Can you trust anti-virus rankings?

General Topics
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[b]Can you trust anti-virus rankings?[/b]

by William Maher
Oct 23, 2008

It seems no-one can agree on a universal set of tests for anti-virus software, with Eugene Kaspersky the latest to weigh-in on the topic, criticising the well-known Virus Bulletin 100.

While major AV vendors promise solid protection for your PC, you might think twice if you read any of the major security bulletins, which regularly pan the big brands.

http://www.pcauthority.com.au:80/News/126228,can-you-trust-antivirus-rankings.aspx

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Generally I trust nothing other than my own personal experience, trusting sod aren’t I ;D

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I dont trust any of the tests. One might test with 10,000 samples but they may be old or not very widespread. I look for a company that has experience and a product that has been well established. Such as Avast, F-Secure, Command, etc.

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Well… it’s an indicator… you can’t take completely serious, but you can’t think that it is always a joke… Some tests are a very good indicator of the detection capacity of an antivirus.

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From what I’ve learned and read so far, the “respected” tests should be treated as a guide. No more, no less. Avcomparatives is another of the respected and serious organisations. One month Antivirus “a” gets top points, next it’s maybe Antivirus “b”. Because of the nature of malware, there will always be a day on which your “favourite” AV doesn’t perform well. And then another day when it performs brilliantly.
Probably the only way to test objectively is by analysing real world experience. And because the test conditions are far from scientific and consistent, the results can nor should not be published.
But, you know, sometimes anecdotal reports, taken from a broad enough user base, will tell you what you need to know.
Most users are very happy with Avast. Why? Because in the vast majority of cases, it does the job well.
An AV doesn’t (IMO) need to be always at or near the top of some testers’ list (though Avast often is near the top) to be good.

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My experience has always taught me that the Co. that pays the most,
usually gets the best rating.
It doesn’t make it the best product just the one with the most revenue. >:(

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@ Tarq57
Just checked your signature, are you really using avast 4.8.1201, the latest non-beta release is 4.8.1229 ?

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Some tests can’t be payed Bob, like av-comparatives.

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Where does their operating capitol come from ???

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In order to keep AV-Comparatives alive and independent (and provide our results free of charge to consumers), we charge since 2008 a fee for various services we provide, but it has no influence of any kind on results etc.

Hi bob, this quote is from av comparatives “about us” section. :slight_smile: tim

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Maybe Igor or Vlk could drop a more specific info…
Their magazine? Selling the results?

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Thanks. I put the sig right.