Top Anti-virus like Avast, McAfee, Norton, Avira, Kaspersky and Bitdefender fail miserably in basic security tests!

We install antivirus software on our PCs and laptops based on its reputation. For reputation we normally trust the reviews and ratings given for that particular antivirus software.

Redditor, man_on_the_train went a little further and devised his own tests to find out how the Antivirus softwares fare. He tested the most popular security software using Matousec’s SSTS, CLT and his own keylogger software.

Man_on_the_train found that almost all top names in antivirus softwares failed in his test save SpyShelter Firewall 10.0 which passed all his tests with a score of 99%. Incidentally, SpyShelter is not a full blown antivirus. Its more of a Firewall which doubles up as AV. Man_on_the_train found that only SpyShelter passed Matousec’s SSTS, CLT and his own keylogger software tests.

“SpyShelter does excellent job in protecting itself from being killed off by malware. It does detect attempts of executing malicious code through Task Scheduler.” Man_on_the_train adds, “BITStest has proven that advanced malware be unable to do anything if user decides to block the action.”

As you can see from the image about almost all of the top Antivirus softwares failed man_on_the_train’s self devised tests. Out of the top AV software, Avira Free Antivirus, McAfee LiveSafe Internet Security and Avast Premier failed to score any grades in Man_on_the_train’s books.

Comodo Internet Security Pro managed to pass the Kill5 Test, get a CLT score of 340/340 and pass Zero-day malware test. Man_on_the_train gave it highest score of 60 % after SpyShelter.

ESET Smart Security, Kaspersky Total Security 16, Zone Alarm Extreme Security managed to eke out 20 % score on man_on_the_train’s benchmarks. While BitDefender Total Security 2015 managed a 4% score and Norton Security managed a paltry 2%. ESET and Kaspersky managed to pass the Kill5 Test and Zone Alarm managed to pass the Zero-Day malware test.

Here are the conclusions given by Man_on_the_train for each Antivirus software.

• Comodo Internet Security : Comodo Internet Security Pro will get easily killed off by malware if you do not turn on your HIPS manually. I tested it initially with HIPS on, and it passed kill5 test. Then I turned off HIPS module (default setting) and it got killed off easily. It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Comodo installed.
• ESET Smart Security :  ESET Smart Security has passed kill5 test. This is one of the most sophisticated kill methods, and ESET defends itself well. On the other hand, it does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with ESET installed.
• Kaspersky Total Security : Kaspersky Total Security does protect itself well against sophisticated process killing methods, however it does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Kaspersky Total Security installed.
• Zone Alarm Extreme Security : ZoneAlarm has failed all SSTS64 tests. It will get easily killed off by malware. It has failed kill5 test so it can be easily killed. It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with ZoneAlarm Extreme installed.
• BitDefender Total Security 2015 : Bitdefender Total Security has failed all SSTS64 tests. It will get easily killed off by malware. It has failed kill5 test so it can be easily killed off by malware. It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Bitdefender installed.
• Norton Security : Norton Security has failed kill5 test. This allows any sort of virus to effectively shut down Norton Security. It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Norton Security installed.
• Avira Free Antivirus : First of all, Avira processes can be easily killed by malware. This allows any sort of virus to effectively shut down Avira. Avira does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Avira Free Antivirus installed.
• McAfee LiveSafe Internet Security : McAfee Security Center has failed kill5 test. This allows any sort of virus to effectively shut down McAfee LifeSafe Internet Security.It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with McAfee installed.
• Avast Premier : Premier has failed kill5 test. This allows any sort of virus to effectively shut down Avast! Premier. It does not protect against executing malicious code through Task Scheduler. On top of that, BITStest has proven that advanced malware will update itself without any issues with Avast! installed.

Man_on_the_train has also posted elaborate videos of his tests which can be accessed here.

Next time you need to buy a anti virus solution for your PC or Laptop, you know which one to publish. Kindly upvote man_on_the_train for his efforts on Reddit here.