What is the best antivirus in 2022? Which antivirus to choose for Windows 11 or Windows 10? Antivirus free or paid ? Here are all the questions you ask yourself when choosing the essential security software for a Windows PC ” antivirus “
With all the offers available in the market, sometimes it is difficult to make a choice and know which antivirus to choose. And by installing the wrong antivirus, your computer may be poorly protected and be infected with viruses and malware.
Dans cet article, nous allons voir comment choisir un bon antivirus, l’antivirus à privilégier ainsi que le meilleur antivirus pour PC Windows en fonction des résultats de tests réalisés par des organismes indépendants.
Summary
- Why do you need to install an antivirus?
- Choose your antivirus
- The criteria for choosing the right antivirus
- Free or paid antivirus?
- Which solution: Antivirus, Internet Security, Total Security…?
- What is the best anti-virus ?
- Windows Defender
- Watch out for antivirus reviews!
- Before buying an antivirus
- List of preferred antiviruses
- Verdict: the best antiviruses in 2021
- 1st: Bitdefender Internet Security
- 2e : Kaspersky Internet Security
- 3e : Avast Premium Security
- 4e: ESET Internet Security
- 5e : McAfee Total Protection
- Antivirus test results
- The best free antivirus
Why do you need to install an antivirus?
L’antivirus aide à protéger un ordinateur contre les virus et les logiciels malveillants qui abondent sur Internet. Son but est de détecter les virus et de les neutraliser avant qu’ils n’entrent et ne contaminent le système.
This is THE absolutely must-install security software, especially on a Windows PC. Indeed, Windows being by far the most popular operating system, it is the # 1 target for hackers and their viruses. Indeed, Windows being by far the most widespread operating system, it is the number 1 target of hackers and their viruses.
Antivirus is all the more essential as threats multiply and diversify: Trojans, rootkits, ransomware, etc. We now speak of malicious software (malware ) to qualify all computer threats (including viruses). be part of).
Antivirus software has adapted and can now protect computers against all types of malware. They no longer content themselves with eradicating viruses alone: they act as antiviruses, but also as anti-trojans, anti-rootkits, anti-ransomware … They are now anti-malware , although a lot of ‘between them keep their designation of origin “antivirus”, more commercial.
Choose your antivirus
The criteria for choosing the right antivirus
For an antivirus to be considered good, it must meet several criteria:
- Effective in virus detection and removal: the software’s anti-virus engine must be able to detect known viruses and alert you when a suspicious action occurs on the system. It should also be able to delete or quarantine any viruses it has detected. Its virus database must also be up to date with the latest known threats.
- Little impact on system performance: Since anti-virus software must constantly monitor the system, it must use system resources (CPU, RAM). A good antivirus shouldn’t eat up all these resources, otherwise it will slow down Windows and make your computer difficult to use.
- Few false positive detection: A false positive is a detection error where the antivirus considers that a file is malicious while it is healthy. A good antivirus should know how to detect real threats as much as possible. It doesn’t either alert you for nothing or worse delete / quarantine system files or healthy personal files.
- Easy to use : A good antivirus should have an intuitive, easy-to-use interface in which it is easy to access the various features. The user should understand what the antivirus does, a built-in manual or information bubbles are a plus.
Free or paid antivirus?
Free and paid antiviruses offer the same level of protection against viruses and malware.
There are, however, three important differences between free and paid antivirus:
- The confidentiality of the user’s personal data.
- The features protection.
- The advertising .
> Confidentiality
To finance the development and in return for making their antivirus software free, some publishers collect data on their users to resell them to companies. Yes, when it’s free, you are the product.
Recently, it was Avast Software – the publisher of antivirus software Avast and AVG – that made the headlines on this subject. It has been reported that the publisher has been collecting web browsing data from their users for years. Only users of the free version of Avast and AVG are affected by this commercial exploitation of their data. On the paid version, no data collection is carried out.
Users have certainly always had the option of refusing to share their data, but for that it was necessary to delve into the options of the software. Good point, Avast Software has recently implemented an explicit choice of accept or refuse on the collection of data when installing the free versions of Avast and AVG.
Avast and AVG are not isolated cases, so are other free antivirus software.
To sum up: with a free antivirus, your personal data is collected and sold. With a paid antivirus, no data collection is carried out.
> Features
Paid antiviruses have more security-related features than their free counterparts.
Take the example of Avast antivirus:
- Avast Free Antivirus (the free version ) blocks viruses and other malware, detects network vulnerabilities and has a password manager.
