Comparison of security suites

Comparison of security suites

This thread is based on AV Comparatives' work and uses the newest overall results available for ranking the security suites. Although this may present the best current AVs using AV Comparatives' methodology, general trends and past evaluations can be viewed on their site for a better overview of the AV market. The security suites are for the most part Internet Suites, meaning they have a bundled AV and internet security package (firewalls, anti-phishers, email scanners etc.). General past trends and specific tests show the best AVs being F-Secure, Symantec, Kaspersky, and G Data, but the overall latest performance test results can be seen below with links to the specific products. The products are sorted and grouped based on detection rates that do not depend on user decisions.

Given the detection rates and product prices, the best choices for personal protection are most likely Kaspersky, Avira or G Data.

99% or better detection rate

Symantec
- Detection rate: 100% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($70 for 1 year) | Trial
F-Secure
- Detection rate: 99.8% (0.3% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($60 for 1 year) | Trial
Kaspersky
- Detection rate: 99.6% (0.3% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
Bitdefender
- Detection rate: 99.3% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
G Data
- Detection rate: 99.2% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($35 for 1 year) | Trial

95-99% detection rate

Avira
- Detection rate: 98.7% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($20 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
Trendmicro
- Detection rate: 98.7% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
K7
- Detection rate: 97.3% (1% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
Sophos
- Detection rate: 97.0% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy (price depends on business size) | Trial
AVG
- Detection rate: 96.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($55 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
Panda
- Detection rate: 96.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($61 for 1 year) | Trial
Eset
- Detection rate: 96.6% (0.3% user dependent)
- Official site | $60 for 1 year | Trial
Avast
- Detection rate: 95.9% (2.3% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
McAfee
- Detection rate: 95.5% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
Webroot
- Detection rate: 93.3% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($36 for 1 year) | Trial
PC Tools
- Detection rate: 99.0% (9.4% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year)

Old results (October 2011)

Comparison of security suites

This thread is based on AV Comparatives' work and uses the newest overall results available for ranking the security suites. Although this may present the best current AVs using AV Comparatives' methodology, general trends and past evaluations can be viewed on their site for a better overview of the AV market. The security suites are for the most part Internet Suites, meaning they have a bundled AV and internet security package (firewalls, anti-phishers, email scanners etc.). General past trends and specific tests show the best AVs being Kaspersky, F-Secure, Avira, Symantec and G Data, but the overall latest performance test results can be seen below with links to the specific products. The products are sorted and grouped based on detection rates that do not depend on user decisions.

Given the detection rates and product prices, the best choices for personal protection are most likely Kaspersky, Avira or G Data.

99% or better detection rate

Kaspersky
- Detection rate: 100% (0.4% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
Symantec
- Detection rate: 99.8% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($70 for 1 year) | Trial
G Data
- Detection rate: 99.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($35 for 1 year) | Trial
Bitdefender
- Detection rate: 99.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
F-Secure
- Detection rate: 99.2% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($60 for 1 year) | Trial

95-99% detection rate

Trendmicro
- Detection rate: 98.8% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
Avira
- Detection rate: 98.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($20 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
AVG
- Detection rate: 98.0% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($55 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
Eset
- Detection rate: 97.8% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | $60 for 1 year | Trial
Panda
- Detection rate: 97.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($61 for 1 year) | Trial
Sophos
- Detection rate: 97.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy (price depends on business size) | Trial
McAfee
- Detection rate: 96.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
K7
- Detection rate: 97.8% (2.6% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
Webroot
- Detection rate: 95.2% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($36 for 1 year) | Trial
PC Tools
- Detection rate: 99.4% (6.0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year)
Avast
- Detection rate: 96.4% (3.6% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV

This is really good info. I'm thinking about getting Kaspersky.

Originally Posted by Jack

This is really good info. I'm thinking about getting Kaspersky.

In all honesty the best bang for the buck would most likely be Avira, as it costs half as much as Kaspersky with a minimal performance decrease

Originally Posted by Alen

In all honesty the best bang for the buck would most likely be Avira, as it costs half as much as Kaspersky with a minimal performance decrease

Really? Hmm, I think I'm going to have to compare them. But thanks a lot for this info. It's really helpful!

@Alen I've had a better experience with ESET Nod32 than any of the "99% detection rate" software you listed. I've gained numerous virus's whilst using Kaspersky, and Bit Defender was full of false positives.

Other than that fantastic list

Originally Posted by Jack

Really? Hmm, I think I'm going to have to compare them. But thanks a lot for this info. It's really helpful!

Just look on their site for more specific test results or go check other independent studies, Kaspersky is considered one of the best AVs, Avira's considered great too. In the end it might just come down to personal preference or specific features

Originally Posted by Lehsyrus

The top AVs usually had around the same amount of false positives per test (I think it was a sample of a couple hundred threats and they had 0-15 false positives or something). Although it's a good AV (dunno why it wasn't ranked) just like Kaspersky or Bitdefender, nothing is perfect and no AV can guarantee 100% security. Guess you just had an unlucky run with them, dunno. I would personally really recommend you give Avira a shot though, even though it isn't on top of this list it regularly beats the other "top" AVs in tests.

