AV Testing

[TheIgster]

I took 15 malicious links and loaded them against numerous anti virus software programs. These links were zero day links and were found on various sites on the Internet. Stopped is the number of malware that was stopped by the running anti virus program. Missed means the malware got through.

I have rated the product from worst to best. Amazingly enough, one product was able to stop all threats:

Rising Anti Virus

Stopped: 1
Missed: 14

Score: 6%

Microsoft Security Essentials

Stopped: 3
Missed: 12

Score: 20%

Trustport Anti Virus

Stopped: 6
Missed: 9

Score: 40%

AVG

Stopped: 8
Missed: 7

Score: 53%

Avira Anti Virus

Stopped: 8
Missed: 7

Score: 53%

Vipre Anti Virus

Stopped: 9
Missed: 6

Score: 60%

ESET Nod32

Stopped: 10
Missed: 5

Score: 66%

Avast

Stopped: 15
Missed: 0

Score: 100%

Now I know there are those who will say that Avast scored what it did because it is my AV of choice, but this test was performed without bias at all. It was done with the same links and in the same fashion. I was a little surprised by the performance of some quite frankly.

Also note, these were 15 random zero day links taken from various sites. On any given day, anti virus software may perform much better or much worse than this test.

 

[XboxOmac]

Are these accurate scores? I'm thinking of switching to Avast if it's true.

 

[reluttr]

How much of a difference is it resource use wise, between MSE and Avast?

 

[Copperstone]

Cool... nice work... can u post a couple of screenshots though...
It's kinda hard to believe MS Security Essentials did worse than most of the above AVs. It's the most preferred among whoever I know!

@ reluttr: MSE has a slightly lesser resource consumption, I guess.

Try giving Kaspersky AV 2010 a go... It works fine on my Sis' Notebook, no issues whatsoever!

 

[Nem]

Sure avast scored 100% by not far the best of only just 15 links ... though i use Avast along with MSE just for the hell of it for extra in case one misses something. honestly both are pretty good at what they do but anyway....

as i seen in your other thread reluttr if your good with MSE i recommed you stick to it unless you choose avast. For some reason my avast uses a tad less resources then MSE

and since your gamer Avast also has silent/gaming mode option so you won't get interupted while gaming.

 

[chubalz]

Avast is GOOD! Ive tested it so many computers.

AVG is crap tested it.

If i remember AVG can delete rootkits.

Here's a site for best free anti virus.

They tested it.
2010 Free Antivirus Buyers Guide

Avast is Version 5 now and mostly their virus detection has improved.

No need to buy paid license Protection Software.

Actually Using Avast Free, Windows Defender and MBAM Free.

You system mostly are safe!

Im my experience MBAM is the best detecting Viruses.

 

[Copperstone]

yeah... agree. Avast + MBAM is a good combo. Windows Defender is useless...
But i guess the trend goes... if u have MSSE, stick with it...

 

[Jaxryley]

If they were really zero day then no AV would be detecting the samples at the time of finding them.

Avast is as good as or as bad as the next AV.

Virustotal. MD5: f91678dc10dd21c955e82fbd67b5944f Suspicious.Insight Trojan.Dropper.Gen Suspicious:W32/Malware!Gemini

Virustotal. MD5: bde4f68045e765b1e1363f3c9b1eeb0d Downloader Trojan.ATRAPS.Gen Generic.Malware.dld!!.50BCBDB9

 

[malexous]

In my tests Avast! caught nearly nothing while MSE and Norton caught pretty much everything.

Avira wouldn't even let me go to the websites. It would seem they monitor malware listing websites.

 

[TheIgster]

If they were really zero day then no AV would be detecting the samples at the time of finding them.

Well, perhaps our idea of zero day is different then. By that I mean they were listed links on various malware web sites found THAT day. These are not old links from weeks ago or anything. These were posted on that day on those sites as active threats that day.

Sorry guys, I don't have any screen shots. The testing was done and no video or screen shots were taken. Screens most likely would have been a good idea though. If I perform a test again, I will try to grab some. Problem is, it is easy to make a product look bad if you really want to, even with a screen shot.

While 15 links is not a huge sample, it is just that, a random sample of links that someone may or may not come across while surfing the Internet.

Listen, I'm not a professional by any means. This test was performed on my main system using Shadow Defender to simply start over again, uninstall the current AV and then install a new AV. After all the testing was done, I had imaged my system using the built-in Windows 7 image backup, so I simply put that image back on to be sure nothing was left behind.