- Avast Premium Security (the paid version ) has the same features + protects against DNS hijacking, integrates a sandbox, blocks unwanted emails, integrates an advanced firewall, blocks ransomware, integrates an automatic update tool applications …
As you can see, paid antiviruses protect computers on multiple fronts while free antiviruses just do the minimum. However, the level of protection against malware between a free antivirus and a paid antivirus is identical.
> Advertising
Unlike paid antiviruses, free antiviruses display advertising in Windows.
Most often, these are advertisements relating to the publisher’s products.
Depending on your tolerance for advertising, choosing a paid antivirus can mean peace of mind .
Which solution: Antivirus, Internet Security, Total Security…?
Antivirus software is available in several versions . Most of the time there is a free version and several paid versions.
For example at Kaspersky Lab, four versions of Kaspersky antivirus are available:
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus (free);
- Kaspersky Internet Security (paid – €);
- Kaspersky Total Security (chargeable – €€);
- Kaspersky Security Cloud (paid – €€€).
Choosing one version over another will depend on the areas where you need to be protected.
Depending on the version chosen, in addition to the anti-virus module (which protects against malicious software and websites), you will have access to:
- protection against malicious e-mails (spam, phishing, etc.);
- an advanced firewall that blocks all programs that have not been explicitly allowed to communicate on the Internet, preventing malware from downloading malicious content. Unlike Windows Firewall, it automatically blocks outgoing connections.
- a sandbox which allows software to be run in a secure environment without the risk of it infecting the system;
- an automatic software update tool ;
- a password manager ;
- a VPN that encrypts the Internet connection;
- …
The aggregation of all these modules form what is called a security suite , often called Internet Security, Total Security or Premium Security according to antivirus vendors.
What is the best anti-virus ?
The answer is simple: there is no better antivirus .
Of all the antiviruses out there, none are waterproof . Viruses and other malware are constantly changing, evolving, and always one step ahead. It’s always up to antiviruses to adapt to new threats that wreak havoc before antivirus companies find solutions to block them and users update their antivirus software.
There is no “best antivirus”, the holy grail so sought after by many Internet users. Each antivirus has its strengths and weaknesses, they are all more or less effective in detecting a certain type of malware, the ability to neutralize them, block malicious websites, have a measured impact on system performance. …
There is no one antivirus that outperforms all the others. There are only some antiviruses that are better than others in some areas .
Windows Defender
If you are on Windows 11 or Windows 10, know that it natively includes an antivirus made in Microsoft: Windows Defender .
Windows Defender performs well in detecting and removing viruses and other malware, based on AV-Comparatives testing .
However, it has a fairly high false postive detection rate and can have a negative impact on the performance of the system: it is indeed quite disabling when copying files (be careful if you make regular backups) and when ZIP archive compression / decompression process .
So you can just do it to protect your PC against viruses. Using another free antivirus like Avast Free Antivirus can help you (it scores better in virus detection / removal, false positives, and performance) if you need to.
Watch out for antivirus reviews!
Don’t blindly trust the antivirus reviews that can be found all over the Internet.
The websites that offer them are often paid by the publishers of the antivirus software to place their foal in a good position in the final ranking; when it is not the amount of the commission that pushes the publisher of the website to place an antivirus rather than another at the top of the table.
Instead, rely on independent professionals who ethically test anti-virus software like AV-Comparatives, AV-TEST, or Anti-Malware Test Lab.
Before buying an antivirus
If you’re going to buy a paid antivirus, test it before you checkout. Most antivirus companies offer a free 30-day trial version .
The trial versions will allow you to test the antivirus and see if it causes sluggishness or bugs on your computer.
If you are satisfied, you can buy the antivirus software without fear!
List of preferred antiviruses
Antivirus software is a dime a dozen.
Among these are rogueware, rogue security software that mimics an antivirus or other security solution. This is malware that should be avoided.
To avoid them, here is a small list of antivirus software considered reliable and to be preferred:
- Avast Antivirus
- AVG Antivirus
- Avira Antivirus
- Bitdefender Internet Security
- ESET Internet Security
- F-Secure SAFE
- K7 Total Security
- Kaspersky Internet Security
- McAfee Internet Security
- Microsoft Windows Defender
- Panda Free Antivirus
- Symantec Norton Security
- Total Defense Essential Antivirus
- Trend Micro Internet Security
- VIPRE Advanced Security
Verdict: the best antiviruses in 2021
Based on reports published by the independent laboratory AV-Comparatives which test antivirus software for Windows, here are the antiviruses to be preferred.
