The
top performers in our review are Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, the Gold Award winner; Kaspersky Anti-Virus, the Silver Award winner; and McAfee AntiVirus Plus, the Bronze Award winner.
Here’s more on choosing a product to meet your needs, along with detail on how
we arrived at our ranking of 24 products.
The term "antivirus
software" stems from the early days of computer viruses, in which programs
were created to remove viruses and prevent them from spreading. However, over
the years, different types of malicious software, often called malware, emerged
as threats to personal and work computers worldwide. Therefore,
"malware" is an umbrella term to describe several different kinds of
malicious programs, including computer viruses.
Although antivirus software evolved to combat new malware, the
term "antivirus" stuck, even though the term antimalware is truer to
the software's capabilities. To give you an idea of the different types of
malware out there, we've identified malware types that are potential threats to
computer systems today.
Worms
These malicious programs are designed to replicate themselves quickly with the
intent to spread to other computers, often through a computer network. Although
they may not be designed to intentionally caused to impair computer systems,
worms generally do some sort of damage or harm to the network itself by
consuming bandwidth, at the very least. Most worms are only designed to spread
as quickly as possible, so they may not try to change the computer systems they
pass through. However, worms have been and are capable of creating backdoor
security vulnerabilities, deleting files or even sending files via email. This
is a common method for spam senders to spread junk email quickly, as the more
computers are infected, the faster the spam mail will spread.
Trojan Horses
Trojan
horses, or Trojans for short, are different from worms because they are not
designed to replicate themselves. Rather, Trojans are designed to trick you
into downloading and executing them to cause data loss, theft and sometimes
total-system harm. Just as in the ancient Greek story of the wooden horse
designed to deceive the soldiers of Troy, Trojans present themselves as useful,
interesting or routine programs to trick you into installing them on your
computer.
Spyware
This software is designed to gather information about you without your
knowledge. This information can be sent to another party without your consent,
and it can even be used to take control over a computer, in some rather
malicious cases. Spyware is capable of collecting any type of data, including
your internet history and banking information. Some forms of spyware have the
capability to install additional software or change your internet or browser
settings, which can be a mere annoyance, or a problem that can take days to
fix.
Ransomware
This incarnation of malware infects your computer with the intention of
restricting access to your computer system, perhaps preventing you from surfing
the internet or accessing the hard drive, and then demanding a payment to the
malware creators. The trouble with this software is that it tries to imitate
the look of genuine, trusted software to trick you into buying a solution. For
example, some forms of ransomware tell you that your user license for a
particular application has expired and you need to repurchase the license. Some
of the trickiest ransomware has acquired millions of dollars from unsuspecting
users.
Rootkits
Rootkits are stealthy types of malware that attempt to hide from typical
methods of detection and allow continued privileged access to a computer. This
essentially means that the rootkit attempts to gain administrator access on
your computer and then hide itself so you don't know it is on your system. This
type of malware is generally difficult to detect and remove, because it tries
to embed itself thoroughly and deeply into your computer's system.
Malware is not limited to
these five examples, but this gives you a sense of how malicious and vicious
malware can be. Fortunately, antivirus software is designed to combat these
threats by preventing the programs from entering your system and to quarantine
and remove any malware that does get through. The best way to protect yourself
from malware is to update your computer system when prompted and to purchase
third-party antivirus software that protects your computer 24/7.
IS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE NECESSARY?
You may ask yourself why
you need antivirus software when your computer comes with, or makes readily
available, free antivirus software found in Windows Defender and Microsoft
Security Essentials. Windows Defender has been available since the Windows
Vista days as an antispyware program, designed to monitor and detect programs
that try to gather information about you without your knowledge. With the
release of Windows 8, Windows Defender was upgraded to offer additional
antivirus protection features. Microsoft Security Essentials offers antivirus
protection against viruses, spyware, Trojans and rootkits, and it is available
on Windows XP, Vista and 7, but not on Windows 8.
With these protections in
place, why would you ever need to download a third-party antivirus program? The
answer is performance.
