Which antivirus is better, Kaspersky or Doctor Web. Kaspersky, Nod32, Avast, Dr. Web - which of these antiviruses to choose? Portable and Disk Utilities

Since the advent of the first Windows operating systems, issues related to protecting computers and networks from all kinds of virus threats have become very acute, since most known viruses (both then and today) are mainly designed to defeat operating systems developed by Microsoft. But what exactly should you choose to ensure security? Next, we will look at the two main and competing Russian antiviruses and try to find out which is better - Doctor Web or Kaspersky. Both developers have made their mark on the security software market quite a long time ago and are rightfully considered one of the leading ones in the world. However, the opinions of users and specialists regarding preferences or inclination to install any one software product are clearly divided. Let's try to compare some of them, taking into account such reviews.

Which is better - Kaspersky or Doctor Web? What to start from when comparing?

To begin with, each user must understand that both developers produce quite a lot of antivirus software products designed for completely different situations. Among all that can be found, the most popular are standard antiviruses that are installed directly into operating systems on local computers, servers or network terminals, portable programs designed to neutralize threats on already infected computers, and special disk utilities that have their own bootloaders to start instead launching the OS in order to destroy threats in cases where Windows does not boot due to a virus attack.

Let's briefly look at all three types of applications, and also, as comparative characteristics, consider the issues of purchasing licensed software, the complexity of installation and use, the load on system resources and the quality of security.

Comparison of Kaspersky and Doctor Web: issues of cost and installation

As for free standard software products, both developers have practically none.

The only exception is the latest modification of the free Kaspersky Anti-Virus (and even then it must be activated in a timely manner). Doctor Web has no trace of this. The first round is for Kaspersky. All portable programs and disk applications are truly free. But if you purchase legal versions of official antiviruses, in fact it turns out that Doctor Web software products cost home and corporate users almost half as much as similar developments from Kaspersky Lab. Can't argue with that.

But which of the standard tools is better - Kaspersky or Doctor Web? Neither specialists nor users have a consensus on installing this type of software.

Some believe that installing Doctor Web is easier than installing Kaspersky, others are of the opposite opinion. However, if you approach it with an open mind, opinions about the complexity of the installation look clearly far-fetched. The only exceptions may be server versions, when it is necessary to configure antiviruses either on each network terminal or directly on the central server. These questions should be left to system administrators, since the average user does not need such knowledge at all.

But Doctor Web can easily be installed to restore order to an already infected system, and problems with Kapersky in this regard are often observed.

Some differences in functionality

If we consider the standard security products of Kaspersky or Doctor Web in terms of the functionality they contain, a significant difference can only be noticed in the details, since the standard sets of both developers are almost the same.

But what looks somewhat unusual about Kaspersky is the ability to connect any other device with a similar product to the installed antivirus and manage the protection system through your personal account located on the My Kaspersky portal. This is a clear plus. As for cross-platform use, both antiviruses are in equal positions (their versions can be found for almost all known operating systems, installed on both desktop PCs and mobile devices).

Response to viruses and suspicious threats

Now let's see which is better - Kaspersky or Doctor Web when it comes to detecting threats and neutralizing them. It is tacitly believed that Kaspersky virus databases are the most complete. But one can argue with this. But in terms of scanning, some believe that Doctor Web clearly loses for the reason that it scans absolutely all files downloaded from the Internet, even if they do not pose a direct or perceived threat, which takes more time. In addition, the settings for scanning the computer in the background, used by default in both programs, also cause legitimate indignation among users when the scan begins at the most inopportune moment, which is why the programs begin to freeze, and system resources are fully used exclusively by antiviruses . However, this can only be said by those users who do not know how to set up a scheduled scan so that it occurs at those moments when the computer is in a state of inactivity.

Load on system resources

As for resource consumption, many people make an unambiguous conclusion about which is better - Kaspersky or Doctor Web.

For some reason, it is generally accepted that Kaspersky slows down the system incredibly, although the latest modifications (according to the developer’s statements) are no different. Apparently, this is due to an established stereotype that has existed since the release of the first antivirus products, when it was impossible to work even on powerful computers with the standard antivirus from Kaspersky Lab installed.

