Virus alert

CNET 2006 antivirus performance test scores

CNET Labs compares the performance of antivirus apps. By Robert Vamosi (April 7, 2006)

Testing done by CNET Labs focuses on how a given antivirus scan affects the performance of a few real-world tasks. To see how a given antivirus app performs when stopping malicious code, we recommend viewing the latest test results published by independent antivirus testing organizations AV-comparatives and Checkvir.com. Antivirus scan impact on system performance To determine the impact an antivirus scan has on your test PC, we chose two popular apps--iTunes 6 and Sorenson Squeeze 4--and performed common tasks such as encoding music and compressing video. While performing these common tasks, we also performed both real-time scans and deep scans with the antivirus apps. Our real-time antivirus scans didn't show much degradation. However, our antivirus deep scans did offer some interesting differences. 2006 performance tests  |  2007 performance tests iTunes 6 deep-scanning performance In seconds (shorter bars indicate faster performance) iTunes 6    Test system 162  Kaspersky Antivirus 2006 174  Norton AntiVirus 2006 184  Trend Micro PC-cillin 2006 236  McAfee VirusScan 2006 243  F-Secure 2006 265  AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Edition 296  CA eTrust 310  Sorenson Squeeze 4 deep-scanning peformance In seconds (shorter bars indicate faster performance) Sorenson Squeeze 4    Test system 241  F-Secure 2006 242  Kaspersky Antivirus 2006 250  Trend Micro PC-cillin 2006 303  Norton AntiVirus 2006 326  CA eTrust 330  AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Edition 334  McAfee VirusScan 2006 337  Scan speed (In seconds (shorter bars indicate faster performance)) Kaspersky Antivirus 2006 160  Trend Micro PC-cillin 2006 188  CA eTrust 221  AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Edition 290  F-Secure 2006 312  Norton AntiVirus 2006 320  McAfee VirusScan 2006 368  Boot speed In seconds (shorter bars indicate faster performance) Test system 57  AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Edition 61  Norton AntiVirus 2006 62  Kasperksy Antivirus 2006 62  McAfee VirusScan 2006 62  Trend Micro PC-cillin 2006 67  CA eTrust 67  F-Secure 2006 84  Read the CNET editor's take Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 F-Secure Internet Security 2006 CA eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1 McAfee VirusScan 2006 Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Single Edition Norton AntiVirus 2006 More resources: Security Center Windows resource center Software

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 has a few shortcomings, but overall it's an affordable and feature-packed security suite that reliably defends against online threats. 7.8 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices F-Secure Internet Security 2006 F-Secure Internet Security 2006 provides reliable protection against viruses, spam, and other online menaces. Although its spyware defense needs work, F-Secure is a steadfast defender and a solid, affordable choice for newcomers. 7.3 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices CA eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1 eTrust EZ Antivirus 7.1 is a dependable antiviral crusader that's worth a look only if you're already running antispyware and firewall software. 6.5 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices McAfee VirusScan 2006 With VirusScan 2006, McAfee greatly enhances user protection against spyware and adware threats but slows your system down in the process. 6.0 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Single Edition AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 Professional Single Edition is a solid, no-frills virus scanner. But you'll need to purchase antispyware software and a firewall for complete protection. 5.8 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices Norton AntiVirus 2006 Norton AntiVirus 2006 improves its detection and removal of spyware and adware but lags behind the more proactive McAfee VirusScan 2006. 5.5 out of 10 CNET editor's take Check prices