Choosing the Right Antivirus

In today’s digital world, protecting your devices — whether at home or in business — isn’t optional. With cyber threats evolving every day, choosing the right security software can mean the difference between peace of mind and a major disruption.

At PC Onsite, we often hear customers ask: “Which antivirus is best?” To answer that, let’s compare four of the biggest names — SentinelOne, ESET, Norton, and McAfee — and explain why we’ve chosen to partner with SentinelOne and ESET.

Norton Internet Security

Norton has been a household name for years. It offers strong antivirus protection alongside a wide range of extras: VPN, parental controls, cloud backup, and identity monitoring.

Pros:

• Great “all-in-one” package for families

• Consistently strong lab test results

• Easy to set up for non-technical users

Cons:

• Renewal pricing can be high

• Can feel “bloated” with too many extras running in the background

• More suited to home users than businesses

👉 Norton is a solid choice for families who want a simple, bundled solution, but it can be overkill if you only want efficient antivirus protection.

McAfee Internet Security

McAfee focuses heavily on privacy and identity protection. Beyond antivirus, it includes file shredders, anti-fraud tools, and secure browsing options.

Pros:

• Strong identity protection features

• Widely available, with multiple plan options

• Decent detection in most independent tests

Cons:

• System impact can be heavier than that of competitors

• Interface and upsells can be overwhelming

• Slightly behind Norton and ESET in detection reliability

👉 McAfee is appealing if your priority is identity protection, but as a day-to-day antivirus, it sometimes lags behind in speed and usability.

ESET Internet Security

ESET is often described as the “quiet achiever” of the antivirus world. It’s fast, reliable, and light on system resources, all while maintaining excellent detection rates. Unlike some competitors, ESET focuses on doing antivirus and core security very well — without loading unnecessary extras.

Pros:

• Low system impact, doesn’t slow down devices

• Extremely low false-positive rates

• Strong, consistent protection

• Flexible enough for both home and SMB environments

Cons:

• Fewer “lifestyle” extras compared to Norton or McAfee

• Best suited for people who value efficiency over add-ons

👉 For home users and small businesses who want strong, dependable protection without clutter, ESET is one of the best choices on the market.

SentinelOne

SentinelOne is in a different league. While Norton, McAfee, and ESET are aimed at consumers and SMBs, SentinelOne is built for businesses that need enterprise-grade security. It uses AI-driven detection, automated remediation, and even ransomware rollback, giving organisations the tools to fight modern cyberattacks head-on.

Pros:

• AI-driven, real-time threat detection

• Automated responses and rollback capabilities

• Detailed forensics and dashboards for IT teams

• Built to scale across hundreds or thousands of endpoints

Cons:

• More complex to configure (enterprise focus)

• Typically more expensive than consumer solutions

👉 For organisations that can’t afford downtime or missed threats, SentinelOne is a clear leader. It offers protection far beyond standard antivirus, helping businesses stay secure in an era of advanced cyber threats.

Why PC Onsite Recommends ESET & SentinelOne

While Norton and McAfee are well-known, they often try to be “everything to everyone.” The result can be clutter, heavier system use, or extras that not every customer really needs.

At PC Onsite, we’ve chosen to offer ESET and SentinelOne because they represent the best fit for the people we support:

• ESET → Perfect for home users and small businesses who want protection that’s fast, reliable, and efficient. It does the core job of internet security without unnecessary bloat.

• SentinelOne → Designed for businesses and enterprises that need advanced, AI-powered protection capable of stopping, responding to, and rolling back modern cyber threats automatically.

  
  

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re protecting your family computer or an entire organisation, the right security software depends on your needs. At PC Onsite, we believe in solutions that work quietly in the background for home users (ESET) and enterprise-grade protection that keeps businesses one step ahead (SentinelOne).

If you’d like advice on the best fit for your setup, or want help getting set up with ESET or SentinelOne, our team at PC Onsite is here to help.

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