Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 is the most accurate anti-malware software for Windows 7 in the Q4 2013, according to Dennis Technology Labs’ report.
Kaspersky leads with 99% accuracy, followed by ESET Smart Security 7 with 98% and Norton Internet Security with %97. The middle of the chart belongs to Avast! Free Anti Virus 8 scoring 92% accuracy, BitDefender Internet Security (87%), AVG Anti-Virus Free 2014 (86%), and Trend Micro Titanium (%80). The worst performers are Microsoft’s own free Security Essentials program and McAfee Internet Security with scores of 66% and 65%, respectively.
The testers also praised Kaspersky’s, AVG’s and ESET’s unobtrusive operation when evaluating installed software, while BitDefender, Trend Micro and McAfee were “the most paranoid and onerous to use”.
Dennis Technolgy Labs conducted the tests on PCs with Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 installed and without further patches of the OS. The company says they test with Windows 7 SP1 “due to the high prevalence of internet threats that work with this (version of) operating system”. Also, Windows 7 is the widest spread Windows OS version among Internet-connected PC users, with almost 45% market share.
Among the tested products, the best free-of-charge anti-malware application is Avast!, followed by AVG. Judging from the research, it appears that good protection costs money. The best anti-malware products – Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and ESET Smart Security 7 currently cost $60 per year per one protected PC. Norton Internet Security starts at $80 for a 1 year / 3 PCs protection (1 year / 1 PC not available on Norton.com). The BitDefender suite for 1y / 1PC is currently about $70, while Trend Micro Titanium is $40.