False positives

it’s been several years since i’ve used Avast anti-virus. I been using AVG and lately I’ve been getting a ton of False Positives on viruses.
how often does avast give false positives?
i’m thinking about switching over to avast, but I want to know before I change over my 12 computers to Avast.
currently 10 of the computers are still using AVG, the other 2 I’m trying Avast.

how often does avast give false positives?
Threre is no shedule ;)

no AV have 100% detection or zero FP

hi mrpolepig,

Organizations such as this one issue comparative reports periodically: http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/avc_fps_201503_en.pdf

Historical reviews here: http://www.av-comparatives.org/false-alarm-tests/

Similar testing organizations exist on the web so you can search what their reports say about AVG or others.

If the only criteria for deployment and use are false alarms (false positive detections) suggest a bit more research as even Kaspersky had 9 total FP’s. Question is, how many FP’s are too many?

Howdy mrpolepig,

FP happen. Scanning with Metascan online will give you a clue as what you have there.
One AV to detect, very likely for it to be a false positive or a unique detection others do not have yet.
Sometimes it is a slightly altered update, a particular packer, some sort of innocent obfuscation
or a generic heuristic flag on some code that later proves itself to be innocent.
Occasionally it is set on by human error and we never know when that mat happen.
Check and re-check at VirusTotal and come and ask here for a verdict is your best policy.

polonus