Every antivirus software package promises to protect your computer from danger, but when it comes to detecting malware, there are huge differences among them. German Lab AV-TEST today (Jan. 22) released the results of its latest Windows 7-based tests, and Microsoft's free Security Essentials application came in near the bottom, while paid packages from Bitdefender, Kaspersky Lab and Trend Micro were tied at the top.
It's common knowledge among computer-security professionals that Microsoft Security Essentials and its Windows 8 counterpart, Windows Defender, are terrible at detecting malware. Microsoft itself has said that the two are meant only to be stopgap solutions to confer some degree of herd immunity on Windows users who refuse to install third-party antivirus software.
If you need a the best virus protection, it is probably better to go with a paid antivirus like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Trend Micro. Free antivirus could work, but more viruses may not get detected.
Malware is a broad category, it includes specific types of threats like:
- Viruses
- Trojans (a legitimate sounding program that hides a method for others to install other programs... like a backdoor.)
- Rootkits (a type of program that covers it's existence up, even to the point of not appearing in the task manager's process list.)
- Backdoor (a program that allows others to take control of your computer.)
- Adware (those ones that hijack your browser and keep delivering a constant stream of ads. )
- Spyware (programs designed to watch your browsing history, capture keystrokes or screen shots and then report back to someone. The NSA loves these.)
Plus there are some that are multi-type... Like a trojan that deploys a backdoor and spyware program. (Which means that many anti-virus programs are also capable of stopping a wider variety of malware.)
Though Bit Defender (number 1) and Avira (number 4) on that list both offer free solutions too that are roughly on par with their paid versions. (The core difference is that paid versions give users additional features and customization options.) So if you don't want to buy them, you can still use their free versions and be reasonable assured your system will be protected. (I mean use common sense in conjunction of course. Things like: Don't be clicking on every link in every email you get. Don't visit shady sites and click links. Etc...)
I always recommend people try the free versions since it'll give you a good idea what kind of protection and performance you'll get. (I mean anti-virus programs can be a large hit on performance... Norton was noted as slowing systems down considerably with it's bloat. So if one slows your system down too much try another option.)
I think a lot of people and companies categorize viruses as Malware like how a lot of people consider spyware as malware because mal means bad, and ill, and ware is short for software. A virus is a program which is harmful to Windows, Programs installed in Windows, and the user which have to deal with malware slowing down their computer, stealing their data, and corrupting their data.
Sometimes crapware like toolbars like McAfee Siteadvisor and the Ask Toolbar, unwanted bundled programs like weird video codecs and converters which you do not want, and web browser extensions/add-ons are categorize as malware, and spyware by mistake, but crapware does not harm your computer. It just adds a toolbar to a web browser, and install unwanted software on your PC.
