Only a scattered number of false positives, remarkable given over 1 million files, were triggered by 15 out of the 22 packages tested, which received the full 6 points. The results offer many users the future prospect of trouble-free product use. If everything goes the way the testers expect, there are no false alarms on any of the evaluations. In addition, each security package is required to scan over 1 million malware-free files. In the test, the lab visits 500 harmless websites with each product, and has over 60 popular program installations and launches of test candidates monitored. Because sometimes an extremely useful tool is blocked, branded as an attacker, and users start to panic. For users, that is not only annoying but in some cases can be very tricky. Periodically, security packages classify harmless program files as dangerous attackers. Only Malwarebytes received a mere 4.5 points due to an excessive system load. As a result, 17 products even received the full 6 points, and four an excellent score of 5.5 points in the category of performance. 21 of the 22 security solutions under examination slowed down the reference system only minimally or hardly at all. The good news: Already in the last tests, the testers were able to measure a noticeable improvement, which was also confirmed in this test. Any unnecessary time delay is registered there, leading to a deduction in points. The time required to do so is set as a benchmark for systems with the installed products. For the test, the lab carries out many standard operations on a reference device: loading websites, downloading tools, installing, and launching software, in addition to copying data. Over the past years, the high system load of some security solutions was a constant source of annoyance to the testers. Cylance and Heimdal Security had some glaring problems detecting malware samples. The remaining products tested partly fail to stop the attackers in one or two tests. The packages from AhnLab and each only exhibited minor false detection in one of the four test segments. They come from Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, BullGuard, ESET, F-Secure, G Data, Kaspersky, McAfee, Microsoft, NortonLifeLock, and Trend Micro. The table with the listing of detection values shows which products completed the test segments with 100% detection. In total, this adds up to nearly 14,000 test scenarios per tested security package. In the so-called real-world test, the lab uses 0-day malware that is always freshly harvested from websites and from e-mails.Ī somewhat larger reference set contains extremely dangerous threats, which have already been wreaking havoc on the Web for up to 2 weeks, however. For more meaningful results, each test is repeated after one month. In testing the protection capability of each product, the lab always uses the latest and highly dangerous malware. Nearly 14,000 attacks in the test lab – per product For achieving between 18 and 17.5 points, these products, in addition to being recognized for "Certified Security", also earned the label of TOP PRODUCT. The solutions from Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, BullGuard, ESET,, Trend Micro, and VIPRE Security followed with 17.5 points. They come from AhnLab, Avira, F-Secure, G Data, Kaspersky, McAfee, Microsoft, and NortonLifeLock. In this test, 8 products achieved the top score of 18 points. The lab conducts evaluations in the three categories of protection, performance, and usability, awarding a maximum of 6 points per category. When users talk about security packages for Windows, now it is no longer about the question "Do you even need a security package?" but rather "Which one is the best?" The choice is now no longer difficult.
The test involved the Internet security suites and antivirus protection packages from AhnLab, Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, BullGuard, Cylance, ESET, F-Secure, G Data, Heimdal Security, K7 Computing, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, McAfee, Microsoft, Microworld, NortonLifeLock, PC Matic,, Trend Micro, and VIPRE Security. The other six packages still managed to earn between 16.5 and 12 points. Over two-thirds of the products received this rating from the lab – congratulations! The rating is only awarded if a product achieves 17.5 or the top score of 18 points. The findings in this test are remarkable, as seldom have there been so many TOP PRODUCT ratings. As always, the experts focused their attention on protection, performance, and usability, which in particular reveals any false alarms.
The lab at AV-TEST examined 22 security packages for Windows 10 in July and August.