Aura vs Avast: Which One is Better? [2024 Top Picks]
We compare security, extra features, ease of use, and more to help you decide.
Aura is a solid antivirus program with excellent identity theft protection (for US users) and a couple of extra features that are far from great. Aura’s scanner detected 98% of malware files in my testing, and its identity theft protection tool monitors dark web forums, credit reports, and more to provide up-to-the-minute notifications if your data is breached — it’s really good. However, Aura’s VPN, parental controls, and password manager are too basic, and it doesn’t offer important antivirus extras like a firewall, Wi-Fi network scanning, system tune-up, and more. Also, Aura’s plans are pretty expensive when compared to other top antiviruses like Norton and Bitdefender — but there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee on Aura’s annual subscriptions, so you can give it a shot and decide for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the best antivirus for me?
The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.
Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.
It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.
What makes an antivirus secure?
A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.
For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.
What do I need to look for when searching for an antivirus?
An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.
Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.
How do I know if one antivirus is better than another?
When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.
You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.