The winner of the worst anti-virus software is : McAfee
Very closely followed up by TotalAV and the Norton, Avast, Avira and AVG – “Gen Digital Inc” family. Find out more here.
But why do these anti-virus solution come with your PC or laptop? Money is the simple answer nothing else. Big $ kickback.
But why do they come top on these anti-virus review websites? Money once again. False reporting. The money you pay is mostly commission.
You literally can’t trust any of the common antivirus review website, especially the ones at the top rankings in Google.
Speak to a knowledgeable cyber security expert and they will tell you these are all bad antivirus solutions. The best is open to debate!
So who do you recommend? We provide our customers with Threatdown (Malwarebytes) but Bitdefender is good too, ESET is not too bad either.
In IT support circles, McAfee is the most laughed at product and the first thing any knowledgeable engineer will uninstall.
The “Worst” Antivirus: A Look at Performance, Privacy, and User Frustration
Determining the single “worst” antivirus software is a complex task, as performance can vary based on the specific malware threats and the user’s system. However, a consensus among users and some independent testing labs points to a few brands that consistently underperform or engage in problematic practices. While Microsoft Defender has significantly improved to offer robust baseline protection for Windows users, several third-party antivirus suites are often cited for being more of a hindrance than a help.
Based on an analysis of user complaints, independent lab results, and reported controversies, TotalAV, and the group of brands under Gen Digital (formerly NortonLifeLock and Avast), including Norton, Avast, and AVG, frequently emerge as candidates for the “worst” antivirus in the eyes of many users but McAfee certainly takes first prize in many respects.
These brands are often criticized for a combination of factors including:
- Aggressive upselling and misleading marketing: Many users report frustrating experiences with constant pop-ups and notifications urging them to upgrade to premium versions. TotalAV, in particular, has faced numerous complaints regarding its billing practices and the difficulty of canceling subscriptions.
- System Performance Impact: While all antivirus software will use some system resources, users frequently complain about significant slowdowns and performance degradation when using products from Norton, McAfee, and sometimes Avast/AVG.
- Privacy Concerns: Avast, which also owns AVG, was embroiled in a major controversy for collecting and selling user Browse data through a subsidiary called Jumpshot. While the company has since ceased this practice, the incident has left a lasting negative mark on its reputation.
- Mixed Independent Test Results: While major brands like Norton and McAfee often score well in protection tests from labs like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, they can sometimes have a higher number of false positives or a greater impact on system performance compared to top-rated competitors. Trend Micro has also shown inconsistent results in some independent tests, with some reviews pointing to mediocre malware detection rates.
In online forums and user discussions, McAfee is another brand that is frequently mentioned with frustration, often due to its pre-installation on many new computers and the perception that it is difficult to remove and can be resource-heavy.
It’s important to note that the antivirus landscape is constantly evolving, and a product’s performance can change with each new version. However, the consistent pattern of user complaints and the documented controversies surrounding certain brands are strong indicators for consumers to be cautious.
For most users, the built-in Microsoft Defender, when combined with good Browse habits and regular software updates, provides a solid and unobtrusive layer of security without the drawbacks associated with some of the more aggressively marketed and problematic third-party antivirus solutions.
A bad anti-virus solution is sometimes worse than having no anti-virus at all. You have a false sense of security and will take risks because you feel you are protected. Pay for two things in life, anti-virus and your password manager!
