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The most visible antivirus apps in United Kingdom, October 2026

October 2026 · 15 questions asked from United Kingdom in English · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 60 answers read

AI: how the engines answer the board's questions; Search: Google's top 10 for the questions' demand keywords; All: both combined. How the Heralded Score works.

Leader

Norton

28%of answers name it

Most cited source

techradar.com

8citations

From Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Microsoft Defender

1/4engines put it in their top three

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

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
1 Norton US New entry 51 , range 20–60
51
  • : score 51 · #1
 28% 12% First reading
2 Bitdefender RO New entry 51 , range 24–67
51
  • : score 51 · #2
 30% 19% First reading
3 McAfee US New entry 41 , range 4–52
41
  • : score 41 · #3
 16% 5% First reading
4 Microsoft Defender US New entry 38 , range 21–55
38
  • : score 38 · #4
 20% 11% First reading
5 Malwarebytes US New entry 36 , range 13–56
36
  • : score 36 · #5
 19% 9% First reading
6 Avast CZ New entry 34 , range 5–52
34
  • : score 34 · #6
 13% 7% First reading
7 Trend Micro JP New entry 31 , range 0–74
31
  • : score 31 · #7
 2% 1% First reading
8 ESET SK New entry 28 , range 0–74
28
  • : score 28 · #8
 4% 3% First reading
9 Intego FR New entry 22 , range 0–74
22
  • : score 22 · #9
 4% 2% First reading
10 Avira DE New entry 20 , range 0–74
20
  • : score 20 · #10
 3% 1% 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 techradar.com Media 10.0% 3 of 4 7 13
2Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
3Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
4Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
5Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
6 security.org Media 6.7% 3 of 4 3 3
7 cnet.com Media 3.3% 2 of 4 3 Not read
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 and Microsoft Defender, tied
Which antivirus app can protect my family’s phones and computers? English Bitdefender, McAfee and Norton, tied
What should I use to protect my Mac from viruses and ransomware? English Bitdefender
Which antivirus app can protect my Android phone from malicious apps? English Bitdefender
How can I stop malware infecting my laptop? English Malwarebytes, Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Defender, tied
How can I protect my family from phishing links and unsafe downloads? English Microsoft Defender
How can I remove a virus and stop it coming back? English Microsoft Defender
How can I tell if spyware is tracking my phone? English No brand recommended
Is my device’s built-in security enough, or should I install an antivirus app? English Malwarebytes and Microsoft Defender, tied
Should I use one security app across my phone and computer, or separate apps? English Microsoft Defender

Each engine's top three

Method

For the AI side, 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