Best Antivirus for Freelancers: Protecting Your Client Data

As a freelancer, you’re running your own business. Like other businesses, large and small, you may well have sensitive client data. Depending on the nature of your work, this can be anything from Social Security numbers to credit card information, login credentials, or even intellectual property. Handling sensitive information such as this requires keeping it secure. There may even be a contractual and legal obligation to do so.

Handling sensitive data requires implementing robust security measures, including a quality antivirus program. With this in mind, we’ll explore the best antivirus tools for freelancers. In the process, we’ll discuss what each antivirus solution offers, what makes each one of the best antivirus programs for freelancers, and what else you can do to protect data and maintain client confidentiality.

Looking for an immediate answer? Here’s a quick rundown of the best antivirus programs for freelancers. If you have any doubts, see our more detailed reviews further below:

1. Norton 360: Best antivirus for freelancers. Protects client data with extras, including a VPN and cloud backup. Excellent customer support as well as a generous money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark Antivirus: Best value antivirus for freelancers. Includes an excellent, privacy-guarding VPN and has top protection scores from independent testing labs.
3. TotalAV: Offers real-time protection with many valuable extras for freelancers, including a password manager and VPN. Reliable and with the option to protect five to 8 devices.
4. McAfee Total Protection: Scores well for both protection and performance. VPN, password manager, and identity theft protection. Small business solutions are available.
5. Bitdefender Internet Security: Real-time protection for up to five devices, a password manager, and a limited VPN. It is reliable in that false positives are very uncommon.
6. Intego Antivirus: Comprehensive real-time protection for Mac. Easy to set up and install and with quality customer support, 24/7. The highest tier subscription includes a VPN.
7. VIPRE Antivirus: Strong real-time protection that protects you from spyware and ransomware. It makes signup and payment easy thanks to a high level of transparency.

Criteria for the best antivirus for freelancers

A freelancer antivirus should have real-time protection, strong performance, and ease of use. We also consider bonus features that suit freelancers, such as a VPN. Here are our criteria:

• Comprehensive security features, including real-time protection
• Privacy protection features such as a VPN and file shredding
• User-friendly app interface as well as automatic updates
• Low system resource usage so it doesn’t slow your device
• Supports multiple platforms so you can secure all work devices
• Reliable customer support, preferably available 24/7 via live chat

Best antivirus for freelancers

Here’s our list of the top antivirus for freelancers:

1. Norton 360

Norton 360 provides a selection of plans to suit the security needs of any freelancer. Its base Antivirus Plus plan consists of antivirus and malware protection, 2 GB of cloud backup, and a password manager, all of which are useful when it comes to protecting client data. However, the base plan only covers one device.

At the other end of the scale is Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Plus. This plan adds a VPN, dark web monitoring, and identity theft protection. It also expands your cloud storage allowance to 250 GB and can be used on up to 10 devices.

Norton is our top-rated antivirus, evidenced by the near-perfect protection score we gave it in testing. Despite this high level of protection, it’s not slow and has been recognized for its performance by AV-Comparatives. One of the benefits of Norton 360 is that you can use it to secure your devices on every major operating system. Norton boasts some of the most well-rated antivirus customer support, earning consistently high ratings on TrustPilot.

You can use Norton 360 to secure your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR FREELANCERS:Norton 360 is affordable, offers a generous selection of features even in its base plan, and provides very strong protection. Features for protecting client data include cloud protection and a VPN. With Norton’s 60-day money-back guarantee, you get a lot of time to try it out risk-free.

Read our full Norton Antivirus review.

2. Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark Antivirus is part of a security suite called Surfshark One. It comes with one of the best VPNs on the market. Its affordable price makes it a popular choice with freelancers. Surfshark One provides real-time protection from malware. The VPN has an ad blocker and can connect all your devices simultaneously.

Freelancers looking for an easy-to-use antivirus will appreciate Surfshark’s beginner-friendly interface. This is one of the most lightweight antivirus programs. You can continue working without noticeable slowdowns, even when running full scans. We were impressed with its protection, awarding it a 99 out of 100 in testing. This is further backed up by Surfshark Antivirus’ perfect protection score from AV-Test. It even comes with webcam protection.

Surfshark Antivirus is available for Windows, MacOS, and Android devices.

BEST VALUE ANTIVIRUS FOR FREELANCERS:Surfshark Antivirus is lightweight but still offers highly impressive performance for the price. Comes with a quality VPN and offers real-time protection as well as webcam protection. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark Antivirus review.

3. TotalAV

TotalAV has an impressive selection of features, most of which are included in Antivirus Pro, the base subscription tier. The plan includes real-time protection from viruses, trojans, adware, and ransomware. System tune-up tools can boost the performance of your devices. If the base plan isn’t enough, opt for TotalAV Total Security, which includes a VPN and password manager.

