Kaspersky Internet Security 2014, the security product for home users, was the top performer in the Malware Removal Test conducted by the independent AV-Comparatives lab in October and November 2013. The test assessed how well security products could help a computer recover from a malicious infection which occurred before protection was installed.
The experts at AV-Comparatives chose 11 malware samples for the test. The sample collection was deliberately small so that a different disinfection process was required for each malicious programme. In the course of the test a computer was infected with each sample, one at a time, and then a security solution was installed. The lab’s experts assessed 16 home security products from different vendors.
After each stage of testing, the analysts rated each product according to two criteria: whether it was capable of neutralising the malicious programme; and whether any user intervention was required.
To earn full marks the security solutions had to successfully remove the malicious programme and reverse any changes it had introduced into the system (creation of files, entries in the system registry and so on).
Products which failed to remove the malware were awarded the lowest mark. In terms of user involvement, automatic treatment with no intervention from the user earned top marks, while requests to contact the manufacturer’s support services scored badly.
Kaspersky Internet Security achieved the top Advanced+ ranking from AV-Comparatives after achieving a perfect score in the test. The product successfully deactivated and removed every malicious programme that was installed and running on the computer.
User intervention was required just once to treat a ‘blocker’ Trojan. This malicious programme prevented access to the Windows desktop – contrary to the conditions set out in the test methodology – so Kaspersky Rescue Disk was used to treat the infection. Kaspersky Rescue Disk is a dedicated tool for regaining access to a system infected by a “blocker”.
“Users often fail to think about securing themselves against cyber-threats until they encounter one,” says Nikita Shvetsov, director of Anti-Malware Research, Kaspersky Lab.
“The AV-Comparatives’ test reproduces a real-life situation: the computer has already been infected and a security solution is presented with the task of bypassing any self-defence mechanisms in the malware, removing the malware completely and, just as importantly, reversing any tampering with the OS configuration.
“The test results prove that Kaspersky Internet Security can effectively cleanse an operating system, even if it is installed after an infection takes place.”
Shortly before its Malware Removal Test triumph, Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 also received the Advanced+ ranking from AV-Comparatives in a test that assessed security product impact on a computer performance. Both results confirm Kaspersky Internet Security’s ability to maintain high protection levels without any harmful impact on system resources.
