The United States government has recently banned Kaspersky, Inc. from selling and updating its antivirus software within the US. The Commerce Department’s prohibition has triggered an active search of Kaspersky alternatives in organizations to stay in compliance.
If you’re looking for antivirus options, you’re in the right place! We put together this guide with the top 10 best Kaspersky alternatives to help you out in the search.
Keep reading to discover them!
10 best Kaspersky alternatives to replace the antivirus
Let’s start with the list! Below, you’ll find the most popular antivirus alternatives, along with an analysis of their main characteristics to choose the best option for your business.
1. Norton Antivirus
Norton antivirus offers malware protection to businesses of all sizes. It’s developed by NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec Corporation), a US-based company. Its product runs on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Norton key features
- Real-time threat protection: Uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect and block a wide range of malware, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware.
- SONAR protection: Behavioral monitoring technology to detect emerging threats.
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Inspects network traffic to block suspicious activity.
- Advanced multi-layered IT security: Includes features like heuristic analysis, signature-based detection, and reputation services.
- Dark web monitoring: An additional feature that scans the dark web for your personal information, adding an extra layer of security.
Norton pricing
- Pricing plans start at $59.99/computer/month (billed annually).
Norton disadvantages
The main drawback mentioned by users is that Norton AntiVirus is more expensive than some competitors, with a single license costing $59.99 per year. However, many users feel the additional features and Norton's strong reputation justify the higher price point.
2. Bitdefender
Bitdefender is a Romanian cybersecurity technology company that offers a comprehensive cybersecurity suite offering antivirus and advanced threat protection.
Bitdefender key features
- HyperDetect: Pre-execution detection layer that uses machine learning models to identify and block advanced threats before they can execute.
- Sandbox analyzer: Automatically sends suspicious files to a sandbox environment for thorough analysis, ensuring zero-day threats are identified and mitigated.
- Advanced threat intelligence: Utilizes global threat intelligence to provide real-time updates and insights on emerging threats.
- Bitdefender GravityZone: A centralized security platform offering robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities, including threat hunting, root cause analysis, and automated response actions.
- Network attack defense: Proactively detects and blocks network-based cyber attacks, such as brute force attempts and port scans, at the endpoint level.
- Ransomware mitigation: Multi-layered approach to protect against ransomware, including behavioral monitoring and file protection features that prevent unauthorized encryption.
Bitdefender pricing
- Not disclosed.
The Basics of Vulnerability Management
3. McAfee Antivirus
McAfee Antivirus is an American computer security software firm that provides IT security apps for organizations and individuals.
McAfee key features
- Global Threat Intelligence (GTI): Leverages an extensive global network to provide real-time threat intelligence and predictive analytics.
- McAfee Active Response (MAR): Advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities that enable detailed forensics and automated incident response.
- McAfee Endpoint Security (ENS): Integrates multiple security technologies into a single agent, reducing complexity and improving performance.
- Machine Learning and AI: Employs advanced machine learning algorithms to proactively detect and block sophisticated threats.
McAfee pricing
- Plans start at $119.99/year.
McAfee disadvantages
- Performance impact on devices: McAfee's real-time scanning and background processes can slow down system performance, especially during full system scans.
- Time-consuming scans: A full system scan with McAfee can take over an hour, which is longer than many competing antivirus products.
- Subscription costs: After the initial free trial, McAfee requires a paid subscription that some users find expensive, especially if covering multiple devices.
- User interface complexity: The abundance of features and settings in McAfee can make the user interface complex and overwhelming for some users.
- Limited anti-theft features: Compared to some competitors, McAfee lacks advanced anti-theft capabilities like remote device tracking or data wiping.
Defining Your IT Network Security Perimeter
4. Avira
Avira is a German antivirus provider that has been bought by the American software company NortonLifeLock, owners of Norton, Avast, and AVG.
Avira key features
- Powerful cloud-based antivirus scanner: Avira’s malware detection engine is highly effective, blocking 100% of malware samples in testing. It uses advanced techniques like machine learning and heuristics.
- Comprehensive security features: Beyond just antivirus, Avira includes a firewall, VPN, password manager, performance optimization tools, and more in its security suite.
- Excellent free version: Avira’s free plan offers real-time protection, ransomware protection, a password manager, and other features that are rare for a free antivirus. However, it's important to be cautious with free antivirus software as some may pose risks such as falsely identifying malware or even containing malware themselves.
- Low system impact: Avira is lightweight and has a minimal performance impact on user devices, especially with its cloud-based scanning.
- Variety of scan options: Avira provides multiple scan types like quick scan, full system scan, rootkit scan, and more to give users flexibility.
Avira pricing
- Pricing plans start at 104,99/year.
