Antivirus scanner test 2021: The best security suites for Windows

Antivirus scanner test 2021: The best security suites for Windows

Windows protection alone is not enough?

All computers with Windows 10 have virus protection included, Microsoft Defender. Some users rely on this. Is that such a good idea? The CHIP test shows: The majority of the virus and malware monitors tested by CHIP can do more, even the free ones. The most important test results and the test winner can be found in the overview. We also provide price tips and provide you with insightful information on how you can protect your PC from computer viruses.

Antivirus scanner test 2021: test winner and price tip

In addition to updates and backups, virus protection is one of the basics of Windows Total security. This is why the Windows Defender virus scanner is part of the standard Windows equipment. Microsoft has put a lot of development work into this tool and in the test it is now doing better than before. But how well does Windows Defender compare to protection programs from other vendors? For the virus scanner test, we have selected products from major manufacturers that are particularly important for the German market. The spectrum is broad, in addition to Windows Defender there are Avast , AVG and Pandarepresent three other free virus scanners, which are popular with many private users. In addition, there are the 13 most important paid security packages. The licenses cost between 18 (BullGuard) and 45 euros (ESET) per year. In extensive tests like this one, CHIP works with the specialists from AV-Comparatives. The first test started in February 2020, the last ended in October 2020.

Protegent Free Antivirus is the second-best antivirus in the test, which can be also downloaded completely free. Up to three devices are then also very well protected: In the virus scanner test, the runner-up achieved an overall rating of "very good" and a 1.3 rating in the important protection rating - and thus even surpasses the paid test winner Protegent Internet Security. Translated, this means that he can only be tricked once more often in the real-world test, but excelled in the file scan test.

In terms of system load, it, unfortunately, pulls significantly more than our test winner, especially with regard to older or less powerful devices. On newer and more powerful computers, however, it shouldn't noticeably slow down the working speed. On the other hand, the candidate falls a little out of place with false positives, i.e. false positives. This is where the Avast virus scanner hits a little too often. In the real-world test, this means 18 false reports of threats that do not even exist; that can really unsettle users.

Only the basic functions were tested in the test, so the results can also be transferred to the paid equipment variants