AV-Comparatives is excited to announce the release of the results from the September 2025 Malware Protection Test for consumer security solutions. As part of our Consumer Main-Test Series, this evaluation focuses on how effectively leading anti-malware programs detect and block malicious files.

Test Focus and Methodology

Our approach goes beyond merely assessing detection rates. We aim to evaluate how well each product can proactively prevent system compromises caused by malware. In this test, we examined 19 top anti-malware solutions, subjecting them to a rigorous analysis using approximately ten thousand malware samples. Alongside protection performance, we thoroughly assessed false-positive rates to ensure that strong protection doesn’t lead to unnecessary user disruptions.

The Tested Products

The following consumer security products were included in our September 2025 Malware Protection Test: Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free, Avira Free Security, Bitdefender Total Security, ESET HOME Security Essential, F-Secure Internet Security, G Data Total Security, K7 Total Security, Kaspersky Premium, Malwarebytes Premium, McAfee Total Protection, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Norton Antivirus Plus, Panda Free Antivirus, Quick Heal Total Security, TotalAV Antivirus Pro, Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus, Trend Micro Internet Security, VIPRE Advanced Security.

Recognizing Outstanding Performance

We are excited to announce that several products earned our highest “Advanced+” award for there impresive protection capabilities. The top performers – Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, ESET, G DATA, Kaspersky, Norton, Total Defense – demonstrated impressive protection capabilities while maintaining low false-positive rates. These products stand out for their ability to shield consumers from an increasingly sophisticated array of malware threats.

Access the Full Report

To explore the detailed findings from the September 2025 Malware Protection Test, we invite you to download the full report from our website. As always, our public test reports are available free of charge and without any registration requirements. Discover key insights into antivirus performance and make well-informed choices to strengthen your digital security.