Kaspersky secures another top spot in real-world anti-virus test

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 has been named the industry’s best home security solution by Dennis Technology Labs.

Kaspersky Lab’s solution took the top spot in Dennis’ home test for anti-virus protection from April to June 2013.  The test aimed to compare the effectiveness of anti-malware products provided by well-known security companies.

Other products included AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013, Avast! Free Antivirus 8, BitDefender Internet Security 2013, ESET Smart Security 6, McAfee Internet Security 2013, Microsoft Security Essentials, Norton Internet Security 2013, and Trend Micro Internet Security 2013.

The products were exposed to Internet threats that were live during the test period, Dennis said, adding that exposure was carried out in a “realistic” way. The solutions were then given a score out of 400 points.

Kaspersky’s product came out on top with a total accuracy rating of 388 points – returning an effectiveness level of 97 percent and an AAA award. BitDefender’s solution came in a close second with 386.8 points, gaining the same award. Norton Internet Security was also awarded AAA status, scoring 381 points.

At the bottom end of the table, Microsoft Security Essentials performed worst in this test, scoring just 227 out of 400 points. Dennis did not give this solution an award. McAfee Internet Security 2013 also failed to score an award, given its total accuracy rating of 243.9 was only marginally better than Microsoft’s offering.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 2013 scored 299 points and was awarded C, while Trend Micro Internet Security 2013 scored an A award for its total accuracy rating of 343 out of 400 points. ESET’s offering also scored an A rating, scoring slightly higher with 354.95 points. Avast! Free Antivirus 8, meanwhile, was awarded AA, having scored 366.25 points.

This is not the first time that Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 has come out on top in an independent, real-world protection test. In an AV-Comparatives test in June, the solution blocked 100 percent of malicious online attacks.

In the same AV-Comparatives test, Trend Micro’s offering also managed to block 100 percent of threats, though it failed to maintain its high score in the more recent Dennis test.