Although Windows Defender
and Microsoft Security Essentials offer built-in support and Microsoft
continues to improve upon these systems, they don't generate high scores in the
tests conducted by AV-Test, the respected, independent antivirus software test
lab. This is expected to a point, as these programs were designed as a baseline
of protection for users who don't plan on purchasing commercial antivirus
protection. However, AV-Test regularly publishes its test results comparing
both Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials to the top third-party
antivirus programs. The third-party systems score higher every single time.
So is antivirus software
necessary when Windows already has built-in protections against viruses?
Although baseline virus protections can give you some sense of security, you
want the top-performing antivirus programs to make sure you are always
protected. AV-Test tests two separate categories of malware or virus
interception: the detection of widespread and prevalent viruses, and the
detection of zero-day, or brand-new, malware attacks. In both categories of
tests, Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials performed poorer than
the industry standard, regardless of which Windows operating system was used
during the tests. This means that third-party antivirus programs are more
capable of protecting your computer, and you, against malicious virus attacks.
FREE VS. PAID ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
While you search for the
best antivirus software, you're going to run into free software that claims it
is as capable as paid programs. If you were to rank antivirus software
categories into three different tiers, you'd find free software in the bottom
tier, with the least functionality and protection. Although free software can
be enticing, free antivirus protection is not as capable as paid software. All
free programs can scan for viruses, but only some of them scan for malware
automatically and offer real-time protection or browser add-ons to help you
avoid bad links. However, most advanced features are limited to paid antivirus
programs.
One cosmetic annoyance
with free antivirus software is the fact that each program displays ads for the
full, paid version of the product. This doesn't detract from the free version's
performance or capability, but it can be distracting and annoying. Some
programs even immediately launch your web browser and link to their company's
website if you click on a feature that isn't available in the free version,
which is a minor annoyance but annoying nonetheless.
Perhaps the most
frustrating component of even the best free antivirus programs is the general
lack of support offered by the developers. Paid programs generally offer
extensive technical support, allowing you to contact the manufacturer via
email, phone and live chat. Free programs generally leave you fending for
yourself with user manuals or a knowledgebase in which you have to comb through
information before you find helpful material specific to you.
CHOOSING THE BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR YOUR PC
Perhaps the most confusing
element of antivirus software is finding the best program for your needs. Aside
from free programs, there are generally three recognized tiers of virus
protection: antivirus software, internet security suites and premium security
suites. Antivirus software is the lowest tier and is regarded as entry-level
viral protection. Internet security suites, the next tier of protection, offer
more functionality with further protections, such as firewalls and antispam
tools. The top tier of virus protection is premium security suites, which are
full sets of comprehensive tools for you to protect your system from the most
aggressive malware through various measures and protections.
Each tier of PC virus
protection lends itself to different users for different situations. Here are a
few of the main components found in antivirus suites that you won't find in
entry-level antivirus software.
Antivirus Software
As stated
above, antivirus software is the entry-level version of virus protection for your
PC. This is not to say that this software is ineffective, as it can protect
your personal computer from even the most vicious viruses. In fact, all
antivirus software includes tools to block or remove spyware, worms, rootkits
and other malware types. Rather, this particular set of virus protection
software has fewer features than the two antivirus suites. This software does
include the ability to scan incoming email for potential threats, automatically
clean or quarantine infected files, and create bootable rescue disks, to name a
few of its many features.
Internet Security Suites
Internet security suites generally contain all of the tools
found in entry-level antispyware, such as antimalware, PC tune-up utilities,
safe online banking and shopping, secure browsing, vulnerability scanning, and
privacy protection. However, these suites include additional features that add
more levels of security and protection to your computer system. Most internet
security suites include an alternate firewall from the one included with the
Windows operating system, and many even offer social network protection
designed to detect threats through your online social presence. Additionally,
these antivirus suites include parental controls to limit where your children
go while on the internet, which can protect the computer system and, more
importantly, your children.
