HP is one of the most popular brands for laptops, but it’s important that you keep yours protected in order to fully take advantage of its performance. Though the umbrella term “antivirus” is still common, cybersecurity is no longer just about viruses; there are many forms digital attacks against your laptop can take. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 best antivirus software for HP laptops, so you can be digitally protected as much as possible.
Top 5 Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops
- Malwarebytes – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for On-Demand Protection
- Bitdefender Antivirus – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Broad Protection
- Windows Defender – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Ease of Use
- McAfee – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Preventative Protection
- Norton – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Budget
1. Malwarebytes – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for On-Demand Protection
PRICING: free, paid service starts at $40 per year
It’s one thing to find malware, it’s another to remove them effectively. Malwarebytes excels at the latter with an easy-to-use software that can scan specific files on-demand and effectively remove any malicious content. The software is light on your CPU resources, and it even has an option to turn off alerts while you’re gaming or watching content; it’s a powerful but unobtrusive tool to protect your system.
Although its defense capabilities aren’t as advanced as other software, it is compatible with third-party security products that might offer better real-time detection. If you want it all in one package, the Premium version is available for a relatively low price.
KEY FEATURES:
- On-demand removal of malware
- Works on Android and Apple devices as well as your laptop
- Keeps a history of quarantined items from the previous scan
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free version comes with Premium free trial for two weeks
- Easy to use
- Works well as a supplement to real-time protection software
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Real-time protection and scanning only available with Premium
- Doesn’t offer detailed reporting on scan histories which could help identify sources of security risks
2. Bitdefender Antivirus – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Broad Protection
PRICING: Free, paid service starts at $30 for the first year
The free edition of Bitdefender Antivirus offers decent breadth of protection even compared to its paid versions, although the Antivirus Plus offers plenty of bang for your buck. At its base level, though, Bitdefender protects against most common threats and has a “Photon” feature that can adapt to your hardware configuration to reduce its impact on your computing resources. This is especially important for small businesses who can’t afford a significant drain on their system for protection. The free version does lack multi-layer ransomware protection, which is disappointing, but it is available with the paid Plus version.
KEY FEATURES:
- Protects against malware, ransomware (with Antivirus Plus), spyware, and adware
- Low price for protection of up to five PCs
REASONS TO BUY:
- Offers protections against multiple forms of attack, including online privacy
- Low resource usage
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Scanning can be slow
- Free version ransomware is lacking
3. Microsoft Defender– Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Ease of Use
PRICING: Free
Microsoft has long been one of the top two operating systems for desktops and laptops alike, and its appeal is only increased by the inclusion of the free antivirus software, Microsoft Defender (previously called Windows Defender). If your HP laptop is running Windows, then their Defender is already built-in for free – no installation required.
This software is also easy to use, and the program can detect if you have another protection software installed or not. So, if you decide to use a third-party antivirus software instead, Microsoft Defender will automatically uninstall itself for you. There’s no “upselling,” and it can really save your CPU resources when you might otherwise forget the software is already there. Then, if for whatever reason that software is uninstalled, Defender is right there to install itself once again. You’ll never have to worry about not having cyber security if you’re running Windows on your HP laptop.
KEY FEATURES:
- Built-in to Windows for free
- Frequent automatic updates
REASONS TO BUY:
- Can customize the level of protection
- Detects when you have third-party protection
- Easy-to-use interface
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Protection is basic and not great for heavy-duty protection
4. McAfee Antivirus – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Preventative Protection
PRICING: $30 for the first year
McAfee may not offer a free version, but even its most basic paid package offers a lot of protective tools that other software does not. It doesn’t wait for viruses and malware to find you – it protects you all across the board to ensure your risk of attack is minimized in the first place. This isn’t just for your hardware, either; McAfee offers identity monitoring and a secure VPN service to protect your personal data as well. You can also use McAfee’s Protection Score tool to better understand your current risk and how to fix any weak points in your security. If you do end up targeted by malicious software, each McAfee package comes with a money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the service.
KEY FEATURES:
- Offers VPN services
- File Encryption
- Identity Protection
REASONS TO BUY:
- Focused on early detection as well as repair
- Browser protection included
- Money-back guarantee
- Additional benefits with auto-renewal
REASONS TO AVOID:
- No free version
- Drains CPU resources
5. Norton Antivirus Plus – Best Antivirus Software for HP Laptops for Budget
PRICING: $20 for the first year
Not only is its standard yearly price on par or even less than the other antivirus software on this list, but Norton Antivirus Plus also offers the lowest introductory price. For only $20 for the first year for new subscribers, you can get a multi-award-winning software that offers a wide range of protection tools, including a smart firewall and 2GB cloud backup.
The software uses lightning-fast emulation to test your files as you open them, then stores the file signature data in the cloud so it can continue learning and defending against all types of malicious attacks. Norton Antivirus is great at protecting your hardware in the background, but if you ever need on-demand removal, it has you covered there as well with its “power eraser” tool.
KEY FEATURES:
- Password manager
- Traffic monitoring included in firewall
- 2GB cloud backup
REASONS TO BUY:
- Money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Lacks strong personal privacy protection
- No file encryption
References and Links
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-antivirus/
- https://windowsreport.com/antivirus-hp-laptop/
- https://techpenny.com/antivirus-hp-computer/
- https://bestantivirus.com/best-laptop-antivirus/hp.html
- https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/bitdefender-antivirus-free
- https://windowsreport.com/bitdefender-free-edition-vs-paid/
- https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/antivirus.html
- https://us.norton.com/products/norton-360-antivirus-plus?report.com