Portable and Disk Utilities

Naturally, among the Kaspersky and Doctor Web antiviruses there are also special treatment programs that do not require installation on the hard drive of a computer or laptop (KVRT and Dr. Web CureIt!, respectively). Both utilities are in almost equal positions in terms of their capabilities, but often dissatisfaction among users who scan their system with the portable application from Doctor Web is caused by the fact that it identifies many well-known optimizer programs or uninstallers as potentially unwanted software.

At the same time, it is believed that there is no way to disable treatment or removal for particularly critical cases, and after the scan is completed, the installed applications refuse to work completely. In addition, Doctor Web does not respond to activators such as, for example, KMSAuto Net. On the one hand, this is good for the average user, on the other hand, this is the most illegal activation of Windows. Kaspersky issues a warning that a legitimate activation program has been detected, but warns that it may contain malicious code. Disk utilities are at approximately the same level, although again it is tacitly believed that Kaspersky's Rescue Disk detects and neutralizes threats of any type better than LiveDisk from Doctor Web.

Which antivirus should you prefer?

So which is better - Kaspersky or Doctor Web? Alas, it is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. Everything from both developers deserves all sorts of praise, and the choice in favor of one often depends on user preferences or even a pre-formed stereotype. That is why you are given the right to make your own choice and install exactly the software product that you consider necessary and most effective.

Here is a small test and comparison of four flagships in antivirus protection - ESET Smart Security 4.2.71.3, Dr.Web Security Space 6.00.1, Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 11.0.2.556, Norton Internet Security 2011 18.5.0.125.

For testing, 4 identical copies of the Windows XP SP3 operating system with all updates at the time of publication of the article were selected. This made it possible to make the most accurate comparison of antivirus products. Let's look at some interesting results.

Starting the system. The following test was carried out: first, the startup time of the operating system without an antivirus installed was recorded, and then a comparison was made with the startup speed of the system with each antivirus product separately.

Launch the browser. The test was done using a similar procedure. The browser is Opera 11.00.1156 International Final. The result records the time the program was opened (do not confuse the time of opening the program with a fully loaded web page!).

Unpacking the archive. The test shows how long it takes a system with antivirus installed to unpack the archive. To carry out the test, WinRAR 4.00 Beta 4 was used, with which 1 file of 510 MB was packed.

Checking the system disk. Each antivirus scanned the system disk, the files of which occupied approximately 4.5 GB. The maximum settings of antivirus products were used.

As you can see, in terms of performance, ESET won in three out of four tests. Norton won in system scanning speed.

Let's consider another interesting point - the load on the PC. Let's compare how much memory each antivirus product consumes during idle time (when nothing happens on the PC) and during scanning of the above-mentioned system disk.

And here again he takes the lead ESET– it used approximately 60-65 MB of memory during idle time and during scanning.

Someone who disappointed is this Dr.Web. During idle time it used 105-110 MB (!), and that's just the core itself!

To scan the system drive, Dr.Web uses a separate module – Dr.Web Scanner. A separate module used an additional 100 MB of memory. Together with the core, you get more than 200 MB of memory - too much, you agree.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2011, which many consider a “monster” for weak PCs, showed twofold results. In idle mode, it took up almost the same amount as ESET - 60-65 MB.

But during scanning, Kaspersky is truly a “monster” - 150-170 MB of memory

Norton Internet Security 2011 showed good results. During idle time it stayed at 60-65 MB.

And during scanning – 80-85 MB, which personally pleasantly surprised me.

In total, ESET Smart Security confidently climbed to first place, and Norton Internet Security was located very close to it. Of course, Dr.Web disappointed... With a fairly high level of protection, the product uses a lot of PC resources, and the scanning time of the system disk took 3 times longer than the third best result. Kaspersky Internet Security 2011, despite its high scanning speed (which is nice), used an indecent amount of memory during scanning of the system disk compared to other products.

In the end, I would like to note that these results in no way confirm or refute the quality of protection against malicious objects and other threats!

Which antivirus is better, Kaspersky or Dr. Web (Doctor Web)!

In this article I will not touch on other antiviruses. I just want to talk about these two.

I'll tell you my case. When I first went online, I didn’t have an antivirus. Then I thought about this question. I found two free antiviruses online: Kaspersky and Dr. Web.

