Today's computer cannot be imagined without antivirus program. Its presence on a PC is as commonplace as the presence of some kind of file manager, video player or regular browser on the system. At the same time, an inexperienced user often does not know which antivirus to choose, since the number of antivirus applications is very large.
I would put antivirus in 5th place in the ranking Kaspersky. In addition to the standard set of tools (including a program for cleaning your computer, creating automatic online backups, remote management, etc.) Kaspersky antivirus has its own special products, for example, Secure Keyboard(allows you to encrypt text typed by the user on the keyboard to prevent it from being intercepted by keyloggers), cloud technology Kaspersky Security Network and others.
You need to download Kaspersky antivirus from the official website - www.kaspersky.ru/antivirus. Despite its advanced functionality, the Kaspersky Internet Security antivirus is demanding on the computer and consumes a sufficient amount of resources. That's why only fifth place among the best.
4th place - Webroot
The system has a good level of protection and an average load on resources, which increases when working with archives and file operations. McAfee is third in the ranking.
2nd place – Avast
Avast has three levels of protection: basic (free paid antivirus), advanced (Internet security) and full (premiere version). The basic version of Avast antivirus has everything necessary for protection - protection against spyware, checking links and emails, protection home network and so on. The program weighs very little, consumes few resources, and this makes it one of the most popular antivirus programs in the world.
By the way, the creators of Avast have publicly promised that they will never transfer your personal information to any government agencies. Deserved second place in the ranking. Download link www.avast.ru.
1st place - AVG
Personally, I use an antivirus AVG for many years now, and over all the years I have had practically no complaints about it. The program copes with its role 100%, despite the fact that I use the free version of the product. My findings are confirmed by reviews from users around the world, many of whom place AVG at the top of their personal ratings best programs protecting your computer from viruses. You can download AVG from the link - www.avg.com/ru-ru/free-antivirus-download.
The application has two versions - paid and free. The free one has a basic set of security tools - antivirus program, spyware protection, phishing and email protection.
Although the basic version is quite good, the Pro version looks even better. It includes the functionality of the free version, adding to it improved Internet security in the form of protection from malicious downloads, protection from hackers who want to access banking data, and protection of your email from spam and other junk.
AVG-PRO encrypts and password protects all your important files, and even if a virus can get through general protection AVG, then he will not be able to access the previously encrypted file.
The program is very effective, consumes few resources, and its operation is almost invisible. So, AVG takes a well-deserved first place in the ranking.
Conclusion
Of course, choosing the best antivirus is largely a matter of taste and personal preference. Some people like AVG, others Norton or Avira, others are adherents of Kaspersky and Eset Nod 32. New ones are constantly appearing on the market software products, offering reliable and high-quality protection for your computer. But personally, I would recommend taking a closer look at the five above-mentioned programs that have already gone through the thick and thin of working with various viruses. Most likely, one of these programs will guarantee a high level of protection for your PC.
When using the Internet, it is very easy to “catch” a virus or inadvertently download a spyware or other harmful application onto your computer. You need resources to protect your PC, including antivirus solutions. There are both free and commercial ones, and the choice is quite wide. What antiviruses are good? Are these found among the free versions?
We have made a selection of programs based on their versatility - each solution, judging by the content of reviews on the Internet, is the optimal antivirus for Windows 7, for XP, for the latest version 8.1.
First, let's look at the features of some commercial offers. Let one of them be Russian, and the other foreign.
The main thing about Kaspersky
Among the most popular paid antivirus programs in the world is a product from Kaspersky Lab. The 2014 distribution is capable of protecting not only from viruses and Trojans, but also from spyware applications and advertising scripts. Like most modern antiviruses, the Kaspersky program can detect threats that are not in the database. For this purpose, heuristic analysis is used.
The main functions of the program from Kaspersky:
- tracking virus attacks, disinfecting files in real time;
- checking programs for reputation;
- analysis and identification of malicious codes in Internet traffic (links);
- monitoring the system for suspicious software actions.
The modern version of Kaspersky antivirus is compatible with the latest operating systems, such as Windows 8.1. The proactive protection policy implemented by this solution includes monitoring sites on which malicious modules are installed and warning the user in advance about identified threats when attempting to enter such web resources. Experts note that the antivirus is adapted to the optimal use of PC resources.
