Using the Internet, it is very easy to "catch" a virus or inadvertently download a spyware or other harmful application to your computer. We need resources to protect your PC, including antivirus solutions. There are both free and commercial ones among them, and the choice is quite wide. What are good antiviruses? Are there any of these among the free versions?
We made a selection of programs based on their versatility - each solution, judging by the content of reviews on the Internet, is an optimal antivirus for Windows 7, for XP, for the latest version 8.1.
First, consider the features of some commercial offers... Let one of them be Russian and the other foreign.
The main thing about Kaspersky
Among the world's most popular paid antivirus software- a product from Kaspersky Lab. The distribution kit from 2014 is able to protect not only from viruses and "Trojans", but also from spyware applications and ad scripts. Just like most modern antiviruses, the program from Kaspersky can detect threats, information about which is not in the database. For this, heuristic analysis is used.
The main functions of the program from Kaspersky:
- tracking virus attacks, curing files in real time;
- checking programs for reputation;
- analysis and detection of malicious codes in Internet traffic (links);
- monitoring the system for suspicious software actions.
The modern version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus is compatible with the latest operating systems such as Windows 8.1. The proactive protection policy implemented by this solution includes tracking sites on which malicious modules are installed and providing early warning of the user about identified threats at the time of an attempt to access such web resources. Experts note the adaptability of the antivirus to the optimal use of PC resources.
Kaspersky application: activation nuances
For many years, Kaspersky required special keys for antivirus software to activate the distribution kit (this is a common practice). But since August 2013, the methodology of this process has changed. You can activate Kaspersky Anti-Virus only with a special code online, that is, Internet access is required. Necessary condition the successful completion of this procedure is the correct system date.
Kaspersky and a promotion from Yandex
There is an interesting precedent in the history of the Russian IT industry. Users had the opportunity to observe a rather unusual appearance, in which there was Kaspersky Anti-Virus - "Yandex" - version of the product. In December 2011, two large Russian IT companies - Yandex and Kaspersky Labs - decided to hold an unusual campaign.
Users from Russia and several other neighboring countries got the opportunity to use a full-fledged product from Kaspersky, released in a co-branded version with Yandex, for free. V in this case it would be more fair to say that in this form, Kaspersky Anti-Virus is a trial version. The fact is that the validity period of the license for the program within the framework of the campaign was not very long - 6 months. Participants of the action also had the opportunity to purchase standard Kaspersky antivirus with a 20% discount.
The promotion included a number of restrictions. In particular, for the version of the antivirus distributed through Yandex, there was no technical support... If the user had difficulties in mastering the application, he was advised to refer to the resources of the Kaspersky Lab knowledge base.
The promotion has ended by now. Currently, you can use Kaspersky Lab products for free only if you download a trial antivirus that works for 30 days.
NOD: strong competitor from Slovakia
One of the most famous competitors of the antivirus from Kaspersky Lab is a product manufactured by the Slovak company ESET. We are talking about the NOD32 program (in Russia it is often called simply "NOD"). Its main functions are the same as that of most analogues: "catching" viruses, "Trojans", advertising applications, protection against phishing, etc. The program has its own heuristic analysis algorithm called ThreatSense.
Users and experts in the field information security celebrate low level consumption of computer resources by the antivirus, as well as low intensity of Internet traffic when updating databases and basic software modules. The work of the protection system is, for the most part, in background... Some experts believe that this antivirus is one of the best in terms of file scanning speed.
The ESET software package also includes Smart app Security. Its main functions are:
- monitoring email, blocking malicious scripts, filtering spam;
- detection and removal of spyware;
- protection of the computer from outside connections (the application acts as a firewall).
Also Smart Security is characterized by many experts as a solution that consumes a minimum of system resources.
According to many experts, NOD is an antivirus that can be ranked on a par with the world's leading products in terms of its level.
Now let's move on to free antivirus software.
"Avast" - reliable protection for nothing
Avast anti-virus (in Free version Antivirus), according to some analysts, is the most popular product in the world in the segment of free solutions. It has everything basic functions that are needed for home program... Is being activated Avast antivirus very simple - just enter your name and e-mail. After that, the program can be used for free for a year.
Operating systems for PCs on which the free version of Avast can be installed are Windows, Linux and MacOS. Among the mobile platforms compatible with the antivirus are Android, Windows. There are also several paid versions of the program: Pro, Internet Security, and Premier. There are a number of corporate solutions.
Many users note that Avast antivirus has a very user-friendly interface. All the necessary options are displayed compactly and conveniently on the screen. Users like the display of interfaces related to real-time computer protection. This component of the program analyzes several sources of threats at once and shows on the screen how many percent of this or that source has been worked out.
The minimum amount of advertising in the application interface is also noted, as well as its complete absence when using some options in the active window. Many users, determining for themselves which antiviruses are good and which are not very good, form their opinion based on the amount of advertising in free versions of programs.
Users report very fast work module manual scan, as well as low consumption of computer memory.
AVIRA: universal protection format
Another popular solution that you can use for free is Avira antivirus in the Free Antivirus version. This product consists of several applications: a monitor (which scans files in real time), a module for checking the system on demand, and a program for updating databases of malicious codes.
Basic functionality of the antivirus:
- detection and removal of malicious codes, Trojans and other malicious applications;
- identification and filtering of advertising "exploits", spyware.