Of course I installed Kaspersky (you guessed it right away). 78.53% of users would do this. Installation and activation went fine. Afterwards, when I came home from work (a certain number of days had passed), I discovered that the computer was working somehow wrong. I tried to run the antivirus, but it wouldn't turn on. I had Kaspersky antivirus on a flash drive. I inserted the USB flash drive and wanted to reinstall the antivirus again. But the virus broke the antivirus again. I went online and wanted to download some other antivirus program. But as soon as I connected to the Internet, a virus immediately stole my Windows key. Windows began to appear on the screen with the message that you have a non-licensed Windows. It all ended with reinstalling Windows. Now I installed Doctor Web.

Let's now figure out which antivirus is better. In reality, there is no such thing as 100% protection. But each antivirus has its pros and cons. To be honest, Kaspersky has the best virus database, but its methods often lead to system freezes. And one more big disadvantage: all viruses are initially designed for Kaspersky. The main task of the virus is to destroy the antivirus program, and then quietly reproduce. So, by installing Kaspersky, there is a possibility that your antivirus will be broken. Also, when a virus gets onto a computer, it enters the antivirus database and deletes itself from the database. And the antivirus then does not recognize it as a virus.

As for Doctor Web, it allows viruses to enter the computer, allows system files to become infected, and only then finds these infected files and treats them. But he has a very good program “Dr. Web CureIt.” "Dr. Web CureIt” does not require installation and can be launched from any media. It has its own virus database. Simply by launching it from any media, you check the entire computer.

First you need to turn Windows into a fortress, the OS can be fine tuned and sent to smoke half of the malware!

Regular updates reduce the likelihood of your computer becoming infected.

Also, do a full scan of your computer once a week or more often, it all depends on how often you use the computer.

You also need to properly configure your antivirus software, no matter which one you use.

Of course, no antivirus can provide 100% security, because... There is a “human factor” - the rules of online behavior must always be followed.

There are a great variety of software products of this kind and their number continues to grow every year. While preparing this article, I have already weeded out the mediocre options and selected the four most famous antiviruses so that now, having studied their features in detail, I can find the best one.

Which antivirus is better - Kaspersky, Nod32, Avast, Dr. Web?

Degree of protection

The main criterion for selecting an antivirus is its ability to detect malware and then isolate or destroy it. Not every program copes with this task fully, but only shows false activity. What is the best antivirus for this component? Let's get a look:

1. Kaspersky is far ahead of all its competitors in terms of protection. Its mechanisms allow you to block all external threats at high speeds, in real time, even before they penetrate the computer. Even if the malicious code is archived, the antivirus will detect it and notify the user about it. Of course, you will have to pay a price for extensive opportunities, but more on that later.
2. Nod32 contains the entire set of tools necessary to prevent virus programs from entering your computer, and if they do manage to penetrate, it will be able to fight them thanks to file removal and disinfection tools. Unfortunately, everything is good only in words, but in reality there are enough security holes for some viruses to get through them. Plus, the large number of false protection alarms on absolutely safe files is very annoying (you have to constantly pull them out of quarantine and add them to exceptions).
3. Avast antivirus, as for free software, copes well with its tasks - it fights various kinds of threats, periodically scans the system and monitors operations with files and folders in real time, which makes it possible to quickly eliminate almost any threat. Even while the Windows screen saver is showing, Avast is already starting to check for malicious code in the system.
4. Dr. Web is an excellent solution for those who want to protect their computer from unauthorized intrusion from the outside. The program successfully fights file viruses, Trojans, polymorphic viruses, spyware and a bunch of other unwanted guests. The operating mechanisms are designed in such a way that most of the currently known viruses are not able to interfere with the operation of the algorithm or bypass it.

Easy to install and configure

There shouldn't be any problems installing and configuring security software, because its priority is to start protecting your computer as soon as possible. And it’s best if you don’t need to spend a long time fiddling with options before doing this.

There is nothing special to write about at this point and it is difficult to determine the best one, since most antivirus programs have long since arrived at a certain unified working model. To install each product, you just need to run the executable file and follow the instructions provided. Activation for paid versions occurs by entering the code and username, after which all functions will become available, including automatic updating. To fully start using the capabilities of the free product, you will have to go through the registration procedure. All the reviewed antiviruses have all the main services enabled by default - real-time protection, scheduled scanning and others, without which it is impossible to guarantee the security of the system.