We found TotalAV reliable in our tests with live malware samples. It scored full marks in our false positives testing, never incorrectly blocking safe programs as threats. You can secure five, six, or eight devices depending on your subscription tier. It lacks a single-device option. TotalAV makes our list of the top antivirus software with customer support. This is available 24 hours a day via live chat or phone.

To use TotalAV, download its Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS app.

LOTS OF EXTRAS:TotalAV offers good value for money with its many features, such as an ad blocker, VPN, and password manager. It has been recognized for its impressive protection by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Annual subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full TotalAV review.

4. McAfee Total Protection

McAfee Total Protection offers a greater degree of flexibility than most rivals in that there’s the option to secure a single device or unlimited devices. This is an impressive security setup that extends far beyond an antivirus. Every plan includes access to a VPN, password manager, and identity monitoring and alerts for up to 60 pieces of personal information. Opt for the Advanced plan, and you’ll benefit from McAfee’s identity theft coverage and credit monitoring.

Offering an abundance of features is all good, but a quality antivirus needs to provide adequate protection and perform well. AV-Comparatives and AV-Test have recognized McAfee Total Protection in both areas, putting it among the best in the market. If your business needs to expand, McAfee provides some of the best antivirus solutions for small businesses. Need help? 24/7 support is also available.

You can secure your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices with McAfee Total Protection.

BEST LIGHTWEIGHT ANTIVIRUS:McAfee Total Protection provides comprehensive protection coupled with impressive performance. You’ll find a VPN, password manager, and even identity monitoring. Secure one or unlimited devices. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full McAfee Antivirus review.

5. Bitdefender Total Security

Bitdefender is one of the most popular antivirus tools and has been for over a decade, which is a testament to the quality of protection it provides. With the Total Security plan, you can secure multiple devices (up to five). A very impressive selection of features makes this plan a good value. On top of real-time protection, Bitdefender Internet Security includes a password manager and a VPN, useful for freelancers protecting client data.

One downside is that Bitdefender Total Security’s VPN is limited to just 200 MB daily, which is nowhere near enough for many people’s needs. Many antivirus solutions are limited to desktops only. Bitdefender is unique because you can use it to secure all your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. Independent testing confirms that Bitdefender is a strong all-rounder. We gave it full marks for the fact that it so rarely produces false positives.

Bitdefender apps are available for desktop (Windows and Mac) and it is also a strong mobile antivirus, covering Android and iOS platforms.

SECURE ALL DEVICES:Bitdefender Internet Security covers five desktop and mobile devices, providing real-time protection, a password manager, and more. It didn’t produce false positives in testing, either. Although a VPN is included, the data allowance is limited. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus review.

6. Intego Antivirus

Intego Antivirus stands out from the other antivirus providers, including in this post, because its primary focus is protecting Mac users. If you’re a freelancer who uses Mac, you’ll have three options to choose from: Mac Internet Security X9, Mac Premium Bundle X9, and Mac Premium Bundle + VPN. All include real-time protection, but the Premium Bundle includes valuable extras for protecting client data, such as a VPN, data backup, and secure file deletion.

Regardless of your subscription tier, Intego allows you to select just how many devices you want to secure (one, three, or five). Although Intego receives consistently high scores from AV-Test for its overall usability, there may be times when you need help. Intego provides 24/7 live chat support and reviews online, and it often cites this as one of its major benefits, as well as how quick and easy it is to download and install.

Although we’ve focused on Intego Antivirus’ offering for Mac, it also has a Windows antivirus, though this is far more limited.

ANTIVIRUS FOR MAC USERS:Intego provides real-time protection and firewall protection for Mac users. With it, you also have the option of further securing client data with a VPN. This is a user-friendly antivirus with excellent 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Intego Antivirus review.

7. VIPRE Antivirus

VIPRE Antivirus earned a near-perfect protection score thanks to its advanced antivirus engine coupled with a whole host of intriguing security tools. VIPRE protects you from malware, ransomware, and spyware. If you opt for the Ultimate Security Bundle, you’ll even find a dark web scanner, an unlimited VPN, and a webcam and microphone blocker.

One particular advantage of VIPRE Antivirus is its US-based customer support. Available 24/7, it has received many positive reviews from customers online. The signup process and billing are refreshingly transparent in a market where so many of VIPRE’s competitors create a confusing experience and make it difficult to turn off auto-renewal, leading to nasty surprises further down the line.

VIPRE Antivirus can be downloaded and installed on your Windows and Mac devices.

STOPS SPYWARE AND RANSOMWARE:VIPRE Antivirus receives excellent scores across the board for its protection. We commend its billing transparency and customer support. Extras include a VPN and dark web scanner. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full VIPRE Antivirus review.

