, you'll need a paid subscription.
