We first reported the best antivirus based on research done by AV-TEST back in June (Best Antivirus for Windows 8.1 – June). They have now tested what Internet Security Suites will keep your system the safest, so it’s time for a new WindowsInstructed article on the subject of security!
Why do you need to install an Antivirus
Whenever someone is talking about antivirus software on the internet, someone always seems to feel he is under attack and say they don’t need an antivirus because they’re careful. I wouldn’t call those people stupid but to make it as easy as possible, this simply isn’t true. No matter how smart think you are, you can still benefit from installing a good antivirus on your Windows computer. The idea that antivirus software is only necessary for irresponsible Windows users is a myth, and a dangerous one to spread. We are living in an age where zero-day vulnerabilities are found and sold to organized crime with alarming frequency, even the most careful of users are vulnerable. Not because they are stupid, but because the software created have to many loopholes in their software.
Every few weeks, Microsoft will come out with an announcement that there is a new virus or security threat to the operating system you are using. These threats can be virus programs, Trojan horses or holes that hackers can use to exploit a weakness in your computer’s security. But before Microsoft is able to send out those warnings, there are most likely criminals who have used those bugs to make money from normal computer users. A good antivirus can stop these type of trends before they are identified and fixed by Microsoft. There will always be threats from hackers and vulnerabilities in operating systems, and no antivirus is 100% safe, but there are some who are getting really close to the 100% safety mark.
What’s difference between antivirus/internet security?
An Anti virus can only scans the virus that it knows. It cannot prevent any virus it does not recognize. So Anti-virus software just fights viruses they have signatures for and just provides a basic protection. Internet Security includes and provide defense against many threats and keep the computer secure even from hackers. It is not just one program, but is usually composed more than one application that aims to provide total protection towards the user. However, there are disadvantages associated with internet security suite over an antivirus. For example, running an internet security suite on your computer requires huge memory and CPU usage and therefore drastically slows down your computer. This is especially true in cases of older computers and laptops.
Who protects Windows the best?
All of the protection packages underwent three tests lasting a period of two months each on XP, Win 7 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. The basic protection provided by Windows was used to provide a base value for comparison in each of these tests, in the form of either Windows Defender or Security Essentials in combination with the Windows Firewall depending on the system in question.
Although the table shows that the basic protection from Windows is better than nothing, the use of an external protection solution is actually a must, all things considered. This conclusion can also be explained in terms of numbers: from a maximum possible total of 18 points, Internet Security from Kaspersky Lab scored a 17.8 points overall, enabling it to achieve first place. In comparison, the basic protection from Windows was only able to achieve 10.3 points, coming in at 17th place.
Another interesting factor is the comparison between free and purchaseable products, in which the top 5 places in the overall result only feature purchaseable products but the free protection package from Panda Security managed to achieve joint sixth place. Although the purchaseable version of Avira’s Internet Security package came in at third place, the result of this product cannot simply be applied to the free version also available from Avira.
Results
After all, you probably only care about what software you should buy to keep your PC as safe as possible. So without further due, here are the test results.
[table id=3 /]About the AV-TEST institute
AV-TEST GmbH is an independent supplier of services in the fields of IT Security and Antivirus Research, focusing on the detection and analysis of the latest malicious software and its use in comprehensive comparative testing of security products.
Due to the timeliness of the testing data, malware can instantly be analyzed and categorized, trends within virus development can be detected early, and IT-security solutions can be tested and certified. The AV-TEST Institute’s results provide an exclusive basis of information helping vendors to optimize their products, special interest magazines to publish research data, and end users to make good product choices.
AV-TEST has operated out of Magdeburg (Germany) since 2004 and employs more than 30 team members, professionals with extensive practical experience. The AV-TEST laboratories include 300 client and server systems, where more than 1,000 terabyte of independently-collected test data, containing both malicious and harmless sample information, are stored and processed.
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