Top 10 Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware of 2006

A Review

Saturday, May 6, 2006 by Mithun Pal | Discussion: Personal Computing

There are several reviews on Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware on the web. One I found at Top10Reviews.com.The review result is just as follows:

Top 10 Anti-Virus of 2006: A Review by Top10Reviews.com


Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Rank 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Reviewer Comments
Overall Rating
Ratings
Ease of Use
Effectiveness
Updates
Feature Set
Ease of Installation
Help/Support
Features
ICSA 2005 Certified √ √
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
VB100% 2005 Certified √ √ √ √
 √ √ √ √ √ √
W.C.L Level 1 Certified √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
W.C.L Level 2 Certified √ √ √ √ √ √ √
√ √
Virus Defintions Updated (Average) 2-3 hours hourly 1-10 Days Daily As Needed Daily Weekly Daily Daily Daily
Scanning Time 80 GB HardDrive 20 Min 8 Min 35 Min 30 Min 24 Min 1 Hour 35 Min 24 Min 30 Min 35 Min
Scanning Capabilities
On-access Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Realtime Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
On-demand Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Scheduled Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Heuristic Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Manual Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Adware/Spyware Scanning √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
√
Script Blocking √ √ √ √ √ √ √

√
Scan Compressed Files √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Auto-Clean Infected Files √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Quarantines Infected Files √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Email POP3 Protection √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
√
Instant Messaging Protection √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
√
P2P/File Sharing Protection √ √







Registry Startup Protection √
√






WebMail Protection


√


√

Detailed Virus Information √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Updates
Yearly Subscriptions to Definition Updates $14.97 $39.95 $39.95 $24.95 $27.30 $34.95 $29.95 $33.30 $9.95 $39.95
Automatic Definition Updates √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Automatic Program Updates √ √ √ √ √ √

√ √
Manual Definition Updates √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Manual Program Updates √ √ √ √ √ √

√ √
Other Features
Online Virus Scanner √ √
√



√
Estiamted Scan Time √ √







History/Report logging √ √ √ √ √ √ √
√ √
Password Protect Settings √ √
√ √ √ √ √

Outbreak Notice √ √ √ √ √ √ √

√
Technical Support
Live Chat √








Phone Support √ √ √ √
√


√
Manual/FAQ/Knowledge Base √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Tutorials √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
User Forum
√






√
Email Support √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Product details Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail
Supported Configurations
Windows XP √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Windows 2000 √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Windows ME √ √ √ √ √ √
√ √ √
Windows NT √ √ √
√

√ √ √
Windows 98 √ √ √ √ √ √
√
√
Windows 95






√
√
Rank 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TOP TEN PRODUCTS BitDefender Kaspersky F-Secure PC-cillin ESET
Nod32		 McAfee
VirusScan		 Norton
Antivirus		 AVG
AntiVirus		 eTrust
Antivirus		 Norman
Virus
BitDefender Kaspersky F-Secure Anti-Virus PC-cillin ESET Nod32 McAfee VirusScan Norton AntiVirus AVG AntiVirus eTrust EZ Antivirus Norman Virus Control

Top 10 Anti-Spyware of 2006: A Review by Top10Reviews.com


</tr>
Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor
Rank 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Reviewer comments
Lowest price
*(annual price)		 $24.95*
 $29.99*
 $19.95*
 $29.95
 $29.99
 $29.95
 $29.95
 $41.91
 $39.95
 $39.99
Overall Rating
Ratings
Feature Set
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Customization
Ease of Setup/Installation
Help/Support
Features
Components that are Searched For 105,000+ 36,000 NA 37,691 56,940 23,675 NA 36,254 NA 38,996
Rollback/Restore Capabilities √ √ √ √


√ √ √
Indicates Spyware Severity √ √ √ √ √ √
√

Descriptions of Found Spyware √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Scan Scheduling √ √ √ √ √ √ √

√
Auto Updates √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Tracking Cookie Blocking √ √ √
√ √ √
√
Real-time Blocking and Protection √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Scans Removable Media √ √ √ √ √

√

Detection and Deletion Capabilities
Adware √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Spyware √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Keyloggers √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Trojans √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Active X Configuration √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Scumware √ √ √ √ √ √
√

Dialers √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Malware √ √ √ √ √ √
√ √
Data Mining √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Parasites √ √ √ √ √ √
√

Toolbars √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Drive-By Download √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Tracking Cookies √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Spyware Registry Keys √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Browser Hijackers/BHO's √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Technical Support Available
Toll Free Phone √ √ √





√
Built-in Application Help √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Knowledge Base/FAQs √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Forums/Email √ √ √ √
√ √ √ √ √
Online Chat



