Like many people, I thought that my computer is well protected against viruses and other malware by antivirus brand name that was included with the computer when I bought it.
I browsed the Internet without any problem and everything seemed to work gently until one day something resumed my machine. Random and music began to play and the screen would Flash. Cartoon characters would shortly appear briefly on the screen. Oops. Which has infected my computer?
I've deleted the browser cache, turn the computer off and restarted. The thing was still there. I ran a full scan with antivirus software that came with the computer. He found no problem.
I was always able to access the Internet, I began to seek better anti-virus software. I was looking for a casual recommendation in a forum or a blog of someone. I wanted to find a few results of test of a recognized authority. I was looking for an antivirus program with high rates of detection, whether it was free or payment required.
I've found that software test antivirus is a specialised company now. Even the people of PC Magazine, stated that they do not have their own tests with live viruses. They rely on testing by laboratories independent tests, including AV-comparative, AV-Test, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin and West Coast Labs.
These independent testing laboratories have reliable data on detection of anti-virus free and for fee rates. However not all these laboratory tests have user-friendly websites for the general public.
Virus Bulletin performs independent tests of anti-virus software and some of the results makes available on their Web site free of charge, but they require a subscription of $175 per year for access to all their test reports.
ICSA Labs offers a list of anti-virus products that they have certified, but I was not able to find that a ranking of programs how carried out another. A simple list of certified products is not helpful for people who seek to identify the best antiviru software.
West coast Labs provides independent tests of anti-virus software for their clients who are primarily software developers. Developers have probably receive detailed reports on how their products compare to others, but I found only a type certification box of products on the Web site of the West Coast Labs. Yet again, is not helpful for those looking for a ranking of the best software antiviru.
AV-comparative is a test based in Innsbruck, Austria, and provide a test antivirus for clients in an arrangement similar to that of West Coast Labs. However, AV-comparative seems make much more of their raw data available to visitors to their Web site. They provide a classification of virus detection rates. However there are only 16 programs tested in the recent report I've seen.
av-Test is an independent testing laboratory based in Magdeburg, in Germany and is associated with a University there. PC Magazine refers to as one of the top research facilities in the world for testing of AV-Test antivirus software. AV-Test has 30 programs antivirus test results.
I didn't spend all days seek information while my computer was strange noises, then I chose an antivirus with a high of AV-Test and downloaded classification program.
The new software antiviru quickly located the malware on my computer and automatically deleted. I chose a program paid because it has been ranked very highly, and I thought that I might have need of customer support. However some free software is ranked very high virus detection by AV-Test. And they gave a score of very low detection to commercial antivirus that came with my computer. That does not surprise me. I should have checked with them earlier.
All five of these laboratory tests are worth checking for information on paying and free anti-virus software. There is much information to sort and more things to consider beyond detection rates. For example, programs often ranked differently on proactive defense, where they try to identify virus behavior prior to a virus was identified and added to the signature database. This becomes more important that new viruses proliferate.
For those interested I posted a summary of the programs that rank as the best software antiviru detection rate and other characteristics considered by these test laboratories. I posted this with other critical software on zolosoft.com. Most anti-virus software now include the detection of spyware, adware, given that the distinction between different types of malware is blurred. But pas of all programs include this. Programs also differ in their rates of false positives, ? in their ability to eliminate the virus and their detection of root kits.