14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 8.1 users sure have quite plenty of choices when it comes to anti-virus products, but sometimes it's pretty difficult to pick one that can really protect their computers and block incoming malware.
That's why German security institute AV-TEST has decided to test the 25 most commonly-used Windows 8.1 security solutions and determine which one is the best in order to make it easier for adopters of Microsoft's newest OS version to find a powerful tool for their computers.
Unsurprisingly, the results published by AV-TEST show pretty much the same thing as on older Windows versions and top security products continue to lead the field on Windows 8.1 too.
The biggest surprise, however, is the company on the second place which is none other Qihoo 360 Technology, a Chinese company that built several software solutions, including anti-virus software and web browsers. Chinese security products have never been among the most effective until now, so this is clearly a significant progress made by Asian companies trying to develop powerful solutions to protect users' computers.
Kaspersky Lab Internet Security is the number one security application in the chart with an overall score of 18 points, followed by the Chinese Qihoo 360 Internet Security with 17.5 points. The same score was received by McAfee Internet Security, Bitdefender Internet Security, and Avira Internet Security. Trend Micro Titanium Maxim and Kingsoft Antivirus come next with 17 points.
Microsoft's Windows Defender and AhnLab V3 Internet Security are again at the bottom of the anti-virus chart with 11 and 8.5 points, respectively.
Starting with Windows 8, all versions of Microsoft's modern operating system come with Windows Defender installed by default, but if users decide to install a different third-party security product, it's automatically disabled. Still, Windows Defender is never removed from your computer, so once you uninstall the third-party solution, Microsoft's security app is automatically re-enabled to make sure that your system is fully protected.
And despite these results, some security researchers across the globe claim that Windows Defender is still a much better choice than paid solutions where users need to purchase an annual subscription.
“Windows Defender does not contain many of the advanced features and functions of paid-for solutions, such as a high level of granularity for threat detection, task scheduling, centralized management and reporting and so forth. As with other free anti-malware programs, support options for Windows Defender are limited,” Aryeh Goretsky, researcher at antivirus software firm ESET, said last year in a statement.