Kaspersky antivirus features a top-notch antivirus program and some respectable web security. In my tests, it caught every piece of malware I used, and the majority of the unsafe websites I tried visiting were caught by its anti-phishing defense.
Additionally, Kaspersky’s internet security has some fantastic additional features. Its parental settings are among the best available, and I truly appreciate them. The secure browser and virtual keyboard (which ensure the Kaspersky endpoint security of online payments), the Rescue Disk tool (which cleans machines infected with malware), and the premium edition of the virtual private network are other features I enjoy (Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN).
Features Of Kaspersky Antivirus, but some of Kaspersky’s additions leave me unimpressed. The password manager is alright, but it’s quite simple and lacks even key features like two-factor authentication (2FA) or dark web surveillance, which are offered by all of the best password managers in 2022.
Although Kaspersky’s system cleanup tools are adequate, rivals like Avira provide far more flexibility. The free VPN only allows you to connect to one server and offers 200 MB of browsing bandwidth per day (upgraded to 300 MB per day with the Internet Security and Total Security plans) (the slowest one).
Additionally, the Backup and Restore option is essentially a free Dropbox account (Dropbox provides all users with 2 GB of storage space, so this feature doesn’t actually offer anything).
Despite this, I continue to believe that Kaspersky Total Security is a good all-around internet security suite. It is reasonably priced, has some incredibly helpful additional features, and a top-notch antivirus scanner. One of the more open antivirus providers is Kaspersky internet security.
Kaspersky security network has relocated its data processing facilities to Switzerland, built Transparency Centers around the world, and passed a SOC 2 audit after 2017 allegations that it was collaborating with the Russian government to steal US intelligence data.
Kaspersky anti virus has a 30-day money-back guarantee, three options that cover three to ten devices, and excellent first-year discounts (14 days for UK users).
Video: Kaspersky Internet Security Product Overview
KASPERSKY TOTAL SECURITY REVIEW
Kaspersky’s product includes a good antivirus scanner in addition to a plethora of extra tools that can greatly increase your online security. It is also quite simple to use, making it a great option for non-technical people.
Although there are antivirus products that are more reasonably priced, the Kaspersky security network does provide numerous competitively priced payment options and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on every purchase (money-back guarantee duration depends on your location).
ASPECTS OF KASPERSKY SECURITY
Antivirus Engine & Features Of Kaspersky Antivirus
The virus scanner from Kaspersky internet security uses cloud-based machine learning in addition to a viral database to find all kinds of malware.
When a new, potentially dangerous object is discovered during the scan, the file is transferred to the Kaspersky security cloud scanner for additional examination. Machine learning is then used by the Kaspersky security cloud to determine whether the file is truly malware.
Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender antivirus are just a few of the top antivirus companies that combine machine learning and signature databases. Additionally, Kaspersky has a great malware detection rate, catching all of my test’s malware samples with 100% accuracy, much as these leading rivals.
Kaspersky offers 5 distinct virus scans:
- Quick Scan: Examines the boot sectors, system memory files, and startup files.
- Scan every file, folder, and disk on your system with the full scan option.
- You can scan any drive, file, or folder using the selective scan feature.
- You may scan portable hard disks and USB sticks using the removable drive scan feature.
- Vulnerability Scan – Checks for security flaws in your system, such as outdated software and malware-prone software.
Kaspersky also provides a variety of options for scheduling scans, such as the ability to schedule scans for a specific time, after an application launches, and after each update.
I hid approximately 1,000 test malware samples, including viruses, trojans, rootkits, ransomware, and keyloggers, on my machine to evaluate Kaspersky. The Quick Scan took just two minutes to finish after that. It happens really quickly. For comparison, a Quick Scan on VIPRE takes 10 minutes, which is 5 times longer!
Although Kaspersky’s Quick Scan only scans key regions, such as those loaded when your OS starts up, this was to be expected since the Quick Scan only checks in malicious samples I hid on my system.
