An anti-malware package called VIPRE has topped one of the key tests performed by the German security testing company AV-Test. But Microsoft’s Security Essentials was disappointing
The surprise result - VIPRE Antivirus Premium 4.0 got top score in the "Repair" test.Testing anti-malware software is fraught. Since the effectiveness of security packages varies from day to day depending on what new malware is released, APC magazine has given up trying. Instead, we rely on the test results of some independent security testing bodies whose only job is to test security products. One of the main testing organisations is
AV-Test GmbH, a German company which runs a 20-person lab that regularly tests and certifies consumer and enterprise security software.
The AV-Test for consumer software tests for three main things. One is "Protection," or how effective the anti-malware is at detecting and preventing malware. Two, "Repair," looks at how well the software removes malware and disinfects a PC. And three, "Usability," determines how much the software slows down the system and how many false positives it generates.
The latest tests of 22 consumer anti-malware products for the first quarter of 2011 (Jan-March), have thrown up some real surprises. While the overall winners were F-Secure's Internet Security 2011 and BitDefender's Internet Security Suite 2011, which shared the top overall score (15.5 out of 18), closely followed by Symantec's Internet Security Suite 2011 (15/18), the Repair test was won by an anti-virus package we’d never heard of, VIPRE Antivirus Premium 4.0, which beat giants such as Symantec, Kaspersky, McAfee, AVG and Microsoft to become the software that best cleans out an infection on your PC.
While these test results change from quarter to quarter - since the effectiveness of anti-malware packages against new types of malware tend to vary month to month - it’s unusual for a smaller player to top one of the key tests, as GFI Software did with its VIPRE AntiVirus Premium 4.0 product.
The AV-Test Repair test checks the following areas:
- Removal of all active components of widespread malware from a computer. While the industry average in the test was 86%, VIPRE got 95%.
- Removal of further malicious components and remediation of critical system modifications made by malware. Industry average was 48% while VIPRE’s was 71%.
- Detection of deliberately hidden active malware (rootkits and stealth malware). Industry average was 76% while VIPRE's was 86%.
- Removal of deliberately hidden malware (rootkits and stealth malware). Industry was 57% while VIPRE was 64%.
So who are VIPRE's makers? Based in the US and with branches around the world, GFI Software is actually quite a large provider of small business solutions. It's already won several awards for other security and networking products, such as GFI LanGuard, GFI WebMonitor and GFI RemoteManagement, so it's no surprise it's putting out a reasonably heavyweight consumer and small business anti-malware product. One of VIPRE Home Premium 4.0's claims to fame is that it uses less resources than other anti-malware packages, because it combines a variety of anti-malware utilities in one, efficient engine. It also includes other utilities, such as file wiping.
The Repair test, of course, was one of three conducted by AV-Test. When the others (Protection and Usability) are taken into account, VIPRE came 12th of 22, which is not a bad result given it easily beat packages such as Microsoft's Security Essentials, McAfee's Total Protection 2011, PC Tools' Internet Security Suite, and software from other popular free anti-virus providers such as Avira, Avast and Bullguard.
THE OVERALL RESULTS
F-Secure's Internet Security 2011 and BitDefender's Internet Security Suite 2011 shared the top overall score in the AV-Tests for the first quarter, 2011, with a score of 15.5 out of a maximum 18. They were followed by Symantec’s Internet Security Suite 2011 (15/18). Most disappointing was McAfee Total Protection, which came equal last with Norman's Security Suite Pro 8.0, both getting 8.5 out of 18.
And, if like us, you’ve been wondering how well Microsoft Security Essentials did, you’ll be disappointed. The anti-malware package that’s provided free by the makers of Windows didn’t score that well, achieving 11.5 out of 18, which placed it equal 14th. We expect more of a package that is becoming the de-facto protection for many users who choose not to pay for their anti-virus software.
But congratulations to GFI Software for making a product that’s pawned the rest of the industry when it comes to cleaning out a PC of an infection.
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