antivirus

Android owners relying on free antivirus apps may be headed for trouble.

Testing seven different free antivirus scanners for Android (PDF), AV-Test found most of them unreliable and unable to provide sufficient protection, especially in comparison to paid commercial apps.

Setting up its testbed, AV-Test ran the apps through their paces on a Samsung Galaxy Tab running Android 2.2.1.

The products tested were all downloaded from Google's Android Market and included Antivirus Free from Creative Apps, BluePoint Antivirus Free from BluePoint Security, GuardX Antivirus from Qstar, Kinetoo Malware Scan from CPU Media SARL, LabMSF Antivirus beta from … Read more

The bottom line: McAfee takes aim at blocking bots in its latest version, although weak test scores mean that we don't recommend this year's McAfee suite.

Review: McAfee released a major overhaul to its security suite back in 2010, coming up with a new vertically oriented interface that made navigating much easier. Since then, the annual updates have been incremental at best, improving the feature set yet not making substantial changes overall. McAfee Total Protection 2012 adds some new features, but these are frankly more about keeping up with the Joneses--or at least, keeping up with the Nortons … Read more

The bottom line: Following a banner year in 2011, the new F-Secure Internet Security 2012 doesn't introduce many new changes, but it does maintain many of the suite's high performance marks on both system impact and security.

Review: The Finnish security firm F-Secure gains a large percentage of its business from corporate accounts and platform operators, but that doesn't mean that it treats its consumer security suites as a ginger-haired child of indeterminate parentage and poor temperament. F-Secure Internet Security 2012 focuses on keeping its security ahead of the curve, along with some ease-of-use improvements. However, as … Read more

The latest antivirus detection file update of Norton Antivirus blocked access to Facebook after mistaking it for a phishing site, Symantec told CNET today.

The problem was fixed yesterday within hours of it being noticed, according to a statement from Symantec, which acquired Norton and its antivirus software a decade ago. "The issue occurred due to content within the site being falsely identified as a phishing risk," the company said.

"We are aware that some Norton customers encountered a security warning page when attempting to access the Facebook Web site," Symantec said in a statement. "… Read more

The bottom line: In a year of competitive overhauls, Webroot's SecureAnywhere stands out for being an entirely new program with the smallest installer around. Fast scans and a combo of competitive features and sharp performance make this the suite to watch in the coming year.

Review: We hope you weren't a fan of last year's Webroot offerings. Or if you were, that you love to embrace change, because this year's Webroot home security suites don't even share the same name as the ones that came before. There's nothing to be scared of, since the … Read more

The bottom line: An aggressive redesign aimed at making its best-known suite more accessible than before, Avira Free Antivirus 12 combines fast scans with above-average protection for a solid security combo.

Review: Free antivirus maker Avira debuts a laundry list of changes in its latest major update, basically repositioning the suite to remain competitive in the face of tougher competition from other free security suites and a renewed emphasis on performance from paid competitors. From the new breezy installation to the modernized interface and reputable security, the suite has a lot going for it.

However, it notably lacks some features … Read more

After several years of minor changes that were touted as big improvements, Avira today released a new version with some serious heft behind it that the publisher hopes will position the free antivirus for future growth. Avira Free Antivirus 12, available exclusively today from CNET Download.com, along with the paid upgrades Avira Antivirus Premium 12 and Avira Internet Security 12, bring a new interface, tighter security engines, and an impressively zippy installation process to the suites.

The new installation is much improved and is among the fastest out there. The company says that it developed the two-click installation as … Read more

The bottom line: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012 comes with some solid basic security features, but they're more comparable to free suites than anything else. Still, Bitdefender's new AutoPilot is great for people who want top-rated security that doesn't annoy.

Review: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012 presents a convincing alternative to its better-known competitors. It's a strong program, with all the major tools that users expect, and some additional useful tricks in its arsenal. Bitdefender is held back by some major problems on system performance, specifically boot up and shutdown time, so if you're cool with those … Read more

The bottom line: Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 makes a convincing pitch as an easy Windows security option. It's got an enormous selection of features, but the best one means you'll never see another security notification again unless you get infected. And the price is competitive, striking a good balance between value-added features and cost.

Review: Bitdefender Internet Security 2012 presents a convincing alternative to its better-known competitors. It's a strong program, with all the major tools that users expect, and some additional useful tricks in its arsenal. When it comes to efficacy, Bitdefender isn't the best … Read more