Premium Security Suites
Although
the additional protections found in internet security suites are highly
valuable, premium security suites offer even more protection. Just as
internet security suites contain all of the features found in antivirus software,
premium suites include all of the features found in internet suites. These
programs add extra layers of protection in the form of file shredders, online
backup, system tune-up utilities and password managers. In other words, these
suites tend to be the best of the best, offering an entire arsenal of defenses
and protection against malware.
With the different tiers
of antivirus spyware demystified, you can determine the level of security you
require and apply that to your particular situation. Although it isn't the best
or most comprehensive set of programs, free antivirus software allows you to
scan and remove threats on your computer, for the most part. However, free
software lacks the functionality, features and overall support that is readily
available on paid programs. Entry-level antivirus software provides significant
advancements over freeware, and its feature set provides enough functionality
for many home users. Internet security suites provide even more features, while
premium security suites are the pinnacle of PC protection.
Regardless of which
antivirus software catches your eye, make sure you consider help and support
before making your final decision. Look for a program that offers 24/7 access
to support through email, phone or live chat. Regular, easy access to support
ensures that you can get the help you need, regardless of whether you have a
simple question or your entire computer system crashes and you need immediate
help. Whether you're looking for protection on your Windows 8 tablet, Windows 7
laptop or business computers, make sure the software has numerous means of
technical support.
SMALL BUSINESS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Regardless of what your
small business is, you've worked hard to build it and keep it moving forward.
Even if you don't want to purchase antivirus software for your personal
computer, you should consider antivirus protection for your small business to
ensure that you, your employees and your clients are safe from aggressive
malware. As our computers become more advanced with more meticulous, refined
technology and software engineering, hackers and viruses follow suit and adapt
to become more efficient and malicious. The last thing you want is to leave a
door open for an attack that can affect your entire business in one fell swoop.
However,
choosing the right antivirus software for your business may seem like a
daunting task, and it can be tempting to purchase the most expensive, premium
programs, assuming they will solve all of your needs. This is not necessarily
the case. In our lineup of the best small business antivirus software, we evaluated the
overall performance of each program and compared their features to help you
determine which programs can serve your needs. While you are considering which
software is right for your business needs, determine the following.
Licenses & Pricing
First, if
you're running a shop on your own, kudos. Second, a one-man band doesn't
require 20 user licenses for your antivirus software to keep the business up
and running. However, if you employ a few people who require personal work
computers, you don't want to purchase licenses for only one or two computers.
Every employee should have their computer protected so that a virus doesn't
make its way through an unprotected system and travel from computer to computer
within your business.
Make sure you protect
every computer within your business from virus attacks, regardless of whether
you have one computer or 20. Also, as a small business, you want to make sure
the software you purchase is affordable. Fortunately, most antivirus programs
are priced similarly to each other, so you don't have to worry too much about
searching for the best bargain.
Malware Protection
If you're
purchasing antivirus software for your small business, you want to make sure it
performs its most basic function well, which is to protect you from malware.
AV-Test put all the antivirus software we reviewed through rigorous tests to determine
how effective each program is at detecting well-known malware and emerging,
zero-day viruses. The very best programs scored 100 percent in both known and
emerging malware protection. Look for antivirus software with high scores that
is capable of defending you and your business against malicious threats.
Features
One of the main elements that separates antivirus software that can serve your
business needs from programs that leave you wanting more is the security
feature set. If your business requires constant email between your company and
external clients, look for software that offers email protection, a feature
that scans incoming email for malware. If hardware security is a concern, look
for programs that are capable of locating lost or stolen mobile devices, such
as laptops, tablets and phones. Some programs allow you to lock or wipe the
content off laptops remotely, which is a great feature that protects you
against the theft of proprietary information contained on the laptop.
Another element to
strongly consider is what operating systems the antivirus software can protect.
Every small business antivirus software program we reviewed is capable of
protecting PCs, but only some programs can protect Macs or tablets. If you need
to use Windows or Linux servers, make sure the software you purchase is capable
of defending these systems from malware.
