As our world becomes more digitalized, wherein almost every aspect of our lives including our personal files, banking, and other confidential data are stored online, a reliable antivirus program is becoming increasing essential. The two main operating system protections that come in mind are Avast and Kaspersky.
With both software regarded for their reliable protection and reliable features, choosing the best one for your device may be confusing. In this post, we take on Avast vs. Kaspersky and provide the information you may need.
Avast
With its headquarters based in the Czech Republic, Avast is an antivirus software that has been in operation since 1988. As of 2020, Avast has over 400 million users worldwide. Avast has two main protection products; Avast Free antivirus and Avast premium.
Avast free antivirus
This antivirus program is an accessible antivirus software that provides protection against viruses, spyware, malware, and ransomware. Avast free antivirus provides a smart scan feature that checks for browser add-ons, outdated software, network threats, and performance issues. Avast Free antivirus software secures your online shopping and banking experience, running it on autopilot in the background without interrupting your web browsing.
Avast Free antivirus software also comes with a password manager and a Wi-Fi inspector. This antivirus software is available for windows, macOS, android, and iOS.
Avast premium
Avast premium is a paid version of the Avast free antivirus software. Avast premium antivirus software comes with additional features such as a firewall, a vpn connection, and added online security protocols. Avast premium's firewall is a two-way firewall that secures your internet connection and outgoing traffic.
Avast premium also provides advanced ransomware protection and real-time detection. As of 2021, an Avast premium plan costs $69.99 per year.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky is a cybersecurity company founded in Moscow, Russia, in 1997. Kaspersky provides antivirus and internet security software to both home and business users.
Kaspersky has two main security suites, Kaspersky antivirus, and Kaspersky internet security.
Kaspersky antivirus
Kaspersky antivirus provides protection against viruses, phishing sites, and ransomware protection. Kaspersky antivirus software has a scanning feature that checks your files, documents, and software, stopping threats before it's too late.
Kaspersky antivirus also includes a password manager and a personal firewall to keep you protected against network attacks. Kaspersky antivirus software costs $29.99 per year.
Kaspersky internet security
Kaspersky internet security is an all-in-one security suite that provides premium protection for both PC and mobile devices. Kaspersky internet security protects against malware, spyware, and internet identity theft.
Kaspersky internet security provides a password manager and a parental control feature, controlled by an app. The parental control feature is a unique feature with intuitive filters that help track activities online, category-wise. The advanced parental control software provides the power to block content online and restrict internet usage.
Kaspersky internet security software also comes with a firewall and a vpn connection, allowing users to browse anonymously online. The cost of Kaspersky internet security is around $ $49.99 per year.
Comparison
Both Avast and Kaspersky have their strengths and weaknesses; however, we can look at comparative metrics to determine which software is the best. The comparative metrics include the software's impact on device performance, protection level, ease of use, and pricing.
Impact on device performance
The impact of the antivirus software on your device's performance is a crucial factor to consider. In a study by AV-TEST, Avast showed an average impact of 8.1% on performance, putting Avast ahead of Kaspersky, which had an average impact of 9.2%.
Protection level
In terms of protection, Kaspersky beats Avast, as noted by tests conducted by AV-Comparatives in 2021. In this test, Kaspersky detected 100% of all threats, while Avast only detected 99.7%.
Ease of Use
Both Avast and Kaspersky have a user-friendly interface, easy to navigate and understand. In this category, it's a tie.
Pricing
Pricing is the ultimate factor for most people. From our analysis, Avast offers a more affordable option, with its premium version costing $69.99 per year, compared to Kaspersky's premium version costing $49.99 per year.
Conclusion
Both Avast and Kaspersky provide reliable operating system protection; however, Kaspersky may edge out Avast with its high protection level.
As for pricing, Avast provides an affordable option, with its premium version being more affordable than Kaspersky's. Ultimately, the best antivirus software will depend on your preference, so it's essential to weigh the options and make an informed decision.
References
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AV-TEST. (2019). System-performance impact tests: AV-TEST awards 19 security solutions its "certified performance" seal. AV-TEST. Link.
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AV-Comparatives. (2021). Security products under investigation. AV-Comparatives. Link.
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Kaspersky. (n.d.). Kaspersky Antivirus Software 2022. Kaspersky. Link
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Avast. (n.d.). Avast Free Antivirus 2022. Link