Today, more than ever, anti-virus software is not only the most popular in the security system of any "OS", but also one of its main components. And if before the user had a very limited, modest choice, now there are 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. Consider 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: test criteria
Before you start compiling a rating, perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the main criteria that are used in most cases when testing such software.
Naturally, it is simply impossible to consider all known packages. However, among all software products designed to protect a computer system in the broadest sense, the most popular can be distinguished. At the same time, we take into account the official ratings of independent laboratories and user reviews that use a particular software product in practice. In addition, mobile programs will not be affected; we will dwell on stationary systems.
As for the basic tests, as a rule, they include several main aspects:
- availability of paid and free versions and restrictions related to functionality;
- speed of regular scanning;
- speed of identifying potential threats and the possibility of their removal or isolation in quarantine using built-in algorithms;
- frequency of updating anti-virus databases;
- self-defense and reliability;
- false alarm;
- load on system resources;
- availability of additional features.
As you can see from the above list, checking the operation of antivirus software allows you to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a product. Next, I will consider the most popular software packages included in the Top 10 antiviruses, as well as their main characteristics, of course, taking into account the opinions of people who use them in everyday work.
Kaspersky Lab software products
To begin, consider the software modules developed by Kaspersky Lab, which are extremely popular in the post-Soviet space.
Here you cannot single out any one program, because among them you can find a standard Kaspersky Antivirus scanner, modules like Internet Security, portable utilities like the Virus Removal Tool, and even boot disks for damaged Rescue Disc systems.
Two main disadvantages are immediately worth noting: firstly, judging by the reviews, almost all programs, with rare exceptions, are paid or shareware, and secondly, system requirements are unreasonably high, which makes them impossible to use in relatively weak configurations . Naturally, this scares away 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.
The speed of work on modern machines is in the middle range (for some reason, increasingly heavy versions are created for new configurations), but constantly updated databases, the uniqueness of the technology for detecting and removing known viruses and potentially dangerous programs are at their best. It is not surprising that Kapersky Lab is today the 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 the start of Windows itself, allowing you to remove threats even from RAM.
The same applies to the portable utility Virus Removal Tool, which can track any threat on the infected terminal. Only a similar utility from Dr. can compare with it. Web
Dr. protection Web
Before us is another of their strongest representatives in the field of security - the famous "Doctor Web", who stood at the origins of the creation of all anti-virus software from time immemorial.
Among the huge number of programs you can also find regular scanners, and protection tools for Internet surfing, and portable utilities, and recovery discs. You can’t list everything.
The main factor in favor of the software of this developer can be called high speed, instant threat detection with the possibility of either complete removal or isolation, 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. Nevertheless, 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 focuses on the use of “sand” technologies, that is, placing the threat in a “cloud” or “sandbox” (whatever you want, call it that) for analysis before it penetrates the system. However, if you look, there are no special innovations here, because such a technique was also used in the free Panda antivirus. In addition, according to many users, Dr. Web Katana is a bit of a Security Space with the same technology. However, in general, any software from this developer is quite stable and powerful. It is not surprising that many users give preference to just such packages.
ESET Programs
Speaking about the Top 10 antiviruses, one cannot fail to mention another brightest representative of this area - ESET, 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 an 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. Activation is also an interesting situation.
As absolutely all users note, for ESET Smart Security (or for a full-time antivirus) on the official website one could find freely distributed keys in the form of login and password. Until recently, only this data could be used. Now the process is somewhat complicated: first you need the login and password on a special site, convert it to a license number, and only then enter it into the registration field already in the program itself. However, if you do not pay attention to such trifles, it can be noted 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 any conflicts with system components (firewall),
- the package has a strong self-defense,
- 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 can even protect data from theft or misuse for personal gain.
AVG Antivirus
AVG Antivirus is a paid software designed to provide comprehensive security for computer systems (there is also a free truncated version). And although today this package is no longer among the top five, nevertheless it demonstrates a 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 he is able to skip threats. And this does not apply to viruses as such, but rather to spyware or adware “junk” called Malware and Adware. The program’s own module, although widely advertised, nevertheless, according to users, looks somewhat unfinished. And an additional firewall is often able to cause conflicts with the "native" Windows firewall if both modules are in an active state.
Avira Package
Avira is another member of the antivirus family. Fundamentally, from most such packages, it does not differ. However, if you read user reviews about it, you can find quite interesting posts.
Many in no case recommend using the free version, since some modules are simply missing from it. To provide reliable protection, you will have to purchase a paid product. But such an antivirus is suitable for the 8th and 10th versions, 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, say, for budget laptops and weak computers. True, there is no question of a network installation.