√



√
Product Details Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail
Supported Configurations
XP √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
2000 √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
98 √ √ √
√ √ √ √ √ √
95



√ √
√ √
NT √ √

√
√
√
ME √ √ √
√ √ √ √ √ √
Rank 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TOP TEN PRODUCTS Spy
Sweeper		 Spyware
Eliminator		 Counter
Spy		 Trend
Micro		 Anti
Spy		 Spy
Doctor		 Pest
Patrol		 Ad-aware
Pro		 Spyware
Begone		 McAfee
AntiSpy
Spy Sweeper 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Aluria Anti-Spyware 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software CounterSpy 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Trend Micro Anti-Spyware 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Anti-Spy 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Spyware Doctor 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software PestPatrol 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Ad-aware SE Pro 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software Spyware BeGone 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software McAfee AntiSpyware 2006 - Top Anti-Spyware Software

So, according to the review of Top10Reviews.com BitDefender and Spy Sweeper are the winners in the Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware section respectively. What's your decision? Want to go with the leader?

sources: source1, source2

44 Reply 109 Referrals
First Previous Page 1 of 3 Next Last
George Rogers Jr
Reply #1 Sunday, May 7, 2006 1:42 AM
Thx tons Mithun Pal for this information on AV/SW - Wonder if BitDefender ways heavily on system resources??? Alot of AV/SW apps really degrade system performance & speed...after uninstalling various AV software I've noticed a big speed boost like just after a fresh install of Win.Xp.

Mithun Pal
Reply #2 Monday, May 8, 2006 12:23 PM
Thx tons Mithun Pal for this information on AV/SW


Welcome George. BitDefender is a big surprise here. But, AVs like Norton & McAfee are performing far beyond their reputation. Though there are several opinions and reviews on AVs, but I think this review is enough reliable.

Mithun Pal
Reply #3 Monday, May 8, 2006 12:42 PM

Now here is one more review from PC World.



Rank Antivirus software Comments
#1
Best
Buy		 BitDefender 9 Standard
  • Performance: Superior
  • Ease of Use: Very Good
  • Features: Very Good
  • Price when ranked: $30
  • Vendor's Website
PCW Rating: 92 - Superior

Inexpensive product received excellent scores in our performance tests, although its scan speed was sluggish.
Full Review | Test Report
2
 McAfee VirusScan 2006
  • Performance: Superior
  • Ease of Use: Very Good
  • Features: Very Good
  • Price when ranked: $40
  • Full Specs
PCW Rating: 87 - Very Good

Relatively good heuristics help VirusScan provide solid protection. Phone support costs $3 per minute.
Full Review | Test Report
3 Kaspersky Lab Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 5.0
  • Performance: Superior
  • Ease of Use: Good
  • Features: Good
  • Price when ranked: $40
  • Full Specs
PCW Rating: 85 - Very Good

Program had the fastest response to new malware outbreaks. Interface is clean but not exceptional.
Full Review | Test Report
4F-Secure Anti-Virus 2006
  • Performance: Superior
  • Ease of Use: Good
  • Features: Good
  • Price when ranked: $40
  • Full Specs
PCW Rating: 83 - Very Good

Solid performer responded quickly in tests and provides best breaking news on malware outbreaks.
Full Review | Test Report
5Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2006
  • Performance: Good
  • Ease of Use: Very Good
  • Features: Very Good
  • Price when ranked: $40
  • Full Specs
PCW Rating: 80 - Very Good

Veteren utility offers solid threat detection and a nice interface. Phone support costs $30 per incident.
Full Review | Test Report
6Panda Software Panda Titanium 2006 Antivirus + Antispyware
  • Performance: Very Good
  • Ease of Use: Good
  • Features: Very Good
  • Price when ranked: $50
PCW Rating: 79 - Good

This former Best Buy performed well, but not exceptionally, in our newest nonspyware tests.
Full Review | Test Report
7AntiVir Personal Edition Classic 6.32
  • Performance: Good
  • Ease of Use: Good
  • Features: Fair
  • Price when ranked: Free>
  • Vendor's Website
PCW Rating: 78 - Good

AntiVir performed the best of the free programs, although it failed to clean several old macro viruses.
Full Review | Test Report
8Alwil Software Avast Home Edition 4.6
  • Performance: Fair
  • Ease of Use: Very Good
  • Features: Good
  • Price when ranked: Free
  • Vendor's Website
PCW Rating: 77 - Good

Free product has a slick media-player-style interface that hides some features. Scan speed was slow in tests.
Full Review | Test Report
9Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security Security 2006
  • Performance: Fair
  • Ease of Use: Superior
  • Features: Good
  • Price when ranked: $50
  • Full Specs
PCW Rating: 77 - Good

Former Best Buy performed poorly in heuristics and zoo tests but has the best interface of the bunch.
Full Review | Test Report
10Grisoft AVG Free Edition 7.1
  • Performance: Fair
  • Ease of Use: Fair
  • Features: Fair
  • Price when ranked: Free
  • Vendor's Website
PCW Rating: 73 - Good

Free program has subpar heuristics and one of the clunkier interfaces among the products we tested.
Full Review | Test Report

George Rogers Jr
Reply #4 Monday, May 8, 2006 2:04 PM
Himangshu, This is a super graph display comparison....I really appreciate you input!!