Antivirus software is a
necessity in today's business economy. Over 200,000 new malware cases appear on
a daily basis, meaning there are more ways, every single day, in which your
business is at risk of staggering from a malware attack. The lack of computer
security can halt even the strongest businesses in its tracks. Even large
corporations suffer from malware attacks, which always catches the attention of
the media. Fortunately for you, attacks against corporations are targeted
attacks, meaning a person, or group of people, is specifically trying to harm
that entity via malware, whereas most small businesses are threatened through
untargeted threats. The best way to protect your small business from hacking or
malicious viruses is to find the right antivirus software for your company,
allowing you to rest easy.
BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE FOR WINDOWS 8
Windows
Defender replaced Microsoft Security Essentials with the release of Windows 8
as the baseline of malware protection. Although Microsoft continually updates
and improves upon Windows Defender, this security system does not perform as
well as third-party Windows 8 antivirus programs. According to the German
software test lab AV-Test, the products we reviewed performed rather well
compared to Defender, demonstrating unusual strengths in intercepting malware
while not being too strenuous on the overall system performance.
Performance
The tests
Windows 8 antivirus software underwent was broken into two categories:
zero-day, new threats, and widespread, known threats. The industry-average
detection rating of brand-new viruses is 97 percent. This means that
third-party antivirus software was capable of catching most, and in some cases
all, of these new and unknown viruses, which is amazing.
Defender, however, only
averaged 73 percent detection, which is significantly lower than the industry
standard. During the tests against widespread and known malware, third-party
programs were capable of detecting 99 percent of all the viruses sent their
way. Defender, however, was only capable of detecting 74 percent of these
viruses. What this essentially means is the very best virus protection for Windows
8 is found in the software we reviewed rather than Windows Defender. The
ability to detect malware is the most important component for any antivirus
program, so performance was highly considered in our ranking process.
Another element to
consider when looking for the best antimalware is how impactful each program is
on your computer. AV-Test measured the effects each program had on Windows 8
during visits to websites and downloads, coming to find the industry average
was three seconds. The very best antivirus software for Windows 8 had no effect
on the overall system performance, while Windows Defender slowed the system by
five seconds.
However, Defender
performed better than any other antivirus program when it came to false
labeling of nonthreatening files as malicious viruses. This is, in part, due to
the fact that Defender takes slightly longer and uses more resources. During a
test of 525,920 safe file samples, Defender only mislabeled one sample as a
threat. The industry average for false labeling is six detections, according to
AV-Test's results. Although Defender does a great job identifying safe samples,
it doesn't make up for the fact that it misses a higher percentage of unsafe
samples.
Features
Every
single program we considered for Windows 8 is capable of detecting spyware,
worms, Trojans, rootkits and other types of malware. Every program we reviewed
is also capable of scanning incoming email and even instant messages for
potential threats, both of which are major mediums of attack for virus bots and
hackers. Additionally, every single program we considered can automatically
clean infected files without any required action from you, as well as store
infected files in a quarantine so that they do not infect your entire system.
Although every program is capable of performing all of these functions, there
are a number of defining factors for you to consider in order to find the right
software for your needs.
For example, only a few
antivirus programs for Windows 8 are capable of creating a rescue disk that
allows you to reboot a compute that has crashed because of an infection. The
best antivirus software for Windows 8 automatically scans connected USB storage
devices, such as a flash drive, to help defend your computer from attacks. Some
antivirus software even includes password managers, which help you create and
store strong passwords. These individual elements help define the best programs
on the market.
Based on our evaluations
of the best antivirus software for Windows 8, we found that Bitdefender,
Kaspersky and Norton achieved the best AV-Test results and have plenty of
features to cover your security needs. All three of these programs scored 100
percent for the ability to protect against brand-new and older, established
malware, which is impressive. Bitdefender and Kaspersky were also capable of
scoring 100 percent in tests that measured system impact and false-positive
detections, meaning they won't slow down your overall computer performance at
all, and the programs won't mislabel safe files as potential threats. Overall,
these three programs achieve great test results and a full feature set to
protect you against virus attacks.