However, since the Quick Scan only identified about 50% of the samples, Kaspersky immediately advised that I run a Full Scan to examine my system more thoroughly. I did this.
While Bitdefender’s scan took an hour, the Full Scan finished in about 45 minutes. The findings of Kaspersky’s scan were great; the program discovered every piece of malware that was on my computer.
I didn’t see any system delay while Kaspersky was scanning my system; I was still able to use my computer at the usual speeds. In contrast, McAfee’s thorough scan significantly slowed down my computer.
After the scan was finished, I could see every piece of malware that had been found in the Quarantine pane.
Kaspersky provides you the choice to restore the infections even after it has quarantined and deleted the viruses. Although most users wouldn’t want to do that, this option enables you to recover valid files that were never meant to be deleted. Kaspersky did not, however, offer me any false positives during my tests.
Kaspersky won’t remove any malware it finds if you end the scan early, and messages will keep reminding you of it. To learn more about your choices for addressing the malware from the paused scan, head to the Notification Center.
I then put Kaspersky’s real-time security to the test. It works discreetly in the background around-the-clock, scanning and cross-referencing newly installed or opened apps with Kaspersky’s malware database.
In my experiments, the real-time security performed superbly, immediately blocking each malware sample I attempted to download to my machine. As a result, Kaspersky is on par with leading antivirus programs like Norton and Bitdefender antivirus.
Kaspersky alerted me when it found malware whenever it found a threat. I had the option to choose between immediately removing the malware from my PC or viewing more information about it.
I then performed a ransomware simulator, but Kaspersky’s real-time security prevented it from being able to lock even one file. Finally, I used the Vulnerability Scan to check my system for any insecure programs that malware or hackers might use as a target.
Only two instances of out-of-date software were discovered by the vulnerability scan on my machine, but the vulnerability report’s level of detail impressed me.
For instance, the scanner identified an outdated version of Photoshop and provided a thorough breakdown of the vulnerabilities I had been exposed to, including when the vulnerability was discovered, how hackers exploit the flaw, and how to fix the problem.
One drawback is that Kaspersky prevents you from updating programs from the antivirus itself. Competitors like Avira include an auto-update tool that can quickly patch up all of your system’s vulnerabilities.
Kaspersky’s antivirus engine is great overall; it boasts a 100% flawless detection rate, a variety of scan types to choose from, superb real-time endpoint protection, and doesn’t slow down a machine while performing a full system scan.
Web Security
Kaspersky offers multiple web security layers. The Kaspersky Protection browser extension and the Web Anti-Virus feature combine to identify and block phishing and dangerous URLs in Internet Explorer.
In addition to checking URLs for suspicious behavior using heuristic analysis, the Web Anti-Virus tool examines the websites you visit against a database of harmful web addresses.
The software’s built-in browser extension, Kaspersky Protection, also looks for harmful links. Additionally, it categorizes websites as a safe kid or harmful, disables tracking and adverts, and enables a virtual keyboard for users.
By adding the extension to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, I was able to test the anti-phishing function. When I visited websites that were known to be harmful, Kaspersky blocked the great majority of them. Although competitors like Norton and Bitdefender performed marginally better at identifying all of my test links, Kaspersky’s scores were still quite impressive.
The anti-tracking feature of Kaspersky Protection prevents tracking from social networks, online analytics, web beacons, and advertising agencies, but you can optionally choose to permit data collection on particular websites. Even though I like this function, I’m not too pleased that Kaspersky and its partners-a whopping 82 sites-can collect user information using the default settings.
Although it’s rather simple to prevent Kaspersky and its partners from collecting data, I’d still like to see Kaspersky ask users if they agree to this practice when the extension is installed.
The browser plugin also allows you to access a virtual keyboard. Since few rivals give virtual keyboards-Panda Dome does, but it’s not very good-I find it incredibly great that Kaspersky offers additional keylogger security.
