Antivirus Applications

Up-to-date antivirus software is critical for protecting Tufts and for keeping your personal information secure.

Tufts Owned or Managed Computers

Tufts provides antivirus software for all university-owned or Tufts-managed computers. If your Tufts-configured or managed computer does not have antivirus installed or if you have a question about the antivirus software, call the TTS Service Desk at 617-627-3376 or email it@tufts.edu.

Personal Computers

It is critical that faculty, staff, and students make sure that antivirus software is installed and running properly on their personal computers.  There are a number of antivirus options that are free and for purchase.

Many of the vendors listed below offer both a free version and a paid version of their software. We suggest you download or buy these directly from the vendor’s site or through a reputable store such as Amazon, Best Buy, etc.  Make sure that when downloading software, the website is a trusted site like download.cnet.com, support.apple.com or the primary vendor. 

Some free and for-purchase antivirus options:

Important Note: Never purchase or load antivirus software based on a pop-up or through a link sent to you in an email (unless you just ordered it and it is the installation message).  If you want that vendor’s product, always go to the original vendor site or a known-good distribution site.  Why?  It is a common approach of criminals to use a pop-up or an email link to try to trick you into downloading software embedded with malicious software and/or that they are trying to steal your credit card through a fake purchase process.

Antivirus for Phones & Tablets

There are antivirus applications that can be loaded on phones and tablets.  Always purchase these products through vendor-approved and tested phone/tablet software sites. 

To find antivirus software for your devices, we recommend you look at options listed in these locations:

Choosing an Antivirus Product

With numerous choices for antivirus products it can seem overwhelming to make a decision, and not all products maintain their effectiveness.  When choosing between different antivirus products, consider things like your operating system, budget, extra features, and ease of use.  In addition to the vendor sites, here are some other websites to consider for information.

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