Is Kaspersky A Reliable Antivirus? (Comprehensive Review) 

You can choose a cantaloupe that looks good, pick it up, and smell it to determine how ripe it is when you go to purchase one. However, there isn’t a sniff test like that for antivirus software, so how do you pick?

Is Kaspersky A Reliable Antivirus, helpful resources include the independent anti-virus software testing labs, which rank and grade dozens of antivirus products and name Kaspersky Anti Virus as a champion. It performed well in our tests as well as receiving top or almost top marks in every test conducted by a lab we monitor.

With Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, the core antivirus offers the same high-quality protection, but without the extra clutter that comes with all the features that are only available with premium subscriptions. What’s more, you have complete access to tech help by phone and live chat with Kaspersky antivirus software.

For a three-license Kaspersky software subscription, you pay $59.99 annually or $79.99 for five licenses. Although you get three licenses from F-Secure for just $39.99, that is rather usual.

Even though Norton AntiVirus Plus costs $59.99, you only get one license. With McAfee Total Protection, you can add security features to every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your home for the same $59.99 price.

Video: Kaspersky Antivirus review 2022 | PROS & CONS

PROS:

• Scores were perfect and nearly excellent from four different testing facilities
• Suitable ransomware protection
• Good results on our practice tests
• Complete phone and live chat assistance
• Additional privacy and performance checks

CONS:

• Bonus scans heavily cross each other.
• Little information is provided by vulnerability scanning.

CAN KASPERSKY BE USED AS AN ANTIVIRUS?

Additionally, Kaspersky has some fantastic extra features like webcam protection. Its parental settings are among of the best available, and I truly appreciate them. The secure browser and virtual keyboard (which ensure the internet 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 (VPN).

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 monitoring, which are offered by all of the best password managers in 2022.

Although Kaspersky’s system cleanup tools are adequate, rivals like Avira’s privacy cleaner provide far more flexibility. The free Kaspersky 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 Kaspersky 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 Kaspersky internet security suite. It is reasonably priced, has some incredibly helpful features, and is a top-notch antivirus scanner.

One of the more open antivirus protection is Kaspersky Security Network. Kaspersky 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 has a 30-day money-back guarantee, three options that cover more than 3 devices, and excellent first-year discounts (14 days for UK users).

KASPERSKY ANTI-VIRUS: WHAT IS IT?

In my most recent Kaspersky antivirus review, Kaspersky’s primary window remained largely unchanged, sporting the same slightly textured white background and generous amounts of whitespace. A status panel, a More Tools button, button panels for Scan, Database Update, Reports, and On-Screen Keyboard are all present.

The On-Screen Keyboard is designed to safeguard your entry of sensitive data against keyloggers, including hardware keyloggers. It comes with a number pad and arrow keys by default, but you can remove them if you don’t need them. When I used the on-screen keyboard for the first time, I discovered that Kaspersky needed to be restarted.

It’s interesting to note that the Kaspersky free antivirus software is not based on the paid version we tested here. The free solution is actually a pared-down version of Kaspersky Security Cloud, with a shield emblem indicating that premium capabilities require an upgrade. I conducted my hands-on tests with both this product and the free edition at the same time and received the same outcomes.

The majority of the improvements in this most recent edition are hidden inside. I did get a chance to witness the new stalker defense in action while testing. A warning from Kaspersky appeared, stating that it had discovered “user activity tracking software” that might provide illegal access to sensitive information. This kind of malware surged by 35% in 2019, citing a Kaspersky blog post.

FREE EDITION SHARED

All of the antivirus security offered by Kaspersky Security Cloud Premium is also included in the free version. Even the once-exclusive to paid products behavior-based System Watcher is now a part of the package. I’ll list the standard features here, and you can read my evaluation of the free product for additional details.

Kaspersky is mentioned in the four independent testing labs I regularly monitor. Kaspersky received the highest possible rating in nearly every test conducted by all four labs, obtaining an overall score of 9.7. (out of a possible 10). Three of the labs gave Bitdefender 9.9 out of a possible 10 scores. Both frequently receive lab evaluations that are excellent or nearly perfect.

In my hands-on malware detection and threat protection test, Kaspersky didn’t perform quite as well, but when findings don’t line up, I trust the laboratories and their dozens of researchers. Kaspersky scored a respectable 9.3 out of a possible 10, which is unquestionably higher than Bitdefender’s 8.6.

Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus received a perfect score of 10 points when tested against my current malware collection. The best defense against malware attacks is to prevent the malicious program from ever entering your computer in the first place.

I use a list of malware-hosting URLs that the testing lab MRG-Effitas recently found to test that capacity (Opens in a new window). Both stopping the virus download and preventing access to a risky URL are rewarded equally by-products.

Last time, Kaspersky received 89 percent. I took the test, but I didn’t perform quite well this time. It prevented access to 58% of the harmful URLs and stopped another 23% from downloading.

Kaspersky’s overall rating of 81 percent places it in the bottom half of all currently available products. In their most recent tests, McAfee, Sophos Home Premium, and Vipre all received a perfect scores.