The safe financial web browser Safe Money works best with Kaspersky’s virtual keyboard.
Every time you visit a banking or retail website, Kaspersky will ask you if you want to add it to Safe Money. If you choose to do so, Kaspersky will open the website in Safe Money when you click the Continue in Protected Browser button.
Kaspersky requested that I add each of the financial websites I used to test this function on to Safe Money. However, it is a little bothersome since it took the safe browser more than 10 seconds to load each time. Additionally, Kaspersky’s Safe Money is significantly slower to load than Bitdefender’s Safepay, which is a safe browser.
Tools for System Cleanup
PC Cleaner, Unused Data Cleaner, and Privacy Cleaner are just a few of the PC cleansing solutions offered by Kaspersky.
The PC Cleaner tool from Kaspersky scans your system for programs and browser add-ons that you might wish to modify or remove. This includes bloatware and programs you hardly ever use (software that came pre-installed on your computer).
I used my laptop running Windows 10 to test the PC Cleaner. The cleaner analyzed the system in 2 minutes, and the findings were really astounding.
The PC Cleaner found every piece of pre-installed bloatware and provided me the option to delete, ignore, or Google each piece of software to learn more about it.
With Kaspersky’s PC Cleaner, you may select the categories of applications you want the PC Cleaner to target, such as those that were installed without your will, those that take longer to start up, and those that display advertisements.
ADVANCED FEATURES
Additional tools provided by Kaspersky include:
- Webcam security.
- Restore and back up.
- Recovery Disk.
- Data shredding and encryption.
- Play mode.
Every time I used an app like Skype or Zoom that made use of the webcam on my laptop, the webcam protection feature alerted me.
Despite the fact that competitors like Bitdefender include microphone and webcam protection in their plans, I’d like to see microphone protection added to Kaspersky’s anti-spyware protection as well.
Users can back up their files using backup and restore to a portable drive or an online security cloud service. Dropbox is the default choice, but you can connect Kaspersky to other services as well. Although Dropbox offers all customers 2 GB of storage space for free, after that point you’d need to subscribe to gain extra storage space, I don’t believe this function adds much value.
Antivirus vs internet security: Whatβs The Difference? (Answered)
There are better backup options available (like Norton, which offers greater storage space and doesn’t require you to subscribe to another service), even if I think it’s ok that Kaspersky offers one.
CONCLUSION
Kaspersky provides good malware defense, a respectable feature set, and an easy-to-use dashboard. Since being accused of spying in 2017, it has also made significant progress in increasing its transparency and reputation. Throughout my tests, Kaspersky found every piece of test malware and blocked the majority of phishing websites.
Parental controls, the Rescue Disk, and Kaspersky’s premium VPN (sold separately) are features I enjoy, but its system optimization tools, Kaspersky password manager, or file backup feature leave me unimpressed.
Although Kaspersky is simple to use, several functions are difficult to find, and customer assistance might be enhanced. All of Kaspersky’s programs are fairly priced, and you can test them out for up to 30 days with a risk-free money-back guarantee (duration depends on your location).
References:
https://support.kaspersky.com/15494
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kaspersky excel at?
Consumer software from Kaspersky comprises its antivirus protection, avg internet security, and total security offerings. Privacy protection, monitoring for suspect program behavior, and alerting users to potentially hazardous websites are all features of antivirus software.
Is Kaspersky a reliable antivirus solution?
In our ranking of the Best Antivirus Software of 2022, Kaspersky Lab comes in at No. 3, and in our ranking of the Best Antivirus for Macs of 2022, it ties at No. 5. Reviewers and security experts commend it for its thorough malware detection.
Which software class does Kaspersky Antivirus belong to?
Kaspersky is a widely used antivirus program that scans your device for viruses and harmful malware in real-time and at a reasonable price. When you have a lot of device at home or at work, it offers limitless plans. Systems running Windows Defender, Android, iOS, and Mac can all use Kaspersky antivirus.