There is also a commercial version of the product - AntiVirus Premium. Compared to free antivirus software, the program has several advantages:
- accelerated updates via the Internet;
- lack of advertising;
- the presence of the function of blocking sites containing malicious codes;
- the ability to check e-mail when using the POP3 and SMTP protocols.
Besides base platforms Avira offers users several specialized packages that are adapted to work on workstations, in corporate networks, etc.
Lavasoft: simplicity and reliability
Users of this antivirus note the convenience and balance of the interface. The window displays only the necessary information, a minimum of unnecessary data. If there is a need to enable some additional function, then this can be done in one click. If the user wants to scan the entire system at once, then just press the large Scan Now button.
The only difficulty noted by users of the antivirus is that by default there is no way to select individual disks for scanning. However, this option can be enabled through the program settings menu. Additional features for antivirus users are available in large quantities in the paid version. Some users speak of Lavasoft as not the most productive solution. Even in the background, there is an active consumption of software RAM.
AVG: simplicity and functionality
AVG is another demon paid antivirus... The interface of the program, as users note, is very simple. It is a list of icons denoting a particular anti-virus protection module. System scan functions are located on the side pane of the window. Just like in many other antiviruses, there is a Scan Now button, when you click on it, a comprehensive scan of the entire computer is performed.
The AVG package contains a large number of additional modules. For example, those that are designed to protect email, filter web traffic. Some users say that in order to activate many modules, you need to buy a license. Sometimes it turns out that the options are not for desktop operating systems, but for mobile platforms.
Many people note the insufficient performance of the antivirus when scanning disks, but they are quite satisfied with the low level of RAM consumption by the program.
Another drawback of AVG antivirus is its rather complicated interface. You can get confused. In order to scan a specific disk or other storage medium, you have to perform several sequential actions. In addition, to use some of the options, you need to enable special treatment, which is called an "expert", while in many other antivirus programs this option is available in the main menu of the program. There is no need to activate any other modes, except for the one that is enabled by default.
Many users were impressed by the performance of the antivirus and its low consumption of system resources.
Microsoft Security Essentials: Free Solution From The Giant
Unlike other programs in our review (which provide for free use only the most basic version with restrictions), this product is completely free. And this despite the fact that it was released by one of the most commercially engaged IT companies in the world.
Many users note that the interface of the program is very user-friendly, emphasizing that there are no ads on it. There are, however, some drawbacks: it cannot scan e-mail, does not contain anti-phishing modules. While other antiviruses even free version such capabilities include.
Users feel that the product from Microsoft has an average level of performance.
Pros and cons of free antivirus software
Without pretending to be the ultimate truth, let's try to summarize the pros and cons of each of the free antiviruses in our review. Based, of course, on user feedback. We will not determine which antiviruses are good and which are not. We will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each.
If the user is interested in the speed of work, then it makes sense to pay attention to the "Avira", even despite the platform's drawbacks in the form of confusing interface elements. According to some users, the creators of this antivirus should definitely work on appearance product. If they do this, Avira will have a great chance to get closer to the market leaders.
Avast anti-virus can become the best choice for those users who do not gravitate towards an in-depth study of the program settings. The performance of the product is not bad. The interface is clear and pleasant. Advertising, if you do not pay attention to it, does not interfere with the work with the program at all. Many users will want to get a free antivirus for 1 year with the functionality that Avast has.
Users praise solutions from Lavasoft and AVG for their good functionality. For some users, it is important which antiviruses are good in terms of the capabilities that the creators have endowed them with.
We focus on the rating
Users' opinions about certain software products are subjective. Attempts are now being made to form an objective rating of antiviruses. Let's see who does it and what are the results of their work.
The research methods of the Safety-Gate portal are recognized by the Russian IT community as one of the most effective. Therefore, we will take the rating of antiviruses according to the experts of this organization. Satefy-Gate conducts tests of solutions from various global manufacturers every quarter. Test sessions are called On-Demand (on-demand scan, that is, in manual scan mode). In the second quarter of 2014, the Safety-Gate portal tested the effectiveness of 26 solutions, both commercial and free. Let's take a look at the overall results and what the metrics are for the antiviruses from our review.
During testing, the programs were supposed to identify as many of the 3266 files infected with malicious code, which were prepared by the Safety-Gate specialists. The number of detected viruses was expressed as a percentage, rounded to the nearest hundredths. That is, if, for example, the program found 3000 infected files, then the result was recorded as 91.86%.
Let's see the distribution of places in the top ten of the rating.
- The first line was taken by the Ashampoo antivirus, its indicator - 98.96% or about 3232 viruses found.
- In second place (with a very small lag) is the Slovak product ESED NOD32, which found 98.71% of infected files.
- The third and fourth lines were shared by solutions from TrustPort (Total Protection and Internet Security, respectively). The first received a result of 98.07%, and the second lagged behind, having managed to find only 95.71% of viruses.
- The Emsisoft Anti-Malwre program entered the top 5 rating with a score of 95.34%.
- In sixth place is the antivirus from our Avira review. The program was able to find 95.22% of the infected files.
- The seventh result was shown by antivirus 360 Internet Security, which was able to detect 94.76% of programs with malicious code.
- The Russian Dr.Web took the eighth place, showing the result of 94.3%.