Phishing websites don’t bother hosting viruses; they con people into disclosing their login information. Kaspersky performed admirably, although it fell short of providing complete internet security, as it did in the last review.

At 96 percent, it is still a winner; this time, it is just not at the top. That distinction belongs to Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security, which in its most recent test has a 100% detection rate. With 99 percent, McAfee, Bitdefender, and Norton all nearly made it.

In order to identify harmful activity, including ransomware activities, the System Watcher component is used. System Watcher can zero down on a threat even if the standard real-time antivirus doesn’t detect it. I turned off real-time protection and started a dozen actual ransomware samples to test this feature.

A few samples did not respond, maybe as a result of discovering Kaspersky on the system. All other ransomware samples that encrypt files were discovered by System Watcher. Additionally, it discovered the unusual disk-encrypting Petya ransomware, a feat that was not done by Bitdefender’s and a number of other competitors’ behavior-based detection.

One screen-locker sample did succeed in locking down my test PC, but it was defeated when I entered the Kaspersky lock-breaker key combination. Even when your PC’s interface is locked, as it was in this case, you can trigger Kaspersky to act by typing this programmable key combination.

You can choose Rescue Disk, a complete ISO image that you burn to a CD or DVD, from the More Tools menu. Windows-based malware cannot withstand booting from the rescue disk’s alternative operating system.

Notably, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus facilitates the procedure even more. Just choose Rescue Environment, then restart. Neither a USB nor a disk need to be prepared.

How Can I Tell If My Antivirus Is Effective? (Easy Guide)

OTHER SHARED FEATURES

A bandwidth-limited version of Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN is included with each program in the current Kaspersky product range. By paying $4.99 per month for the premium edition, you can remove the bandwidth restriction and have access to additional services.

The comparable VPN feature from Bitdefender can only be purchased in a bundle with another Bitdefender product. It costs $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year to activate its premium mode. When it comes to VPN technology, Hotspot Shield is used by both Kaspersky and Bitdefender.

The installer for this program also installs Kaspersky Password Manager if you permit it. But following a brief trial period, this product reverts to its restricted free state.

Only 15 entries, which could be passwords, pieces of personal data, or notes, can be stored in free mode. This straightforward password manager has an annual cost of $14.99.

Both solutions come with a number of non-security-related scans. The decreasing Internet Explorer browser setup issues are the exclusive focus of the Browser Configuration Check.

With its advice broken down into strongly suggested activities, recommended actions, and further actions, Privacy Cleaner removes any traces of your browsing and computer use that might be revealing to a snoop. Additionally, the Microsoft Windows Troubleshooter looks for modifications to the system configuration that might have been brought on by malware.

The commercial antivirus does not contain a scan for unneeded data that is taking up disk space, but the free edition does. Particularly the Browser Configuration Check, all four of these scans appear to be out of the current. They should be modernized and integrated into a single element, in my opinion.

THE VULNERABILITY SCAN WAS MODIFIED

Since my most recent round of review updates, the vulnerability scan has altered. The free product at the time did not offer vulnerability scanning. In the earlier vulnerability check, Windows had eight vulnerabilities and two programs needed security fixes.

The latter group didn’t involve outdated versions of Windows. Instead, it provided a list of configuration options that might have an impact on security, similar to the Microsoft Windows Troubleshooter.

Both products currently come with a vulnerability scan. Although the free and premium versions have different appearances, the scan results were unfortunately the same for both.

All I got was a single item on a list of programs that were weak. When I clicked for more information, nothing happened; only a web page indicating that no description is available was presented.

A vulnerability scan is typically used by products to detect apps that may be upgraded to increase security. Avira Prime’s built-in software updater not only locates available updates but also performs automatic installation of them.

Avast Premium Security also fits this description. But keep in mind that in each of their separate product lines, these two are the top-tier suites. While less expensive products locate the required updates, they do not automate installation.

OUTSTANDING SCORES

Kaspersky Anti-Virus receives top marks in every test from every lab we monitor, and it includes a feature-restricted version of Kaspersky VPN and password management tools.

Without the distraction of all those premium-only features, the basic antivirus technology is the same as that of Kaspersky Security Cloud Free. Additionally, the subscription edition’s direct tech help through phone or live chat feature can come in very handy.

The lab tests consistently rank Bitdefender Antivirus Plus as highly as Kaspersky, and it includes enough additional helpful security functions to virtually qualify as a suite. With the use of a journal-and-rollback system and behavioral detection, Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is able to repair the harm caused by malware, including ransomware.

Even though McAfee AntiVirus Plus didn’t receive a perfect score, it nevertheless allows you to safeguard any device in your home. These three antivirus solutions, along with Kaspersky Anti-Virus, have been chosen as Editors’ Choice antivirus tools from among the dozens of available antivirus products.

CONCLUSION

All independent testing laboratories award Kaspersky Anti Virus perfect or nearly flawless scores, and it excelled in our hands-on ransomware prevention test. It is still one of the top antivirus programs with endpoint security that can defend the device from malware.

References:

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kaspersky-anti-virus

https://www.usnews.com/360-reviews/privacy/antivirus/kaspersky

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