We continue to investigate the valuable statistics of the AV-TEST laboratory, which tests antiviruses. In one of the previous materials, we talked about, and in this article we will consider another topical issue - antiviruses for Windows 10. Moreover, we will evaluate them by an important characteristic: performance.
Antivirus performance on Windows is a sore subject, it is not uncommon for the system and antivirus software to literally fight each other for processor resources, RAM and an Internet connection channel. In short, if you look at the antivirus rating specifically in relation to Windows 10 and specifically in terms of performance, you can learn a lot of new names and get a lot of really embarrassing results.
AV-TEST evaluated antivirus software on an Intel Xeon X3360 @ 2.83GHz computer with 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, and Windows 10 Home installed using five system slowdown tests, each performed while the antivirus was running. Let's look at the results.
1st place: AhnLab V3 Internet Security
Many of us have never heard of the leader in the performance table according to AV-TEST. The best antivirus for Windows 10 in terms of performance tests call a little-known Korean product.
AV-TEST statistics claim that AhnLab practically does not slow down standard Windows 10 operations: copying files (both locally and over the network) when the antivirus is running slows down so minimally that it can be neglected; the same can be said about installing programs, downloading files from the Internet, and running standard Windows programs. Slightly "slows down" only the loading of sites, but only 1% more than the industry average. At the same time, the antivirus detects 100% of malware from 10,684 virus samples collected on the Web over the past 4 weeks.
AhnLab V3 Internet Security - Impact on Windows 10 performance
| Test | Number of samples | Result | |
| 39 | 12% | 11% | |
| 20 | 4% | 4% | |
| 12 | 8% | 15% | |
| 19 | 7% | 26% | |
| 7 915 | 2% | 7% |
Data: AV Test
2nd place: Avira Antivirus Pro
To our no less surprise, the second place in the ranking of the most nimble antiviruses for Windows 10 is occupied by a paid version. Avira.
Avira Antivirus Pro With Avira on board, files in Windows 10 copy only 3% slower than without antivirus. Loading sites and downloading files also slows down so slightly that it can be ignored. Standard Windows applications run about 18% slower with Avira running, and third-party programs install almost half as fast as the industry average.
At the same time, Avira cannot be called the best antivirus for Windows 10 - only one of the fastest. In terms of antivirus scanning, Avira does not do very well: out of 10,684 fresh viruses, the scanner finds somewhere around 97%.
Avira Antivirus Pro - Impact on Windows 10 performance
| Test | Number of samples | Result | Industry average |
| Delay when opening websites | 39 | 8% | 11% |
| File download delay | 20 | 8% | 4% |
| Delay when starting standard programs | 12 | 18% | 15% |
| Delay when installing third-party programs | 19 | 12% | 26% |
| Delay when copying files | 7 915 | 3% | 7% |
Data: AV Test
3rd place: Bitdefender Internet Security
Also not the most popular antivirus among the Russian user, but it has good test results on Windows 10. It occupies the third place in terms of performance in the rating of antiviruses for the top ten.
Bitdefender Internet Security Bitdefender is the most liberal antivirus in terms of downloading and copying files on Windows, which it has almost no effect on at all. Installing third-party software is also half as fast as the industry. But the antivirus scans the websites that are opened meticulously, as a result of which there is a delay of as much as 15% compared to the speed of opening without an antivirus. The test for the detection of fresh "malware" while the antivirus passes 100%.
Bitdefender Internet Security - Impact on Windows 10 performance
| Test | Number of samples | Result | Industry average |
| Delay when opening websites | 39 | 15% | 11% |
| File download delay | 20 | 1% | 4% |
| Delay when starting standard programs | 12 | 6% | 15% |
| Delay when installing third-party programs | 19 | 13% | 26% |
| Delay when copying files | 7 915 | 2% | 7% |
Data: AV Test
4th place: Kaspersky Internet Security
But our native Kaspersky is on the fourth line of the rating. Some will be surprised (like us) why it is only on the fourth place with such indicators, others - how it ended up in the top of the fastest antiviruses at all, but the fact is the fact: on Windows 10 Home, the full version of Kaspersky Internet Security detects 100% of the viruses offered to it and with this works extremely well.
Kaspersky Internet Security So, Kaspersky does not slow down the download of files from the Internet at all - from the word "generally". Files download at the same speed as without antivirus. Copying files is also almost imperceptible, and the launch of standard programs and the installation of third-party ones are half as fast as the industry average. Websites also load fairly quickly. And yet, the fourth line of the rating, although we would readily give him the first.
| Test | Number of samples | Result | Industry average |
| Delay when opening websites | 39 | 13% | 11% |
| File download delay | 20 | 0% | 4% |
| Delay when starting standard programs | 12 | 6% | 15% |
| Delay when installing third-party programs | 19 | 14% | 26% |
| Delay when copying files | 7 915 | 4% | 7% |
Data: AV Test
5th place: McAfee Internet Security
Closes the top five products among the best antivirus for Windows 10 McAfee Internet Security, the free version of which many inadvertently try with Adobe Flash Player. Here, however, we are talking about a full-fledged paid version.
McAfee Internet Security McAfee, although it passes the virus detection test 100%, already gives a fairly noticeable delay when installing programs: 30% slower than without antivirus. But the fastest allows you to open sites and download files from the Web. Copying is generally slower than the industry average. Standard programs run quite quickly.
Kaspersky Internet Security - impact on Windows 10 performance
| Test | Number of samples | Result | Industry average |
| Delay when opening websites | 39 | 7% | 11% |
| File download delay | 20 | 1% | 4% |
| Delay when starting standard programs | 12 | 5% | 15% |
| Delay when installing third-party programs | 19 | 30% | 26% |
| Delay when copying files | 7 915 | 11% | 7% |
Data: AV Test
Other candidates
Three little-known products also show good performance results: microworld eScan Internet Security Suite, PC Pitstop PC Matic And VIPREadvanced security. However, the former falls far short of the bar in malware detection, the latter suffers from false positives, and the third, to our surprise, works brilliantly - 100% of detected viruses, and performance in certain tests is even higher than that of McAfee and Avira - but why something few people know.
VIPRE Advanced Security Favorite by Russian users Avast Free Antivirus in terms of performance, it sags somewhat, in particular, due to the slow launch of standard Windows system applications and incomplete detection of malware. Otherwise, all the indicators are quite decent - we would give him a place without any special complaints. Avira.
"Native" Microsoft Windows Defender does not shine in tests, as it slows down the installation of applications by almost half the installation speed when Windows Defender is disabled (by 42%), and plus, it gives false positives too often.
Memorable PC Power Users Norton Internet Security And ESET Internet Security- quite "heavy" guys. The second one was especially distinguished, which manages to slow down the launch of the simplest system applications by as much as 60%.
