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 protection for texts in every plan
Antivirus & online safety, reviewed for Canada
Scammers don't care which device you use. Protect all of them.
Fake CRA texts, toll-road look-alikes 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 | Affiliate link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Recognized 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 |
Affiliate link
Affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our assessments. How this works.
Why it matters
$704 million
lost to fraud reported by Canadians in 2025, across more than 112,000 reports to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — Top 10 frauds in 2025. The CAFC estimates only 5% to 10% of frauds are reported.
Identity fraud leads
Identity fraud was the most reported fraud to the CAFC in 2025, with 8,403 reports.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — Top 10 frauds in 2025Most fraud goes unreported
The CAFC says only 5% to 10% of frauds are reported — the real losses are far higher.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — Fraud Prevention Month (6 March 2026)On every device
Phones and tablets carry the same logins as the family PC. Good protection covers the devices people actually use.
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 cloud backup in every Norton 360 plan
- Scam protection in every tier
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 Canada 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 Canadian dollars (CAD), 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 Canada: how to spot fake CRA, Canada Post and 407 ETR messages
A tax refund, a parcel waiting, a toll balance, a fraud check from the bank — scam texts copy real messages closely. What the genuine ones look like, how to check safely and where to report a fake.
PrivacyTechReview Editorial Team Reviewed Oct 13, 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 Oct 13, 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 Oct 13, 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 Oct 13, 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 Oct 13, 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 Oct 13, 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.