Originally Posted by Alen

Just look on their site for more specific test results or go check other independent studies, Kaspersky is considered one of the best AVs, Avira's considered great too. In the end it might just come down to personal preference or specific features

The top AVs usually had around the same amount of false positives per test (I think it was a sample of a couple hundred threats and they had 0-15 false positives or something). Although it's a good AV (dunno why it wasn't ranked) just like Kaspersky or Bitdefender, nothing is perfect and no AV can guarantee 100% security. Guess you just had an unlucky run with them, dunno. I would personally really recommend you give Avira a shot though, even though it isn't on top of this list it regularly beats the other "top" AVs in tests.

I actually will give it a shot thanks for explaining that out for me, I can't stand having to renew my ESET yearly license. It's expensive >.<

100% Detection Rate? I know for a fact that there are things which can get around Kaspersky, so what is this even based on?

Originally Posted by Blitzen

100% Detection Rate? I know for a fact that there are things which can get around Kaspersky, so what is this even based on?

If you would bother to read the thread you would find the source and consequentially the methodology used to determine these rates. Thank you for your valuable input.

Originally Posted by Alen

If you would bother to read the thread you would find the source and consequentially the methodology used to determine these rates. Thank you for your valuable input.

The way you displayed the information with no clear explanation of the methodology used to determine these results within the thread is very misleading. What I saw, and what most people and will see upon entering the thread is: Kaspersky: 100% Detection Rate. You should probably add "of the files tested". That's what most of these kinds of articles do.

Originally Posted by Blitzen

The methodology encompasses several pages, for the average user Kaspersky is most likely going to block most of the threats he could encounter. I did however add a nice little note so we can end this fruitless discussion

Originally Posted by Alen

The average user encounters more threats than someone with experience. The average user isn't going to check your source and read several pages in to understand the methodology used, and the average user isn't going to distinguish this information from a factual percentage of viruses detected, and a complex testing system used to give results that don't actually represent the real detection rates of this AV just by you saying "best current AVs using AV Comparatives' methodology". At least, I don't think so. Am I asking you to fix it? No, there is a bar set on how much effort I feel should be put in to something before it becomes a lost cause to me. But, just sayin' -- if you care about this thread you might want to add a few more details.

Originally Posted by Alen

Comparison of security suites

This thread is based on AV Comparatives' work and uses the newest overall results available for ranking the security suites. Although this may present the best current AVs using AV Comparatives' methodology, general trends and past evaluations can be viewed on their site for a better overview of the AV market. The security suites are for the most part Internet Suites, meaning they have a bundled AV and internet security package (firewalls, anti-phishers, email scanners etc.). General past trends and specific tests show the best AVs being Kaspersky, F-Secure, Avira, Symantec and G Data, but the overall latest performance test results can be seen below with links to the specific products. The products are sorted and grouped based on detection rates that do not depend on user decisions.

Given the detection rates and product prices, the best choices for personal protection are most likely Kaspersky, Avira or G Data.

99% or better detection rate

Kaspersky
- Detection rate: 100% (0.4% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
Symantec
- Detection rate: 99.8% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($70 for 1 year) | Trial
G Data
- Detection rate: 99.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($35 for 1 year) | Trial
Bitdefender
- Detection rate: 99.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
F-Secure
- Detection rate: 99.2% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($60 for 1 year) | Trial

95-99% detection rate

Trendmicro
- Detection rate: 98.8% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
Avira
- Detection rate: 98.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($20 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
AVG
- Detection rate: 98.0% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($55 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV
Eset
- Detection rate: 97.8% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | $60 for 1 year | Trial
Panda
- Detection rate: 97.6% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($61 for 1 year) | Trial
Sophos
- Detection rate: 97.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy (price depends on business size) | Trial
McAfee
- Detection rate: 96.4% (0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial
K7
- Detection rate: 97.8% (2.6% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year) | Trial
Webroot
- Detection rate: 95.2% (0.2% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($36 for 1 year) | Trial
PC Tools
- Detection rate: 99.4% (6.0% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($50 for 1 year)
Avast
- Detection rate: 96.4% (3.6% user dependent)
- Official site | Buy ($40 for 1 year) | Trial | Free AV

idk man i think and i know Norton is the best antivirus!!!

Originally Posted by poppin911

idk man i think and i know Norton is the best antivirus!!!

As Blitz pointed out, these aren't long term measurements nor "perfect" statistics - they're just test performed on a sample that was considered representative of what a normal user could come across. Lots of factors aren't tested here, from actual performance to the latest updates.

Originally Posted by Alen

You forgot to mention the part where Norton is horrible

Comparison of security suites

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