Best Kaspersky alternatives for total internet security in 2025

Kaspersky Antivirus was once a popular choice for cybersecurity, but it lost trust due to concerns about its ties to the Kremlin. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry & Security determined that Kaspersky services are a risk to US national security, leading to the US ban of Kaspersky in June 2024. New updates for the Kaspersky software have been prohibited, so it is ineffective against new malware or threats that have emerged after the ban. In addition, Kaspersky’s software was replaced across the US with UltraAV, a different antivirus program.

Since Kaspersky can no longer operate in the US, finding the best alternative to Kaspersky is crucial. I’ve reviewed 17 antivirus programs to recommend the best Kaspersky alternatives for 2025, the top three being TotalAV, Norton Antivirus, and Bitdefender. Keep on reading and find out everything you need to know about them!

Top 5 best Kaspersky replacements after the US ban

1. TotalAV

   Overall best Kaspersky alternative in 2025
   9.7
2. Norton Antivirus

   Beginner-friendly Kaspersky replacement
   9.1
3. Bitdefender Antivirus

   Cheapest replacement for Kaspersky
   9.4
4. Malwarebytes

   Affordable and secure alternative to Kaspersky
   8.0
5. Surfshark Antivirus

   Trustworthy Kaspersky competitor
   8.8

What has happened to Kaspersky?

Kaspersky, a Russian cybersecurity company, has been banned in the US due to serious security concerns. The ban officially went into effect on September 30, 2025, following years of suspicion that the Russian government might use Kaspersky for espionage. These concerns were first raised in 2017 when the National Security Agency alleged that Kaspersky had been involved in hacking US government systems and stealing sensitive information. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 further amplified these fears, leading the US Federal Communications Commission to classify Kaspersky as a threat to national security. You can read more about this in our Kaspersky antivirus review.

As part of the ban, Kaspersky Antivirus software was removed from computers across the US and replaced with UltraAV, a different antivirus product, without notifying users. This abrupt replacement frustrated many and highlighted the urgency for users to find reliable alternatives.

The US government strongly advises all Kaspersky Antivirus users to switch immediately to alternative cybersecurity providers to avoid threats, as Kaspersky Antivirus is no longer being updated. Given the serious espionage allegations surrounding Kaspersky, transitioning to a trustworthy cybersecurity solution is essential for maintaining safety online. Therefore, currently, the three best alternatives for Kaspersky antivirus are: TotalAV, Norton Antivirus, and Bitdefender Antivirus for their strong security features, ease of use, and excellent malware protection.

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Key features to look for in an alternative to Kaspersky Antivirus

If you’ve used Kaspersky Antivirus and are now searching for an alternative, you'll likely want a solution that matches or even surpasses the quality you experienced. TotalAV stands out as the best Kaspersky alternative due to excellent security features, the addition of a reliable VPN, and competitive pricing. To help you make an informed decision, I’ve compared Kaspersky’s Internet Security and Total Security plans with TotalAV plans to show why TotalAV stands out as the ideal alternative for enhanced protection and value.

In a nutshell, the Kaspersky Internet Security package offers essential protection but lacks advanced antivirus features like a password manager or file encryption, while the Kaspersky Total Security comes with a more comprehensive set, including cloud backup and parental controls. As for the TotalAV Internet Security package, it covers all the essential bases and includes additional tools, like a VPN. Lastly, TotalAV Total Security has the most comprehensive security coverage, with identity protection and cloud backup included in the feature set. This makes TotalAV a strong alternative, if not a better alternative, to Kaspersky Total Security.

