Top 10 Antivirus Software 2013

As technology is moving into a new era, more sophisticated systems are being built and implemented. This sophistication is coming at a price of far more security threats than ever before.
Trojans, viruses, worms and much other malicious software’s affect our PCs in a number of ways every single day. As the number of these security threats increases, the antivirus software companies are becoming more and more aware and writing modern and more threat proof code to ensure the safety and security of our systems.

In this context, we have reviewed 10 of the best antivirus software’s of the year 2013. It is up to you to decide what you want to go with. Free options are available with every single one of the reviewed software’s.

1)    Avast Antivirus 8.

Taking the top spot on our list of 10 best Antivirus of the year 2013 is the Avast Antivirus. This time it’s far more adaptive and accessible than ever before. Even the free version, boasts of many new powerful features and high benchmark standards.

• Installation

Installation this time round is more fast and robust. Included, is the Google Drive installation option along with Avast. Automatic installation installs WebRep browser add-on, which you can skip altogether through custom installation.

• Interface

The interface has been revamped though the settings and submenus feel almost identical. The design and color scheme does change in this year’s update. All in all, the interface of Avast Antivirus is far user-friendlier than ever before.

• Features

Avast 8, is equipped with many new features that directly affect the security of your system.
Update of virus definition files, has been increased from 20 to 70 per day. Scanning will automatically be disabled, if computer is detected to be running on battery. Evaluation of downloads is more fast and security threats through fake security certificates are easily under minable.
The system comprises of antivirus, antispyware, and heuristicsengine that altogether create a rather powerful shield for your system security. The sandbox feature of Avast 8 has the power to automatically detect an imminent threat to the system and placing that program in a virtualized state, so that it could not harm your system.
Browser cleanup tool is another feature that ensures the best possible shape of your system browsers. Remote assistance has been revamped to AccessAnywhere feature in the 2013 version of the software.

• Performance

You will reasonably be safe with Avast 8, but far safer than ever before if you turn the detection and block options on a high note.

2)    AVG antivirus 2013

Second on our list is the AVG antivirus suite. Let’s examine how it works out.

• Installation

Though the program goes on from starting an installation to completing the entire setup process within five minutes but it’s still slower than many other options available.
This year’s installation does not require a reboot of the system.  The primary defect with installation process is AVG’s ability to force close your browser during the installation process without asking you first.

• Interface

For simpler and clear-cut as compared to the previous versions. The AVG antivirus 2013 boasts of boldly colored tiles and brand-new interface to go with Windows 8.

• Features

24/7 telephone support, new android app, cutting-edge file reputation system to scan faster than ever before, Do Not Track add-on or few of the features in the free version. The paid version offers up a chat link shield, Wi-Fi guard and messenger files download scan ability.

• Performance

Excellent if not perfect is the right sentence to say to describe the performance of AVG antivirus 2013. Security threats are minimized along with far lesser impact on system performance due to the software being much lighter in size than its previous counterparts.

3)    Bitdefender Antivirus plus

Third in line to our list, Bitdefender Antivirus plus provides high level of protection and security for present and upcoming threats.

• Installation

More practicable and fast, Bitdefender Antivirus plus allows you to uninstall any other antivirus software in your system during setup process. Installation also enables autopilot, which keeps the pop-ups from your browser to a minimum.

• Interface

The central interface of the system is known as the dashboard, which on one hand is quite good-looking and on the other hand powerful enough to put all sorts of security tools within the reach of your mouse clicks.

• Features

Parental control, security IDs, process behavior monitoring, USB security, secure online storage, a robust firewall, anti-phishing, personal data defender, vulnerability scanner alongside of SafePay feature, provides all that one needs.

• Performance

On benchmark standards, the performance of Bitdefender Antivirus plus is above the mark but the paid version of the software is much more reliable and configurable to your standards than the free version.

4)    Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013

Bringing you the most advanced technology currently available to counter imminent security threats every single day is the Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013.

• Installation

Fast as a flash, the entire setup process takes only two minutes. A reboot is required only if you’re using the paid version.

• Interface

The major overhaul to the interface of the system was done last year, this year there are just minor tweaks like the number of screens has being reduced to initiate a scan or to solve a problem.

• Features

Firstly it’s the exploit blocking engine known as Automatic exploit prevention. Safe Money, file advisor, file rollback, and virtual keyboard are some of the other features that have been made far robust and practicable than ever before.

• Performance

Though, slow in scanning as always, threat detection rate this year has been marginally increased. On the other side, browser hangouts have been experienced as well.

5)    ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6

Back from the dead applies to ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6 far more than any other antivirus program on our list.