Jafo
Reply #5 Monday, May 8, 2006 10:05 PM

I discarded 12 months of new subscription when Norton actually destroyed 'bits' necessitating a re-install of SP2.

Since then it's been AVG [freeware]...but have been looking into paying for something that actually WORKS...and more often than not it's 'BitDefender' that gets the good write-ups.

There's a free ver, much like the free AVG [it seems]...but the purchased one isn't expensive anyway.  I'm currently using the online scanner....and it's having fun...found itself a nasty in the pst ...slow as a wet week...looks like 70 minutes for my 'C' drive [20gig].

Full ver is a 30 day trial anyway...so looks like I'll go 'that way'...


liquidguru
Reply #6 Monday, May 8, 2006 10:39 PM
here's a link to a very detailed Antivirus comparison report, testing all aspects, including memory usage...

i've started using NOD32, which seems good, great detection rate and low memory use...it comes out very well in all tests:

Link


Mithun Pal
Reply #7 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 6:26 AM
Himangshu, This is a super graph display comparison....I really appreciate you input!!

Thanks George.

Himangshu (Mithun Pal)

Island Dog
Reply #8 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 6:28 AM
I'm happy with Trend Micro.

Mithun Pal
Reply #9 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 7:05 AM
NOD32, which seems good, great detection rate and low memory use...it comes out very well in all tests:

You've reffered to the following review:

The Antivirus Product Comparison: by

November 2004

So, it's enough old. I'm posting the latest one.


liquidguru
Reply #10 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 7:48 AM
So, it's enough old. I'm posting the latest one.


that's true enough...

i am, however, always a little wary of 'comparison' tests to pick a 'winner'...i think all the top 10 antivirus packages will offer adequate protection against threats, and at the end of the day it's down to personal preferences which one you pick...for another 'up-to-date' comparison, here's a link from AV Comparatives, who say they offer 'Independent comparatives of Anti-Virus software'. their latest tests are from Feb 2006.


Link



RisuShikyo
Reply #11 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 8:22 AM
Anyone heard of avast? It works better than anything else I've used* and its free.


Link

P.S: *that includes Norton And MacAfee

Lily Davis
Reply #12 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 8:42 AM
I agree with Risu Shikyo, I love AVAST !! It’s just superb, never had any problems with it, upgrades are done automatically, it’s just a great program. I’ve had it for many years and it performs much better than Norton, MacAfee and some others listed.

George Rogers Jr
Reply #13 Tuesday, May 9, 2006 1:50 PM
THX!!! To everyone here posting comments & links...I really appreciate output from others having at least used many of these software AV/SW programs - the BEST indorsement of all!! I installed Panda Titanium once & couldn't BELIEVE the memory/system resorces it took from my PC - after uninstalling(I couldn't get all of it removed) it was like getting out of jail as far as performance went!

Mithun Pal
Reply #14 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 11:52 AM
THX!!! To everyone here posting comments & links.


Thanks from me also.

Mithun Pal
Reply #15 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 11:58 AM

Well one thing I must say, everyone is posting there comments on AVs. But, probably none has posted any comment on Anti-Spy.


Incoherent
Reply #16 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 12:59 PM
Well personally I used Norton for a long time but got tired of it's issues, so I went to mcafee, and it had even more issues in my opinion, but then my good friend introduced me to AVAST. And I have never even thought of switching. In my opinion it out performs most other AVs and it is free unless you are a business.

I also currently use Windows Defender and Ad-Aware SE.

I haven't had any issues in a while with this set-up.

Adamness
Reply #17 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 3:31 PM
After I reformat in the next week or two, I'll be looking around for a new and better AV program. I'll probably go with BitDefender.

Anyone have any information on (software) firewalls?

twobadmice
Reply #18 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 5:37 PM
What no NOD32 for AV? Why wasn't it tested? Also, they missed out Ewido for anti spyware!!!

Jacki0Chan
Reply #19 Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:44 PM
The results are expected. I have been using Kaspersky and Webroot for a long time.

George Rogers Jr
Reply #20 Thursday, May 11, 2006 4:08 AM
Mr Incoherent, Appreciate the experience(info)you've had using AVAST! I think I'll try it!

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