Best Kaspersky alternatives in 2025

• 🥇TotalAV - overall best Kaspersky replacement in 2025
• 🥈Norton Antivirus - a well-rounded antivirus to replace Kaspersky
• 🥉Bitdefender - solid Kaspersky competitor with robust security features
• Malwarebytes - an affordable alternative to Kaspersky
• Surfshark One Antivirus - secure Kaspersky alternative

If you’re looking for a solid alternative to Kaspersky this year, my guide has got you covered. I tested 20 available antivirus software and compiled this list of the Top 5 replacements for you to choose from:

🥇1. TotalAV - overall best Kaspersky replacement in 2025

TotalAV is the best Kaspersky alternative in 2025. It has the same core security features as Kaspersky, plus an additional ad blocker and more cloud backup space. It is also slightly cheaper for the first year and supports more devices than Kaspersky. So, let’s explore TotalAV's security features a bit more. First, the real-time protection feature constantly monitors for potential threats. The WebShield extension also automatically blocks malicious websites and crypto-mining URLs. Additionally, TotalAV has a dedicated VPN, which is always a nice addition.

Besides the industry-standard features, TotalAV also has a password manager, identity theft protection, an AdBlock (a feature that Kaspersky does not have), and is capable of 99% malware detection rates. I tested these capabilities myself and can confirm that my in-house tests corresponded to those of independent antivirus testing labs.

Although the software is full of features, the program and the apps are simple to navigate and use. Lastly, it uses just around 1% RAM on an 8/16GB RAM computer, which is relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of operational speeds. You can find more test results in our in-depth TotalAV review.

TotalAV’s Antivirus Pro plan for protection against online threats comes at $19.00/year for 3 devices, while the Internet Security plan with incorporated VPN comes at $39.00/year for 6 devices. Lastly, the Total Security plan includes VPN, ad block, password protection, and device protection at $49.00/year for 8 devices. All yearly plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, while the monthly ones come with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Lastly, you can try all of them with a 7-day free trial.

🥈2. Norton Antivirus - well-rounded antivirus to replace Kaspersky

Norton Antivirus is an excellent antivirus replacement for Kaspersky, due to a great package of security features, a reliable VPN and a password manager. However, its interface is somewhat less intuitive, and if you’re not used to antivirus software, you might get lost while adjusting the settings.

Besides the mandatory security features such as real-time threat protection and deep scans, Norton Antivirus also has a whole array of additional features. You can expect to find parental controls, system optimization tools, PC backup, and a Smart Firewall. The last feature is very handy for monitoring the communications between your computer and other computers on the network, providing an additional layer of security.

In my testing, Norton’s real-time threat protection only delivered about 70% as it failed to identify and remove 3 out of 10 malware baits I planted. I got a bit better results with a deep scan. Here, Norton Antivirus performed at 80%, which isn’t bad at all. However, the real-time and deep scans took a bit longer than other antivirus software.

You can get the Norton Plus plan for $29.99/year. If you want to go for the Standard plan, it’ll cost you $39.99/year for 1 device, and the Norton Deluxe plan is $49.99/year for 5 devices. Lastly, Norton 360 Advanced comes at $191.88/year for 10 devices. You can try out all these plans with a 7-day free trial or use the 60-day money-back guarantee.

🥉3. Bitdefender - solid Kaspersky competitor with robust security features

Bitdefender is one of the closest Kaspersky competitors, offering robust security features in its package. What sets it apart from the competition, though, is its compatibility with all the most popular operating systems, including Linux.

Bitdefender’s security package includes core real-time protection, deep system scans, and a VPN. However, the VPN comes with a 200MB daily cap unless you buy the premium package. Bitdefender also has a whole slew of nice additional features, like Scamio, an AI-based chatbox that analyzes messages and links to check their authenticity and intention. There’s also a well-functioning webcam and microphone lock.

During my testing, Bitdefender proved 100% effective in detecting real-time threats. However, with a deep scan, the percentage dropped to 90%, and the quick scan did not catch any planted malware at all, making it completely ineffective.

Bitdefender’s antivirus pricing starts at $0.83/month and covers up to 3 devices with essential security features. The Total Security plan comes at $19.99/year, and you can connect up to 5 devices to it. And if you’re interested in the Internet Security plan, it also costs 42.49 for 3 devices. If you’d like to try Bitdefender commitment-free first, it has a basic free plan, too. Lastly, all your purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 30-day free trial, too.