Kaspersky program: activation nuances
For many years, special antivirus keys were required from Kaspersky to activate the distribution (the use of such a scheme is common). But since August 2013, the methodology of this process has changed. You can activate Kaspersky Anti-Virus only using a special code online, that is, Internet access is required. Prerequisite successful completion of this procedure is a correctly set system date.
Kaspersky and 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 guise in which Kaspersky anti-virus was - the Yandex version of the product. In December 2011, two large Russian IT companies - Yandex and Kaspersky Labs - decided to carry out an unusual action.
Users from Russia and several other neighboring countries had the opportunity to use a full-fledged product from Kaspersky, released in a co-branded version with Yandex, completely free of charge. IN in this case It would be fairest 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 as part of the promotion was not very long - 6 months. Also, participants of the promotion had the opportunity to purchase standard Kaspersky anti-virus with a 20% discount.
The promotion included a number of restrictions. In particular, there was no technical support for the version of the antivirus distributed through Yandex. If the user had difficulties mastering the program, he was recommended to turn to the resources of the Kaspersky Lab knowledge base.
By now the action has ended. 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 produced 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 those 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 of information security note the low level of consumption of computer resources by the antivirus, as well as the low intensity of Internet traffic use when updating databases and main software modules. The security system works, for the most part, in the background. Some experts believe that this antivirus is one of the best in terms of file scanning speed.
The ESET software package also includes the Smart Security application. Its main functions:
- monitoring email, blocking malicious scripts, spam filtering;
- detection and removal of spyware email programs;
- protects your computer from external connections (the application acts as a firewall).
Smart Security is also characterized by many experts as a solution that consumes a minimum of system resources.
According to many experts, GOD is an antivirus that can easily be ranked on par with the world's leading products.
Now let's move on to free antiviruses.
Avast - reliable protection for free
Avast antivirus (Free Antivirus version), according to some analysts, is the most popular product in the world in the free solutions segment. It has all the basic features you need for a home program. Activating Avast antivirus is very simple - just enter your name and e-mail. After this, you can use the program for free for a year.
Operating systems for PCs on which the free version of Avast can be installed are Windows, Linux and MacOS. Mobile platforms compatible with the antivirus include Android and Windows. There are several paid versions of the program: Pro, Internet Security, and Premier. There are a number of enterprise solutions.
Many users note that Avast antivirus has a very user-friendly interface. All 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 threat sources at once and shows on the screen what percentage of a particular source has been processed.
It is also noted minimum quantity advertising in the application interface, 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, form their opinion based on the amount of advertising in the free versions of the programs.
Users note the very fast operation of the manual scanning module, as well as low consumption RAM computer.
AVIRA: universal protection format
Another popular solution that can be used for free is Avira antivirus in the Free Antivirus version. This product consists of several applications: a monitor (scans files in real time), a module for checking the system on demand, and a program for updating malicious code databases.
The main functionality of the antivirus:
- detection and removal of malicious codes, Trojans and other malicious applications;
- detection and filtering of advertising exploits and spyware.
There is also a commercial version of the product - AntiVirus Premium. Compared to a free antivirus, the program has several advantages:
- accelerated updating via the Internet;
- no advertising;
- the presence of a function to block sites containing malicious codes;
- ability to check e-mail using POP3 and SMTP protocols.
In addition to basic platforms, Avira offers users several specialized packages that are adapted for use on workstations, 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, with a minimum of unnecessary data. If there is a need to include some additional function, then this can be done in one click. If the user wants to scan the entire system at once, then just click the large Scan Now button.
The only difficulty noted by antivirus users is that by default there is no option to select individual drives 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 describe Lavasoft as not the most productive solution. Even in the background there is active consumption of software RAM.
AVG: simplicity and functionality
AVG is another free antivirus. The program interface, as users note, is very simple. It is a list of icons indicating a particular anti-virus protection module. System scanning functions are located on the side panel of the window. Just like many other antiviruses, there is a Scan Now button, when clicked, a comprehensive scan of the entire computer is performed.
The AVG package contains a large number of additional modules. For example, those designed to protect email and filter web traffic. Some users say that to activate many modules you need to buy a license. Sometimes it turns out that the options are not intended for operating systems desktop PCs, and for mobile platforms.
Many people note the insufficient performance of the antivirus when scanning disks, but are quite satisfied with the low level of RAM consumption by the program.
