Based on Virus Bulletin data, Softonic, a software download portal carried out a detailed comparison of all major brands of Antivirus program this year. The study undertaken by the website covered a range of programs (free as well as commercial). The 3 main parameters used to measure the efficiency and strength of the programmes under adverse conditions, included,
- Detection rate
- System performance
- Quality of the user interface.
AntiVirus Security Rankings
Free antivirus programs from bigwigs like AVAST! AVIRA, PANDA CLOUD, MICROSOFT, AVG, BAIDU, QIHOO, BITDEFENDER were tested against commercial antivirus programs, KASPERSKY, BULLGAURD, ESET, F-SECURE, G DATA and NORTON.
The standards for testing premium and free programs didn’t differ much as it was observed that the additional features such as backup, cloud storage, browser protection, encryption, or parental control found in the premium editions were also found in few free programs and hence, the basis for comparison.
The quality of each program jointly with its laboratory test partner Virus Bulletin, giving them a rating on a scale of 10. An overall score having highest average score was adjudged as winner and therefore, the best of all.
Norton, with a score of 8.69, the highest of all, managed to secure the first place in the list followed by ESET with 8.47. The antivirus from the Russian multi-national – Kaspersky stood third with 8.39.
Programs were also judged in the following categories:
- Strongest antivirus software –G DATA
- Most promising software of the year – BAIDU
- Fastest antivirus software of the year- ESET
- Most complete free ware solution – AVAST!
- Disappointment of the year – MICROSOFT.
Based on its findings, Softonic has also released an Infographic on this antivirus comparison and the results.
Sadly, the report labels Microsoft as the disappointment of the year. The company’s brand – Microsoft Windows Defender just failed to impress the jurists it seems!
Visit Softonic for more details and to see the security score from the independent testing laboratory Virus Bulletin too, for each software.
Thanks Markus.
