Windows 10: February 2020 antivirus software TEST

The German test lab AV-Test compared twenty virus scanners for Windows 10, and once again, Windows Defender, the antivirus software that is built into the operating system as standard, came out of the test as “Top Product”. The test focused on antivirus packages for end-users.

The virus scanners were assessed for malware detection, performance, and usability. In total, the packages earned 18 points for all three components. Malware detection was based on some 400 “zero-day” malware samples and 20,000 malware samples discovered in the last four weeks before the test.

An average score of 98 percent was achieved for the detection of zero-day malware, which is unknown new malware in the definition of AV-Test. The test with the 20,000 malware samples yielded an average detection score of 100 percent. Eight scanners, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, F-Secure, Kaspersky, and NortonLifeLock, both scored 100 percent. To score six points on this component, it was not necessary to also detect all malware.

The second component, performance, looked at things like visiting websites, downloading files, installing and running software and copying files, and what impact the packages had on this. Eleven of the eighteen packages score the maximum 6 points. Malwarebytes ends with 4 points at the bottom, followed by Protected.net with 4.5 points.

During the last part of the test, usability, the ‘false positives’ were discussed. In these cases, the virus scanner considers clean software as malware or clean websites as infected. Something that can have unpleasant consequences when it comes to system files, for example. Twelve of the eighteen packages achieve the maximum 6 points in this section. PC Matic is at the bottom of the league with 3.5 points.

In the end, Avira, F-Secure, Kaspersky, NortonLifeLock, formerly known as Symantec, and Vipre Security manage to score the maximum 18 points, followed by five products with 17.5 points. Virus scanners with 17.5 or 18 points are rated Top Product by AV-Test. These include Windows Defender. PC Matic ends with 12.5 points at the bottom, followed by Malwarebytes with 14.5 points.

More information: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/february-2020/