Choosing the most efficient and reliable antivirus for our system is a very important decision for any computer user. A good antivirus protects the user from the millions of viruses, malware, scripts, bots, backroots and Trojans. With viruses becoming more aggressive and conficker showing the virtual world how vulnerable it is, the right choice for an antivirus can mean reliable computer usage or huge data losses. Here is Nerdmodo’s review of the best antivirus available today.
The antivirus effectiveness tests have been carried out by a large number of security testbenching companies. AV-Comparitves provides tri-monthly reviews of antivirus software, and their last report dated February, 2009 is used as a benchmark for the reviews as well.
The following categories are under consideration for the coveted award of the best antivirus.
User Friendliness :
The ease of use is a main factor for considering an antivirus for novice users especially. Nonetheless, it plays an important role in the overall effectiveness of the antivirus, because if the software is extremely complicated to use, the user becomes irritated and is bound not to find the best settings for ultimate protection. Our criteria includes ease of scanning removable storage, on-demand scans and overall ease of installation and configuration as well. The highest points are for an antivirus, which once configured takes all the responsibility for keeping your system safe.
Effectiveness :
The ultimate antivirus should of course do the job it is tasked perfectly. It should detect and remove all viruses, Trojans, backdoors, bots and malware. It should not generate false alarms as well. In addition to normal file scanning capabilities, it should scan incoming mail, instant messaging applications and web browsers fro suspicious activity as well. Use of system resources is another key factor as most people do not have high performance processors.
Easy Updates :
With the large number of viruses being born everyday, the best antivirus should regularly update itself without hassle. It should stand at guard against all new threats and the basic scanning technique should be able to identify early variants as suspicious activity at least. On demand updates should be the last priority and the application should take care of its updates regularly and efficiently.
Installation, Removal and Feature Set:
This combines the overall ease of installation and all the features of the application. If necessary, the program should be removed with a single click and not create hassle. Antivirus programs usually create un-installation problems and this is a major concern for ordinary users. Points for our likeness of the software as well.
After thoroughly reviewing all the antivirus available, we have come up with our top 10 choices. They are:
1. ESET NOD32
With over 70 million users worldwide, it is indeed a very popular choice among advanced and beginners alike. It is extremely easy to use, highly effective and is extremely light as well. Uses only 34MB of system resources on the average and yet provides fast scanning speeds. The updates are fast and timely and it is the choice of security experts around the globe.
ESET ThreatSense® Technology is the indiustry’s leading heuristic engine and provides 0-day identification by detecting malicious software. It is certified Advanced+ by AV-Comparative and was the sole antivirus in this category during August ’08 and February ’09 .
Ease of Use : 84 Effectiveness : 90 Updates : 86
Features : 86
Overall : 86.5
AV-Comparatives : Advanced +
Detection Rates : Overall 97.6%
Price : $39.99 Free Trial : 30 days
Download : Click Here
2. Kaspersky Antivirus
This Russian antivirus is a choice of most ordinary computer users today because of its extremely easy to use interface combined with its high detection rates. It is a bit on the weaker side when detecting spyware, but then anti-spyware programs are now marketed and created separately from antivirus software.
Kaspersky delivers a relatively slow scanning speed but it has one of the most updated virus definitions. With a ordinary processor usage of 50MB and a proactive heuristic engine, it deserves our silver award.
Ease of Use : 88 Effectiveness : 84 Updates : 86
Features : 86
Overall : 86
AV-Comparatives : Advanced +
Detection Rates : Overall 97.1%
Price : $39.95 Free Trial : 30 days
Download : Click Here
3. F-Secure Antivirus
One of the best choices for a user with limited processing power available, it is also the choice of people who do not have daily Internet access. The downloadable update files provide an easy way for users without Internet connectivity to update their antivirus software, when available. The problem is the some updates require reboot of the system.
The on-access scanner is pretty fast as well, keeping in mind that it uses limited resources when scanning as well. The really good antivirus engine, added with the DeepGuard 2.0 technology and online security education tutorials make it worthy of the bronze prize.
Ease of Use : 84 Effectiveness : 80 Updates : 76
Features : 68
Overall : 77
AV-Comparatives : Advanced
Detection Rates : Overall 93.4%
Price : $39.99 Free Trial : 30 days
Download : Click Here
4. BitDefender Antivirus
It is the choice of all beginners and is the most easy to use antivirus software available today. The extremely well designed interface make it easy for anybody, literally anybody to use the software. Unfortunately, this has a downside as well. For advanced users, it is a nuisance as the custom configurations are limited.
