AV-TEST The best Windows antivirus software for home users (September - October 2021)

Disclaimer
  1. This test shows how an antivirus behaves with certain threats, in a specific environment and under certain conditions.
    We encourage you to compare these results with others and take informed decisions on what security products to use.
    Before buying an antivirus you should consider factors such as price, ease of use, compatibility, and support. Installing a free trial version allows an antivirus to be tested in everyday use before purchase.

Gandalf_The_Grey

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During September and October 2021 we continuously evaluated 21 home user security products using their default settings. We always used the most current publicly-available version of all products for the testing. They were allowed to update themselves at any time and query their in-the-cloud services. We focused on realistic test scenarios and challenged the products against real-world threats. Products had to demonstrate their capabilities using all components and protection layers.
Test results:
Excel file:
https://www.av-test.org/fileadmin/Tests/Data/2021/avtest_summary_consumer_windows_2021-10.xlsx
Charts:
avtest_2021-10_homeuser_win10_chart_en.pngavtest_2021-10_homeuser_win10_table_en.png
https://www.av-test.org/fileadmin/Tests/Charts/2021/avtest_charts_homeuser_windows_2021-10.zip
 
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Andy Ful

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This follows from a very different testing methodology. Generally, AV-T uses popular software and AV-C uses software with diverse popularity.

AV-T:

AV-C
 

CyberTech

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AV-TEST, the IT Security research institute based in Germany, released its October 2021 best anti-virus programs assessment report for Windows 10 home users. In this report, the organization took a look at 21 different anti-malware programs from various companies and the test also included Microsoft's Windows Defender.

Very much to the delight of Microsoft surely, Windows Defender has scored very highly in this assessment. In fact, it is one of the very best available today scoring the full 18 points available. Hence it has received the "AV-TEST TOP PRODUCT" certification as it has scored higher than 17.5 points in total.

The rest
 

Andy Ful

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The guy who wrote this article did not know (or did not bother to mention) that scoring 3x6 points in one test cannot confirm anything interesting. :(

Anyway, he might be right because in the period OCT 2020 - OCT 2021 only one of the tested AVs (Norton 126 points) had slightly better scoring, and only a few AVs scored the same as Defender (125.5 points).

To be honest, the AV-Test cannot show any real difference between the 8 top AVs.(y)
 

show-Zi

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Maybe it's not the time to award the best winners; a participation award is more appropriate anymore.
 
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Anthony Qian

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Maybe it's not the time to award the best winners; a participation award is more appropriate anymore.
Antivirus softwares nowadays have been improved a lot and therefore a more difficult and rigorous test is required to distinguish the minor differences between these products. AV-Test is too easy for these products and should be redesigned. Currently, AV-Comparatives is more reliable.
 

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