ANTI-MALWARE REPORTS: SYMANTEC

PC Virus Protection 2010 II

This test aims to compare the effectiveness of the most recent releases of popular anti-virus software. The list of products includes a selection of commercial and free programs (see below).

A total of 10 products were exposed to genuine internet threats that real customers could have encountered during the test period. Crucially, this exposure was carried out in a realistic way, reflecting a customer's experience as closely as possible. For example, each test system visited genuinely infected websites and downloaded files exactly as an average user would.

Products are awarded marks for detecting real threats and providing adequate protection. Points are deducted for failing to protect the system.

The report is an extension of PC Virus Protection 2010, which was released for publication on 29/09/2009. This second report includes the previous data and doubles the number of malicious and false positive samples from 40 of each to 80.

Products tested

• Avast! Home Edition 4
• AVG Free AntiVirus (8.5)
• Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus (9.0)
• BitDefender Internet Security 2010
• Kaspersky Internet Security 2010
• McAfee Internet Security 2009
• Microsoft Security Essentials (beta)
• Norton Internet Security 2010 (Norton 360 4.0)
• Panda Internet Security 2010
• Trend Micro Internet Security 2010

Download PC Virus Protection 2010 II