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, e-mail attachments and instant-messaging chats for viruses, worms and Trojan horses. Antivirus software is just one component of Internet security. Reviews say that 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 difficulties, removal difficulties, software conflicts and incompatibilities (especially and primarily 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 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.

CNet.com has touches on most of the major antivirus programs, and write-ups are detailed without being too technical. Robert Vamosi focuses his coverage on the process of installing and running the software, although he also discusses lab test findings. The down side is that there's only spotty coverage of this year's latest rollouts. Consumer Reports concentrates on security suites -- though one free standalone antivirus product is also covered -- but its review has already become dated. PC Magazine hasn't yet reviewed any of the 2009 crop of standalone antivirus software programs, but they do a thorough job of covering the latest Internet security suites.

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, which makes Norton security products, dominates the antivirus market with McAfee coming in a distant second. In the past, there has been a significant performance difference between the two, but the gap has closed a bit his year. McAfee Virus Scan Plus 2009 (*Est. $25) doesn't win any awards, but reviewers do prefer it over last year's version. PC Antivirus Reviews ranks it just a hair behind Norton Antivirus 2009 ( *Est. $20) on account of its "slightly lower scanning speed and slightly lower malware detection rate." CNet.com reviewer Robert Vamosi was unenthusiastic about McAfee Virus Scan Plus 2008, but he's much more complimentary about McAfee Internet Security 2009 (which includes the latest version of Virus Scan Plus). He calls the latest version "competitive with Norton on speed, detection, and removal of malicious software."

Early user reviews of McAfee Virus Scan Plus 2009 are abysmal, though -- at press time its overall score on Amazon.com was 2.5 stars out of five -- with complaints about installation difficulties and lackluster customer service. Feedback to date is on the light side, and it's too early to tell if user ratings will improve. Last year's release ended up with mediocre -- but not terrible -- ratings at Amazon.com and some other sites, although feedback on CNet.com remained poor. As in previous years, the main owner complaint about McAfee's lineup it is unacceptable drain on system performance.