AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test July-August 2025

[stonjean633]

I think in a very long usage I encountered once (also in Hypersensitive mode), I don’t remember what sort of program was terminated due to attempts for injecting code. I’ve not encountered false positives other than this.

Being an ex-Trender, I can say I'm proud they still got the #1.............................................# 1 for FP.

Jokes aside, I never encountered too many FP in a real world usage using TM. Not sure what config they run TM Maximum with. Maybe too sensitive.

I focus more on the # of compromise rather than the FP and TM did well on that.
Easier to Unblock the FP than remediate the infection.

 

[nickstar1]

Way to go AVG! Santa might give away more keys considering it's scoring well!!

 

[stonjean633]

Way to go AVG! Santa might give away more keys considering it's scoring well!!

Nice!

 

[rooney49]

Way to go AVG! Santa might give away more keys considering it's scoring well!!

Thank you for being kind. Definitely interested when you plan to share.

 

[bazang]

AVG-Norton-Avast looks like they're in the Top of the Detection rate with 0 compromise. WOW!

There will be thousands of test report readers that will run and install Avast, AVG, or Norton - or all three. Then when the next test result is released, they will uninstall whatever they previously installed and then install the "newest" top performer in the test.

Rinse. Repeat.

 

[Trident]

There will be thousands of test report readers that will run and install Avast, AVG, or Norton - or all three. Then when the next test result is released, they will uninstall whatever they previously installed and then install the "newest" top performer in the test.

Rinse. Repeat.

Is anyone even reading these reports apart from some AV geeks though? Most of the people will see these reports on the AV pages.

 

[stonjean633]

There will be thousands of test report readers that will run and install Avast, AVG, or Norton - or all three. Then when the next test result is released, they will uninstall whatever they previously installed and then install the "newest" top performer in the test.

Rinse. Repeat.

You can do that for Consumers especially for those using trial versions at home.

It's a different case for Enterprise on Production who are tied to multi year contracts. That requires more time,testing,budget and approval of the C Level Execs.

 

[bazang]

Is anyone even reading these reports apart from some AV geeks though? Most of the people will see these reports on the AV pages.

If there are people reading them who are not security/AV geeks, then they are not many.

"5 Stars and All Green Bars"

 

[Spartan]

I think in a very long usage I encountered once (also in Hypersensitive mode), I don’t remember what sort of program was terminated due to attempts for injecting code. I’ve not encountered false positives other than this.

Unfortunately, both AVG and Avast now install all the bloatware with no option to select a minimal install, unlike in the past. I know you can go to Settings and modify components to remove them but I don't like that.

 

[Parkinsond]

Unfortunately, both AVG and Avast now install all the bloatware with no option to select a minimal install, unlike in the past. I know you can go to Settings and modify components to remove them but I don't like that.

A small price for very good protection and low system impact, especially if easily remediable.

 

[Spartan]

A small price for very good protection and low system impact, especially if easily remediable.

That's fair I guess.

 

[stonjean633]

Unfortunately, both AVG and Avast now install all the bloatware with no option to select a minimal install, unlike in the past. I know you can go to Settings and modify components to remove them but I don't like that.

If going for the Ultimate version, you got the option to install other modules like TuneUp,VPN and AntiTrack.

The unwanted Components you can always uninstall thru the settings/troubleshooting after installation. I get what you meant,it should give users option to modify those pre installation.

 

[Spartan]

If going for the Ultimate version, you got the option to install other modules like TuneUp,VPN and AntiTrack.

The unwanted Components you can always uninstall thru the settings/troubleshooting after installation. I get what you meant,it should give users option to modify those pre installation.

That used to the case a few months ago, no matter what version you were installing; Free, Premium, Ultimate. You had an option to install Full, Minimal, or Custom, then you could deselect the components that you don't want. Now you don't get that page at all, it just installs everything even on the Free version.

 

[stonjean633]

That used to the case a few months ago, no matter what version you were installing; Free, Premium, Ultimate. You had an option to install Full, Minimal, or Custom, then you could deselect the components that you don't want. Now you don't get that page at all, it just installs everything even on the Free version.

Is that the case now? If it is,then it's a step backwards for AVG. No options for customization pre-installation.

 

[Spartan]

Is that the case now? If it is,then it's a step backwards for AVG. No options for customization pre-installation.

Yes, try it. I know you can uninstall them but who knows what how many file/registry leftovers it leaves behind and it requires a reboot after you uninstall them.

 

[ChristianP]

Today i gave Norton a try, omfg, the ui doesnt load, tried 3 times to unistall, took a look at their forum, people complain for the last 4-5 days that firewall block browsers, chromecast, vpn block all internet connection, and nobody from Norrton/ Gen is saying anything on the forum, i guess Norton went back to being that messed up software from like 10+ years ago. Its horrible, and i used to be a fan before it turned into a copy of avast.

 

[bazang]

Now you don't get that page at all, it just installs everything even on the Free version.

That is because the publisher:

1. Does not want to spend the time and labor to incorporate the capability in the free product;
2. Wants the user to endure all the unneeded and unwanted components in the hopes they'll be induced to subscribe.
3. Don't care that it is anti-advanced user friendly.

A small price for very good protection and low system impact, especially if easily remediable.

It's not free. The publisher is grabbing the user's data, sending it to a user data aggregation staging server, filtering it in many different ways after sanitizing it of any personally identifiable infos that remain in front of the client-side collection filters, then aggregate data in their data centers, then re-packaging it to sell it to their long list of data buyers.

A lot of people don't realize that software publishers are able to legally sell user data when those publishers follow certain protocols that make the sale of "sanitized" and "anonymized" data fully legal under covering regulations.

There are lines of buyers who pay handsomely for such data because even "sanitized" and "anonymized" data are invaluable to them. It enables the buyers to target everybody instead of the user - which given that marketing and targeting is a numbers game - target as many as possible to maximize sales and profit - suits them just fine.

Bet 99.9999% of y'all did not know that.

"Collecting unidentifiable user data for fun and profit."

 

[Parkinsond]

Yes, try it. I know you can uninstall them but who knows what how many file/registry leftovers it leaves behind and it requires a reboot after you uninstall them.

Minor components does not require reboot after uninstall; only file and web shields.

Bet 99.9999% of y'all did not know that

I know that, and do not mind; I pay with my data for a functioning product.

 

[bazang]

I know that, and do not mind; I pay with my data for a functioning product.

By installing most any software, you essentially sign your life away - whether or not you know it.

 

[Sorrento]

Looking at the 'bar charts' its interesting how the starting point is now 80% which is somewhat manipulating, starting at that point does give some red to AV's tested, if the starting point was not 80% or zero there would be little red at the top of any of the AV's - As has been mentioned many times bar for a couple of AV;s it really makes little or no difference which you use in normal life, this wasn't the case some years ago - What's next 90%?