There’s a lot of nasty stuff online. Viruses that wreak havoc on your files, spyware that steals your personal info, violent videos that upset the kids, clickbait websites that make you waste your time playing quizzes for hours…
That's why almost all broadband providers offer you some security software when you sign up. But which one will give you the best deal on security? Let's take a look at what they all offer.
BT
When you take out any BT (www.bt.com) broadband package, BT Web Protect for free. It'll give you warnings when a website is dodgy, and applies to any device connected to your home network.
You can also get BT Virus Protect. It's £4 a month, but your first month is free if you've got Broadband, Unlimited Broadband, or BT Superfast Fibre Broadband. This is a more robust security software run by McAfee, and includes virus protection, personal firewalls, spyware protection, and health and performance tools for your PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet. You can install it on two devices if you have Unlimited Broadband or Infinity 1, or up to 15 with Infinity 2.
Take a look at our pick of the best BT deals below...
- 67Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £29.99 per month
- £27.49 Avg. monthly cost
- 145Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £34.99 per month
- £32.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 300Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £32.99 per month
- £30.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 67Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £34.99 per month
- £32.49 Avg. monthly cost
- 300Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £37.99 per month
- £35.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 145Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £29.99 per month
- £27.91 Avg. monthly cost
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Sky
All Sky's (www.sky.com) broadband packages come with Sky Broadband Shield. This'll give you network-level protection by blocking sites known to contain malware and phishing, and lets you set up parental controls so the kids can't access stuff you don't want them to. So that's a start, but what about comprehensive security for your devices?
Well, you'll also get a free trial of McAfee Security Centre. This is where you'll find virus control, Wi-Fi protection, anti-phishing, and so on. It can be installed on up to three computers at once, but alas, it's only a 12-month trial. After that, it's £3 a month. And you can only put it on three PCs - not much good if you've got a big household, or want to protect your Mac, smartphone, or tablet.
Virgin Media
Every single Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) broadband connection comes with two things: Web Safe, and F-Secure SAFE.
Web Safe blocks websites at a network level, so they can't be accessed by any device connected to your router. It blocks sites that may contain phishing and malware, and allows you to set up parental controls.
F-Secure SAFE, meanwhile, is security software that you can install on up to five devices - including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets. It'll give you virus protection, identity protection, firewalls, phishing email blocker, and its parental controls are more focused. You'll get a 12-month free trial that you can install on up to five devices, and once the year's over, you can keep your protection going for a heavily discounted price.
We've picked out some standout Virgin Media deals below:
- 132Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £23.50 per month
- £20.72 Avg. monthly cost
- 264Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £29.00 per month
- £24.83 Avg. monthly cost
- 516Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £33.00 per month
- £28.00 Avg. monthly cost
- 362Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £27.00 per month
- £25.61 Avg. monthly cost
- 1130Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £39.00 per month
- £33.44 Avg. monthly cost
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
TalkTalk
All TalkTalk (www.talktalk.co.uk) broadband packages come with HomeSafe, which offers parental controls and blocks devices on your network from accessing websites that contain malware.
For a bit more security, you can add the SuperSafe Boost for £2 a month to put it on up to eight devices (including smartphones and tablets). This'll give you security software from F-Secure that gives you virus protection, identity protection, more parental controls, and even an anti-theft feature to help you find your phone or tablet if it gets lost.
We've collated a selection of our best TalkTalk deals below:
- 67Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £28.00 per month
- 125Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £35.00 per month
- 38Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £28.00 per month
- 11Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £29.95 per month
- 38Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 18 month contract
- £42.00 per month
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Plusnet
Plusnet SafeGuard is included with all of Plusnet's (www.plus.net) broadband packages. It blocks sites that contain dodgy malware, as well as ones you don't want the kids to see.
For virus protection, firewall, anti-spyware, and health and performance software, you'll want Plusnet Protect. It's completely free with the Unlimited and Unlimited Fibre Extra packages, though with Unlimited Fibre it's £2 a month. It's created by McAfee and can be installed on up to eight computers, smartphones, or tablets.
We've selected some notable Plusnet deals in the table below:
- 66Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £25.99 per month
- 500Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £31.99 per month
- 900Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £39.99 per month
- 145Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £25.99 per month
- 300Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £29.99 per month
- 74Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £25.99 per month
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Conclusion
Well, if you look at cost, the answer to our question here is obvious: Virgin Media and Sky are the only providers that gives you free virus protection, on any broadband package - even if it's limited to a 12-month trial.
As for the best security… Experts and businesses generally give F-Secure slightly more positive reviews than McAfee, though both are very effective. Norton Security, however, is considered even better at virus protection than either of them.
So, we'll give the crown to Virgin Media here, for its inclusion of free F-Secure software - but for the most secure connection possible, you may want to splash out on Norton.