- In ninth place is HitmanPro, which managed to detect 93.63% of infected files.
- The tenth place was taken by eScan Internet Secutiry, showing a result of 93.57%.
- Where does Kaspersky Anti-Virus fit in? One of the most popular Russian solutions showed a rather modest result, taking the 12th line. The program found 92.92% of infected files.
What are the results of the remaining antiviruses from our review? Even lower.
AVG ranked 14th with 92.22% of infected files detected. Avast ranked 16th, having managed to find 91.64% of viruses. Microsoft Security Essencials and Lavasoft are not expert tested.
This is the rating of antiviruses according to the Safety-Gate portal. This is undoubtedly one of dozens or even hundreds of possible rankings, but it allows you to get a rough idea of the quality of solutions for protecting your PC from malicious codes. If you look at the Safety-Gate rating, then the best free antiviruses of 2014 from among the ones we reviewed are Avira and Avast. The first one outstripped the solution from Kaspersky. The best paid antivirus in our review, judging by the test results, is Satefy-Gate, which is NOD32.
After reviewing the general data on the leading antivirus brands and reviewing the test results, we can also draw attention to some expert advice regarding the criteria for choosing the best solution to protect your PC from malicious codes.
Experts do not recommend using "cracked" ("cracked") versions of antiviruses downloaded from free torrents and other portals of this type. It often happens that installation files of these programs are already infected with malicious code. In addition, manufacturers of modern antiviruses have learned how to build reliable algorithms for detecting pirated versions. Most likely, an illegal copy of the program will quickly be detected and will cease to be serviced (new databases and software components will no longer be downloaded). Experts note that due to the tightening of the policy of filtering search results in relation to pirated copies of programs by Russian providers, it will take a lot of time to look for unlicensed versions of antiviruses or "keys" for them. Analysts advise spending money on purchasing a legal copy of the software and saving time.
IT experts do not recommend choosing antiviruses based on “lightness” criteria: a small amount of disk space occupied, low rates of RAM consumption, low processor load, etc. According to experts, a high-quality computer protection program against threats cannot be “lightweight” ... Antivirus performs many functions, and this cannot take place without the use of system resources. Experts note that most modern computers are equipped with enough RAM and hard drives to neglect the PC performance requirements recommended by software manufacturers. If it turns out that the power of the system is not enough, then it is preferable to upgrade it individual components rather than changing the antivirus to a less demanding one. The only difficulty is that by default there is no way to select individual disks for scanning, but this option can be enabled through the program settings menu.
Using a computer is simply unthinkable without reliable protection against viruses. And for the right to use reliable antivirus software, you have to shell out a lot of money.
However, there are free products that can help you protect your computer well. This is the kind of software that made it into our today's Top 10 of the best free antivirus programs of 2014.
Free antivirus from Microsoft runs on such operating systems as Windows Xp, as well as Vista and 7. The peculiarity of the program is that it runs only on licensed copies of Windows. Among the advantages of the software is the small amount of memory consumed, user-friendly interface and automatic update of the virus database.
9. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free
The program works on the basis advanced technology collective intelligence. The anti-virus is installed on the local computer, but all useful functions are implemented on remote servers. In addition to standard set protective functions antivirus allows you to configure "parental control", protection of important data from copying, the ability emergency boot a computer infected with a virus.
8. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition
The free software package provides all the basic protection mechanisms, however, for more advanced protection, the manufacturer offers paid modifications. A feature of the software is the technology Smart Scan, which allows you to skip files previously scanned by the antivirus, reducing the scan time.
7. Comodo Antivirus 2014
Free antivirus allows you to scan files, protect your computer from hacking, and information from unauthorized copying. The program is automatically updated daily.
6. Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2012 (Yandex version)
This version of the antivirus equipped cloud service Kaspersky Security Network, delivered free of charge for a period of 6 months. The program base is updated every 12 hours, providing required level basic protection.
5. AVG AntiVirus FREE 2014
Antivirus provides free protection from viruses, Trojans, and also spyware. The program is fully compatible with Windows 8. AVG AntiVirus differs in that it practically does not load the computer memory, without affecting the performance.
4. Comodo Internet Security Premium
The program provides protection against Internet attacks, spyware, analyzes behavioral factors... The product successfully disinfects and restores infected data. The software is distinguished by high speed of operation, as well as minimal load on computer resources.
3. Dr.Web CureIt!
This utility is completely free antivirus scanner, which can be used both for scanning and for disinfecting PCs even if other antivirus programs are available. The disadvantage of the program is the fact that it does not provide round-the-clock protection computer, but is intended for periodic checks. In addition, to update the anti-virus database, you will need to download the application again.
2. Avira Free Antivirus 2014
In addition to standard functions the antivirus is equipped with the function parental control and protection from visiting dangerous sites. Additional options available for Android devices. Avira is in the ranking.
1.avast! Free Antivirus 2014
Fully compatible with modern Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. Added the ability to back up data to the standard capabilities to ensure safety important information... A special feature is the updated plug-in for the most popular browsers, which provides protection against phishing threats and increases user anonymity.
Today's market is literally flooded with antivirus programs, and each of them is able to protect your PC completely and completely, so choosing a good ally in computer affairs is very difficult.
