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The most visible antivirus apps, October 2026

October 2026 · 15 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 84 answers read

Most cited source

microsoft.com

24citations

From Google AI Mode, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Norton

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Gemini, not on Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 Microsoft Defender US New entry 55 , range 44–69
55
  • : score 55 · #1
 49% 37% First reading
2 Bitdefender RO New entry 49 , range 40–63
49
  • : score 49 · #2
 44% 30% None First reading
3 Norton US New entry 41 , range 34–50
41
  • : score 41 · #3
 41% 12% First reading
4 Malwarebytes US New entry 39 , range 32–48
39
  • : score 39 · #4
 27% 21% None First reading
5 McAfee US New entry 31 , range 10–39
31
  • : score 31 · #5
 22% 5% First reading
6 Avast CZ New entry 16 , range 6–35
16
  • : score 16 · #6
 15% 3% None First reading
7 Kaspersky RU New entry 16 , range 7–34
16
  • : score 16 · #7
 18% 0% First reading
8 Intego FR New entry 6 , range 2–30
6
  • : score 6 · #8
 4% 4% None First reading
9 F-Secure FI New entry 4 , range 2–21
4
  • : score 4 · #9
 6% 0% None First reading
10 Sophos GB New entry 4 , range 1–20
4
  • : score 4 · #10
 4% 1% None First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

This month's moves

First reading. No comparable previous month yet.

Biggest risers

No clear rise.

Biggest fallers

No clear fall.

Drop-outs

No drop-outs.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
1 microsoft.com Brand site 16.7% 4 of 4 18 4
2 kaspersky.com Brand site 13.1% 2 of 4 9 2
3Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
4Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
5Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
6Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
7 pandasecurity.com Brand site 3.6% 1 of 4 2 0
8Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
9Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
10Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
what antivirus app should i use to protect my windows laptop from malware English Bitdefender
which antivirus app can protect a family’s phones and computers English Bitdefender and Norton, tied
what should i use to keep my mac safe from viruses and ransomware English Malwarebytes
which antivirus app helps protect my android phone from malicious apps English Avast and Bitdefender, tied
how do i stop malware from infecting my laptop English Microsoft Defender
how can i protect my family from phishing links and unsafe downloads English Bitdefender
how do i remove a virus and keep it from coming back English Malwarebytes and Microsoft Defender, tied
how can i tell if spyware is tracking my phone English No brand recommended
is built-in device security enough or should i install an antivirus app English Microsoft Defender
should i use one security app across my phone and computer or separate apps English Microsoft Defender

Each engine's top three

Method

Each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured