This article will go through some of the best Kaspersky alternatives available for antivirus software. Kaspersky Lab, founded in Moscow in 1997 by Russian billionaire Yevgeny Valentinovich Kaspersky, is widely recognized as a leading name in the cybersecurity industry. There are millions of people all around the world who rely on its endpoint security software from businesses and governments. In light of recent research suggesting Kaspersky Labs may have close ties to Russia’s FSB intelligence service, the Trump administration has stated that the company will be barred from selling its products and services to the federal government.
Kaspersky Lab has always maintained its innocence despite rumors in some U.S. media publications that the company has close ties to Russian intelligence organizations. After a series of emails between the Russian software maker and the FSB were leaked, many consumers began to question whether it was worth using a product that may or may not be giving their private, personal information to Russian government agencies.
Many individuals are not convinced by Eugene Kaspersky’s and his software company’s claims of innocence, despite his best efforts to convince them. While the nature and extent of the alleged “cooperation” between the two parties remain unclear, those uneasy about using Kaspersky’s security solutions due to rumors of the company’s closeness to Russian intelligence agencies may want to consider some of the top 6 Kaspersky alternatives available.
Top 6 Kaspersky Alternatives
#1. Bitdefender Antivirus
AV-Comparatives and other reputable third parties have studied the virus scanning engines on the market, and Bitdefender has consistently been ranked as one of the best. The software also has many extra tools, such as a password manager and built-in protection against ransomware. Only the commercial versions, which start at $39.99 for a year, have these extra features. The company does give a free version for home users, though. This is another choice besides Kaspersky.
Bitdefender’s AV engine is used by Bullguard, Emsisoft, F-Secure, GData, Iobit, Quick Heal, and many other third-party antivirus companies because it is so good at finding malware. Bitdefender is the best Kaspersky alternative you can put on your computer. It can eliminate almost any threat without giving you too many annoying false positives. With a discovery rate of 99.9%, the program came in second in the most recent AV Comparative study, which was done in June 2017. It found 1953 out of a total of 1955 malware samples. It also has a deficient number of false positives, which means that if you put Bitdefender on your device, you won’t have to deal with many pop-up ads.
- Download: Free, starting at $39.99 for premium editions.
- Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS (coming)
#2. Trend Micro Antivirus and Security
Even though Trend Micro doesn’t offer free real-time protection, it does offer free tools to help you get rid of ransomware on your computer. The company’s antivirus product is one of the most well-known in the cybersecurity business. It has several cutting-edge features, such as a “Folder Shield” tool that protects specific folders from ransomware. The app also says that it stops hackers from getting your personal information and stops spyware from keeping track of what you do online. It also has parental controls that let you stop your kids from sharing personal information with people who have nothing to do with the game. For privacy, the software lets you check social media security settings including Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Kaspersky’s competitor.
Trend Micro is one of the best antivirus programs on the market, but there is no free version. The professional versions, which start at $79.95, are on par with any other paid AV software on the market. According to the most recent AV-Comparatives study, Trend Micro Internet Security beat both Bitdefender and Kaspersky, coming in first place with a 100% detection rate after finding all 1955 cases of malware in a real-world setting. On the other hand, there are a lot of names that are wrongly on the blocklist and a large number of false positives.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Android; download price: $39.95
#3. AVG Antivirus
AVG has been one of the world’s most well-known antivirus software companies for well over a decade. Most people know the company for its free antivirus software, which at its peak was the standard safety package on most people’s PCs. Most of us have used it on our computers, and from personal experience, it works because it kept my system free of bugs for more than ten years.
The free antivirus program from AVG is one of the best free anti-malware programs you can still download, and it does a great job against most of the paid security products on the market right now. The company also sells an Internet Security package that costs $35 annually and has a few extra features, like protection against hackers and dangerous email files. Overall, AVG is an excellent alternative to Kaspersky that you should try out. This is another choice besides Kaspersky.
- Download: Free, starting at $35.00 for premium editions.
- Platforms: Android, Mac OS, and Windows
#4. Avast Antivirus
Like AVG, Avast is best known for its free protection software, which I have also used on my PCs for several years. Even though its detection rate is on par with the best in the business, it has very few false hits, in my experience. It tied with AVG in the most current test from AV-Comparatives, where it correctly identified 1948 of 1955 malware samples. The company also has a paid version that costs $39.99, but it doesn’t have that many more features or choices than the free version. I’ve only ever used the accessible version of this program, which has most of the features you’d expect from free antivirus software. This is another choice besides Kaspersky.
Avast, unlike Kaspersky, allows free antivirus use in businesses. This makes people less likely to pay for the product. Unless they want to show their support for the programmers who made and kept up a good security tool and then gave it away for free. Overall, it’s a great tool that uses few resources and gets new versions often.
Download: Free, starting at $49.99 for premium editions.
Platforms: Android, Mac OS, and Windows
#5. SET NOD32
ESET NOD32 is another antivirus program that does well in independent lab tests and has its tools to stop phishing, protect against HIPS, and block malicious URLs. Suppose all of that isn’t amazing enough for you. In that case, it scans faster than most of its competitors, including Kaspersky, which is something to consider if your computer has hundreds of Gigabytes or even Terabytes of data.
The ESET NOD32 also stands out because the last test done by AV-Comparatives in June 2017 gave only one false result. In the most current report from AV-Test Institute, Kaspersky, Trend Micro, and Bitdefender you got perfect scores, while ESET NOD32 only got 15.5 out of 18 points. There is no free version of the program, so it costs $39.99 to use it for a year on one PC. This is another choice besides Kaspersky.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Android; Price: $39.99
#6. Norton Antivirus
Norton Antivirus used to be a joke because it was too big, didn’t work well, and used a lot of resources. Recently, it has been able to fix its image by becoming easier to use and using less resources. Symantec has lowered the number of false positives on their product, one of the best antivirus apps on the market. NorLikes more well-known siblings, hasNorton Basic Antivirus a straightforward layout that makes it very easy to use. You get protection against intrusions on top of the real-time and on-demand scans that are usually part of security software. The Norton Basic Antivirus’ Power Eraser’ tool is like a nuclear weapon for removing stubborn bugs.
Symantec’s solo antivirus program had been removed a few years ago but has now been returned as Norton Antivirus Basic. The list price for one PC for one year is $49.99, but you can get it for just $19.99 on the company’s primary U.S. website, which is a $30 discount. With Symantec’s Norton Security Premium, which costs $89.99 per year for up to 10 devices, you can protect several gadgets that run different operating systems.
Purchase: $39.99
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Conclusion
AVG and Bitdefender are good options for Kaspersky for home users of antivirus software. Kaspersky is the best enterprise EDR/EPP for small companies, but AVG and Bitdefender will also keep your data safe. In the business market, your wants are the most essential thing, so carefully look at the features.