Load on computer resources

One of the most important criteria in choosing an antivirus program, especially for owners of low-power computers. If the program is poorly optimized or full of unnecessary services, the user will experience performance problems.

1. No matter what the experts say who are trying to convince us that Kaspersky Anti-Virus does not load the system, it does not sound convincing, because any user can notice with the naked eye a significant decrease in performance during scanning and slow file opening, which is associated with the anti-virus constantly hanging in the processes monitor. The salvation from all of the above is a truly powerful PC configuration.
2. Nod32 has no problems with speed. Moreover, this is probably the fastest modern antivirus that is focused on minimal use of computer resources. I myself have long been a fan of this antivirus precisely because of its negligible impact on computer performance. At one time, Nod even ran on a computer with 256 megabytes of RAM.
3. Avast is famous for its low resource consumption and low requirements for computer resources. Even on low-power systems, scanning is fast enough and has virtually no effect on applications running in parallel by the user, be it a video editor, browser or 3D application. In February 2010, Avast was awarded the award for the fastest antivirus monitor.
4. Dr. Web shows average results in terms of load on computer resources and is somewhere between Kaspersky and Nod. Copying files, booting the system, browsing the web - all this happens quite quickly. The only thing I can complain about is the compression speed of ZIP archives when the maximum level of protection is enabled. At this point, the load increases significantly.

Additional functionality

Modern antiviruses not only perform the main task assigned to them, but also solve a number of other problems, for example, block users’ access to phishing sites, check the integrity of the registry, and so on (each program has its own characteristics).

1. In addition to virus protection, Kaspersky fights adware, checks Java and Visual Basic scripts, analyzes and blocks vulnerabilities in the Internet Explorer browser (this, in my opinion, is an unnecessary function, since this browser itself is a walking vulnerability and no one uses it ). Kaspersky Anti-Virus also has a set of tools with which you can create a system emergency recovery disk.
2. Nod32 doesn't have as many advanced features as its competitors, but what little it does provide users is implemented to a high standard. For example, an anti-spam module that allows you to filter out suspicious emails, thereby increasing the security of your work, or a personal firewall, which is many times more reliable than the standard solution from Microsoft or other operating system manufacturers.
3. Additional Avast functionality varies greatly depending on the version you choose. Of the shareware builds, it is best to take Premier, which has an antispam filter, the ability to remotely control a PC, a firewall and many other services. And if you shell out for a paid license, the most functional will be the Endpoint Protection Suite, which incorporates the capabilities of all other versions and has its own unique ones.
4. Doctor Web also boasts a wide range of additional functionality - here is the ability to backup data and then restore it, and centralized management of corporate network protection, and a behavioral analyzer. In general, the list can be continued for a long time, especially since the company is actively working to improve its product.

Updates

Attackers never sit idle and do nothing but invent new ways to harm you and your computer. Therefore, it is very important that the antivirus updates its defense mechanisms in a timely manner. Which one is better for this component?

1. Kaspersky AV updates occur automatically and quite often. The company's employees, in collaboration with users, look for new vulnerabilities and update anti-virus databases and the registry of phishing and other sites with potentially dangerous content. If automatic updating is disabled (in order to improve system performance, for example), you will have to launch it from the main menu of the program.
2. Nod32 is updated as critical updates to antivirus and other databases are released. If you wish, you can configure the launch of this function according to the task scheduler, at the time you specify. For example, by setting the update check only during the first start of the operating system and no more than once a day. It makes no sense to disable auto-updates, since they weigh little.
3. Avast functionality allows you not only to promptly download new anti-virus databases, but also to promptly update the version of the program itself without reinstalling it again. To do this, just go to the appropriate section of the menu and see if there is a newer version available, and then, if necessary, start the update process. This is a rather long procedure if a lot of time has passed since the previous update.
4. Doktov Web offers us a slightly inconvenient option for updating the program version, in which you must remove the old version before installing the new one. If an error occurs during deletion, or “bits” remain in the system, users are advised to use the disaster recovery utility or contact technical support. Everything is fine with updating the anti-virus databases - it happens automatically.