Another drawback of AVG antivirus is its rather complex 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 options you need to enable a special mode called “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 other than what 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 only the most basic version with limitations for free use), 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 program interface is very convenient; they especially emphasize that there are no advertisements on it. There are, however, some disadvantages: it cannot scan email and does not contain anti-phishing modules. While other antiviruses even include such features in the free version.
According to users, the Microsoft product is characterized by an average level of performance.
Pros and cons of free antiviruses
Without claiming to be the ultimate truth, we will try to summarize the pros and cons of each of the free antiviruses in our review. Based, of course, on user reviews. We will not determine which antiviruses are good and which are not. We will highlight the strong and weaknesses everyone.
If speed is important to the user, then it makes sense to pay attention to Avira, even despite the platform’s shortcomings 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 antivirus may become optimal choice for those users who do not gravitate towards an in-depth study of program settings. The performance of the product is quite good. The interface is clear and pleasant. Advertising, if you do not pay attention to it, does not interfere with working 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 their creators have endowed them with.
We focus on the rating
Users' opinions about certain software products are subjective. Attempts are now being made to formulate 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. Testing sessions are called On-Demand (checking “on demand”, that is, in manual scanning mode). In the second quarter of 2014, the Safety-Gate portal tested the effectiveness of 26 solutions, both commercial and free. Let's look at the overall results and how the antiviruses in our review fare.
During testing, the programs had to identify as many as possible of the 3,266 files infected with malicious code, which were prepared by Safety-Gate specialists. The number of detected viruses was expressed as a percentage, rounded to the nearest hundredth. That is, if, for example, the program found 3000 infected files, then the result was recorded as 91.86%.
Let's look at the distribution of places in the top ten rankings.
- The first place was taken by the Ashampoo antivirus, its indicator is 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 places were shared by solutions from TrustPort (Total Protection and Internet Security, respectively). The first received a result of 98.07%, while the second lagged behind, managing to find only 95.71% of viruses.
- The top 5 ranking included the Emsisoft Anti-Malwre program 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 infected files.
- The seventh result was shown by the 360 Internet Security antivirus, having managed to detect 94.76% of programs with malicious code.
- Eighth place was taken by the Russian Dr.Web, showing a result of 94.3%.
- In ninth place is HitmanPro antivirus, which was able to detect 93.63% of infected files.
- The eScan Internet Security product took tenth place, showing a result of 93.57%.
- What place does Kaspersky antivirus have? One of the most popular Russian solutions showed a rather modest result, taking 12th place. The program found 92.92% of infected files.
How do the remaining antiviruses in our review fare? Even lower.
AVG took 14th place, detecting 92.22% of infected files. Avast is in 16th place, having managed to find 91.64% of viruses. Microsoft Security Essentials and Lavasoft have not been tested by experts.
This is the rating of antiviruses according to the Safety-Gate portal. This is, of course, 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 go by the Safety-Gate rating, the best free antiviruses of 2014 that we reviewed are Avira and Avast. The first one was ahead of the decision from Kaspersky. The best paid antivirus from our review, judging by the test results, is Satefy-Gate, which is NOD32.
Having studied the general data on the leading antivirus brands and examined the test results, we can also pay attention to some expert advice regarding the criteria for choosing the optimal solution for protecting your PC from malicious codes.
Experts do not recommend using “hacked” (“cracked”) versions of antiviruses downloaded from free torrents and other portals of this type. It often happens that the installation files of these programs are already infected with malicious code. In addition, manufacturers of modern antiviruses have learned to build reliable algorithms for identifying pirated versions. Most likely, an illegal copy of the program will quickly be detected and will no longer be serviced (new databases and software components will no longer be downloaded). Experts note that due to Russian providers’ tightening policies for filtering search results regarding pirated copies of programs, searching for unlicensed versions of antiviruses or “keys” for them will take a very long time. Analysts advise spending money on purchasing a legal copy of the software and saving time.
IT specialists do not recommend choosing antiviruses based on the criteria of “lightness”: small amount of disk space, low rate of RAM consumption, low processor load, etc. According to experts, a high-quality program to protect your computer from threats cannot be “lightweight” . An antivirus performs many functions, and this cannot happen without using system resources. Experts note that most modern computers are equipped with sufficient RAM and hard drives to ignore the PC performance requirements recommended by software manufacturers. If it turns out that the system’s power is not enough, then it is preferable to upgrade its individual components than to change the antivirus to a less demanding one. The only difficulty is that by default there is no option to select individual drives for scanning, but this option can be enabled through the program settings menu.
