This is a list of notable antivirus software in the form of a comparison table. Contentsshow Comparison List This is a list of notable antivirus software, which has not yet made it into the comparison table. Proprietary software A-Squared Anti-Malware AhnLab Cisco Security Agent DriveSentry (antivirus, antispyware and HIPS technologies) eSafe LinuxShield nProtect Rising AntiVirus Webroot. IAntiVirus is antivirus software for Intel based Apple Macintosh computers running Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard). The software was developed by PC Tools and released in June 2008. It can be used to detect and remove malware, spyware and exploits, using both signature based and heuristic detection. Features Variety of scan options Real-time protection Quarantine Automatic Updates Low resource usage.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011 (version 11.0) on Windows 7 | |
Developer(s) | Kaspersky Lab |
---|---|
Initial release | 1997 |
Stable release | 2020 (20.0.14.1085(e)) (23 October 2019; 8 months ago[1]) [±] |
Operating system | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Type | Antivirus |
License | Freemium |
Website | www.kaspersky.com/kaspersky_anti-virus |
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (Russian: Антивирус Касперского (Antivirus Kasperskogo); formerly known as AntiViral Toolkit Pro; often referred to as KAV) is an antivirus program developed by Kaspersky Lab. It is designed to protect users from malware and is primarily designed for computers running Microsoft Windows and macOS, although a version for Linux is available for business consumers.[citation needed]
Product[edit]
Kaspersky Anti-Virus features include real-time protection, detection and removal of viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, adware, keyloggers, malicious tools and auto-dialers, as well as detection and removal of rootkits. It also includes instantaneous automatic updates via the 'Kaspersky Security Network' service.[citation needed]
According to Kaspersky, 'Kaspersky Security Network service allows users of Kaspersky Lab security products from around the world to help facilitate malware identification and reduce the time it takes to provide protection against new (“in the wild”) security risks targeting your computer.[citation needed]}
Microsoft Windows users may download an antivirus rescue disk that scans the host computer during booting inside an isolated Linux environment. In addition, Kaspersky Anti-Virus prevents itself from being disabled by malware without user permission via password access prompts upon disabling protection elements and changing internal settings. It also scans incoming instant messenger traffic, email traffic, automatically disables links to known malware hosting sites while using Internet Explorer or Firefox, and includes free technical support and free product upgrades within paid-subscription periods.[2]
Limits[edit]
Kaspersky Anti-Virus lacks certain features found in Kaspersky Internet Security. These missing features include a personal firewall, HIPS, Secure Keyboard, AntiSpam, AntiBanner and parental control tools.[2]
Also, Kaspersky, like the majority of its competitors, is incompatible with many other anti-virus and anti-spyware software.[3]
Security vulnerabilities[edit]
In 2005, two critical flaws were discovered in Kaspersky Anti-Virus. One could let attackers commandeer systems that use it,[4] and one allowed CHM files to insert malicious code.[5] Days later, the software maker had offered preliminary protection to customers, and a week later a permanent patch made available.[6]
Operating systems[edit]
Linux edition[edit]
An edition of Kaspersky's anti-virus solution for Linux workstations is available to business consumers.[7] It offers many of the features included in the mainstream version for Windows, including on-access and on-demand scanners.
Specialized editions of Kaspersky Anti-Virus are also available for a variety of Linux servers and offer protection from most forms of malware.
Mac edition[edit]
The newly released Macintosh capable edition of Kaspersky Anti-Virus is compatible on (Intel Processor Based) Mac OS X Tiger and higher to include the brand new version Mac OS X Snow Leopard, released in August 2009. Kaspersky Lab internal testing concludes consuming only 2% CPU impact on performance and is designed to maintain a user friendly Mac-like interface with which Mac users are familiar. Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac contains definitions to detect and block malware affecting Windows, Linux and macOS alike. Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac also scans shared folders of users running Windows using Virtual PC on capable Apple Macintosh personal computers.[8]
System requirements[edit]
Component | Windows XP | Windows Vista or later | Mac OS X v10.6 or later |
---|---|---|---|
Processor | IntelPentium 4 or equivalent; 800 MHz | IntelPentium 4 or equivalent; 1 GHz | N/A |
RAM | 512 MB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
Free hard drive space | 480 MB | 480 MB | 350 MB |
A DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive, Internet Explorer 8 or above and Windows Installer 3.0 or above are also required for the installation of Kaspersky Anti-Virus in Windows. The latest version can either be downloaded from their official website or purchased through retail.