Mobile versions

In this paragraph, we will look at anti-virus software from the reviewed manufacturers, designed for mobile devices - tablets, smartphones, pocket computers. We will briefly describe the advantages and disadvantages of these programs, and try to identify the best one.

1. The mobile version of Kaspersky, called Kaspersky Mobile Security, works with the Symbian, Android and Windows Mobile platforms, providing electronic devices using these operating systems with a full range of security services. These include anti-virus protection, SMS spam protection and much more. Particularly noteworthy is the Anti-Theft function, which allows you to block a stolen/lost smartphone by sending an SMS message with a code.
2. The solution from ESET (Nod32 Mobile Security) also covers the three mobile platforms listed above and does an excellent job of its main task - protection against viruses and spyware, including the main problem of smartphones - applications that can automatically send SMS messages from your number to any another. Like its older brother, the mobile version is gentle on system resources.
3. Avast supports work with PDAs running on Android, Palm, and Windows CE systems. Other popular platforms, unfortunately, are not available. It comes in two versions - regular, containing only a basic set of features, and Premium, which has advanced functionality.
4. Mobile version of Dr. Web is extremely popular among users of portable devices. For example, in the Russian-language Android Market this antivirus application ranks second in terms of downloads. As in the Kaspersky program, there is Anti-Theft technology, black and white lists that allow you to filter calls and SMS messages coming from other numbers.

Technical support

Large antivirus companies usually provide their clients with additional online or offline assistance - additional resources, email, phone number. Let's evaluate the effectiveness of the technical support of our four competitors.

1. The developers of Kaspersky Anti-Virus are actively working to solve technical problems related to the operation of their product - user support is available around the clock, both online and offline. Unfortunately, many will be upset by the fact that older versions of this software (1.5-2 years old) are no longer supported, and for some, updates are not even released.
2. ESET, which develops Nod32 and other antivirus solutions, has a very developed online help system. There is even a feature where you give a technical support employee remote access to your computer and he will fix all the problems himself. Alternatively, you can simply express your problem to one of the specialists by calling or sending an email.
3. Avast has a detailed help guide, translated into more than 40 languages. Therefore, almost any common problem can be solved without even contacting technical support. However, you can always ask your question on the official forum, where not only experts, but also other users will listen to you, or fill out a form on the website.
4. Technical support The Web allows clients to get an answer to their question in the shortest possible time. If the problem cannot be solved on your own, with the help of a Virtual Engineer, company employees will gain access to your PC and fix the problem (of course, with your consent). In addition, if any file seems suspicious to you, you can immediately send it for analysis.

Let's sum it up

Choosing the best antivirus product is not as easy as it seems at first glance. There is quite powerful protection from Kaspersky, but it does not spare computer resources - if you have a powerful computer and want to protect valuable information, this is for you. There is Nod32, lightweight and fast - an excellent solution for an office or home gaming PC, it does not load the system, and somehow copes with its responsibilities. Well, you shouldn’t also forget about the shareware Avast and Dr.Web - suitable for those who don’t want to spend money on buying an antivirus (we don’t take piracy into account).

In general, each program has obvious advantages on some points and directly opposite indicators on others. Therefore, each user will have to decide for himself what is more important to him - speed, security, price or something else.

Reviews

Thank you very much for the article. I completely agree with the author of the article, but, however, I cannot help but add about an antivirus such as MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It is free, has a constantly updated virus database, works quickly, and is quite flexible in use. I can’t say that he was worse - he never “missed” an extra virus. I also highly recommend the utility from Dr.Web - Cure IT. It is free and is great for one-time or regular PC checks, as well as for treating PCs in critical situations, in safe mode, etc.

I talked about this topic with familiar hacker IT specialists, everyone unanimously believes that buying anti-virus software is a waste of money, because Each of the products on the market can successfully fight some viruses/spyware, but will also easily ignore others, or may do both poorly. The best way to protect your computer is to follow basic online safety rules. The most acceptable way that I found for myself is to install a Linux-based operating system - they either don’t have viruses at all or they do, but they are very unpopular. Plus, the security policy and remote access rights to the machine are implemented differently. True, it is very possible to infect a computer with a virus, but since... viruses are written in 99% of cases under Win, this will not affect the performance of Linux in any way (another thing, it can damage everyone’s favorite “windows”). Accordingly, there is no need to install an antivirus, although they are available.

