The 12 Best Black Friday and Cyber Monday Antivirus Deals for 2026

Why You Need Antivirus Software More Than Ever

In our increasingly connected digital world, the threat of malware is more prevalent than ever. According to the FBI‘s 2021 Internet Crime Report, they received a record 847,376 cybercrime complaints with potential losses exceeding $6.9 billion. The 2022 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that 82% of breaches involved the human element, including social attacks and errors.

What do these disturbing statistics tell us? That no one is immune to cyber attacks and practicing good digital hygiene is crucial. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to protect your devices and data is by using a robust antivirus program. And there‘s no better time to secure your tech than during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

As a cybersecurity expert with over a decade of experience, I‘ve tested and reviewed dozens of antivirus solutions. I know what separates the best from the rest in terms of protection, performance, and extra features. To help you stay safe online for less this holiday season, I‘ve hand-picked the top 12 antivirus deals from leading cybersecurity brands.

The Top Antivirus Deals This Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Product	Regular Price	Sale Price	Discount	Devices Covered	Operating Systems	Key Features
Norton 360 Deluxe	$94.99/year	$19.99/year	78% off	5	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Real-time threat protection, VPN, dark web monitoring, 50GB cloud backup, password manager
McAfee Total Protection	$159.99/2 years	$79.99/2 years	$80 off	10	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Award-winning antivirus, performance optimization, safe web browsing, network security, file shredder
Bitdefender Total Security	$119.99/year	$35.99/year	70% off	10	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS	Top-rated antivirus, VPN, microphone monitor, anti-tracker, file shredder
Trend Micro Maximum Security	$89.95/year	$44.95/15 months	50% off + 3 months free	10	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook	AI-powered antivirus, Pay Guard, dark web monitoring, social media privacy tools
Avast Premium Security	$83.88/year	$50.28/year	40% off	10	Windows	Next-gen antivirus, anti-ransomware, web & email shields, network security

1. Norton 360 Deluxe

• Deal: 78% off a 1-year subscription
• Sale Price: $19.99 for the first year (renews at $94.99/year)
• Regular Price: $94.99/year
• Devices Covered: 5
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Key Features: Real-time threat protection, secure VPN, dark web monitoring, 50GB cloud backup, password manager

Norton is a household name in cybersecurity, protecting consumers since 1991. Their flagship Norton 360 Deluxe is an all-in-one security suite that goes well beyond basic antivirus. In addition to top-rated malware detection using heuristic analysis and machine learning, you get extras like an unlimited VPN for private browsing, dark web monitoring to protect your identity, 50GB of secure cloud storage, and a password manager to safeguard your logins.

Independent labs consistently rank Norton 360 among the best. AV-Test awarded it a perfect 6/6 score for protection, performance, and usability in their Oct 2022 Windows testing, and 100% detection of widespread and zero-day malware. At 78% off, this is one of the most feature-packed and affordable deals you‘ll find.

As a long-time user of Norton products in both home and business environments, I can vouch for their effectiveness and minimal impact on system performance. The VPN is speedy and the dark web monitoring gives added peace of mind. For under $20 for the first year, it‘s a no-brainer investment in your digital security.

2. McAfee Total Protection

• Deal: $80 off a 2-year subscription
• Sale Price: $79.99 for 2 years (renews at $159.99/2 years)
• Regular Price: $159.99/2 years
• Devices Covered: 10
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Key Features: Award-winning antivirus, performance optimization, safe web browsing, network security, file shredder

Another respected name in antivirus, McAfee has protected over 600 million devices worldwide. Their Total Protection package is a comprehensive solution for all your security needs. Its advanced, multi-layered antivirus uses behavioral analysis and machine learning to combat the latest threats in real-time.

Other notable tools include a vulnerability scanner to find outdated software, a dedicated firewall to monitor network traffic, a file shredder for permanent data deletion, and safe web browsing that blocks malicious sites and links. McAfee‘s Virus Protection Pledge offers a 100% refund if malware removal requires an expert‘s help.

AV-Comparatives named McAfee a Top Product in their Oct-Nov 2022 Real-World Protection Test, with a 99.8% malware protection rate. PC Mag gave it an Excellent rating and Editor‘s Choice award, noting its wealth of features and multi-faceted approach to security.

At 50% off for two years of protection on 10 devices, McAfee Total Protection is an excellent value for families and those with many devices. In my experience deploying it for clients, its robust network protection and system cleanup tools are major selling points.

3. Bitdefender Total Security

• Deal: 70% off a 1-year subscription
• Sale Price: $35.99 for the first year (renews at $119.99/year)
• Regular Price: $119.99/year
• Devices Covered: 10
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Key Features: Top-rated antivirus, VPN, microphone monitor, anti-tracker, ransomware protection

Bitdefender is renowned for its heavy-hitting yet lightweight antivirus solutions. Total Security is their most comprehensive offering, combining a powerful anti-malware engine with a slew of privacy and performance tools.

At its core is Bitdefender‘s multilayered malware scanner, which uses behavioral analysis, machine learning, and cloud-based threat intelligence to weed out the latest malware. It aced AV-Comparatives‘ Real-World Protection Test with a perfect 100% malware detection rate. The Anti-Tracker browser extension blocks trackers and intrusive ads, while the microphone monitor alerts you to eavesdropping apps.

Other stand-out features include:

• Anti-Ransomware: Proactively protects files from encryption by untrusted apps
• Parental Controls: Manage kids‘ device usage and block inappropriate content
• Safepay: Bitdefender‘s secure browser for online banking and shopping
• Vulnerability Assessment: Finds outdated software, weak passwords, and security holes

I‘ve trusted Bitdefender to secure countless business and personal devices over the years. It consistently delivers top-notch protection without slowing down systems. The user interface is intuitive and the VPN, while limited to 200MB/day, is still handy for light browsing. At 70% off for 10 devices, it‘s a steal.

