Aliwil Avast 4.0 Professional
Price: $55
Design and ease of use: Good
Malware detection rate: 96.32%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 37%
False-positive detectioons*1: 5
System slowdown: 4%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: This program has decent overall malware detection, but poor proactive protection and an awkward design.
AVG 7.5 Anti Virus Professional
Price: $55
Design and ease of use: Good
Malware detection rate: 96.15%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 34%
False-positive detectioons*1: 1
System slowdown: 2%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: AVG has average overall malware detection, the worst proactive protection and a clunky interface.
BitDefender Antivirus 10.0
Price: $38.95
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 95.68%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 61%
False-positive detectioons*1: 14
System slowdown: 124%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 4-6
Bottom line: BitDefender has excellent malware detection, but it causes a noticeable (though not show-stopping) system slowdown.
Eset NOD32
Price: $64.50
Design and ease of use: Very Good
Malware detection rate: 88.32%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 79%
False-positive detectioons*1: 6
System slowdown: 5%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 4-6
Bottom line: NOD32 has the best unkown-threat protection by fa, but its overall malware detection is second-tier. It has an overly technical interface.
Kappersky Anti-Virus 6.0
Price: $72.71
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 97.64%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 51%
False-positive detectioons*1: 6
System slowdown: 10%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 0-2
Bottom line: This effective program has solid malware detection and the fastest outbreak response time among currently tested competitiors.
Norton AntiVirus 2007
Price: $59.95
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 97.77%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 49%
False-positive detectioons*1: 3
System slowdown: 10%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 10-12
Bottom line: Nortins solid program wins extra points for antivirus detection and cleanup, but remewal and support costs are high.
Panda Antivirus 2007
Price: $35.55
Design and ease of use: Very good
Malware detection rate: 92.09%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 56%
False-positive detectioons*1: 3
System slowdown: 4%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: This well=priced option provides good proactive protection, average overall malware detection and a poor disinfection rate.
Trend Micro PC-cillin AntiVirus 2007
Price: $50
Design and ease of use: Very good
Malware detection rate: 90.97%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 43%
False-positive detectioons*1: 0
System slowdown: 9%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: Trend Micro's poor perfrormance at detecting malicious software (overall and proactive) put it at the bottom of the barrel in our ranking.
*1: The number of harmless files incorrectly identified as suspicious out of 20,000
*2: The number of hours on average it took the company to deliver signatures for new malwre during the first part of 2007
Note: Prices are in Australian dollars.
Price: $55
Design and ease of use: Good
Malware detection rate: 96.32%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 37%
False-positive detectioons*1: 5
System slowdown: 4%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: This program has decent overall malware detection, but poor proactive protection and an awkward design.
AVG 7.5 Anti Virus Professional
Price: $55
Design and ease of use: Good
Malware detection rate: 96.15%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 34%
False-positive detectioons*1: 1
System slowdown: 2%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: AVG has average overall malware detection, the worst proactive protection and a clunky interface.
BitDefender Antivirus 10.0
Price: $38.95
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 95.68%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 61%
False-positive detectioons*1: 14
System slowdown: 124%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 4-6
Bottom line: BitDefender has excellent malware detection, but it causes a noticeable (though not show-stopping) system slowdown.
Eset NOD32
Price: $64.50
Design and ease of use: Very Good
Malware detection rate: 88.32%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 79%
False-positive detectioons*1: 6
System slowdown: 5%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 4-6
Bottom line: NOD32 has the best unkown-threat protection by fa, but its overall malware detection is second-tier. It has an overly technical interface.
Kappersky Anti-Virus 6.0
Price: $72.71
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 97.64%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 51%
False-positive detectioons*1: 6
System slowdown: 10%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 0-2
Bottom line: This effective program has solid malware detection and the fastest outbreak response time among currently tested competitiors.
Norton AntiVirus 2007
Price: $59.95
Design and ease of use: Superior
Malware detection rate: 97.77%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 49%
False-positive detectioons*1: 3
System slowdown: 10%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 10-12
Bottom line: Nortins solid program wins extra points for antivirus detection and cleanup, but remewal and support costs are high.
Panda Antivirus 2007
Price: $35.55
Design and ease of use: Very good
Malware detection rate: 92.09%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 56%
False-positive detectioons*1: 3
System slowdown: 4%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: This well=priced option provides good proactive protection, average overall malware detection and a poor disinfection rate.
Trend Micro PC-cillin AntiVirus 2007
Price: $50
Design and ease of use: Very good
Malware detection rate: 90.97%
Proactive detection of unkown threats: 43%
False-positive detectioons*1: 0
System slowdown: 9%
Outbreak response time (hours)*2: 6-8
Bottom line: Trend Micro's poor perfrormance at detecting malicious software (overall and proactive) put it at the bottom of the barrel in our ranking.
*1: The number of harmless files incorrectly identified as suspicious out of 20,000
*2: The number of hours on average it took the company to deliver signatures for new malwre during the first part of 2007
Note: Prices are in Australian dollars.
This information was included on page 10 of the Australian PC World Magazine, August 2007 edition. The article was done by Ryan Naraine.
