Choose the best anti-virus software!

Is it really possible to choose the best anti-virus software?

Well.... without technical expertise and even without pretending to have tested a few of the products on the market, how can we advise YOU on how to choose the best anti-virus?

The simple answer is.... we can't!

But what can we do?

We can show you, in the most simple and easy way possible, the latests tests, charts, tops (or whatever you want to call it) from the most known (and some unknown!) PC magazines, anti-virus sites and so on. There are a lot of places around the www where anti-virus packages are extensively tested.

This article won't tell you the details about the tests carried out or the results - for that we have provided the links. Simply put, we have compiled the latest info about the Top 10 anti-virus programs from a bunch of different sources.

Before we start showing you the Top 10 anti-virus software charts there are a few things about them you should keep in mind:

- Each PC (software and hardware) is different, so each anti-virus package will have its own level of performance in terms of consumption of resources. If it behaves slowly on one machine, it does not mean that it will behave in the same way on another one.

- Are you going to pay for this software? Will you use a free version or a cracked one? All this matters when it comes to techinical support. It will matter to your wallet as well.

- Like most things in life, only after using it you will know if it suits you. And for that, nowadays, we have fully functional demos to try.

Review Charts

August 2008 Testing Report

http://www.icsalabs.com/icsa/topic.php?tid=62be$dde584ed-9c135221$6dd6-12a940b3

Security Suites Test 10-3-2008

1. AntiVir (Avira)

2. Avast! (Alwil)

3. AVG

4. AVK (G Data)

5. BitDefender

6. ClamAV

7. Dr Web

8. eScan

9. eTrust / VET (CA)

10. Fortinet-GW

Security Suites Test 1-9-2008

1. AntiVir (Avira)

2. Avast! (Alwil)

3. AVG

4. AVK 2008 (G Data)

5. AVK 2009 (G Data)

6. BitDefender 2008

7. BitDefender 2009

8. CA-AV (VET)

9. ClamAV

10. Dr Web

Test 2007-04, 23 April-10 May

1. Kaspersky version 7.0.0.43 beta

2. Kaspersky version 6.0.2.614

3. Active Virus Shield by AOL version 6.0.0.308

4. ZoneAlarm with KAV Antivirus version 7.0.337.000

5. F-Secure 2007 version 7.01.128

6. BitDefender Professional version 10

7. BullGuard version 7.0.0.23

8. Ashampoo version 1.30

9. AntiVir version 7.03.01.53 Classic

10. eScan version 8.0.671.1

Test 2008-06, 1-21 June

1. G DATA 2008 version 18.2.7310.844

2. F-Secure 2008 version 8.00.103

3. TrustPort version 2.8.0.1835

4. Kaspersky version 8.0.0.357

5. eScan version 9.0.742.1

6. The Shield 2008

7. AntiVir version 8.1.00.331 Premium

8. Ashampoo version 1.61

9. Ikarus version 1.0.82

1. AntiVir version 8.1.00.295 Classic

Top 9 Windows Antivirus - Date Unknown

1. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium

2. Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal

3. BitDefender Antivirus Plus

4. McAfee VirusScan Plus

5. Panda Antivirus 2007

6. F-PROT Antivirus

7. G Data AntiVirusKit (AVK)

8. AVG Anti-Malware

9. Eset Nod32

Security Suites Test - 09.17.08

http://i33.tinypic.com/103czuw.jpg

Best Security Suites for 2009 - Overall Test - 10.29.08

http://i33.tinypic.com/2qxowg7.gif

Best Security Suites for 2009 - Performance Test- 10.29.08

http://i36.tinypic.com/skuemq.jpg

2009 AntiVirus Software Product Comparisons

http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

2009 Internet Security Suites Software Product Comparisons

http://internet-security-suite-review.toptenreviews.com/

Another (nameless) Review Site can be found here:

http://www.2009softwarereviews.com/

and

http://www.2009securitysoftwarereviews.com/

After checking all those Review Tables here are a few links that deserve also a look into:

How To Choose an Antivirus or Virus Scan Program - by HOWTODOTHINGS.COM

http://www.howtodothings.com/computers/a2444-how-to-choose-an-antivirus-...

Before You Buy Antivirus Software - by About.com

http://antivirus.about.com/cs/softwarereviews/bb/bybav.htm

Team Choice

Finally we can tell you that RSLinks.org Team members use different anti-virus software and it is not possible to say which one we prefer the most. But most of us use one of the top 5 anti-virus products. Also, we all realy more and more on our anti-virus package to provide spyware protection too, meaning that we only use software like SuperAntiSpyware or SpyBot once in a couple of months just for the sake of it.

I hope this might be of some use to you.

Cheers.