A whole family
Kids' phones, a shared laptop, a parent's tablet — one unprotected device can be the way in.
Our match
McAfee
- Unlimited devices on McAfee+ plans
- Scam Detector alerts in every plan
Antivirus & online safety, reviewed for Australia
Scammers don't care which device you use. Protect all of them.
Fake myGov texts, toll-road 'fines' and phishing pages target phones and tablets, not just PCs. We compared Norton, McAfee, Avast, TotalAV and Avira on what they actually protect — so you can pick the right one in about a minute.
| Suite | Best for | Stand-out | Skip it if | Ad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editors' choice Norton | All-in-one bundle seekers | Bundled VPN + cloud backup | You won't use the extras | |
| TotalAV | Simple, all-in-one setup | Ease of use + tune-up tools | You want deep configuration | |
| McAfee | Mixed-OS families, many devices | Breadth + family-scale management | You only protect one device | |
| Avast | Familiar all-rounder | Recognised brand, broad suite | You dislike upsell prompts | |
| Avira | Starting free, with extras | Free VPN, password manager + updater | You'd lean on a VPN every day |
Ad
Ad: buttons marked 'Ad' are affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our assessments. How this works.
Why it matters
$2.18 billion
lost to scams reported by Australians in 2025, up 7.8 per cent on 2024 — from 481,523 reports to Scamwatch and other agencies.
Source: ACCC — Targeting scams 2025 (media release, 30 March 2026). Reported losses only.
Phishing tops the list
Phishing was the most reported scam to Scamwatch in 2025, with 65,361 reports.
Source: ACCC — Targeting scams 2025 (media release, 30 March 2026)Watch for 'Unverified'
Since 1 July 2026, texts from businesses without a registered sender ID can arrive as 'Unverified'. Check them carefully.
Source: ACMAOlder Australians lose most
Australians aged 65 and over accounted for 26.5 per cent of losses reported to Scamwatch in 2025.
Source: ACCC — Targeting scams 2025 (media release, 30 March 2026)Find your match
Start from your situation — we'll tell you which suite fits
Each pick is matched to a real need, with the reasons it fits. Ranked by fit, never by commission.
Everything in one plan
Antivirus, a VPN and backup bought separately add up — and three apps mean three renewals to track.
Our match
Norton
- VPN and password manager in every Norton 360 plan
- Advanced adds identity theft insurance from AIG Australia
Keep it simple
When security software is confusing, people switch it off — or click straight through the warnings that matter.
Our match
TotalAV
- One uncluttered app on every platform
- Tune-up tools in every plan; VPN from Internet Security up
Start free
Not ready to pay yet? Free protection beats none — as long as it comes from a vendor you can trust.
Our match
Avast
- Best known for its free antivirus
- Premium Security blocks scam texts and calls
I use a Mac
Macs block a lot on their own — but fake installers and phishing pages target the person, not the machine.
Our match
Norton
- A Mac app inside a plan that also covers PCs and phones
- Bundled extras if you'll use them
Not sure which one you are?
See all five suites side by side — who each fits, what's bundled in Australia and what to check before you pay.
Compare all fiveProtected in three steps
- 1
Pick your situation
Family, Mac, all-in-one, simple or free — start from what you actually need to protect.
- 2
See your match
One suite per situation, with the reasons it fits and the trade-offs we'd want to know.
- 3
Check the price on the official site
Compare the renewal price in Australian dollars (AUD), not just the introductory offer — then set it up on each device you want covered.
Do you even need antivirus?
Straight answers for each device — including when the built-in protection is enough.
Guides
All guides →
Scams & Fraud
Scam texts in Australia: how to spot fake myGov, ATO, toll and parcel messages
An unpaid toll, a tax refund, a parcel that couldn't be delivered — scam texts copy real messages closely. What the genuine ones look like, what the new 'Unverified' label means, and where to report a fake.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 6 min read
Antivirus
How to choose antivirus software: a practical buyer's framework
Ignore the marketing superlatives. Five criteria that actually separate good consumer security suites from forgettable ones — and the trade-offs nobody puts on the box.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 8 min read
Antivirus
Is Windows Defender enough? When built-in protection is fine — and when it isn't
For one well-maintained Windows PC, the security built into Windows is a genuine baseline. The case for a paid suite starts when your household, your devices or your needs grow beyond that one machine.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 7 min read
VPN & Privacy
What a VPN protects — and the things people wrongly expect it to
A VPN is a useful privacy tool with a specific, narrow job. The marketing has stretched it into a security cure-all. Here is where the line really sits.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 6 min read
Password Managers
Password managers: the single highest-leverage security habit
If you only change one thing this year, make it this. What a password manager fixes, how to adopt one without the overwhelm, and the honest risks.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 6 min read
Online Privacy
You were in a data breach. Here's the calm, correct response
Breach notifications are designed to alarm. A short, ordered checklist does more for your security than panic or a hasty subscription.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed 13 Oct 2026 5 min read
Don't leave the next click to chance
Pick the protection that fits your devices today. It takes a minute to choose — and the right plan can cover the whole household once it's set up.