Panda Cloud Cloud Service
The free antivirus Panda at one time was almost a revolution in the field of antivirus technology. Using the so-called “sandbox” to send suspicious content for analysis before it penetrates the system has made this application especially popular among users of all levels.
And it is with the sandbox that this antivirus is associated today. Yes, indeed, such a technology, unlike other programs, allows you to prevent a threat from entering the system. For example, any virus first saves its body on a hard drive or in RAM, and only then begins its activity. Here it’s not about saving. First, the suspicious file is sent to the cloud service, where it is checked, and only then it can be saved on the system. True, according to eyewitnesses, alas, this can take a lot of time and unnecessarily heavily loads the system. On the other hand, it’s worth asking yourself what is more important: security or increased scan time? However, for modern computer configurations with an Internet connection speed of 100 Mbit / s and higher, it can be used without problems. By the way, and your own protection is provided precisely through the "cloud", which sometimes causes complaints.
Avast Pro Antivirus Scanner
Now a few words about another bright representative of antivirus programs. It is quite popular with many users, however, despite the presence of the same “sandbox”, anti-spyware, network scanner, firewall and virtual cabinet, unfortunately, Avast Pro Antivirus clearly loses to such giants as software products in terms of basic performance, functionality and reliability. Kaspersky Labs or applications using Bitdefender technology, although it demonstrates high scanning speed and low resource consumption.
The users in these products are mainly attracted by the fact that the free version of the package is as functional as possible and does not particularly differ from paid software. In addition, this antivirus works on all versions of Windows, including the "top ten", and behaves perfectly even on legacy machines.
360 Security Packages
Before us is probably one of the fastest antiviruses of our time - 360 Security, developed by Chinese experts. In general, all products marked with “360” have an enviable speed of work (the same Internet browser 360 Safety Browser).
Despite its main purpose, the program has additional modules for eliminating operating system vulnerabilities and optimizing it. But neither the speed of work, nor the free distribution can be compared to false alarms. In the list of programs that have the highest indicators by this criterion, this software takes one of the first places. According to many experts, conflicts arise at the system level due to additional optimizers, the effect of which intersects with the tasks of the OS itself.
Software Products Based on Bitdefender Technologies
Another “old man” among the most famous defenders of “OSes” is Bitdefender. Unfortunately, in 2015 he lost the lead to Kaspersky Lab products, however, in the antivirus mode, so to speak, he 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 on the basis of these technologies. Despite its rich functional base, it also has its drawbacks. 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 protecting the system, alas, it shows too many false positives (by the way, according to experts, this is typical for the entire group of programs created based on Bitdefender). The presence of additional optimizer components and own firewalls in general affects the behavior of such antiviruses not for the better. But you can’t refuse the speed of this application. In addition, P2P peer-to-peer networks are used for verification, but there is absolutely no real-time email verification, which many do not like.
Microsoft antivirus
Another application that is distinguished by an enviable response with or without cause is Microsoft's own product called Security Essentials.
Apparently, this package is included in the Top 10 antiviruses only because it is designed exclusively for Windows-systems, which means that it does not cause absolutely any conflicts at the system level. In addition, who, if not specialists from Microsoft, should know all the security holes and vulnerabilities of their own operating systems. By the way, the fact that the initial builds of Windows 7 and Windows 8 in the basic configuration had MSE was interesting, but then for some reason they refused this kit. However, it is for Vinda that it can become the simplest solution in terms of protection, although it is not necessary to count on special functionality.
McAfee app
As for this application, it looks quite interesting. True, it has earned 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 files Instant Messenger, 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 functional set is at an average level, and the program itself is more likely to detect spyware, computer worms and trojans and prevent penetration of executable scripts or malicious codes into the system.
Combined Antivirus and Optimizer
Naturally, only the most popular programs included in the Top 10 antivirus programs were considered here. If we talk about the rest of the software of this plan, we can note some packages containing antivirus modules in their sets.
For the most part, these are anti-spyware and anti-advertising utilities, as well as system optimizers. Among them, if you rely on reviews, the most prominent representatives are Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Advanced SystemCare Ultimate.
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 you wish, you can even find an antivirus for a year - without registration or purchase). But, if you look at user reviews, it’s better to install Panda Cloud, even despite some additional load on the system and the scan time in the sandbox. But it is here that there is a full guarantee that the threat will not penetrate the system in any way. However, everyone is free to choose what exactly he needs. If activation does not make it difficult, please: ESET products work great in home systems. But it’s highly undesirable to use optimizers with antivirus modules as the main means of protection. Well, it’s also impossible to say which program takes the first place: how many users, so many opinions.