Here are the reports on which this ranking is based:
- Malware Protection Test (March 2019)
- Real-World Protection Test (February – May 2021)
- False Alarm Test (March 2021)
- Performance Test (April 2021)
- Enhanced Real-World Test (2020)
Important: be aware that the choice of antivirus will always be criticized by some and others, some self-proclaimed “security experts”. So do not take your head and do not question your choice if Uncle André or little Thibault gives you his expert opinion on your antivirus software.
Here, I share with you the antivirus software to focus on based on the results of competent organizations in the field.
1st: Bitdefender Internet Security
Rating:
9.5 / 10
To buy :
Bitdefender Internet Security (€ 24.00)
Current promo: € 24.00 the 1st year (€ 59.99 thereafter)
Results:
> Protection against viruses (local): ★★★
> Protection against viruses (web): ★★★
> Protection against cyber attacks: ★★★
> Impact on the system: ★★★
> Detection of false positives: ★★ ☆
> Price: €€
2e : Kaspersky Internet Security
Rating:
9 /10
To buy :
Kaspersky Internet Security (34,99 €)
Current promo: € 34.99 the 1st year (€ 49.99 thereafter)
Results:
> Protection against viruses (local): ★★★
> Protection against viruses (web): ★★ ☆
> Protection against cyber attacks: ★★★
> Impact on the system: ★★★
> Detection of false positives: ★★★
> Price: €€
3e : Avast Premium Security
Rating:
8 /10
To buy :
Avast Premium Security (39,99 €)
Current promo: € 39.99 the 1st year (€ 69.99 thereafter)
Results:
> Virus protection (local): ★★★
> Virus protection (web): ★★ ☆
> Cyber attack protection: ★★ ☆
> System impact: ★★★
> Detection of false positives: ★★★
> Price: €€€
4e: ESET Internet Security
Score:
7.5 / 10
To buy :
ESET Internet Security (€ 49.96)
Results:
> Protection against viruses (local): ★ ☆☆
> Protection against viruses (web): ★★ ☆
> Protection against cyber attacks: ★★★
> Impact on the system: ★★★
> Detection of false positives: ★★★
> Price: €€
5e : McAfee Total Protection
Rating:
7 /10
To buy :
McAfee Total Protection (29,95 €)
Current promo: € 29.95 the 1st year (€ 69.95 thereafter)
Results:
> Virus protection (local): ★★ ☆
> Virus protection (web): ★★★
> Protection against cyber attacks: not tested
> Impact on the system: ★★★
> Detection of false positives: ★ ★ ☆
> Price: €€€
Antivirus test results
Below are the results of the latest tests carried out by AV-Comparatives with most antivirus software on the market.
For each category tested (protection against local and web viruses, impact on system performance, detection of false positives and protection against cyber attacks), here are the most and least efficient antiviruses .
- The lightest antiviruses :
Panda Antivirus (score of 3.0)
Kaspersky Antivirus (score of 3.4)
ESET Antivirus (score of 4.6) - The virus most heavy :
Microsoft Windows Defender (score 28.4) - The most effective antiviruses against viruses (local):
BitDefender Antivirus
McAfee Antivirus
Symantec Norton Antivirus
VIPRE Antivirus - The least effective antivirus against viruses (local):
Microsoft Windows Defender
K7 Antivirus
Trend Micro Antivirus - The most effective antivirus against viruses (web):
BitDefender Antivirus - The least effective antivirus against viruses (web):
Avira Antivirus
ESET Antivirus
Total AV Antivirus - Antivirus with the fewest false positives :
ESET Antivirus
Avast Antivirus
Kaspersky Antivirus
Total AV Antivirus - Antiviruses with the most false positives :
K7 Antivirus
Malwaresbytes Antivirus
Panda Antivirus - The most effective antiviruses against cyber attacks:
BitDefender Antivirus
ESET Antivirus
Kaspersky Antivirus
The best free antivirus
If you don’t want to invest in paid antivirus software, you can turn to free antivirus .
If you’re on Windows 11 or Windows 10, you can make do with Windows Defender , the antivirus included natively. Note: it can have a negative impact on system performance when making file copies or when compressing / decompressing ZIP archives. So be careful if you perform this type of task on a daily basis. Also, it is one of the least effective antiviruses against viruses (locally).
If you want another free antivirus that is lighter and has more protection, you can choose to install:
Be careful, however, by installing free antivirus software you are exposing yourself to the collection of your personal data.
So if possible, invest in paid antivirus software!
Finally, be aware that antivirus software does not do everything. To effectively protect your computer against viruses, learn to visit only reputable sites.
