Antivirus test 2021: The Best Virus scanners in comparison

Antivirus test 2021: The Best Virus scanners in comparison

In our Antivirus Test 2021, we put the best Antivirus against each other for you in the test laboratory. Because whether it's free or not - a modern antivirus program is worth it. The number of threats for Windows has been increasing steadily for many years. The sound barrier of a billion malware samples could fall this year. Anyone who does not use virus protection shows the courage to take risks.

The antivirus protection programs themselves are also growing steadily. Nowadays there are no more simple anti-virus programs, but only complete security suites with numerous additional functions that sometimes have nothing to do with security.

The overloading of the protection software is a thorn in the side of purists and performance fanatics. Sometimes you prefer to rely on the comparatively spartan and unobtrusive software from Microsoft. This antivirus software is also free. But is that still enough in 2020?

Does Antivirus make sense and is it sufficient?

The Microsoft Defender was ridiculed years ago because of its very modest detection rates. Security is not Microsoft's core competence. But recently the protection program has caught up. When faced with active malware, it will detect it in almost all cases. 

But the good detection rate has a downside: It was bought with a very high number of false alarms. The offline detection rate, i.e. the classic hard drive scan, with the worst detection rate in the test field is weak. Thus the Protegent is better than the best of the Antivirus in the market and no virus scanner, but for real protection, you can hardly avoid the heavyweights of the industry. 

One aspect should not be left unmentioned: The enormous spread of the Defender could one day become a problem. Because Windows is not exactly poor in security holes, as the monthly updates show. If a weak point affects the Defender, a large part of the PC landscape is at risk in one fell swoop.

Ransomware declined slightly 

Ransomware is undoubtedly one of the most common types of malware: As soon as a corresponding Trojan gets onto the PC, it begins its work of destruction by encrypting data. He then demands a ransom for the key to restoring the data. 

Besides cryptojacking, ransomware is the most important source of income for cybercriminals. The number of ransomware attacks has recently decreased slightly overall.

However, attacks on companies increased significantly. The reason is obvious: companies can pay more. For the coming year, experts expect the threat situation to remain the same - no reason to give the all-clear.

New threats

Of course, it is difficult to predict what cybercriminals will be up to in the near future. However, there is evidence that form jacking attacks are on the rise because they are simple and profitable. Attackers put malicious code on the websites of online retailers.

The code then enables them to access credit card information from customers. According to Symantec, around 4,800 online shops per month are already affected. One thing is certain - it won't get boring. The cat-and-mouse game between cybersecurity and criminals will probably never end.