There is no clear answer to the question of which antivirus is better. I don't like any of the listed antiviruses. I have been using VIPRE for many years now, in my opinion it is the best antivirus. But periodically I also clean it with herdProtect. It seems that God has been merciful so far.

Polina, by the way, I remember when I was using Windows and inadvertently picked up viruses - AVZ was a great help. A lightweight, simple antivirus that operates on the basis of scripts. It helps with a bang against known viruses or exploits, there is a special community that develops scripts for treatment. And if not, then you can scan the system yourself and send the log file for analysis. Virtual healing gurus always help

On Linux there really are no problems with viruses, but this system is not suitable for everyone. Regarding the issue of preventing infection, it is worth noting that the main flow of viruses (about 90%) is usually associated with executable files downloaded from the Internet, or those that are executable, but are disguised as other types, so to speak. For example, a torrent downloaded from an unreliable resource. So, to secure this main source, you can use browser add-ons that check the reliability of the resource, for example, “WOT” for Mozilla Firefox. Of course, you need to keep an eye on it yourself - a suspicious resource will always give itself away with an overly rubbery layout and “strained” comments. There are also special add-ons that allow the browser itself to check a file for a virus and block self-opening windows. If you follow these precautions, the chance of contracting the virus is extremely low.

I used it while using Linux. Either I’m doing something wrong or the sites around me are suspicious. I'm tired of constantly poking the button to close the warning and confirm that I intend to switch to an “unsafe” resource. And still there is no fear that I will catch the virus, a kind of state of surfing freedom. That's why I demolished it. And for Win users, of course, I also recommend installing this add-on.

Sometimes the assessment is not entirely adequate, or the resource is based on a third-party engine. It's quite rare for me to have glitches or misjudgments; perhaps it's gotten better now. There may be better add-ons, but I personally installed it because... it is the most popular and has the highest rating.

I don’t use any of the above antiviruses; I have Mc Affee.

I had it too. Very peculiar, once it missed a virus, another time it displayed unnecessary messages. How is it in your work?

Just great, only sometimes he swears at many sites on the Internet. Moreover, if he misses something, Panda will finish it off)

Yes, it’s hard to say which antivirus is better; Kaspersky is the most popular, that’s for sure. I used to use Windows and catch viruses with all antiviruses - Kakspersky, Nod32, Avast. Then I switched to a Mac and I’m not worried about the best antivirus, I don’t use it at all and everything is fine. But I’m afraid that soon the Mac will become popular and I’ll have to worry about choosing the best antiviruses again.

In general, it is advisable never to install a large number of antiviruses at the same time, because they can “detect” each other as viruses, because keep them in quarantine. In addition, it results in an unjustified load on the RAM.

I use Kaspersky and Avast antiviruses on different computers. There is definitely no need to install more than one antivirus at the same time, what are you guys doing? Which is better is an eternal question, just like in comparing Mercedes and BMW, some prefer one, others prefer the other. It would probably be more correct to ask the question not which antivirus is better in general, but to divide it into criteria:
Which antivirus is the fastest
Which antivirus is the easiest
Compare some settings
Etc
But in general, it is impossible to objectively answer the question of which is better: Avast, Doctor Web, Kaspersky, NOD32.

If your computer is weak in hardware, then nod32 is suitable for this case. If you think that your computer is of average health, then Avast and dr.web are suitable for this. Well, for powerful computers, Kasperskyi is suitable, well, this is my opinion, because it overloads the system. And also, never install nod32 and lasperskyi on medium and weak computers in the same place, because it will freeze very much.

I use Avast, well, it constantly says “Threat”, almost every 12 hours “The virus database has been updated.” I’ve been using it for almost a year, there have been no problems with viruses, and if there are any, it’s entirely my fault. I’m skipping them myself once again)

I use Avast and am completely satisfied. Doesn't bother you with notifications and does a great job.

Everyone has their own opinion, but it still seems to me that Kaspersky is better. I used to have Doctor Web and it didn’t really help, in other words, I had to tear down the system and install a new one. And when I installed Kaspersky, initially I didn’t like that it blocked almost everything, but now I’ve been using it for about a year and I don’t complain because not a single infection gets in. My friends told me that Avast is still good. Otherwise, I don’t really know since I’m not a programmer or an expert in this field.