Mac Antivirus Software Reviews
Awards[edit]
According to AV-Comparatives, Kaspersky Anti-Virus rates highly amongst virus scanners in terms of detection rates and malware removal, even despite the fact that the program has failed two Virus Bulletin tests in 2007 and another two in 2008.[9] For example, in latest[when?] Malware Removal test done by AV-Comparatives the Kaspersky Antivirus 2013 was awarded the highest 'Advanced+' rating and was able to successfully remove all of 14 malware samples used in that test and in the following File Detection test Kaspersky Antivirus 2013 was also able to achieve the same 'Advanced+' rating with a 99.2% sample detection rate.[10][11] In addition, PC World awarded Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6 the highest rank in its 2007 anti-virus comparative.[12] The well-known and highly regarded Ars Technica lists Kaspersky as one of the best choices for Anti-Virus on the Windows platform.[13]
Kaspersky Anti-Virus was 'A-listed' by the UK PC journal PC Pro in late 2007, where it scored very highly for detection and removal of malware.[14] PC Pro attributes this to “a combination of the software’s heuristic scanning and uncompromising approach to database updates.[14] While many packages check for new virus signatures on a daily basis, Kaspersky runs to an hourly schedule, improving your chances of being immunized before an infection reaches it.”[15]
Criticisms and controversies[edit]
In March 2015, Bloomberg accused Kaspersky of having close ties to Russian military and intelligence officials.[16] Kaspersky criticized the article in his blog, calling the coverage 'sensationalist' and guilty of 'exploiting paranoia' to 'increase readership'.[17]
Top List Of Anti Virus Software
In June 2015, United States National Security Agency and United Kingdom Government Communications Headquarters said NSA and GCHQ agents broke Kaspersky antivirus software so that they could spy on people, leaks indicate.[18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2020 release notes'. Kaspersky Lab. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ ab'How Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013 differs from Kaspersky Internet Security 2013'. Kaspersky Lab. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
- ^'List of applications incompatible with Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013'. Kaspersky Lab. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^'Flaw found in Kaspersky antivirus'. ZDNet. 2005-10-03. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^'Kaspersky compromised by another security breach'. Techworld. 2005-10-11. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^Evers, Joris. 'Kaspersky confirms antivirus software flaw'. ZDNet. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
- ^'Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux Workstation'.
- ^'Kaspersky Security for Mac'. Kaspersky Lab. Archived from the original on 2009-12-14. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^'All VB100 test history for vendor Kaspersky Lab'. virusbulletin.com. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^'AV-Comparatives - Malware Removal Test'(PDF). Av-comparatives.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^'AV-Comparatives - File Detection Test of Malicious Software'(PDF). Av-comparatives.org. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^'Top Antivirus Performers'. PC World. 2007-04-23. Archived from the original on 2007-04-26.
- ^'Five important security apps for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows'. Ars Technica. 2008-04-24. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
- ^ ab'Internet Security Reviews'. PC Pro. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
- ^'Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0 wins top awards from PC Pro'.
- ^Matlack, Carol (2015-03-19). 'The Company Securing Your Internet Has Close Ties to Russian Spies'. Bloomberg.
- ^'Eugene Kaspersky intensifies US vs Russia flame war, accusing Bloomberg of creating 'conspiracy theories' about his company - Computing'.
- ^Griffin, Andrew (23 June 2015). 'GCHQ and NSA broke antivirus software so that they could spy on people, leaks indicate'. London: The Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaspersky_Anti-Virus&oldid=965592394'
While viruses are as much a threat to Macs as they are to PCs, it’s important to note how the built-in security mechanism for Macs works. With a lot more layers of security than the Windows operating system, macOS is generally able to fend off viruses and malware trying to make their way into Macs. This is one of the major reasons why Apple is able to make claims about the security of its devices as often as it does.
With that said, however, it’s important to note that even though the manufacturer of Macs says that their devices are safe from viruses and threats of the likes, it’s always a good idea to be as cautious as possible and take the right precautions.
Additionally, while it’s true that viruses for Macs aren’t nearly as common as they are for PCs, that doesn’t negate the fact that viruses for Macs do exist. The only difference is that since computers running on the Windows operating system are more vulnerable than Macs, it only makes sense for criminals to focus more on the type of audiences that will help them in their objectives.
Now that we’ve established that Windows is the more vulnerable operating system, the next thing that comes to mind for most people is why generic viruses can’t be built for users of devices running on both of these platforms. The answer to that is relatively simple too. Mac OS is based on UNIX, which means that it is significantly different from the Windows operating system.
Not only do Windows and Mac OS have features and characteristics that are entirely unique, but the mechanism and principles, on which both operating systems function, too, are very different. Top that off with the sandboxed environment that Mac OS leverages, and you’ve got yourself an operating system that doesn’t look all that appealing to criminals.
But that approach is changing pretty fast.
Criminals today are increasingly becoming more willing to go through the trouble of creating customized malicious code for Mac users for a number of reasons. Not only has the user base of Macs increased significantly over the years making the efforts of criminals a lot more rewarding, but Mac users are also considered to be the more affluent of the two groups. Needless to say, putting in the effort to create malicious code that can help them steal private and confidential information – especially that used for financial institutions – makes it all worthwhile for criminals.
But what does that mean about the need for antivirus software for Macs, you ask?
The answer to that isn’t quite straightforward. In fact, when it comes to this question, Mac users are essentially divided into two large groups of those who believe that antivirus is necessary, and those who don’t see the need for installing extra programs to keep their data and systems secure.
In the sections to follow, we’ll be talking about what antivirus for Macs really does, and discuss some of the other ways in which Macs can be protected from potential threats.