Austrian laboratory AV-Comparatives is an independent organization that regularly tests anti-virus products entering the market, both for personal computers and for corporations and mobile phones.
Laboratory specialists claim that they use the most complete, most modern and most complex tests when testing. A product that has “survived” such a test can rightfully be considered the best antivirus of 2018. We present to your attention ten antiviruses recognized by AV-Comparatives as products highest quality based on the results of last year.
The list of the ten best antivirus programs of 2018 opens with a product from an Indian computer company – QuickHeal antivirus. Although the quality of work of Indian programmers has already become a household name, this antivirus is quite suitable and will successfully rid your computer of worms, viruses and other unpleasant surprises.
9.AVG
Following the Indians are the Czechs. AVG Antivirus is the brainchild of the Czech company AVG Technologies, it can scan files, mail and is capable of monitoring computer activity 24/7.
This antivirus has free version, which can be used indefinitely with almost no loss of functionality. Features like anti-spam and firewall are cut off, but you can surf the Internet with complete peace of mind.
8. Avast
The main advantages of Avast are low load on the computer and high scanning speed. Moreover, it is completely and completely free. Avast will take care of the security of online purchases, check your email for viruses and Trojans, and scan suspicious applications.
And gamers will appreciate another Avast feature - turning off Windows system alerts until the end of the game. Avast sank in the rankings in several categories - malware removal and detection of this same malware in files.
Finnish guys take the best from computer developments in other countries. Until 2010, they used the kernel from Kaspersky, and then switched to BitDefender in combination with their own ideas.
Despite the fact that F-Secure is positioned as a regular antivirus, it also has a firewall, a spam filter, and even its own VPN. Although it does not completely protect against downloading the content of malicious sites, it is quite effective in dealing with it afterwards.
Sixth place in the 2018 antivirus ranking goes to an Austrian product based on its own developments – Emsisoft. It is able to protect the user’s computer from both ordinary viruses, Trojans and spyware, but it also blocks access to dangerous sites, checks all executable files and the progress of already known programs - are they doing anything criminal?
According to the developers, users will not even feel the load on the system from the antivirus.
5. ESET
And ESET is named fifth among the best antiviruses. People who were present at the birth of the Russian Internet probably remember NOD32 antivirus - one of the most popular antiviruses at the turn of the twenty-first century.
Bratislava scientists continue to work now, and at the end of 2016 they released new version ESET NOD32 Internet Security. It can protect your computer from network threats and your camera from unauthorized connections. In addition, according to the developers, the program’s operation hardly “eats” computer resources.
The American company ThreatTrack Security specializes in protecting companies from threats, attacks and spyware. Vipre antivirus offers a wide range of additional services– check mail, websites and even Facebook pages, and also clear the history of visited sites and other traces of user activity in Windows. However, in tests to identify and block suspicious and malware, the antivirus showed average results.
In third place in the ranking of the best antiviruses of 2018 is Kaspersky Lab. However, AV-Comparatives experts note that the results of the first three - Kaspersky Lab, Bitdefender and AVIRA - were so similar that Austrian scientists even had to introduce a special category for them called “Outstanding Products”.
Kaspersky has solutions for every taste - from private computers to large corporate networks, from a simple antivirus for home use to software for storing passwords for smartphones and tablets, and even protecting children from online bullying.
In second place in the top 10 antiviruses of 2018 is a product of a Romanian company, whose antivirus core is in first place in terms of the number of licenses sold - it is used by many companies around the world when developing their own antiviruses. There are protection options for personal computers, mobile devices, corporate networks.
Bitdefender Antivirus, including its free version, provides real-time scanning and protection, virus control, malware detection and neutralization, as well as web protection and anti-rootkit. And all this operation requires very few system resources thanks to SmartScan technology.
1.AVIRA
And the best antivirus of 2018 in the ranking is AVIRA from the German company of the same name. This program received top scores in all areas - virus detection, performance, real-time protection, and malware removal.
The antivirus has both a free version for private use and a paid version, which, however, differs from the free version only in web protection and mail checking. Moreover, with the help of AVIRA you can even find a lost phone or block it in case of danger.
