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March 19, 2020 | Awards
AV-TEST Awards 2019: Products Recognized for Outstanding IT Protection
In 2019, the number of malware programs recorded by AV-TEST broke the sound barrier of one billion samples. Yet it is not only a question of sheer numbers; the sophisticated nature of new attacks is a cause for concern. Conversely, ten manufacturers of security solutions proved over an entire one-year test period that the battle for IT security is anything but lost, thanks to innovative technology. For proven peak achievements, the AV-TEST Institute is recognizing 20 products with its internationally renowned awards.
AV-TEST Awards 2019:
Products Recognized for Outstanding IT Protection
For peak achievements in research and development, yet above all for outstanding protection for consumers and corporate users, proven over a one-year period, the AV-TEST Institute presents its internationally renowned AV-TEST Awards. The awards recognize the best products in the categories of PROTECTION, PERFORMANCE, USABILITY, REPAIR and MOBILE SECURITY.
Awareness for cyber threats has risen considerably
A look back at last year hammers home the increasing relevance of cyber security, both for home users and corporate users: In the annual risk barometer published by one of the largest insurers worldwide, the threat of "cyber attacks" has now de-throned the longstanding key issue, "interruption of operations", from its No. 1 spot among corporate risks feared most by 2,700 CEOs, risk managers and insurance experts from more than 100 countries. As a result, for the first time companies are citing cyber attacks as the greatest threat to business.
Data recorded through the Threat Intelligence Platform AV-ATLAS, launched at the end of 2019, underscores this assessment. The AV-TEST Institute's system currently records 4.2 new malware programs per second. In addition to the "traditional" areas of attack, e.g. Windows, Linux and MacOS systems, along with mobile user devices, with growing digitalization of companies and consumer households, cybercriminals have also identified the field of the Internet of Things as a worthwhile target for attack.
AV products with outstanding protection
The AV-TEST Institute's regular product tests for all IT platforms demonstrated that the manufacturers of security solutions are able to keep apace with increasing challenges. This applies equally to the development of business and consumer products. In the evaluation of the latest malware samples, various security products of the manufacturers demonstrated outstanding protection while at the same time delivering strong performance and minor user impairment. Such top results, which are clearly above the industry average, are only possible, however, thanks to intensive research and consistent product optimization, flanked by independent tests.
AV-TEST Best Protection 2019 Award
Kaspersky "Internet Security"
NortonLifeLock "Norton Security"
Good news for consumer users, because the AV-TEST Institute is pleased to announce a total of two winners for the award category "Best protection on Windows systems for end users" for the test period of 2019: First place is shared by Kaspersky's "Internet Security" suite and the "Norton Security" protection package from the manufacturer NortonLifeLock.
Bitdefender "Endpoint Security (Ultra)"
Symantec "Endpoint Protection"
Symantec "Endpoint Protection Cloud"
In the business sector, a strong finish was achieved by three products, two of which were from Symantec: "Endpoint Protection" and "Endpoint Protection Cloud". Also among the best the market had to offer in 2019 in terms of protection for corporate users was "Endpoint Security (Ultra)" from Bitdefender.
AV-TEST Best Performance 2019 Award
NortonLifeLock "Norton Security"
VIPRE "Advanced Security"
PC Matic "Home"
Microworld "eScan Internet Security"
McAfee "Total Protection"
A total of five products earned the award for extremely strong performance while at the same time providing high protection in the tests for consumer users. This demonstrates that the manufacturers are optimizing their protection solutions not only in the business area. The winners for the year 2019 are "Norton Security" from NortonLifeLock, PC Matic "Home", "Advanced Security" from VIPRE, "eScan Internet Security" from Microworld and "Total Protection" from McAfee.
Kaspersky "Endpoint Security"
Symantec "Endpoint Protection"
Symantec "Endpoint Protection Cloud"
In the battle for the coveted first place with respect to the most effective resource-conserving corporate solution, three products achieved the top ranking, and two of them were from Symantec: "Endpoint Protection" and "Endpoint Protection Cloud". But let us not forget that Kaspersky is on par here with "Endpoint Security" and also received the Performance Award 2019.
AV-TEST Best Usability 2019 Award
Avira "Antivirus Pro"
ESET "Endpoint Security"
Kaspersky "Endpoint Security"
Kaspersky "Small Office Security"
Having the lowest false alarm rate, and thus the easiest to use for end users, was the Avira protection package "Antivirus Pro" as top finisher. No other software was able to achieve such stellar results in the annual test. And thus, Avira alone received the usability award for consumer software.
In terms of corporate solutions, top scores were achieved by a total of three products having extremely low false alarm rates, two of which came from Kaspersky: "Endpoint Security" and "Small Office Security". But the manufacturer ESET also made a strong finish with the corporate solution "Endpoint Security" in the comprehensive tests, and as an additional winner, received the award for peak performance in IT security.
AV-TEST Best Repair 2019 Award
Kaspersky "Internet Security"
Kaspersky "Virus Removal Tool"
In the annual tests, security products are required to deliver not only protection but also rescue performance of already infected systems. In this category, the manufacturer Kaspersky was able to convince the test experts at AV-TEST, and with no less than two products. The award for Best Repair performance 2019 is shared equally by Kaspersky's "Internet Security" and "Virus Removal Tool", thus remaining firmly in the hands of one manufacturer.
AV-TEST Best Android Security 2019 Award
NortonLifeLock "Norton Mobile Security"
Protection of mobile devices and the data stored and exchanged on them is constantly gaining in importance, and with increasing use in corporate environments, it is also becoming more dramatic. "Norton Mobile Security" from the manufacturer NortonLifeLock earned this year's award for best protection of Android-based mobile user devices, thanks to ongoing top results in the comprehensive annual tests.