In the modern world, where computer technology is highly developed, the use of a PC, laptop, tablet is an integral part of our lives. But you need to use technology wisely. If you have access to the Internet, then you need to take care of how to protect your PC from numerous harmful viruses and programs. In this case, the most important thing is to get ahead of the virus by installing an antivirus on your computer.

All over the world there are a huge number of programs that combat computer problems and help get rid of worms. But among all this diversity, the main and most popular are Kaspersky, Nod32, Avast, Dr. Web. All these antiviruses have been fighting viruses for many years and are constantly undergoing updates. Below we will make a comparison to determine the leaders.

Before we begin, we need to decide on the basic criteria by which we can determine the significance of each of them.

Degree of protection

This is the most important criterion, since a good antivirus should easily detect malware and viruses that have entered the PC. And he must do this instantly, so that it does not have time to spread throughout the computer and ruin everything on it. But not every antivirus can easily defeat a virus. It all depends on how “developed” the virus is and how long ago it was born. And not everyone is able to detect some viruses due to their backwardness.

Kaspersky is one of the leaders in this regard. This antivirus is capable of detecting almost any virus that appears on your PC, no matter how strongly it is hidden from the user. You won’t even think that some virus wants to harm you, and Kaspersky will already be trying to remove it. The antivirus will even be able to find the virus that is hidden in the archive before it is opened. In addition to detecting viruses, in case it manages to slip through Kaspersky’s vigilance, it is possible to completely save your credentials on the Internet, automatically performs backups according to a given schedule, and has a cloud for storing information up to 2 Gigabytes.

Nod32 not only allows you to detect and promptly counteract viruses, but also has the ability to disinfect files that have been subject to virus attacks, or otherwise, delete the file from the system altogether. But you shouldn’t trust Nod32 so calmly, as there are plenty of glitches. In addition to detecting viruses, Nod32 can also detect safe files as well as malicious ones that interfere with the operation of the PC and waste time. Among other things, messages often appear in the antivirus program: “The maximum degree of protection is not guaranteed.” Such problems can arise out of nowhere, without any prerequisites for this.

One of the leaders in free customer service is Avast antivirus. As for the free version, it works great. But he is still very far away from fighting on equal terms with the giants Kaspersky or Nod32. It makes many mistakes in identifying viruses, and it can miss them even before scanning. Besides, Avast is Avast and nothing more. There are no new versions at all, unlike Nod32 or Kaspersky.

Dr.Web is very advanced technologically. Its internal workings are so complex that it is unlikely that any other program can interfere with it. It copes at a high level with various virus programs, removes infected objects, and prevents them from entering the computer. It works great on both legacy models and modern multi-core ones.

Easy to install and configure

Looking at all the variety of PC protection, you also think about which antivirus is better to install. After all, they all work differently with the system and in different proportions take away the performance of the PC.

All possible antivirus programs are not difficult to install. You just need to run the program installation file and simply follow the instructions. No knowledge in this direction is required here. To use the antivirus 100%, you need to register. So it’s not even worth determining who is better or worse here.

All antiviruses create load on your computer in different ways. This, in turn, in some cases, makes the PC less “alive”; programs run everything very slowly. So which antivirus should I download and install for my computer?

Kaspersky will probably be the “leader” here. It puts a lot of load on the PC system. This is noticeable from the first minutes of using this antivirus. During a system scan or when opening any files, this becomes more pronounced, as the computer begins to freeze. If you still prefer Kaspersky, then you need to purchase a personal computer with higher specifications.

Nod32 uses minimal PC resources and works very quickly. It is one of the fastest and does not interfere with work on a PC. That is, practically no changes will occur in the system after installing the antivirus program. Absolutely any computer with minimal requirements is suitable for its use.

Avast also uses minimal computer resources. For its operation, only minimal requirements are required and it has practically no effect on programs, games, and videos running in parallel. The system scan is quick. It’s not for nothing that he was awarded the title for the fastest antivirus monitor, although this was in 2010. Much water has passed under the bridge since then.