To grab the attention of users, security software vendors are releasing advanced antivirus solutions that go far beyond simple computer scans.
It's about things like built-in parental controls, privacy management, antivirus software for smartphones, and even privacy protection.
In order to determine which security suite is the best to invest in, we tested five of the most popular antiviruses from largest companies including Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky, Bitdefender and Avast! Each program was rated based on its installation, interface, ease of use, privacy, and security.
Bitdefender Total Security
The most optimal
Bitdfender Total Security Combines one of the best antivirus engines offering anti-malware protection, amazing parental controls and a customizable interface. All this allowed this program to come out on top in our list of 2014 antiviruses. Bitdefender will allow you to protect personal data used in banking from hackers, and will make it possible to trace the pages of children on social networks. If you're looking for an all-in-one security suite, then this is Bitdefender Total Security.
Symantec Norton 360
Customizable antivirus
Symantec's Norton 360 (2014) offers you an engine with an impressive powerful protection, capable of removing all the dirt that only can come from the unlucky Internet. Norton 360 (2014) has easily become one of the best antivirus solutions on the market today with its easy-to-use user interface, excellent parental controls, and exceptional protection for confidential information. At $ 89.99, this package isn't cheap, but you get a lot for the money.
McAfee LiveSafe
The easiest antivirus to use
McAfee LiveSafe is antivirus package for a PC, which for a strictly fixed amount will protect all your devices, from desktop and laptop to tablet. Paying $ 79.99 per year against the most dangerous network threats, you can protect up to five devices at the same time. And robust parental controls and a simple user interface make LiveSafe an eye-catcher. Perhaps it will become the antivirus that protects your devices?
Kaspersky Internet Security
Antivirus with powerful parental controls
Kaspersky is one of the most famous brands in the field of PC protection. It provides reliable protection against viruses and other malware and a simple interface. In the version of Internet Security 2014, Kaspersky offers a redesigned design, improved engine and enhanced parental control features. However, a noticeable effect on computer performance and limited opportunities privacy controls do not allow this antivirus to be called the absolute favorite on this list.
Avast! Premier
Inexpensive Antivirus
Avast! Premier 2014 is a low-cost antivirus that features simple interface and easy installation. The level of influence on the computer software is relatively low, so the work of the PC in the universal scan mode will not slow down, and the built-in shredder is guaranteed to delete all unnecessary information without the possibility of subsequent recovery. Well that's a nice feature, generally speaking.
Every Internet user is in danger of being hacked by third-party software, a hacker or a victim of a virus attack every minute. To avoid such an incident, it is worth considering how antivirus worth installing on your PC.
According to various independent laboratories, various software products were recognized as antiviruses at the beginning of 2014. It is worth noting that the results of different tests differ from each other and the winners of the tests carried out are also different. We tried to bring all these ratings into one and identified the top six current leaders in anti-virus protection. Let's start at the end.
6.
The sixth place in our rating was taken by the G Data Internet Security 2014 antivirus, which showed good results. Created in Germany, this antivirus product has been at the forefront of protection against online threats and banking over the past few years. It includes two engines at once - Bitdefender and Avast - and is also equipped with hybrid technology G Data CloseGap with cloud protection.
Despite the good test results, it also has a number of disadvantages: the interface window, for example, takes up at any screen resolution maximum size, which makes it awkward if multiple desktop windows are open. The Bitdefender engine often crashes during updates and does not update properly, due to such problems, the Avast core takes over most of the work.
Performance - 4.5 points (out of 6).
Convenience - 6 points.
Defense - 6 points.
In total - 16.5 points.
5.
This antivirus requires a constant Internet connection for up-to-date protection (updates occur every 5-15 minutes). If the user is forced to use a PC without Internet access, he risks getting an antivirus with outdated antivirus databases.
This antivirus was created in Japan. It is quite simple to configure and meticulous in its work - just install and forget, the antivirus will work exactly according to your instructions and will catch all the threats it detects. However, after a virus is found, it can act in its own way and enable the system's auto-update without the user's knowledge, even if it was disabled.
Performance - 5 points (out of 6 possible).
Convenience - 6 points.
Defense - 6 points.
In total - 17 points.
4.
This antivirus, like the previous product, scored 17 points in testing. This product came to us from the USA and is the most popular with commercial organizations.
It has very rich functionality, which most often refers to the versions of TotalProtection - it is a PC scan, defragmentation, Shredder (permanently deleting files), etc. In addition, it fully integrates into the system and monitors vulnerabilities (system and program updates). A slight inconvenience is the location of the program interface buttons.
Convenience - 5.5 points.
Defense - 6 points.
In total - 17 points.
3.
This solution is like Trend Micro: Titanium 2014, requires a permanent internet connection for full protection. It is also able to identify vulnerabilities in the system, but on some computers it shows too long scanning and detection of virus threats.
Deletes everything suspicious files, even those that the user considers safe (patches, keygens, etc.). When choosing a scan from the program itself, freezes and incorrect work... But the application has a very user-friendly interface, which is why it takes the third place.
Performance - 5.5 points (out of 6).
Convenience - 6 points.
Defense - 5.5 points.
In total - 17 points.
2.
The product of domestic production, despite persistent rumors about devouring all PC resources during operation, shows excellent results during operation. The load on the computer is standard, at the level of such antiviruses as ESET Nod 32 or Bitdefender. KIS comes out with constant patches and updates.