A few seconds after accessing the Internet. Viruses that spread on flash drives and other removable media are also not asleep. A number of worms are capable of using wireless WiFi connection. Considering all this, the issue of choosing an antivirus becomes especially acute and top priority.
What do you need to know to choose the right antivirus?
Of course, you should choose an antivirus from among the most well-known, reputable and proven programs. After all, creating an antivirus that can effectively detect and neutralize all types of viruses, as well as quickly monitor the emergence of new threats, is not an easy task, which only an experienced and large company can do. There are several such antiviruses, and you should choose among them. At the same time, there is a large share of personal preference in choosing an antivirus. Each specialist will warmly recommend his favorite brand to you, accusing others of inefficiency, gluttony for resources, etc. These statements should be assessed sensibly; they are largely subjective. All presenters are quite effective, although they differ in the nuances of their work and settings. Therefore, it is wise to try several of them and choose the one that suits you best. Remember that you should not run several antivirus programs at the same time - they will interfere with each other's work. Before installing and running the antivirus, the existing one should be stopped and uninstalled.
So, here is a list of noteworthy programs from which you can choose an antivirus.
Leading brands of Russian origin - Dr. Web and Kaspersky Anti-Virus. These products are of high quality, which are appreciated not only in our country, but also abroad. In addition, domestic antiviruses, as a rule, respond faster and better to new threats that appear in our country.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus is the leading product at the moment. Heuristic, which allows you to identify even previously unknown threats, update the database several times a day, check the contents of archives, etc.
Dr. Web is also a fairly powerful antivirus tool, loved by users for careful attitude to resources. Good choice for equipment with insufficient power.
ESET NOD32 is a relatively young and promising antivirus that is quickly gaining popularity among users.
Panda Antivirus is also a fairly popular and effective product.
Avast! - antivirus that has important advantage First of all: for individual non-commercial use, it is fully functional and completely free. The reason is not the excessive kindness and generosity of the product creators. It’s just that to combat network epidemics, it’s more effective to provide users with powerful protection than trying to neutralize massive virus attacks from millions of infected people.
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Sources:
- How to choose the right antivirus in 2019
The modern computer is constantly exposed to the threat of infection by viruses. In order to avoid this, special software is required - antiviruses. A separate problem is choosing the right antivirus program.
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Today the number of full-fledged free antiviruses is more than a dozen. How to choose the best one among them, which will consume less computer resources and allow fewer false positives? In this article we will determine the fastest antivirus.
You will need
- Personal computer or laptop
Instructions
Select your operating system from the link provided in the article. The most recent test will be shown. Now let's sort the results by the parameter you are interested in. For example, Performance - antivirus performance. The higher, the smaller the system. Free antiviruses are circled in the figure.
Now let's check the data from another reputable antivirus tester - av-comparatives.org. Here, without knowledge of English, it will be difficult, so we will go straight to the Awards page. Here we will see the leaders.
So, it looks like Avast: Free AntiVirus 2014 can be considered the most productive antivirus!
The solution is also a little behind AntiVirus FREE 2014. The third antivirus is 360 Internet Security.
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Please note
No one can guarantee that the antivirus on your computer will be as fast as on the test equipment. Only actual use on your computer will give you an accurate estimate. Therefore, do not be afraid to install different antiviruses from the top three listed in our article.
Reading user reviews of antiviruses does not lead to an objective assessment. You will find a lot negative reviews even from users of expensive professional antivirus programs.
Sources:
- Website av-test.org
- Website av-comparatives.org (awards)
When the question arises about protecting your computer operating system from viruses, spyware and malware, the user is faced with a wide selection of different antiviruses. You can purchase both expensive licensed products and shareware ones. How to understand this diversity?
How to choose the right antivirus
First of all, it should be noted that supposedly free antiviruses have many limitations in settings, technical support, functionality, etc. They are unable to provide full internal protection, so there is little point in them. They are popular due to the efforts of marketers and ease of use.It is better to pay attention to the three recognized leaders - Doctor Web, ESET and Kaspersky Anti-Virus. It’s worth mentioning right away that if you decide to spend money on a full-fledged licensed version, then it makes sense to purchase a full package that includes not only the antivirus itself, but also a firewall.