4. Malwarebytes - a lightweight alternative to Kaspersky

Malwarebytes is another excellent alternative to Kaspersky, with decades of experience in the internet security field. Malwarebytes has an excellent set of features for protecting devices against cyber threats. The set is enhanced by its own Malwarebytes.AI - an AI-based software - to catch zero-day malware.

Malwarebytes comes with reliable real-time protection, secure malware, ransomware, and exploit protection, a VPN, and an added ad blocker for safe browsing. Another thing I really liked about Malwarebytes is the software’s minimalistic design, which made it super easy to understand and navigate. Lastly, it’s a very lightweight software that uses barely 1% of idle CPU.

Although Malwarebytes lacks features like parental control, a password manager, and a firewall, it makes up for its efficiency in real-time protection and deep scans. For instance, its browser guard proved to be 100% effective in spotting and blocking suspicious URLs during my testing. Real-time protection came at around 90% with the browser extension on, and deep scans ran at about 50% efficiency.

The Malwarebytes Standard plan costs $38.24/year but lacks a VPN service. The Plus plan stands at $59.99/year. While it includes a VPN, neither the Standards nor the Plus have ID Theft Protection. Lastly, there’s also a free Malwarebytes version, but it lacks the crucial real-time protection feature, rendering it not particularly useful. Both of the paid plans come with a 14-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

5. Surfshark One Antivirus - secure Kaspersky alternative

Surfshark One Antivirus is a powerful and secure replacement for Kaspersky in 2025. Surfshark One is a well-rounded package of the latest security features, which includes antivirus and a very strong VPN. Plus, it comes with very simple-to-use apps for Windows, macOS, and Android, making it easy to use even if you’ve never used antivirus software before.

As an excellent antivirus should, Surfshark comes with real-time threat protection with a 90% malware detection rate proven during my testing, an ad block called CleanWeb, and one of the strongest VPN options in the industry for a well-rounded cybersecurity package. A nice additional touch is the webcam protection that locks your camera and alerts you if any app or website attempts to access it without your knowledge. By the way, Surfshark’s malware database is updated every 3 hours, making you safe from zero-day viruses. However, a quick scan took me over 2 minutes, which is a bit longer than other antiviruses.

Surfshark Antivirus is only available in the Surfshark One bundle, which includes a premium VPN service and costs $50.85/year for unlimited devices. Of course, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use if you decide that Surfshark is not for you or try its 7-day free trial first.

Comparison of the best Kaspersky replacement

How I selected these Kaspersky alternatives

To compile this list, I selected 20 available antivirus software. I first did in-house testing with them, trying out their real-time protection capabilities by downloading unzipped malware files to see if the software appropriately reacted. Afterward, I stored malware in the computer to check how effective each antivirus’s deep scans were. Then, I compared my results with independent antivirus testing labs like AV-Test Institute, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives. Lastly, I took all the following criteria in mind before determining my top 8 choices for the Kaspersky alternative:

• Detection rates. I looked for antivirus software that delivered at least 50% accuracy in real-time protection and deep scans. All my top choices performed better than that, keeping their scores at or close to 100% accuracy.
• Security. In my opinion, a truly well-rounded cybersecurity package should include a trusty VPN. Additionally, features like a password manager add a nice layer of security, so expect to find these additions in all the antivirus software listed here.
• Features. No matter how many features the antivirus software has listed, they are useless if they do not perform properly. That’s why I checked every feature of every antivirus software to ensure its effectiveness.
• Performance. I did performance tests to check how much the antivirus software affected my system’s speed and performance so you’d know what to expect from them.
• Reliability. It was crucial for me to find antivirus programs that update their databases as often as possible while simultaneously relying on the latest possible security and detection updates.
• Compatibility. All of my top choices are compatible with all of the most popular operating systems, and they have browser extensions and mobile device apps available.
  