Doctor Web has approximately the same characteristics. It works almost unnoticed by the user and has minimal impact on performance. True, it is slightly inferior to the same Nod32 or Avast. But, despite this, the Web has much more functions and capabilities than the free Avast.

Additional functionality

In addition to the main function - protecting your computer from viruses and malware, each of them also has additional ones, which set it apart from third-party antiviruses.

Kaspersky automatically backs up all files on your PC, thereby protecting them from being “eaten” by the virus, and can also restore damaged files. When making payments on the Internet, this antivirus program first checks the authenticity of the sites. You can also prevent children from accessing some sites by using the “Parental Control” service, and also do this on certain days and at a convenient time.

Antivirus Nod32 also has a sufficient number of additional functions, among which are:

• As soon as you turn on your computer, the system begins to be scanned for viruses and other threats;
• Once the scan is complete, the computer can shut down on its own if you wish;
• It may automatically switch to energy saving mode, this applies to using the program on a laptop;
• The antivirus program will also automatically start scanning flash cards and disks inserted into the PC;
• When any updates appear, Nod32 will automatically install them on your computer.

Doctor Web is constantly improving existing functions and over time there are more and more of them. They are somewhat similar to the capabilities of Kaspersky or Nod32. It also saves your computer's data and helps you recover it if it is eaten by a virus. For quarantine, you can use external storage devices, such as flash cards.

Updates

Over time, new viruses, as well as old, but more modified ones, constantly appear on the network. It is for this purpose that there is an update to systems to detect these nasty things.

Kaspersky updates automatically, unless you remove this function yourself to make your PC work faster. Updates happen very often.

Node 32 is also updated automatically, but only when critical updates appear on the network. Here you can configure the frequency of updates yourself. Here you do not have to disable the system update, since the program itself has virtually no effect on the performance of the computer.

With Avast, everything is a little more complicated. The update occurs when you visit the menu where you can either update or install a new version of the antivirus.

If you want to install a new version of Doctor Web, you will first need to uninstall the existing one, which is not entirely convenient. But the update already occurs automatically and without problems.

Mobile versions

In addition to using an antivirus on a PC, it is also important to install it on mobile phones. But which antivirus is best to use on a mobile device?

A nice feature from Kaspersky on mobile is anti-theft, which allows you to block a stolen or lost phone. And so are the standard functions for protection against viruses and SMS spam.

Nod32 Mobile Security, in addition to protecting against viruses, also fights against applications that can uncontrollably send SMS messages from your phone, and the balance only decreases.

Among the disadvantages of Avast is the inability to work on the Symbian and Windows Mobile platforms. Working versions of the program can have the usual set of functionality, or additional ones (if you purchase the Premium package).

Doctor Web is very popular for protecting mobile devices. It will also help protect your phone in the event of theft or loss, allow you to create black and white lists, and track messages from third-party phones and resources.

Technical support

All antivirus programs have customer support available. But they all work differently.

Kaspersky Lab works online 24 hours a day and will give you an answer to any question or problem that arises in the operation of their product. But the disadvantage here is that they practically do not work with older versions of the antivirus.

In addition to regular assistance, Nod32 employees can gain remote access to your PC and do everything right without you. This is very convenient in the case when you are not particularly versed in its work and are not familiar with the sections.

Avast support is a little behind. There are instructions, take it and figure it out yourself. You can also seek advice on the forum, where both company employees will definitely answer you on all problems that arise, as well as site visitors and users of this antivirus.

When working with Doctor Web, if you have any doubts about the authenticity of a file, you can send it to the company and they will analyze it. Just like Nod32, Web has the ability to gain access to your computer and fix all problems.

Let's sum it up

Having considered 4 antiviruses, only one question remains unresolved: Which is the best? Each program has both its pros and cons. There is no absolute advantage in favor of one or the other. Kaspersky will help protect your PC at a decent level, although it will cost a lot of resources. For ease of work, as well as for those who like to play online on their computer, you should consider installing Nod32 or Dr.Web, as they minimally reduce the performance of the computer. Using Avast, you will receive minimal protection, although you will not have to pay anything for it, it is completely free.

It’s up to you to decide which antivirus is best to use. It all depends on the requirements for the program, the characteristics of your PC, requirements for advanced functionality, as well as the ability to pay for work and constant updates.