The prices for all three antiviruses are practically the same, so you can safely choose based on your goals. For example, if you need a parental control feature, then ESET is out of the question because it doesn't have it. Before purchasing, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the comparison tables of the functionality of antivirus programs. They can be easily found on the Internet.
Review of the main antiviruses
ESET NOD is a Slovak-made antivirus package, comprehensive solution for protection against Trojans, worms, spyware, phishing attacks. It uses proprietary ThreatSense technology to detect potential threats in real time. ESET also uses heuristic methods, which allows it to identify previously unknown viruses. The big advantages of the package are high speed and low use of system resources. No particular shortcomings were noticed with ESET, the only thing that causes criticism is some confusion of the interface, but problems arise only for inexperienced users.Kaspersky Anti-Virus is one of the most popular anti-viruses in Russia and the CIS. Produced by the Russian Kaspersky Lab, this package provides protection against Trojans, adware, spyware, rootkits, keyloggers and unknown viruses. The program is actively criticized by both specialists and ordinary users for its lack of efficiency and a large number of false alarms.
Finally, Dr.Web is a popular antivirus that provides protection against the widest possible range of viruses. His key feature is the possibility of correct installation on an already infected machine. At the same time, it does not require resources and has an intuitive interface.
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Any antivirus The program uses a lot of computer system resources. Sometimes, in order to speed up your computer, you need to temporarily disable your antivirus program. You may need to free up RAM for other programs. If your computer is of average power, and you need to use several resource-intensive programs at once, then disabling the antivirus will increase the power of your PC.
Today, more than ever, anti-virus software is not only the most in demand in the security system of any operating system, but also one of its main components. And if previously the user had a very limited, modest choice, now you can find a lot of such programs. But if you look at the list of “Top 10 antiviruses”, you will notice that not all of them are equivalent in terms of functionality. Let's look at the most popular packages. At the same time, the analysis will include both paid and shareware (antivirus for 30 days), and freely distributed applications. But first things first.
Top 10 antiviruses for Windows: testing criteria
Before you start compiling a rating, you should probably familiarize yourself with the basic criteria that are used in most cases when testing such software.
Naturally, it is simply impossible to consider all known packages. However, among all those designed to ensure the protection of a computer system in the broadest sense, the most popular can be identified. At the same time, we will take into account both the official ratings of independent laboratories and reviews of users who use this or that software product in practice. In addition, mobile programs will not be affected; we will focus on stationary systems.
As for conducting basic tests, as a rule, they include several main aspects:
- availability of paid and free versions and limitations related to functionality;
- standard scanning speed;
- quick identification of potential threats and the ability to remove or quarantine them using built-in algorithms;
- frequency of updating anti-virus databases;
- self-defense and reliability;
- availability of additional features.
As can be seen from the list above, checking the operation of antivirus software allows you to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a particular product. Next, I will consider the most popular software packages included in the Top 10 antiviruses, and also give their main characteristics, of course, taking into account the opinions of people who use them in their daily work.
Kaspersky Lab software products
First, let's look at the software modules developed by Kaspersky Lab, which are extremely popular in the post-Soviet space.
It’s impossible to single out just one program here, because among them you can find the standard Kaspersky Antivirus scanner, modules like Internet Security, and portable utilities like Virus Removal Tool, and even boot disks for damaged Rescue Disc systems.
It is immediately worth noting two main disadvantages: firstly, judging by the reviews, almost all programs, with rare exceptions, are paid or shareware, and secondly, system requirements unreasonably high, which makes it impossible to use them in relatively weak configurations. Naturally, this scares off many ordinary users, although activation keys for Kaspersky Antivirus or Internet Security can easily be found on the World Wide Web.
On the other hand, the activation situation can be corrected in another way. For example, Kaspersky keys can be generated using special applications like Key Manager. True, this approach is, to put it mildly, illegal, however, as a way out, it is used by many users.
Operating speed at modern cars is in the average range (for some reason, more and more heavyweight versions are being created for new configurations), but constantly updated databases, the uniqueness of technologies for identifying and removing known viruses and potentially dangerous programs are at their best. It is not surprising that Kapersky Laboratory is today a leader among security software developers.
And two more words about the recovery disk. It is unique in its own way, since it loads a scanner with a graphical interface even before Windows itself starts, allowing you to remove threats even from RAM.