I will add that in some more testing, Avast has not remained perfect (using other links found), but what Avast missed, my Malwarebytes Pro caught, so a layered approach is best in my opinion.

 

[XboxOmac]

Can you have both Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials on the same computer? I already have MSE, but if a good combination works with Avast!, then I would install that one, too.

 

[Nem]

Can you have both Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials on the same computer? I already have MSE, but if a good combination works with Avast!, then I would install that one, too.

Yes you can, been said by Alwil Avast! + MSE work nice together. Both still light on resources good combo indeed.

 

[XboxOmac]

Can you have both Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials on the same computer? I already have MSE, but if a good combination works with Avast!, then I would install that one, too.

Yes you can, been said by Alwil Avast! + MSE work nice together. Both still light on resources good combo indeed.

Thanks. Will try when I get home.

 

[Dinesh]

Good job done there mate.
I second that Avast is a matured AV and is the best out there.

 

[Dinesh]

Can you have both Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials on the same computer? I already have MSE, but if a good combination works with Avast!, then I would install that one, too.

Yes you can have both running at the same time.

 

[GeorgeB]

Just did a test similar to yours using 10 new links.

Norton 2010

- Detected 9
- Missed 1



MSE

- Detected 6
- Missed 4

A-Squared

-Detected 8
-Missed 2

Norton 360

- Detected 7
- Missed 3


AVAST 5

- Detected 5
- Missed 5


AVAST did the worst

 

[TheIgster]

AVAST did the worst

Which seems surprising since I did some more tests last night with 15 new links and a couple of other AV's and Avast had a perfect score once again. That's 30 different links that I found on various sites that Avast stopped, yet your links Avast did not? Hmmmm....

Last night's testing...Got 15 brand new links and tried them with the following. I used Avast again to see if it would continue on it's same pace:

Panda Cloud
Kaspersky
Avast

Using Shadow Defender in Shadow Mode so I don't have to reload an image each time (I don't use or have a VM), I uninstalled all AV and then loaded the latest version of the below AV's and let them update/setup:

Panda Cloud

Score: Malware 15, Panda 0: 0%

The machine was a mess after the 15 links. Pop ups galore, tons of running processes. Panda missed every single link. No a single peep out of Panda the entire time.

Kaspersky

Score: Malware 0, Kaspersky 15: 100%

Avast

Score: Malware 0, Avast 15: 100%

The machine was left unharmed while the links were executed with Kaspersky running as well as the tests with Avast. So again, Avast gets a perfect score. Kaspersky also performed very well with just single pop ups and it easily took care of all the malware.

Again, nothing scientific here and I'm no pro and yes, I had fun doing it. Not sure why having fun means it should be taken any less seriously, but these are just simple, small sample tests to see how AV's perform against malware that hasn't been out there that long.

The free Avast continues to surprise me.

 

[malexous]

Avast! couldn't stop my links either.

It's more surprising then that it managed to stop all 30 of your links.

 

[JonM33]

I took 15 malicious links and loaded them against numerous anti virus software programs. These links were zero day links and were found on various sites on the Internet. Stopped is the number of malware that was stopped by the running anti virus program. Missed means the malware got through.

I have rated the product from worst to best. Amazingly enough, one product was able to stop all threats:

Rising Anti Virus

Stopped: 1
Missed: 14

Score: 6%

Microsoft Security Essentials

Stopped: 3
Missed: 12

Score: 20%

Trustport Anti Virus

Stopped: 6
Missed: 9

Score: 40%

AVG

Stopped: 8
Missed: 7

Score: 53%

Avira Anti Virus

Stopped: 8
Missed: 7

Score: 53%

Vipre Anti Virus

Stopped: 9
Missed: 6

Score: 60%

ESET Nod32

Stopped: 10
Missed: 5

Score: 66%

Avast

Stopped: 15
Missed: 0

Score: 100%

Now I know there are those who will say that Avast scored what it did because it is my AV of choice, but this test was performed without bias at all. It was done with the same links and in the same fashion. I was a little surprised by the performance of some quite frankly.

Also note, these were 15 random zero day links taken from various sites. On any given day, anti virus software may perform much better or much worse than this test.

I used to use Avast until it started missing malware when I scanned files. I got an infection and gave up on it.

Malicious links are one thing. Scanning files and missing them are another. I cannot recommend Avast to anyone.

 

[Nem]

Honestly... basing your stats out of just 15 links is not a fair rating system at all
like i said all you need is Avast, MSE, or you could both if you like and ..most importantly common sence.