• Installation

With no need to reboot after the installation, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6 takes less than a minute to install and be ready for use.

• Interface

Almost unchanged to the previous version 5, the ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6 interface is not that easy to use. If you are a loyal ESET NOD32 Antivirus user, it would not take much for you to understand the interface but for a new user it’ll take much time than necessary to understand all the nuts and bolts of the system.

• Features

Improved antivirus and anti-spyware engines, removable media control, brand-new gamer mode, updated ThreatSense technology and much improved browser guards are the features to look out for in this year’s ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6.

• Performance

Representing a pretty reliable security option, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6 has been the most effective antivirus system that we have reviewed this year. False positives have been reduced to a minimum without compromising your system performance.

6)    Norton Antivirus 2013

A very old name in the antivirus game, Norton Antivirus 2013 is at number 6 spot this year on our list.

• Installation

Norton has gone to great lengths to improve their setup process and this year it shows with a non-rebootable install, impressively fast installation time of around less than a minute and low hassle process.

• Interface

The interface has received a major overhaul because of Windows 8 implementation. Much inspired by the Windows 8 tile system, the design of Norton Antivirus 2013 is colorful and quite easy to operate.

• Features

Not much on the new features side, the Norton Antivirus 2013 boasts of features like Scam Insight, integration with Windows 8’s ELAM, Download insight, Norton SONAR and bootable recovery tools.

• Performance

Fast scanning and installation, higher rate of threat detection and far lower impact on system performance makes it a good competitor to the rest of the antivirus community. It is safe but not the safest.

7)    McAfee Antivirus Plus

An old horse in the race, McAfee Antivirus Plus is a good choice if you are opting in for other suits in the pack as well.

• Installation

Painless and fast, setup of McAfee Antivirus Plus will take you through from start to finish in two minutes time.

• Interface

As always, a sleek one. This year minor changes have been made to the overhauled interface of McAfee Antivirus Plus from last year.

• Features

Updated anti-malware, antivirus and anti-spyware engines, Mcafee active protection feature, malicious ads and pop-up protector as well as enhanced vulnerability scanner. The feature list is pretty rich.

• Performance

Mcafee has always been fast racer on the scanning field, this time it’s no different with fast scan times, high level of threat detection and system security as it’s primary focus.

8)    Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus 2013

An advanced security protector, Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus 2013 has got it all at a far less price than many of its counterparts.

• Installation

The second process is quite hassle free an amazingly fast. Download to installation completes within a minute and you’re ready to go. Reboot is not required.

• Interface

Pleasantly effective in its strategy of making the user interface as hassle free as possible, the interface of Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus 2013 switches to horizontal controls and large icons.

• Features

Safe surfing, Safe searching, social networking protection are the highest-rated features of the Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus 2013.

• Performance

Updated threat detection system joined together with really fast scanning speeds and very light on system performance specs makes Trend Micro Titanium Antivirus Plus 2013 the very best of its counterparts.

9) F-Secure Anti-Virus

Ever-expanding features of the F-Secure Anti-Virus has been the primary reason as to why this Finnish firm security toolset is on number 9 in our list.

• Installation

Pain free and marginally fast from last year, setup takes around four minutes or less to complete and be ready for your use.

• Interface

Minor tweaks to almost none interface changes have been implemented this year within the F-Secure Anti-Virus system. Though, its still clean and well designed.

• Features

Updated security engine is like always the primary feature of the F-Secure Anti-Virus. Deep Guard technology, updated network level monitoring, cloud antivirus database, Web Guards are some of the main level features that F-Secure Anti-Virus boasts off.

• Performance

Having the reputation of being one of the most secured systems on the planet for security threats, F-Secure Anti-Virus boasts of zippy fast scan times and ultrahigh level security protection.

10) MHX Antivirus and Antispyware

Though quite new, but the protection level provided by MHX Antivirus and Antispyware is way above the mark of many other antivirus programs.

• Installation

Pain less, hassle free and fast is all that needs to be said about the installation process of MHX Antivirus and Antispyware.

• Interface

Old look still prevails but their has been no compromise on ease of use.

• Features

Updated Anti-spyware, Anti-Virus and registry scan engine alongside of Live help client. Feature list is not huge like many others but it does its work that it has been intended to work on with ease and perfection.

•  Performance

Low on system performance, high on results. The MHX Antivirus and Antispyware program detects even the very little of security threats to your system and gets rid of them with ease.
Farooq Omer is a seasonal blogger and is CEO of creativeON.com (a webhosting and development house from Pakistan). In addition he also writes for cPanelPlesk.com and loves to read technology blogs as well.