Antivirus testing methodology: How we found the best antivirus for freelancers

It’s through our regular testing of many different antivirus providers that we’ve been able to establish a clear methodology. This guides us through the testing process, ensuring we’re looking for all the right things in an antivirus for freelancers. Here’s what we prioritized:

• Comprehensive security features: First thing’s first, we need to see that an antivirus offers sufficient protection from malware. To do this, we run tests using malware samples (both test and live samples). We’ve chosen antivirus programs that offer real-time protection against threats to freelancers and their client data, ransomware included.
• Privacy and data protection features: Ideally, an antivirus will offer extra features that further protect client data and privacy. This may be a VPN for encrypting internet traffic, identity theft protection for monitoring data breaches for personal information, or even file shredding for the secure deletion of sensitive files.
• Ease of use: Antivirus software needn’t be difficult to use. It’s sometimes the case that a provider’s apps make it tough to find specific features or to interpret scan results. It’s through our hands-on testing of antivirus apps that we’ve identified those that have user-friendly interfaces and which make life easier through automatic updates.
• Performance impact: Protection comes first but we have to make sure that an antivirus is lightweight enough that you can still use your device as normal when it’s active. We measure how each antivirus consumes system resources when idle, as well as during quick and full scans. We’ve chosen those that performed best across the board.
• Cross-platform: It helps if an antivirus is available across platforms so that you have the option to secure all of your work devices. Available apps usually include Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Most paid antivirus plans let you secure multiple devices simultaneously.
• Value for money: Antivirus software tends to be particularly affordable for the first year before renewing at a higher price. If you keep this in mind and remember to cancel auto renewal, you can save money. We’ve included discount coupons in this post so you can get an even better deal on your antivirus for freelancers.

This is just part of what we look for during our testing process. Our antivirus software testing methodology goes into greater detail regarding our methods for examining antivirus tools.

How to use an antivirus for freelancers

The antivirus setup for freelancers is much the same as that for most other antivirus users, which is good news because it’s all very straightforward. Below, we’ve included a step-by-step guide for signing up and setting up.

Here’s how to protect your client data using an antivirus:

1. To get started, you’ll need to sign up with one of the antivirus providers covered above. As you’ll see from our reviews, we particularly recommend Norton 360.
2. Download and install the antivirus software on the devices you want to protect. All of the antivirus providers covered allow you to secure multiple devices simultaneously.
3. Log in to the antivirus software using the credentials you created during signup. Run any initial updates before performing a full system scan to check for existing threats.
4. Make sure you activate key features. For example, you’ll likely need to grant permissions to activate real-time protection. You may also want to activate a VPN, if available.
5. Keep your antivirus software up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest threats and schedule regular scans to ensure no malware makes its way on your device.

How else can I protect my client data?

Protecting client data requires more than just using an antivirus. Indeed, doing so involves using multiple layers of security, including the following:

• Use strong passwords: Create complex, unique passwords for your online accounts. The best password managers can help you do this while only having to remember one password. Just make sure this is also complex and totally unique (no pet names!).
• Enable two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to accounts by requiring a second verification step such as providing a code sent to your phone. This makes it harder for hackers to access your account.
• Use a VPN: When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is encrypted, preventing data from being intercepted by third parties. This is particularly important when you’re working remotely and using unsecured public wifi networks.
• Secure your wifi network: You can secure your wifi network by changing the default router username and password to something strong and unique. Use WPA3 encryption (or WPA2 if WPA3 isn’t available) to protect your connection better.
• Keep software updated: Be sure to regularly update your operating system and apps to patch any potential vulnerabilities. It’s a good idea to enable automatic updates where possible to more easily help you stay on top of things.
• Encrypt sensitive files: Use encryption tools to secure sensitive files, such as those that contain client data. You may find a file encryption tool as part of your antivirus subscription, but there are plenty of quality standalone options.
• Back up your data: Backing up your data protects you from the unexpected, be it a hardware failure or ransomware attack. Regular encrypted backups may be done to external hard drives or secure cloud storage, and they can be automated to make life easier.
• Use encrypted messaging: When it comes to communicating sensitive information, use encrypted services. This may be email (ProtonMail) or a messaging app such as Signal, both of which ensure only the sender and the recipient can read the contents.
• Be wary of phishing attacks: A quality antivirus can help protect you against phishing attacks, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of such threats. Exercise caution with unsolicited messages and any links or attachments within them.
• Dispose of data securely: There may be times when you not only need to hold client data but dispose of it in a secure fashion. Make use of secure deletion tools to permanently delete digital files from your system when required.

Related:

• Best VPNs for remote workers
• Common freelancer scams
• Best VPNs for Fiverr
• Best VPNs for Upwork

Antivirus for freelancers: FAQs