Anti Virus Software Rankings

One of the essential pieces of software to install on any Windows PC is anti-virus software. Below find the ranked results of the latest independent tests from AV-Test.org ...

Ranking	Product Name	Protection	Repair	Usability	Total
1	BitDefender: Internet Security Suite 2011	6	4	5.5	15.5
2	F-Secure: Internet Security 2011	5.5	4.5	5.5	15.5
3	Symantec: Norton Internet Security 2011	5.5	5	4.5	15
4	Kaspersky: Internet Security 2011	5.5	4.5	4	14
5	G Data: Internet Security 2011	5	4	5	14
6	Panda: Internet Security 2011	5	4.5	4.5	14
7	AVG: Internet Security 10.0	5	4	4.5	13.5
8	Sophos: Endpoint Security and Control 9.5	4	4	5	13
9	Webroot: Internet Security Complete 7.0	4.5	5	3	12.5
10	Trend Micro: Titanium Internet Security 2011	3.5	3.5	5.5	12.5
11	Eset: Smart Security 4.2	3	4	5.5	12.5
12	Sunbelt: Vipre Antivirus Premium 4.0	3	5	4	12
13	Avira: Premium Security Suite 10.0	4	3.5	4	11.5
14	Avast: Free AntiVirus 5.0 and 6.0	3.5	2.5	5.5	11.5
15	MicroWorld: eScan Internet Security Suite 11.0	3.5	3	5	11.5
16	Microsoft: Security Essentials 2.0	2.5	3.5	5.5	11.5
17	BullGuard: Internet Security 10.0	5.5	2	3.5	11
18	Comodo: Internet Security Premium 5.0 and 5.3	4	3	3.5	10.5
19	PC Tools: Internet Security 2011	4	3.5	3	10.5
21	CA: Internet Security Suite 2011	2	3.5	4	9.5
20	McAfee: Total Protection 2011	3	2	3.5	8.5
22	Norman: Security Suite Pro 8.0	3	3	2.5	8.5

Above tests were carried out between January and March, 2011.

Each score is out of 6 so the maximum total score for a product is 18. Interestingly, the AV-Test.org people determine that a score of at least 11 is needed to pass their test, in other words the bottom 5 products here have failed and so could not be recommended, ouch!