I followed these strict criteria in compiling my list of top 8 alternatives to Kaspersky in 2025 and chose reliable, worthwhile software for ultimate cybersecurity.

How to uninstall Kaspersky?

There are several ways how to remove Kaspersky from your PC. Here are my top tips:

Step 1: Uninstall via the Control Panel (Windows) or Finder (Mac)

For Windows

1. Go to the Control Panel.
2. Select Programs and Features.
3. Find Kaspersky in the list, right-click it, and choose Uninstall.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.

For Mac

1. Open Finder.
2. Navigate to the Applications folder.
3. Drag the Kaspersky application to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash to complete the removal

Step 2: Remove residual files

This step is optional but highly recommended and should be performed after uninstalling Kaspersky Antivirus. It is to ensure that there aren’t any residual files left. Here’s how to proceed:

• Windows: Navigate to C: Program Files and C: Program Files (x86) and delete any Kaspersky folders. You can also check the AppData folders (C: Users[Your Username]AppData) for any residual Kaspersky data.

• Mac: Check Library/Application Support, Library/Preferences, and Library/Caches for any remaining Kaspersky files and delete them.

Step 3: Restart your device

Once you’re done with the uninstallation process, restart your device for the changes to take effect.

Step 4: Install alternative antivirus software

Once Kaspersky is entirely removed from your device, I recommend installing an alternative cybersecurity software. My top recommendations are TotalAV, Norton, and Bitdefender Antivirus.

Get the best Kaspersky alternative now

Final thoughts

I do not recommend Kaspersky Antivirus due to serious concerns about its alleged ties to global security issues. Plus, after Kaspersky’s ban in the US, you will not be able to get updates, so it will not be effective against new threats. Finding an alternative to Kaspersky antivirus is essential.

TotalAV stands out as the best replacement for Kaspersky Antivirus. It offers a comprehensive security suite with advanced malware protection, a robust VPN, identity theft safeguards, parental controls, and a well-designed password manager. Plus, it is completely reliable and trustworthy.

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FAQ

Is Kaspersky a Russian-owned company?

Yes, Kaspersky is a Russian-owned cybersecurity company. The company's headquarters are in Moscow, and while it operates globally, its Russian origins have led to concerns, particularly from some Western governments, regarding potential ties to the Russian government, which Kaspersky has consistently denied.

What is Kaspersky being replaced with?

Kaspersky has been replaced in the US by UltraAV, following a US government ban on Kaspersky products due to national security concerns. The transition occurred via an automatic software update on September 19, 2024, which uninstalled Kaspersky and installed UltraAV without user consent.

Why avoid Kaspersky?

Kaspersky is often avoided due to concerns over its alleged ties to the Russian government, which have raised national security issues, particularly in the US and Europe. Critics worry the software could be used for cyberattacks. Although Kaspersky denies these claims, several governments have banned its use in official systems as a precaution.

What is the best alternative to Kaspersky Total Security?

TotalAV Total Security is the best alternative to Kaspersky Total Security. It has all the same features, plus a trustworthy VPN, an adblocker, and more cloud back up space. For other Kaspersky replacements, you can get Norton Antivirus or Bitdefender.

What is a good replacement for Kaspersky Internet Security?

Norton Antivirus is a great replacement for Kaspersky Internet Security. Norton offers strong protection against malware, phishing, and ransomware, along with features like a VPN, password manager, and identity theft protection. It's well-regarded for its performance and minimal system impact.

Which is better, Norton or Kaspersky?

Norton Antivirus is better than Kaspersky. It offers an excellent protection, and provides extra features like a VPN, identity theft protection, and cloud backup. It’s also favored in regions where Kaspersky faces security concerns due to its Russian origin.

Which countries banned Kaspersky?

The United States has banned Kaspersky since 2017. The European Union, Germany, and Lithuania have also issued warnings or imposed restrictions. These actions stem from fears of potential ties between Kaspersky and the Russian government, although the company denies any involvement in state-sponsored activities.