Whether you’ve been shopping the best gaming PC deals or already have a lot invested in one of the best gaming PCs, some antivirus software is the first step in keeping it secure. With a lot of games accessible through online means, and with multiplayer action taking place primarily online nowadays, securing your setup is important. There is a lot of antivirus software out there, and while many of them offer similar features, their differences are important to note. We’ve tracked down the antivirus software we feel is the best for gamers to consider, and we’ve even narrowed the selections down into specific use case scenarios.
The best antivirus software for gaming PCs in 2024
Buy if you want the best antivirus software for gaming PCs.
Buy if you want the best antivirus software for full-screen gaming.
Buy if you want the best antivirus software for optimized gaming.
Buy if you want the best antivirus software for customized protection.
Buy if you want the best antivirus software for multiple gaming device coverage.
Norton Security 360 for Gamers
Best antivirus software for gaming PCs
Norton
Pros
Cons
Coverage for up to 3 devices
Somewhat pricey
Game optimization
50GB cloud backup
Dark web monitoring for gamer tags
Norton Security 360 isn’t just the best antivirus software for gamers, but some of the best antivirus software for Windows and Mac in general. Its gamer edition is particularly impressive, however, offering features like dark web monitoring for your gamer tags and personal information. It’s designed by PC gamers for PC gamers, so features like Notification Optimization and Full-screen Detection Mode are expert inclusions.
Bitdefender îs a popular antivirus software option amongst gamers.Some of its gaming-specific features include a full-screen mode that temporarily halts pop-ups, adjusts visual settings, and pauses unimportant background activities to allow you to enjoy the full power of your gaming PC without distraction. It also offers webcam and microphone protection to prevent eavesdropping. Bitdefener has had the industry’s best detection rate for the past five years.
Specifications
Devices
PCs, Mac, smartphones, tablets
Free trial
30 days
McAfee Total Protection
Best antivirus software for optimized gaming
McAfee
Pros
Cons
Game Mode optimization
Basic Plan doesn’t offer much
Secure VPN included
24/7 identity monitoring alerts
McAfee has been providing antivirus software for almost as long as the PC has been. It’s knowledgable across all use-cases, but gamers should be particularly interested in McAfee because of its Game Mode. This offers optimized gaming and ensures the antivirus software doesn’t bog down your system while you play. It also includes an App Boost feature that recognizes which apps require the most resources at any given time.
Specifications
Devices
PCs, Mac, smartphones, tablets
Free trial
30 days
Webroot
Best antivirus software for customized protection
Webroot
Pros
Cons
Lightning fast scans
Lowest plan lacks essential features
Always-on security
Multiple plans for various needs
Webroot is another antivirus software option a lot of gamers lean toward. This is mostly due to its speed, as it offers blazing fast scans without interruption and fast install times. But something Webroot offers that you won’t find among many antivirus software options is several different plans that each improve on feature offerings over one another. This effectively makes your plan selection customizable, the base plan offering basic coverage and the premium plan including everything Web root has to offer, and the Webroot’s middle plans covering all of the ground in between.
Specifications
Devices
PCs, Mac, smartphones, tablets
Free trial
14 days
Aura
Best antivirus software for protecting multiple gaming devices
Aura
Pros
Cons
Protects minimum of up to 10 devices
No gaming-specific features
Premium identity theft protection
$1M identity theft insurance
Well priced
Aura offers a range of protection services, and among them is antivirus software. It allows you to protect your digital footprint from multiple threats, and many gaming PCs and laptops are now coming with Aura pre-installed. Aura is also a great option if you’re hoping to cover multiple gaming devices, as its Individual Plan will protect up to 10 devices, and its Family Plan will cover up to 50 devices.
Specifications
Devices
PCs, Mac, smartphones, tablets
Free trial
14 days
How we chose the best antivirus software for gaming PCs
When it comes to choosing antivirus software, most options offer a wide range of features. When it comes to narrowing things down to the best antivirus software for gaming PCs specifically, there are a few things you need to pay more attention to. These include things offerings like game optimization and protection for peripheral devices such as webcams and mics in addition to ensuring protection is provided during online gaming sessions. We took all of these things into account in narrowing down antivirus software into the best options for gaming PC users, and we factored in things like pricing and the number devices covered with each option as well.
This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.
Don’t miss this huge sale on Samsung monitors — From just $120
Amazon has become known as a great place to shop for some savings, and today that’s good news if you’re in the market for a new computer monitor. Amazon is currently having a massive sale on Samsung monitors, with something to choose from for gamers, professionals, creatives, and students. Some of the best monitor deals we’ve seen can be found in the sale, in fact, with 25 Samsung monitors seeing substantial price drops. Free shipping will be included with a purchase, with free fast shipping available on some Samsung monitors for Amazon Prime members.
Why you should shop the Samsung monitor sale at Amazon
Samsung has long been known as one of the best TV brands, and that picture technology trickles down into its monitors. It has a wide range of monitors available, with several of them regularly in the conversation to be amongst the best monitors. This sale sees some affordable options to pair with a desktop PC or a laptop, such as the Samsung 27-inch CF39 Full HD Curved Monitor, which is
This monstrous Samsung 57-inch 4K gaming monitor is $700 off
For the ultimate video game experience, it's not enough that you invest in gaming PC deals. You'll also need a topnotch display like the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor. It's pretty expensive -- but very much worth it -- at its original price of $2,500, so you shouldn't miss this chance to get it with a $700 discount from Samsung, for a more reasonable price of $1,800. It's still not cheap, but if you can afford it, it will quickly prove to be one of your best gaming purchases. You'll miss out on the savings if you don't move fast though, so hurry up and complete the transaction.
Why you should buy the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor
Samsung describes the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 dual 4K curved gaming monitor as the first dual 4K Ultra HD monitor, with the 57-inch display offering 7680 x 2160 resolution -- that's equivalent to two 4K monitors with 3840 x 2160 resolution placed side-by-side. It's a massive screen, and when combined with a 1000R curvature to fill your peripheral vision and Quantum Mini-LED technology for extremely realistic images, you'll get fantastic levels of immersion in the best PC games that you may not get from any other monitor.
This LG 32-inch QHD gaming monitor is a bargain at $250
A powerful gaming desktop should be paired with a gaming monitor that will give justice to its capabilities. However, if you've already spent most of your budget on upgrades with gaming PC deals, the good news is that you can still get a decent display for cheap. Here's one to consider -- the 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor for an affordable $250, following a $100 discount from LG on its original price of $400. There's no telling how much time is remaining before you miss out on the savings, so if you're interested, you need to make the purchase right away.
Why you should buy the 32-inch LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor
The LG UltraGear QHD gaming monitor comes with a 32-inch display, which is the upper end of our computer monitor buying guide's recommended size range. It's large enough to make the most of its QHD resolution so you can play the best PC games with sharp details and lifelike colors, while maintaining a reasonable price and without taking up too much space on your desk. The gaming monitor also features a 165Hz refresh rate, which is even faster than our recommended range of 120Hz to 144Hz for smooth motion, and a 1ms response time that will let you see all the action in near real-time.