In the latest version of 2014, there is some improvement in the user interface. The product has become a leader among Russian-speaking users due to the presence, first of all, of a full-fledged Russian-language interface... Scanning the system does not take much time, but after disinfection, the antivirus requires an immediate reboot, even if the full scan and identification of all virus threats is not completed, although the choice is up to the user.
Performance - 5.5 points (out of 6).
Convenience - 6 points.
Defense - 6 points.
In total - 17.5 points.
1.
This product was developed in Romania. Unfortunately, the latest version of this product is presented so far only English version Antivirus 2013 has a Russian version. Although those who are familiar with the 2013 version will not see big changes in the current version.
Minimalistic intuitive interface - work is carried out in two modes "user" and "autopilot". Scanning the system by the program does not take much time and if compared with, then the work is much faster. It occupies a leading position in the global market, which has been confirmed by many awards.
Performance - 5.5 points (out of 6).
Convenience - 6 points.
Defense - 6 points.
In total - 17.5 points.
There are about 50 companies in the world that produce over 300 antivirus products... Therefore, it can be quite difficult to understand and choose one. If you are looking for good protection against virus attacks for your home, office computer or phone, then we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the best paid and free antiviruses of 2018 according to the version of the independent laboratory AV-Test.
Basic requirements for antivirus
The main tasks of anti-virus programs are:
- timely recognition of computer viruses and malware;
- recovery of infected files;
- preventing virus infection.
Did you know? Every year, computer viruses cause damage estimated at about 1.5 trillion US dollars around the world.
Internal protection
Antivirus must protect the internal content of the system of a computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet.
There are several types of antivirus software:
- detectors(scanners) - scan RAM and external media for malware;
- the doctors(phages, vaccines) - searches for files infected with viruses, treats them and removes viruses;
- auditors- remembering the initial state computer systems can compare it in case of infection and thus find malicious programs and their modifications;
- monitors(firewalls) - are installed in a computer system and begin to act when it is turned on, periodically carry out automatic check systems;
- filters(watchmen) - able to detect viruses before they multiply, reporting on actions that are inherent in malicious software.
The combined use of all of the above programs minimizes the risk of infecting a computer or smartphone.
The following requirements are put forward for an antivirus designed to perform the complex task of protecting against viruses:
- ensuring reliable control of workstations, file servers, postal systems and their effective protection;
- maximum automated control;
- ease of use;
- correctness when recovering infected files;
- affordability.
Did you know? In order to create a sound warning about the detection of a virus, the anti-virus developers at Kaspersky Lab recorded the voice of a real pig.
External protection
There are several ways to infect the operating system:
- when opening an e-mail with a virus;
- via the Internet and network connections when opening phishing sites that remember the entered data and plant Trojans and worms on the hard drive;
- through infected removable media;
- during the installation of pirated programs.
It is very important to protect your home or office network making them invisible to viruses and hackers. For these purposes, programs of the Internet Security and Total Security classes are used. These products are usually installed in reputable companies and institutions where information security is very important.
They are much more expensive than conventional antiviruses, since they simultaneously perform the functions of a web antivirus, antispam, and firewall. Additional functionality includes parental controls, secure online payments, backups, system optimization, password manager. V Lately a number of Internet Security products have also been developed for home use.
How the rating was compiled
The independent laboratory AV-Test puts three criteria at the fore when evaluating the effectiveness of antivirus programs:
- Protection.
- Performance.
- Simplicity and ease of use.
When evaluating the effectiveness of protection, laboratory specialists use testing of protective components and program capabilities. Antiviruses are tested with real, current threats - malicious attacks, including web and e-mail varieties, the latest virus programs.
The "performance" test evaluates the impact of the anti-virus on the speed of the system during normal daily activities. Evaluating simplicity and ease of use, or, in other words, Usability, laboratory specialists conduct tests for false positives of the program. In addition, separate testing is carried out for the effectiveness of system recovery after infection.
Every year at the beginning of the new year, AV-Test sums up the results of the outgoing season, making ratings of the best products.
Important! Please note: the fact that the AV-Test laboratory has tested any antivirus already indicates that this product is worthy of trust on the part of the user.
Top 5 Antivirus for Android Smartphones
So, according to AV-Test, after testing 21 antivirus products for the quality of threat detection, false positives and impact on performance, conducted in November 2017, the best antiviruses for smartphones and tablets on Android platform became 8 applications. All of them received the highest mark of 6 points. Below you will find a description of the advantages and disadvantages of 5 of them.
One of the most popular antivirus products with over 130 million installations worldwide. Scans the device, cleans it and protects it from viruses. Protects against malicious applications used by hackers to read passwords and other confidential information.
Has a battery status alert system. Helps speed up your work by automatically closing programs that are running in the background. Among additional functions: lowering the processor temperature, checking the speed of the Internet connection, blocking a lost or stolen device remotely, blocking unwanted calls.
The product is provided for a fee.
After testing PSafe DFNDR 5.0, the AV-Test laboratory gave the product 6 points for the level of protection and 100% detectability of malware and the latest programs and 6 points for usability. Have Google users The Play product was rated 4.5 points.