The same applies to the portable utility Virus Removal Tool, which can track any threat on an infected terminal. It can only be compared with a similar utility from Dr. Web.
Protection from Dr. Web
Before us is another of the strongest representatives in the field of security - the famous “Doctor Web”, who stood at the origins of the creation of all anti-virus software since time immemorial.
Among the huge number of programs you can also find standard scanners, security tools for Internet surfing, portable utilities, and recovery disks. You can't list everything.
The main factors in favor of this developer’s software include high speed, instant detection of threats with the ability to either completely remove or isolate them, as well as a moderate load on the system as a whole. In general, from the point of view of most users, this is a kind of lightweight version of Kaspersky. There is still something interesting here. In particular, this is Dr. Web Katana. It is believed that this is a new generation software product. It is focused on the use of “sand” technologies, i.e. placing a threat in the “cloud” or “sandbox” (whatever you want to call it) for analysis before it penetrates the system. However, if you look at it, there are no special innovations here, because this technique was used back in free antivirus Panda. In addition, according to many users, Dr. Web Katana is a kind of Security Space with the same technologies. However, generally speaking, any software from this developer is quite stable and powerful. It is not surprising that many users prefer such packages.
ESET programs
Speaking about the Top 10 antiviruses, it is impossible not to mention another bright representative of this field - the ESET company, which became famous for such a well-known product as NOD32. A little later, the ESET Smart Security module was born.
If we consider these programs, we can note interesting point. To activate the full functionality of any package, you can do two things. On the one hand, this is the acquisition of an official license. On the other hand, you can install a trial antivirus for free, but activate it every 30 days. The situation with activation is also interesting.
As absolutely all users note, for ESET Smart Security (or for a standard antivirus) on the official website you could find freely distributed keys in the form of a login and password. Until recently, only this data could be used. Now the process has become somewhat more complicated: first you need to login and password on a special website, convert it into a license number, and only then enter it into the registration field in the program itself. However, if you do not pay attention to such trifles, you can note that this antivirus is one of the best. Pros noted by users:
- virus signature databases are updated several times a day,
- identification of threats at the highest level,
- there are no conflicts with system components (firewall),
- the package has the strongest self-defense,
- there are no false alarms, etc.
Separately, it is worth noting that the load on the system is minimal, and the use of the Anti-Theft module even allows you to protect data from theft or misuse for personal gain.
AVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus is a paid software designed to provide integrated security computer systems (there is also a free truncated version). And although today this package is no longer among the top five, it nevertheless demonstrates fairly high speed and stability.
In principle, it is ideal for home use, because, in addition to speed, it has a convenient Russified interface and more or less stable behavior. True, as some users note, sometimes it is able to miss threats. And this does not apply to viruses as such, but rather to spyware or advertising “junk” called Malware and Adware. The program’s own module, although widely advertised, still, according to users, looks somewhat unfinished. And an additional firewall can often cause conflicts with the “native” Windows firewall if both modules are active.
Avira package
Avira is another member of the antivirus family. It is not fundamentally different from most similar packages. However, if you read user reviews about it, you can find quite interesting posts.
Many people do not recommend using the free version under any circumstances, since some modules are simply missing in it. To provide reliable protection, you will have to purchase paid product. But such an antivirus is suitable for versions 8 and 10, in which the system itself uses a lot of resources, and the package uses them at the lowest level. In principle, Avira is best suited for, say, budget laptops and weak computers. A network installation, however, is out of the question.
Cloud service Panda Cloud
Free at one time became almost a revolution in the field of antivirus technologies. The use of a so-called “sandbox” to submit suspicious content for analysis before it penetrates the system has made this application especially popular among users of all levels.
And it is precisely with the “sandbox” that this antivirus is associated today. Yes, indeed, this technology, unlike other programs, allows you to prevent threats from entering the system. For example, any virus first saves its body on the hard drive or in RAM, and only then begins its activity. Here the matter does not come to conservation. First, the suspicious file is sent to a cloud service, where it is checked, and only then can it be saved in the system. True, according to eyewitnesses, unfortunately, this can take quite a lot of time and unnecessarily loads the system. On the other hand, it’s worth asking yourself what is more important: security or increased verification time? However, for modern computer configurations with Internet connection speeds of 100 Mbit/s and higher, it can be used without problems. By the way, its own protection is provided precisely through the “cloud”, which sometimes causes criticism.