Avira disadvantages
- VPN limitations: The free VPN included with Avira has a 500MB monthly data limit and doesn't consistently work with popular streaming sites.
- Upsell prompts: Many of Avira's advanced features like web protection and software updater require upgrading to a paid plan, which can be intrusive.
- Separate performance tools: Avira's performance optimization tools like the PC cleaner and startup optimizer are in a separate application rather than integrated.
- Subscription costs for full functionality: While the free version is robust, accessing all of Avira's security features requires a paid subscription.
5. Intego
Intego is a French cybersecurity vendor that creates antivirus, firewalls, and anti-spam software for macOS, and it is often considered a favorite antivirus software among Mac users.
Intego key features
- NetBarrier: Robust firewall and network protection that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic, offering customized protection based on whether the user is at home, work, or on public Wi-Fi.
- Mac-specific protection, such as Mac Optimization and Mac Virus Barrier, to ensure compatibility and efficient performance.
- Real-time scanning: Continuous monitoring and real-time scanning to detect and block malware before it can cause harm.
- Ransomware protection: Specific defenses against ransomware attacks, ensuring that user data remains secure and uncompromised.
Intego pricing
- Pricing plans start at 49.99/Mac/year.
Intego disadvantages
- Limited to Mac: As an antivirus solution designed solely for Apple products, Intego is not compatible with Windows or other non-Mac operating systems.
- Pricing: Intego's pricing, while competitive, may still be considered expensive by some users at $49.99 per year for a single license.
- Potential system impact: While Intego is designed to be lightweight, the search results do not quantify its impact on system performance compared to other Mac antivirus solutions.
Software Compliance: The Ins And Outs
6. ESET
Based in Slovakia, ESET is recognized as Europe's main privately held cybersecurity company. It provides antivirus tools in more than 200 countries.
ESET key features
- LiveGrid® Reputation System: Cloud-based reputation system that leverages global threat intelligence to provide real-time threat detection and prevention.
- DNA detections: Uses advanced heuristics and behavioral analysis to detect and block unknown threats based on the genetic makeup of malware families.
- Antispyware and anti-phishing capabilities: ESET can detect and block spyware as well as phishing attempts.
- ESET Endpoint Security: Comprehensive Endpoint Management that includes antivirus, antimalware, firewall, and web control, designed to protect all endpoints within an organization. ESET's features are comparable to Kaspersky Internet Security, offering robust real-time protection, various types of scans, and additional security features.
- Advanced machine learning: Employs machine learning to continuously improve detection capabilities and adapt to new threats in real-time.
ESET pricing
- Pricing plans start at $211/year.
7. Trend Micro
Trend Micro is an American-Japanese cyber security firm that offers enterprise security software for servers, containers, and cloud computing environments, networks, and endpoints.
Trend Micro key features
- Trend Micro Apex One: Comprehensive endpoint security solution that includes antivirus, antimalware, firewall, intrusion prevention, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities.
- Behavior monitoring: Continuously monitors and analyzes endpoint activities for suspicious behavior, providing early detection and response to potential threats.
- Trend Micro Cloud One: Integrated cloud security platform that delivers automated protection for cloud-native applications and environments, including workload security, container security, and serverless security.
- Cloud app security: Protects cloud email and collaboration platforms (e.g., Office 365, G Suite) against advanced threats such as phishing, business email compromise (BEC), and account takeover (ATO) attacks.
- TippingPoint Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS): Advanced network security solution that detects and blocks vulnerabilities, exploits, and malware at the network level.
Trend Micro pricing
- Not disclosed.
Trend Micro disadvantages
- Can significantly slow down system performance, especially during full system scans.
- Lacks some features found in other security suites like a firewall, webcam protection, and backup tools.
- Limited configurability compared to other antivirus products.
- Disappointing malware detection test results from independent labs.
- Experienced a data breach in 2019 where a Trend Micro employee sold customer data for personal profit.
8. F-Secure
F-Secure is based in Finland, and offers antivirus, VPN, password management, and other cybersecurity products.
F-Secure key features
- F-Secure DeepGuard: Uses advanced behavioral analysis and artificial intelligence to detect and block both known and unknown threats in real-time, providing proactive protection against evolving malware.
- F-Secure Security Cloud: Utilizes a cloud-based approach to deliver real-time threat intelligence and updates, ensuring immediate protection against the latest threats across all devices and platforms.
- F-Secure Freedome VPN: Offers a secure and private internet connection through a VPN service that encrypts traffic, protecting user data from eavesdropping and surveillance.
- F-Secure SAFE: Includes dedicated features for ransomware protection, such as behavioral monitoring and real-time cloud updates to defend against ransomware attacks and unauthorized encryption of files.