Free UK-made software that performs anti-spam, anti-theft and web protection functions. Protects against mobile threats and keeping all data safe. Suitable for Android systems 4.4 and up. It has English interface and the size is 9.1 MB.
With help cloud technologies SophosLabs Intelligence checks installed applications for content malicious code... On loss mobile device allows you to remotely block it and thereby protect information from unauthorized persons.
Also, thanks to the anti-theft function, it is possible to track a lost mobile or tablet and notify about the replacement of a SIM card.
With the help of reliable web protection, the antivirus blocks access to malicious and phishing sites and access to unwanted sites, detects applications that can access personal data.
Antispam, which is part of the anti-virus program, blocks incoming SMS, unwanted calls, sending messages with malicious URLs to quarantine.
When testing AV-Test, it was noted that this application does not affect the battery life, does not slow down the device during normal use does not generate a lot of traffic.
It is an antivirus program for Android devices with version 4.0 and higher, provided to users for free.
It has the following capabilities:
- scans the applications that are being installed;
- scans applications and files stored in the memory card;
- blocks unwanted calls.
Important! It does not scan ZIP archives.
Has a clear and simple interface. Significant advantages also include the absence of ads, pop-ups. The size of the program is 2.4 MB.
During testing, it was determined that out of 436 malicious programs Tencent WeSecure 1.4 was found to be 100% with an average performance of 94.8%.
When exposed to the 2643 latest malware detected in the last month prior to testing, 100% of them were detected, with an average performance of 96.9%. Tencent WeSecure 1.4 does not affect battery performance, does not slow down the system, and does not use traffic.
This product from a Japanese manufacturer is provided free of charge and has a paid Premium version. Suitable for Android 4.0 and above. Has Russian and English interface. Weighs 15.3 MB.
The program allows you to block unwanted voice calls, protect information in case of device theft, protect yourself from viruses during use mobile internet safe to shop online.
The developers have tried to make the antivirus block unwanted software prior to installation. Has a vulnerability scanner that warns about applications that can be used by hackers, an application blocker and a Wi-Fi network checker. Additional features include: power saving and battery status monitoring, memory consumption status.
Did you know? Many viruses are named after famous people - "Julia Roberts", "Sean Connery". When choosing their names, virus developers rely on people's love for information about the lives of celebrities, who often open files with such names, while infecting their computers.
The premium version allows you to block malicious applications, cure files and restore the system, warn about suspicious applications, filter unwanted calls and messages, as well as track the location of the device, save battery power, help free up space in the device's memory.
The premium version is provided for review and testing for 7 days.
The disadvantages of the program are incompatibility with some device models.
As with other programs that received the highest marks in testing, it was noted that Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus 9.1 does not affect battery performance, does not slow down the device, does not generate a lot of traffic, and does an excellent job of warning during installation and use. ON.
Among the usability features were the anti-theft system, call blocking, message filter, protection against malicious websites and phishing, parental control function.
Paid product from Romanian developers with a 15-day trial version. Suitable for Android versions from 4.0. Has an English and Russian interface.
Includes anti-theft functions, card scan, cloud antivirus, app lock, internet protection and security check.
This antivirus is in the cloud, so it has the ability to permanently protect your smartphone or tablet from virus threats, ads, applications that can read confidential information... Real-time protection is provided when visiting websites.
Can work with built-in Android browsers, Google chrome, Opera, Opera mini.
The test lab gave Bitdefender Mobile Security 3.2 protection and usability the highest scores. The program showed a 100% result in detecting threats, did not generate a single false positive, and did not affect the operation of the system and did not slow down the use of other programs.
Best solutions for a home PC on Windows
Latest testing of the best antivirus software for Windows users Home 10 was held in October 2017. Criteria for protection, productivity and usability were evaluated. Of the 21 tested products, two were awarded the highest marks - AhnLab V3 Internet Security 9.0 and Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 18.0.
Also highly rated Avira Antivirus Pro 15.0, Bitdefender Internet Security 22.0, McAfee Internet Security 20.2. All of them are listed in the TOP-product category, which is especially recommended for use by an independent laboratory.
Windows 10
AhnLab V3 Internet Security 9.0.
Product features were rated with the highest 18 points. It showed 100% protection against malware and found 99.9% of the time malware that was identified a month before the scan. The program did not make any errors when detecting viruses, blocking or incorrect warning about the presence of a threat.
This antivirus is developed in Korea. Cloud-based. Belongs to the category of complex antivirus programs, protecting your PC from viruses and malware, blocking phishing sites, protecting mail and messages, blocking network attacks, scanning removable media, optimization of the OS.
The German Developers Program helps protect against local and online threats using cloud technologies. Provides users with the functions of protection against malware, scanning files and programs for infection, including removable drives, blocking from ransomware viruses, recovering infected files.
The program installer is 5.1 MB. The trial version is provided for a month. Suitable for Windows and Mac OS.
In the course of laboratory testing, the program showed a 100% result in protection against malware attacks in real time and in 99.8% of cases was able to identify malicious programs that were detected a month before testing (with an average performance of 98.5%).
Did you know? Today, about 6,000 new viruses are created every month.
What In terms of performance, Avira Antivirus Pro 15.0 scored 5.5 out of 6. It was noted that it slowed down the launch of popular websites somewhat, the installation of frequently used programs and was slower to copy files.
Bitdefender Internet Security 22.0.