Avast Pro Antivirus Scanner
Now a few words about another prominent representative. It is quite popular among many users, however, despite the presence of the same sandbox, anti-spyware, network scanner, firewall and virtual account, unfortunately, Avast Pro Antivirus is outperformed in terms of the main indicators of performance, functionality and reliability clearly loses to such giants as Kaspersky Lab software products or applications using Bitdefender technologies, although it demonstrates high scanning speed and low resource consumption.
Users are attracted to this product mainly by the fact that the free version of the package is as functional as possible and does not differ much from paid software. In addition, this antivirus works on all versions of Windows, including Windows 10, and works great even on outdated machines.
360 Security Packages
Before us is probably one of the fastest antiviruses of our time - 360 Security, developed by Chinese specialists. In general, all products labeled “360” are distinguished by enviable speed of operation (the same Internet browser 360 Safety Browser).
Despite its main purpose, the program has additional modules to eliminate operating system vulnerabilities and optimize it. But neither the speed of operation nor the free distribution can be compared with false alarms. In the list of programs that have the highest indicators according to this criterion, this software occupies one of the first places. According to many experts, conflicts arise at the system level due to additional optimizers, the action of which intersects with the execution of tasks of the OS itself.
Software products based on Bitdefender technologies
Another “old man” among the most famous defenders of operating systems is Bitdefender. Unfortunately, in 2015 it lost the palm to Kaspersky Lab products, nevertheless, in antivirus fashion, so to speak, it is one of the trendsetters.
If you look a little more closely, you will notice that many modern programs (the same 360 Security package) in different variations are made precisely on the basis of these technologies. Despite the rich functional base, it also has its shortcomings. Firstly, you will not find the Russian antivirus (Russified) Bitdefender, since it does not exist in nature at all. Secondly, despite the use of the latest technological developments in terms of system protection, unfortunately, it shows too high a number of false positives (by the way, according to experts, this is typical for the entire group of programs created on the basis of Bitdefender). The presence of additional optimizer components and their own firewalls generally affects the behavior of such antiviruses not in better side. But you can’t deny the speed of operation of this application. In addition, P2P is used for verification, but there is no real-time email verification, which many people do not like.
Antivirus from Microsoft
Another application that is notable for its enviable performance with or without reason is Microsoft's own product called Security Essentials.
This package is included in the Top 10 antiviruses, apparently, only because it is designed exclusively for Windows systems, which means it does not cause absolutely any conflicts at the system level. Besides, who else, if not specialists from Microsoft, knows all the security holes and vulnerabilities of their own operating systems. By the way, an interesting fact is that the initial builds of Windows 7 and Windows 8 basic configuration had MSE, but then for some reason they abandoned this kit. However, for Windows it can become the simplest solution in terms of security, although you can’t count on any special functionality.
McAfee app
As for this application, it looks quite interesting. However, it has gained the greatest popularity in the field of application on mobile devices with all kinds of locks, however, on desktop computers This antivirus behaves no worse.
The program has low-level support for P2P networks when sharing Instant Messenger files, and also offers 2-level protection, in which the main role is given to the WormStopper and ScriptStopper modules. But in general, according to consumers, the functionality is at an average level, and the program itself is focused more on identifying spyware, computer worms and Trojans and preventing executable scripts or malicious code from entering the system.
Combined antiviruses and optimizers
Naturally, only those included in the Top 10 antiviruses were considered here. If we talk about other software of this kind, we can note some packages containing anti-virus modules in their sets.
What to prefer?
Naturally, all antiviruses have certain similarities and differences. What to install? Here you need to proceed from the needs and the level of protection provided. As a rule, corporate clients should purchase something more powerful with the possibility of network installation (Kaspersky, Dr. Web, ESET). As for home use, here the user chooses what he needs (if desired, you can even find an antivirus for a year - without registration or purchase). But, if you look at user reviews, it is better to install Panda Cloud, even despite some additional load on the system and the time it takes to check in the sandbox. But this is where there is a complete guarantee that the threat will not penetrate the system in any way. However, everyone is free to choose for themselves what exactly they need. If activation is not difficult, please: ESET products work fine on home systems. But using optimizers with anti-virus modules as the main means of protection is extremely undesirable. Well, it’s also impossible to say which program takes first place: there are so many users, so many opinions.