BEST ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE FOR WINDOWS 7
Although
the computer protections set in place by Microsoft may tempt you to avoid
purchasing third-party antivirus software, you should know that these
protections are best used as a starting point. Even though Microsoft
continually improves upon its built-in security systems, with each realization
of Windows' built-in security getting better and better, third-party
applications simply outperform Microsoft Security Essentials. These built-in
protections are designed for users who either try to get by without additional
security software or don't realize other software is needed. However, narrowing
down the best antivirus for Windows 7 for your needs can seem like a
daunting process. We evaluated the top 10 performers and ranked them based on
their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine the right program for you.
Performance
Of course, the most important thing to consider when you search for the right
security software is its ability to defend your computer against attacks.
AV-Test, a well-respected independent test lab, tested every product we
reviewed and published their findings. This lab evaluated the protection
capabilities of each product by testing it against both brand-new threats and
well-known, established malware. By exposing hundreds of workstations networked
to dozens of servers to tens of millions of threats, AV-Test is capable of
determining which programs can keep your system safe quite accurately.
Therefore, the performance of each Windows 7 antivirus software was the most
important element we used to determine the best software.
Features
The next element we considered for Windows 7 antivirus protection was the
software's feature set. Generally speaking, the more features an antivirus
program has, the more you can customize how you secure your computer system.
All antivirus software for Windows 7 is capable of detecting the different
types of malware, including Trojans, spyware, worms and rootkits, and they can
all automatically clean infected files, scan compressed files and quarantine threats.
Differences between these products emerge in the form of more advanced
features, including the ability to protect computers from attacks that occur
when you turn the computer on (registry startup), create bootable rescue disks
and scan USB storage devices. While you hunt for the right Windows 7 virus
protection, look for software that includes a number of additional features
that can help you protect your system from nasty viruses.
Although Microsoft
Security Essentials offers some protection for your Windows 7 computer, even
the least effective third-party antivirus programs outperform the built-in
security protections. Microsoft Security Essentials is best used as a temporary
line of defense while you find the antivirus software that will serve your
needs best. We found that Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Norton were the best
options for Windows 7 antivirus protection.
BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR WINDOWS VISTA
The main goal behind the
creation of Windows Vista was to improve the security of the Windows operating
system after criticisms of its predecessor's security vulnerabilities. Despite
the security improvements developed specifically for Vista, advanced malware
was created to break or circumnavigate the security systems in place.
Even
though Microsoft designed Vista with the intent to make it inherently secure,
third-party antispyware software is the best measure against attack from
malware. The best Windows Vista antivirus software allows you to rest easy and know that
your system is safe from potential threats. However, finding the right Vista
antivirus program can be a tricky and difficult process. We evaluated and
narrowed down the top choices through the following criteria to help keep your
system safe.
Performance
All
Windows Vista security programs are capable of detecting different types of
malware, ranging from basic viruses to aggressive rootkits. The main difference
between these products is not if they can find and remove malware, but how good
they are at detecting these threats. AV-Test, an independent antivirus test
lab, evaluates the best antivirus software programs on the market and runs them
through rigorous tests to determine each program's ability to detect both
brand-new and older malware. So while you're looking for the best Vista
antivirus software, check out the performance scores of each program to make
sure it is capable of catching brand-new threats as well as established
malware. The best software is capable of scoring 99 or even 100 percent in protection,
so pay special attention to these programs.
Features
All the antivirus software we reviewed for Windows Vista offers email
protection, automatically cleans infected files, scans instant messages and
quarantines dangerous files so they can't spread to other files. However, only
some of these programs can create bootable rescue disks that allow you to
recover a computer that has been infected, which can be incredibly helpful.
Additionally, not every program protects against attacks via USB storage devices
or have anti-phishing securities in place. Make sure to look for programs that
meet all of your needs before making your final decision.