The development of the Romanian company has been successfully tested and received in total amount 17.5 points. It did an excellent job of protecting against malware attacks and detecting malware, with little impact on the speed of the computer during normal use.
But she made one mistake by designating legitimate software as malware in one case, and twice incorrectly warned when installing legitimate software. It is because of these errors in the Usability category that the product did not score 0.5 points to the best result.
Bitdefender Internet Security 22.0 is perfect solution for workstations, including antivirus, firewall, protection against spam and spyware, as well as parental control mechanisms.
Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 18.0.
The development of Russian specialists after testing was marked with 18 points, having received 6 points for each of the evaluated criteria.
This comprehensive antivirus against different types malware and internet threats. Acts through the use of cloud, proactive and antivirus technologies.
V new version 18.0 has a lot of additions and improvements. For example, now it protects the computer from infection during its restart, notifies about web pages with programs that can be used by hackers to access information on the computer, etc.
The version is 164 MB. Has a trial version for 30 days and a beta version for 92 days.
McAfee Internet Security 20.2.
Released in the USA. Implements comprehensive protection PC in real time against viruses, spyware and malware. It is possible to scan removable media, launch the parental control function, report page visits, password manager. The firewall monitors information received and sent by the computer.
Suitable for Windows / MacOS / Android systems. It has trial version for a month.
McAfee Internet Security 20.2 received 17.5 points from AV-Test specialists. 0.5 point was removed when evaluating effectiveness for slowing down file copying and slower installation of frequently used programs.
The expert organization in the field of information security AV-Test conducted antivirus testing for Windows 8 in December 2016.
Out of more than 60 products, 21 were selected for the study. The TOP Produkt then included Bitdefender Internet Security 2017 with 17.5 points, Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 2017 with 18 points and Trend Micro Internet Security 2017 with 17.5 points.
Bitdefender Internet Security 2017 did an excellent job with protection - in 98.7% it repelled attacks of the latest malware and in 99.9% of malware detected 4 weeks before testing, and also did not make a single mistake in recognizing legitimate and malicious software. but slowed down the computer a little.
Trend Micro Internet Security 2017 also scored lower due to impact on daily work PC.
Important! Comodo Internet has the worst results Security Premium 8.4 (12.5 points) and Panda Security Protection 17.0 and 18.0 (13.5 points).
Antivirus testing for Windows 7 was conducted in July and August 2017. The selection of products for this version is huge. Users can give preference to both paid and free programs.
Based on the testing results, Kaspersky Lab Internet Security 17.0 & 18.0 was recognized as the best. On three criteria - protection, performance, user friendliness - the program scored the highest 18 points.
The second place was shared by Bitdefender Internet Security 21.0 & 22.0 and Trend Micro Internet Security 11.1. The first antivirus missed a 0.5 point in the Usability category, having made the mistake of labeling legitimate software as malware.
And the second one lost the same number of points for braking the system. Overall result both antiviruses - 17.5 points.
The third place was shared Norton Security 22.10, BullGuard Internet Security 17.1, Avira Antivirus Pro 15.0, AhnLab V3 Internet Security 9.0, but they were not included in TOP Produkt.
The worst results were obtained by Comodo (12.5 points) and Microsoft (13.5 points).
Let us remind you that unlike the owners of Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, who can use the antivirus already available in their installations, G7 users have to install it manually by themselves.
Best solutions for a home PC on macOS
Users MacOS Sierra It will be interesting to know that 12 programs were selected to conduct antivirus tests in December 2016, among which 3 are free. Overall, they have shown very good results.
Thus, 4 out of 12 programs detected all malware without errors. It's about AVG AntiVirus, BitDefender Antivirus, SentinelOne and Sophos Home. Most of the packages did not significantly load the system during normal operation.
But in terms of errors in detecting malware, all the products turned out to be at their best, showing ideal productivity.
After 6 months, AV-Test selected 10 commercial antivirus programs for testing. We will tell you more about their results.
Important! Despite the widespread opinion of Apple users that their operating systems are well protected and do not need antivirus software, attacks do happen. Although much less common than on Windows. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of additional protection in the form of quality antivirus compatible with the system.
This product was included in the top four, which showed a 100% result in the detection of 184 threats. He has a slightly worse effect on the operation of the OS. It took him 252 seconds to copy and download.
This means that the additional load on the OS was 5.5%. For the base value, which shows the OS without additional protection were taken 239 seconds.
As for the false alarm, the Bitdefender program worked 99% correctly.
This product showed the following results when tested:
- protection - 98.4%;
- the load on the system is 239 seconds, which coincides with the baseline value;
- false positive - 0 errors.
ESET Endpoint Security 6.4 was able to detect the latest and monthly malware in 98.4% of cases, which is a good result. When copying various data of 27.3 GB in size and performing other various workloads, the program additionally loaded the system by 4%.
ESET made no mistakes in recognizing legitimate software.
American developers have released a product that shows the highest results in repelling attacks and protecting the system, but it turned out to be outsiders in terms of performance - it reduced the work of test programs by 16%, running them 10 seconds longer than a system without protection.
Once again, Kaspersky Lab did not disappoint, but showed a consistently excellent result - 100% threat detection, zero errors in identifying legitimate software, and minimal system load, which is completely invisible to the user, since the braking is only 1 second more than the baseline value.
