Kaspersky vs. Avast

There are several different mainstay antivirus developers that compete directly with each other, including Kaspersky vs. Avast. The two security software suites offer similar capabilities, so many users will wonder what the difference is between them. Both security software collections provide many desperately needed antivirus security features that are at the cutting edge of antivirus technology, such as sandboxing and heuristic virus scans. Both Kaspersky and Avast have recently released new versions of their antivirus software, and each includes a slew of new features that are designed to protect computers from the latest viruses and malware.

The ease of installation and the amount of time it requires is often an important aspect of antivirus software. Avast installs without a hitch and is finished within minutes. Kaspersky's installation is not as quick, and it requires a system reboot after installation, which Avast does not require.

Of course, the decision between Kaspersky vs. Avast depends on much more than the installation. Both software security suites have received some cosmetic changes to their user interfaces. Avast's user interface has changed the least. In its previous edition, Avast's interface had arrows similar to the back and forward arrows in a web browser that allowed users to move back and forth between screens. Avast has now removed this part of the interface.

Kaspersky's interface has changed in a few key areas. The most important change has to do with how fast the different screens load. In previous versions of Kaspersky's security suite, the window load times were sluggish, making for a frustrating experience. The windows in the latest edition of Kaspersky's security software load much faster. The only other major change that Kaspersky has made involves a restructuring of its scan menus, and the ability to use Kaspersky's other security features during a system scan. In previous editions, the screen was locked onto the scan screen during virus scans.

Kaspersky vs. Avast results in a fierce competition in the features arena, which is what all battles between antivirus software come down to eventually. In its latest version, Avast has released a sandboxing mode similar to the mode that Kaspersky released more than a year ago. The sandbox feature allows you to run software on your computer in a contained, virtual state that undoes any changes made by the software, including changes made to registry keys. The sandboxing mode also tracks any changes the software has made, and undoes those changes once the sandboxing mode is ended.

Kaspersky's sandboxing tool, known as Safe Run, has received a few major changes. The tool's abilities have been expanded to be useable on a computer's desktop, allowing every user on a single machine to receive the same level of protection. Safe Surf, a new feature within Safe Run, allows you to browse the web safely while the software scans each individual website as it loads. Some innocuous websites have been infected by malware, and this feature is intended to protect you from dealing with unexpected online threats.

The Kaspersky vs. Avast competition is not entirely dependent on the features offered by both developers. While Kaspersky offers a larger selection of security tools to protect your computer, the software requires a large amount of disc space and can experience problems during installation. In addition, Kaspersky's security suite costs about sixty dollars to protect two computers. Avast's security software is free and installs easily, but it lacks several important features that are common to most professional antivirus software.

At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™