Antivirus Software Review

Look for reviews backed by independent testing

This report covers antivirus software, which scans your hard drive, removable media, incoming and outgoing mail, email attachments and instant-messaging chats for malware -- viruses, worms and Trojan horses. Antivirus software is just one component of Internet security. Reviewers say Windows computer users should also use a spyware scanner and a firewall to keep their computers safe. ConsumerSearch has other reports on anti-spyware software, spam filters and firewalls. You can save quite a bit of time by choosing a security suite, which bundles all these features into one program (see our report on Internet security software for more information).

With most computer products, comparative professional reviews can be the best guide to the usefulness and relative quality of a product. With antivirus software, professional reviews only provide guidance regarding some of the major buying considerations. Few reviewers answer all three major questions: How effective is the program at preventing malware relative to the competition? Will the program make my computer perceivably slower? What problems am I likely to encounter if I buy and install this software? Common problems include installation and un-installation difficulties, software conflicts and incompatibilities (especially with other security programs) and inadequate tech support.

At this point, major American computer magazines and specialty websites have abandoned independent antivirus software performance testing. Instead, they rely on one or more of the third-party test labs, such as ICSA Labs, West Coast Labs, and Virus Bulletin, for gauging effectiveness. Also, the manufacturers' websites always tout that labs have certified their products (but be aware that some tout previous certifications as if they were current). Those test labs are now the best sources for comparing the relative effectiveness of antivirus programs -- but no other factors.

Major computer review sites are therefore essential for assessing the user interfaces, system footprints, and other non-detection elements of antivirus software. CNET (as well as its subsidiary, Download.com), PCMag.com and PC World all touch on most of the major antivirus programs, and provide write-ups that are usually detailed without being too technical. Consumer-advocacy sites and publications, such as ConsumerReports.org and Which? magazine, concentrate on security suites instead of standalone antivirus programs, a trend we have noticed among reviewers.

User reviews are a good guide to problems. Because professional reviewers usually test programs on virtual machines instead of real-world computers, they often don't encounter the problems that many users will experience. That's the main reason why average user ratings often fall well below professional ratings, and why user reviews are as valuable as many professional reviews in this category: if a program won't work on your computer, it doesn't matter how effective or easy to use it is.

Symantec, maker of Norton security products, dominates the antivirus market, while McAfee comes in a distant second. In the past, there has been a significant performance difference between the two, which remains today, according to experts. McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2010 (*Est. $50) doesn't win any awards, and the few critics who review it say it's not much different from last year's version. PC World's Erik Larkin says the software does well at identifying known malware signatures, but falters when it comes to catching newer threats. Larkin adds, "Antivirus Plus lacks any ability to identify malware based solely on behavior," an added level of protection many competing programs do have. Scan speeds are slow, and disinfection was also below par in tests. AntiVirusWare.com confirms that McAfee's program is among the slowest and least frequently updated products currently available. Unlike last year's version, though, McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2010 gets favorable customer feedback at Amazon.com and Newegg.com.