In most cases, users install antivirus software based on the claims made by the companies behind them. It’s often difficult to understand how the antivirus is working in the background of your device, what files it’s accessing, or how much it affects your CPU and overall system performance.
At VPNOverview, we have devised a set of tests to evaluate the many claims that antivirus companies make.
To cover the maximum surface area and provide an accurate review to our readers, our antivirus reviews focus on four key sections:
Security
Privacy
Ease of Use
Speed & System Load
We’ll discuss each of those in turn.
Security
Our security assessment begins with a thorough analysis of the antivirus software’s detection capabilities.
We use third-party test results to determine whether the antivirus is capable of detecting malware samples, including viruses, ransomware, and Trojans. This helps us determine the effectiveness of real-time scanning and the impact of heuristic analysis, which enables us to offer a more accurate score.
Additionally, we consider the software’s integration with global threat intelligence databases to ensure it remains ahead of emerging threats.
We also test the real-time protection capabilities of each antivirus software that we review. To do this, we open folders containing malware samples to see if the real-time protection activates immediately or not.
The EICAR Anti-Virus Test File or EICAR test file is a computer file that was developed by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) and Computer Antivirus Research Organization (CARO), to test the response of computer antivirus programs. Instead of using real malware, which could cause real damage, this test file allows people to test anti-virus software without having to use a real computer virus.
Eicar
Website Homepage
Similarly, we also test by downloading malware samples from the cloud to see if it prevents the download or not.
Privacy
Considering we grant antivirus software unfiltered access to our file system, it’s important to know how these programs use this privilege.
In our privacy evaluation, we meticulously examine each antivirus program’s approach to user data. We comb through the terms and conditions and privacy policies to analyze how the software collects, stores, and uses personal information, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. Furthermore, we assess an antivirus software’s past history in handling user data.
Your consent is required for the processing of certain data. In these cases, we will inform you expressly about the situation and provide you with the opportunity to allow us to process this data.
You always have the option to withdraw this consent to processing with effect for the future.
Avira
Privacy Policy Excerpt
At VPNOverview, we also test additional privacy features, like file shredders, which securely delete sensitive files, and webcam protection, which prevents unauthorized access to your camera. Other features, such as secure financial protection, phishing detection, or the inclusion of a VPN are also factors that we take into consideration.
Ease of Use
To assess ease of use, our team conducts user experience tests and analyses how easy it is to access key features. We evaluate the installation process, configuration settings, and the clarity of the user interface.
We pay special attention to the accessibility of advanced features, ensuring they are not just powerful, but also comprehensible and manageable for the average user.
Additionally, we assess the quality of customer support, including the availability of help resources like tutorials, FAQs, and live support. We also check how easy it is to cancel a subscription, as it forms part of the overall customer experience.
Speed & System Load
In evaluating performance, we measure the software’s impact on system resources. This includes benchmarking system speeds before and after installation, and monitoring CPU and memory usage during full system scans.
We also test the speed of quick scans and the responsiveness of the software under various load conditions. A good antivirus program, in our opinion, does not significantly hinder system performance, especially during resource-intensive tasks.
Other Writing and Reviewing Processes
On VPNOverview, we review everything from antivirus software to VPNs. You can read more about our writing guidelines and how we test other tools down below:
Priscilla is VPNOverview’s chief editor and has several years of experience in VPNs and product reviews. She helps coordinate the team and ensures that all content on our website is honest and accessible.
