Descriptions
1) Kaspersky: it is used by consumers and large corporations. Its database is known to be updated more quickly than ever. This software is impeccable when it comes to detecting threats. Used until recently, especially in the Eastern parts of the world, its undoubted qualities have made it a pillar of the anti-virus category.
2) Nod32: the latest version of Eset remains the best choice with regard to the relationship between speed and protection. Equipped with a minimal interface, it is very lightweight and has an "intelligent" engine, which can respond to unknown threats much better than the other antivirus programs and rarely emits false positives. Its strengths are and speed and performance without using excessive system resources, but, unfortunately, its database is not as quickly updated as with Kaspersky.
3) Norton 2010: it has always been good at detecting threats, but it slows down the PC if it has been infected with a virus. The latest version requires less than 10MB of memory and the application is capable of addressing all the threats to which you are exposed daily. 4) Avira Antivir 9: definitely not hungry for resources. It deserves a prominent place in the new ranking because it is one of the most effective free antivirus programs. The free version offers excellent protection against viruses, but it is best supported by antimalware software.
5) G Data Antivirus 2010: the new version of Total Care has a simpler and more intuitive interface than the previous versions. Using the new technology to scan fingerprints, it provides very effective protection. It offers real-time protection and is able to act on e-mail threats about attacks via IM. It is a great tool but it requires a lot of resources. Therefore, it is recommended to users who have a powerful PC.
6) BitDefender 2010: it has all the tools for the identification and removal of spyware and other malware. It performs a real-time system scan and allows you to proactively block suspicious applications that may harm your computer. The protection is extended to the phenomenon of phishing, which is increasingly spreading through fake e-mails. However, it scans files very slowly.
7) McAfee 2010: it is a complete package of security including antivirus, antispyware, antispam, antiphishing, two-way firewall and so on that protects the system and personal data while browsing the internet. It is among the best when it comes to scanning the entire system. However, it affects the operating system (using a quantity of RAM a lot larger than any other software).
8) Panda 2010: It ensures effective active protection against all types of viruses, malware, spyware, Trojans and dialers. It offers a series of incredible benefits: daily update and automatic blocking of telephone connections, unauthorized antiphishing technology, antipharming and antispyware. However, it uses an incredible amount of resources.
9) Avast!5: this was perhaps the most popular free antivirus program present on the market for some time, very light and offering good virus detection during navigation. However, Avast free antivirus 4.8 version has shown some concern in terms of scanning the disk as it was noted that it did not recognize various threats when tested.
It seems that Awil Software have worked to improve their product: the new Avast! 5 has the ability to support heuristic scanning and it is a new form of spam detection software and PUP. This software is recommended and you can count on it if you install it together with a compatible firewall.
10) Windows Live OneCare 2.5: a product of Microsoft, this is an antivirus, antispyware and has some nice features, including the "start-time optimizer", which speeds the PC boot time by removing rarely used applications from the Start menu. It is not too heavy and the scanning time is very good, but it loses points in the standings as compared to other competitors due to a massive percentage of false positives. Microsoft has recently decided to withdraw this software from the market, so only the free version is available on the web at this moment.