MacKeeper 3.14 showed the worst result in detecting virus attacks, revealing only 85.9%, which is almost 10% worse than the second outsider - ProtectWorks AntiVirus 2.0. As a result, it is the only product that did not pass the AV-Test certification in the last test.
Did you know? The first hard drive used in Apple computers was only 5 megabytes in size.
The antivirus coped with the protection of the computer from 184 attacks and malware by 94.6%. When installed in test mode, standard operations took 25 seconds longer - copying in 173 seconds at a baseline of 149, and downloading in 91 seconds at a baseline of 90.
The American manufacturer of information security tools Sophos has released a decent product for protecting devices on MacOS Sierra. He finished third in the level of defense category, repelling attacks 98.4% of the time.
As for the load on the system, during the copy and download operations, it took an additional 5 seconds for the last action.
Symantec Norton Security 7.3 has become one of the leaders, showing the perfect result of protection without additional load on the system and false positives.
Its results are as follows:
- protection - 100%;
- impact on system operation - 240 seconds;
- correctness in detecting malware - 99%.
This program was in the top four with a high detection rate, repelling 99.5% of attacks. It took her an additional 5 seconds to load the programs under test, which is also a very good result. When copying, it showed the result within the baseline value of 149 seconds.
Thus, laboratory studies have shown that if protection is the most important criterion for a user when choosing, then you should pay attention to the packages of Bitdefender, Intego, Kaspersky Lab and Symantec.
Considering the system load, then best recommendation from packages from Canimaan Software, MacKeeper, Kaspersky Lab and Symantec.
We would like to note that despite the complaints of the owners of devices running MacOS Sierra that installing additional antivirus protection leads to a significant decrease in the system's performance, the antivirus developers took into account their comments, which was proved by the test results - when using most of the tested products, the user will not notice a particular load on the OS.
And only products from ProtectWorks and Intego reduce download and copy speed by 10% and 16%, respectively.
Best business solutions
Of course, every organization strives to reliably protect its computer system and information. For these purposes, global brands in the field of information security present several products.
In October 2017, AV-Test selected 14 of them for testing, which are designed for Windows 10.
We present for you a review of 5 that showed the best results.
Bitdefender Endpoint Security is designed for Windows, Mac OS and the server against web threats and malware. Multiple computers and subsidiary offices can be monitored using the control panel.
As a result of 202 test attacks in real time, the program was able to repel 100% of them and protect the computer from almost 10 thousand samples of malicious software detected in the last month.
Did you know? One of the errors that a user can see when going to a certain site is error 451, indicating that access is denied at the request of the copyright holders or government agencies... This number is a reference to Ray Bradbury's famous dystopia, Fahrenheit 451.
When launching popular websites, downloading frequently used programs, standard software applications, installing programs and copying files, the antivirus practically did not affect the performance of the system.
As for usability and falsely detected threats, the product made one mistake in testing in October and 5 mistakes in testing a month earlier. Because of this, 0.5 points did not reach the highest mark and laurels of the winner. The remainder is 17.5 points, which is an excellent result.
The products developed for business by Kaspersky Lab - Kaspersky Lab Endpoint Security 10.3 and Kaspersky Lab - got the perfect result. Small Office Security.
The first program is designed for workstations and file servers and provides them with comprehensive protection against web threats, network and fraudulent attacks using file, mail, web, IM antivirus, system and network monitoring, firewall and protection against network attacks.
The following functions are presented here: control of the launch and activity of programs and devices, monitoring of vulnerabilities, web control.
The second product is designed for small businesses and is great for small businesses.
The product is designed to protect workstations, laptops, PCs, servers, smartphones that are connected to corporate network, and those outside it. The program works on the basis of a cloud infrastructure.
In testing, Trend Micro Office Scan 12.0 scored the following:
- protection against malware and attacks - 6 points;
- impact on PC speed during normal operation - 5.5 points;
- usability - 6 points.
The program protects the endpoints of the network. Protects workstations, portable devices and file servers with 8 components.
Unfortunately, this product did not perform well in the protection category, repelling only 97.2% of malware attacks, including web and email in real-time testing, and detecting 98.7% of common malware.
As a result, I received 4.5 points from the AV-Test laboratory. He also had a noticeable impact on the operation of the system and was rated in this category by 5 points. But he did not produce any false alerts.
The program provides multi-layered protection in end points from attacks, malware and threats. According to AV-Test, it perfectly protects the PC, while somewhat affecting the system's performance.
Laboratory specialists have evaluated the product for corporate clients from Symantec to a high 17.5 points.
Did you know? The most destructive virus, according to the Guinness Book of Records, was malware called I Love You. It was launched on May 1, 2000 in Hong Kong through emails, and just four days later, the damage from it amounted to 1.54 billion US dollars. The virus has affected 3.1 million computers worldwide.
Based on the above information, we conclude that for each device, be it home or office computer, a smartphone or tablet on various operating systems, today a number of programs have been developed to effectively protect them from the penetration of viruses and malware.
We've reviewed the best antivirus for every device, tested and certified by the independent AV-Test lab. By choosing one of the products recommended above, you can relax while working with your computer and not be afraid for its security system.
After all, antiviruses will take care of this, the reliability of which has been verified in laboratory tests.