4. Trend Micro Maximum Security

• Deal: 50% off a 1-year subscription + 3 free months
• Sale Price: $44.95 for the first 15 months (renews at $89.95/year)
• Regular Price: $89.95/year
• Devices covered: 10
• Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chromebook
• Key Features: AI-powered antivirus, Pay Guard, dark web monitoring, social media privacy tools

Trend Micro has been a leader in cybersecurity for over 30 years, protecting over 250 million endpoints. Maximum Security is their flagship consumer product, built on a robust anti-malware engine that uses AI and machine learning to detect and block threats in real-time.

One unique feature is Pay Guard, a secure vault for online transactions that keeps banking details safe from keyloggers and screen scrapers. Social media privacy tools help you check and adjust privacy settings across social networks. Dark web monitoring scours underground cybercrime sites 24/7 and alerts you if your data is found.

Trend Micro earned near-perfect scores in AV-Test‘s Aug 2022 Windows evaluations, blocking 100% of widespread and zero-day malware. Their Folder Shield tool provides ransomware protection, while the PC Health Checkup optimizes performance.

I appreciate Trend Micro‘s proactive, layered approach to security and their low false positive rate compared to some rivals. The 15-month intro offer provides ample time to try out all the features and see real benefit before renewal.

5. Avast Premium Security

• Deal: 40% off a 1-year subscription
• Sale Price: $50.28 for the first year (renews at $83.88/year)
• Regular Price: $83.88/year
• Devices Covered: 10
• Operating Systems: Windows
• Key Features: Next-gen antivirus, anti-ransomware, web/email shields, network security

Avast has a reputation for robust, user-friendly security solutions. Premium Security offers their most advanced antivirus engine using six layers of protection, including heuristic analysis and cloud-based scanning of unknown files. I particularly like their real-time updates and CyberCapture tool, which isolates suspicious files for analysis in the cloud.

The Web and Email Shields scan links and attachments for malware before you click, while the Network Inspector alerts you to security weaknesses in your home network. The new Remote Access Shield blocks attacks like the infamous AZORult trojan disguised as remote support software.

Avast‘s Anti-Ransomware feature uses behavioral analysis to spot and halt encryption attempts on protected folders. The optional Do Not Disturb mode suspends popups when running fullscreen apps. While the interface could be more intuitive, the level of control Avast offers over your protection is impressive.

AV-Comparatives awarded Avast the Advanced+ rating (the highest) in their Feb-May 2022 Real-World Protection Test, with a 99.7% online malware detection rate. For comprehensive protection on up to 10 PCs at 40% off, Avast Premium Security is well worth consideration.

Other Hot Black Friday Antivirus Deals

• AVG Internet Security: 33% off unlimited devices for $79.99/year
• Malwarebytes Premium: 50% off for $49.99/year (3 devices)
• Panda Dome Essential: 70% off $23.49/year (1 device)
• Webroot SecureAnywhere: 50% off $37.49/year (5 devices)
• ESET NOD32: 40% off $39.99/year (3 PCs)
• F-Secure Total: 50% off $99.99/2 years (5 devices)
• Kaspersky Total Security: $27.99/year (was $99.99) for 5 devices

FAQs on Black Friday and Cyber Monday Antivirus Deals

Do I really need antivirus on my Mac or smartphone?

Yes! While Macs and mobile devices are generally less vulnerable than Windows PCs, they are not immune to malware. The number of threats targeting Macs, iPhones, and Android devices has risen sharply in recent years. Thieves love to steal sensitive data from smartphones. A good antivirus will guard your device and data against malware, unsafe apps, fraudulent websites, and network attacks.

Does antivirus slow down your computer?

In the early days of antivirus, sluggish performance was a valid concern. But today‘s top products are highly efficient and optimized to run smoothly in the background without bogging down your system. In fact, they can even speed up your device by preventing malware infections and clearing out junk files. Most have gaming or movie modes that suppress notifications during fullscreen activities.

How do I know if my antivirus is working?

A good antivirus works silently, but you can check it‘s running smoothly by:

1. Verifying that automatic updates are enabled and definition files are current
2. Performing a manual or scheduled scan and noting the results
3. Confirming that real-time protection, firewalls, and web shields are active
4. Testing web protection by visiting harmless test sites like EICAR
5. Checking that licenses are valid and haven‘t expired

Most vendors also offer a security report or dashboard showing threats detected, quarantined files, scans completed, and more. If you suspect a problem, contact the vendor‘s support or consult their knowledge base.

Don‘t Skimp on Security This Holiday Season

In today‘s wild west of cybercrime, antivirus protection is not optional – it‘s a necessity for anyone who uses the internet. Malware threats are more devious and prevalent than ever, as criminals seek to steal identities, hold data for ransom, drain bank accounts, and more. The cost and headache of a malware infection far exceed that of a good antivirus.

Fortunately, the leading antivirus brands pull out all the stops for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, offering their best prices of the year. The sales covered here represent the cream of the crop in terms of both savings and quality. They are an affordable investment in your digital safety and peace of mind.

So as you‘re shopping for gifts or snagging deals for yourself, don‘t neglect the security of your devices and data. Take advantage of one of these limited-time discounts to lock in protection at an unbeatable price. Whether you opt for a feature-rich internet security suite or a standalone antivirus, you‘ll be glad you did.

Because the only thing better than shiny new tech toys is the confidence of knowing they‘re safeguarded against today‘s ever-evolving threats. This holiday season, give yourself the gift of digital security.