Another element to
consider when looking for antivirus software is how impactful the program is on
the host operating system. The best antivirus programs have no impact on the
system performance, meaning you can visit webpages, download files, use
different applications and so on without any performance interference from the
antimalware program. However, most programs have at least some effect on the
system's performance, generally a slowdown of around three seconds, which isn't
terrible but is still noticeable.
Even with enhanced
security in place with Windows Vista, antivirus software allows you to rest
easy. This software can give you all the protection you need. As new malware
appears every single day, antivirus software evolves to help you stay on top of
these growing threats. Antivirus software for Windows Vista will help your
system remain safe against these constant and ever-changing threats.
BEST ANTIVIRUS FOR WINDOWS XP
Windows
XP was a revolutionary operating system for Microsoft that generated an
overwhelming level of popularity from the general public and businesses alike.
XP proved to be intuitive, highly capable and the most popular operating system
from Microsoft for about 10 years, even after the release of Windows Vista and
7. Now that Microsoft has ceased updating support and security updates to
Windows XP, protection against malware is vital if you want your computer to
continue running smoothly. Without Windows XP antivirus software, you are at higher risk
than most users, and your computer can become completely unusable in a short
period of time. To help you narrow down the best antivirus software for your
needs, we ranked the top antivirus software based on the following criteria.
Performance
The first thing to consider for any antivirus software is its capability to detect
and remove malware. Not all programs are created equal, and some software is
better at defending your system against potential threats. AV-Test, an
independent software test lab, evaluates antivirus software for Windows XP on
the effectiveness or, in some cases, the ineffectiveness of virus protection
programs on the market today.
The very best antivirus
software is capable of detecting and removing 100 percent of the threats sent
its way. Many programs perform decently, catching 96 or 97 percent of the
malware AV-Test sends its way. Regardless, make sure the antivirus software you
purchase for Windows XP can catch and remove a high percentage of threats so
you know your system is safe.
System Usage
The next
great differentiator between Windows XP virus protection programs comes down to
how system-intensive the software is on your computer. If you still run Windows
XP, a major factor in your decision will be the power of your processor. If you
have a relatively new computer with decent specs, you can purchase virtually
any antivirus software on the market without having to worry about system
performance. However, if you are looking for antivirus software for an older
machine, the processing power required to run antimalware programs effectively
can be a concern. If you have limited RAM or processing speed, consider an
antivirus program that doesn't take a large toll on the system.
Regardless of whether your
Windows XP hardware is relatively new or rather old, it's still a good idea to
look for programs that are not as resource-intensive during updates, scans or
malware removal, just to be safe. Generally speaking, the older your computer
gets, the more ineffective it will be at running new software, such as
antivirus software, which is constantly updating.
To help you determine
whether or not an antivirus program is capable of running on your computer or
not, we've included the minimum system requirements of Windows XP antivirus software to help you find a program that will
work on your machine.
Features
Every
program we evaluated is capable of detecting numerous types of malware,
including spyware, rootkits and basic viruses. What separates the best
antivirus software from the others are additional features that offer more
protective techniques to combat malware attacks. For example, many programs
offer the ability to create a backup recovery disk so that you can recover your
computer after it has been infected.
Other programs are capable
of performing vulnerability scans, in which the antimalware program searches
for outdated programs on your computer to see if it can find any weaknesses for
malware to pass through. Finally, the best antivirus software for Windows XP
can launch a virtual browser, allowing you to run websites separated from your
computer system to check it for vulnerabilities. You may not need all of these
features for your personal use, but make sure the software you purchase can
handle all of your needs.
Windows XP was a
revolutionary operating system when it first became available, and its
strengths have remained present throughout the years. With the right tools, you
can continue using XP even though it no longer receives updates from Microsoft.
Virus protection software for Windows XP is designed to be lighter than other
security systems, allowing you to use it on older processors. With XP antivirus
software installed, you can surf the internet, view media and run additional
applications without worrying about malware breaking down the system and making
the computer virtually unusable.