This isn’t BitDefenders’s Achilles hell though, it is the fact that it is extremely heavy and consumes a large amount of resources. The virus detection is indeed extremely good, but removal is sometimes patchy and irritating. Removal of the antivirus from the system is virtually impossible and the scan activity monitor is annoying as well. It remains a highly effective and extremely easy to use antivirus and if they improve its virus removal capabilities along with the program un-installation; it might just become the best.
Ease of Use : 90 Effectiveness : 74 Updates : 70
Features : 72
Overall : 76.5
AV-Comparatives : Advanced
Detection Rates : Overall 98.0%
Price : $24.95 Free Trial : Free version (Non-Vista, No-antispyware and no realtime protection)
Download : Click Here
5. Symantec Endpoint Protection
Previously known as Symantec Corporate Edition , it is targeted at small and big business alike and works for both client and server. The standard host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS) uses TrueScan threat scanning to prevent zero-day attacks and only allows authorized applications to run.
It is extremely reliable and delivers excellent results. Owing to the fact that it is aimed at businesses, it is kind of less user friendly but that is compensated by its effectiveness. Uninstallion is as bad as Macfee’s making it impossible to un-install with the bundled un-installer.
Ease of Use : 90 Effectiveness : 74 Updates : 70
Features : 72
Overall : 76.5
AV-Comparatives : Advanced
Detection Rates : Overall 98.0%
Price : $24.95 per node (can vary) Free Trial : Trialware
Download : Click Here
6. Mcafee VirusScan+
Along with Norton, it was the most used antivirus of the last decade. Mcafee’s weakest point is the start up time, it literally takes years to launch when the computer starts and is a big burden on the processor. For some users, this weakness is compensated by the highest antivirus detection capabilities.
On-demand tests have consistently delivered the highest detection and removal rates, and the company is the fastest to deliver virus specific removal tools as well. The built in firewall, Spamkiller and Privacy Service provide good addons as well. If you have a high performance system, you might go for this; otherwise remain away from choosing this.
Ease of Use : 60 Effectiveness : 82 Updates : 84
Features : 50
Overall : 69.75
AV-Comparatives : Advanced+
Detection Rates : Overall 99.1%
Price : $37.99 Free Trial : 30 days
Download : Click Here
7. AVG Antivirus
The most downloaded antivirus on CNET’s Download.com, it is a very user friendly antivirus. AVG Antispyware and AVG Antirootkit, now come bundled with the antivirus. It can makes use of multiple cores efficiently, scanning the memory faster. The resident Shield works efficiently as well.
It is a little bit on the weaker side and professionals do not use this because of its weak malware script catching abilities. Nonetheless, the free version remains a popular choice and is responsible for providing security to millions of users worldwide.
Ease of Use : 82 Effectiveness : 50 Updates : 96
Features : 50
Overall : 69.5
AV-Comparatives : Standard
Detection Rates : Overall 93.0%
Price : $34.99 Free Trial : Free version available
Download : Click Here
8. Norton Antivirus
The most talked about antivirus of the 1990s has lost its charm today. It has one of the best scanning engines but uses so much system resources that it annoys almost everybody. The bundled antispyware in weak but the antivirus is extremely efficient. Its weak point remains the high processor usage and the impossible removal from system.
Un-installation is impossible and software engineers distribute free removal tools because it cannot be removed in its entirety in any way. Nonetheless, the virus catching capabilities are extremely good. The customer support is good and updates are upto the mark. If you have a good processor and won’t be uninstalling the antivirus any time soon, Norton is definitely for you.
Ease of Use : 56 Effectiveness : 70 Updates : 74
Features : 60
Overall : 65
AV-Comparatives : Advanced+
Detection Rates : Overall 98.7%
Price : $39.99 Free Trial : 15 days
Download : Click Here
9. avast! Professional
Avast! provides a free home edition and is popular among users who do not wish to spend money on an antivirus and do not want to download pirated software as well. The professional edition is for purchase, and the resident shield provides satisfactory protection.
The detection capabilities are good but the removal and quarantine capabilities are a bit limited. One main reason for its tenth prize is the free version which we like a lot; as compared to other free versions which have very limited capabilities. Manual updates allow specific updates to be installed as well.
Ease of Use : 64 Effectiveness : 68 Updates : 66
Features : 70
Overall : 67
AV-Comparatives : Advanced
Detection Rates : Overall 98.2%
Price : $39.95 Free Trial : Free edition available
Download : Click Here
10. Honourable Mentions
Many antivirus applications competed tightly for the tenth spot, and in the end we decided to give all of them an honourable mention. They are:
- Trend Micro
- G-Data Antivirus
- Zone Alarm Antivirus
- Avira Antivirus
