The answer is there is no best. Just like in horse races the one that comes in first today will not next month. Here I just use Windows 10 own protection along with some beefed up browser security and most of all, don't look for cracked software or shady sites.
It's been over a decade without such and I have yet to find a virus.
SO confused as to which is the best route to go with these as it seems to change all the time. Are any of the free ones really worth it?

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