- F-Secure Radar: Comprehensive vulnerability management solution that identifies and prioritizes security vulnerabilities across networks, endpoints, and applications, enabling proactive remediation and compliance with security standards.
F-Secure pricing
- Pricing plans start at $49.99/year.
F-Secure disadvantages
- Limited features: Compared to comprehensive security suites, F-Secure's standalone antivirus lacks additional features like a firewall, parental controls, and a file shredder.
- Inconsistent phishing protection: The search results indicate F-Secure browsing protection did not reliably block all phishing websites in testing.
- Quick scans may miss threats: Some users report that the quick scan option in F-Secure may not catch all potential threats, requiring more thorough full system scans.
- Pricing and payment options: F-Secure is considered a bit pricey by some users, and it does not offer monthly payment plans, only annual subscriptions.
- Lack of 24/7 support: F-Secure does not provide 24/7 live chat or phone support, which some users may prefer for immediate assistance.
The IT Compliance Management Process: Steps, Roles, And Main Tasks
9. Avast
Avast antivirus is based in Czechia and offers solutions for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
For comparison, other antivirus solutions include Kaspersky, Bitdefender, CrowdStrike, ESET, Trellix, and Microsoft Defender.
Avast key features
- Advanced Threat Detection: Automatically sends suspicious files to the Avast Threat Labs for analysis in a virtual environment, ensuring rapid detection and protection against emerging threats.
- Network Security Scanner: Scans networks for vulnerabilities, identifying potential security risks such as weak passwords or outdated firmware on connected devices, and provides recommendations for improvement.
- Behavior-Based Detection: Monitors the behavior of applications in real-time to detect and block suspicious activities indicative of malware or ransomware attacks, providing proactive protection.
- Safe Environment for Testing: Allows users to run suspicious files in a secure, isolated environment to ensure they do not pose a threat to the system before allowing them to execute.
- Intuitive Dashboard: Provides easy access to security status, scans, and additional features, making it user-friendly for both novice and advanced users.
- Avast One (formerly Avast Business): Offers centralized management for businesses to deploy, monitor, and manage Avast security solutions across endpoints from a single console.
Avast pricing
- Pricing plans start at $6.99/month (on a yearly basis)
Avast disadvantages
- Privacy concerns: Avast has faced criticism in the past for allegedly selling user data, which raises privacy concerns even after the company has shut down such operations.
- Performance impact: Some users report that Avast can have a noticeable impact on system performance, especially during full system scans.
- Lack of 24/7 support: Avast does not offer 24/7 live chat or phone support, which some users may prefer for immediate assistance.
- Confusing pricing and subscription plans: Avast's pricing structure, especially for business subscriptions, is considered complex and confusing by some users.
- False positive detections: While Avast's malware detection rates are generally good, it has been known to occasionally flag legitimate programs as threats, resulting in false positive detections.
10. Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes is an anti-malware software solution for Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS devices.
Malwarebytes key features
- Effective malware detection and removal: Malwarebytes is thorough at detecting and removing viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and other threats.
- Lightweight with minimal system impact: It runs scans quickly and has a low impact on system performance, even during full scans.
- User-friendly interface: The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for non-technical users.
- Offers a free version: The free Malwarebytes plan provides basic on-demand malware scanning without requiring payment info.
- Includes a 14-day free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee on premium plans.
Malwarebytes pricing
- Pricing plans start at $69/endpoint/year.
Malwarebytes disadvantages
- Lacks some features of comprehensive security suites: Malwarebytes does not include a firewall, parental controls, system optimization tools, etc.
- No centralized reporting: It only reports malware detections locally on the device, not to a central admin console.
- Updates can be intrusive: Malwarebytes may display pop-up messages prompting users to upgrade to the paid version after updates.
- Pricing: While affordable, Malwarebytes is more expensive than some other basic antivirus solutions.
- Limited features on macOS: The macOS version of Malwarebytes has fewer security features compared to the Windows version.
Why was Kaspersky banned in the US by the Russian government?
Kaspersky Lab, the Russian cybersecurity company, faced a recent ban in the US primarily due to concerns about its alleged ties to the Russian government and potential risks to US national security.
Starting on September 29, 2024, the firm can no longer sell or update its products within the United States territory, which prompted US-based businesses to search for antivirus alternatives to stay in compliance.
Kaspersky Ban in The US: Compliance Risks And Required Actions
How to replace Kaspersky antivirus in organizations?
The easiest way to remove Kaspersky antivirus software from your IT infrastructure is to use IT Asset Management software.
With InvGate Asset Management, you can easily run a script to deploy the antivirus removal and replacement, so that you don't have to do it manually in all your computer inventory.
To sum up
There's no single best Kaspersky alternative; the ideal option depends on your business needs and regulations. But since the US ban on this particular vendor will become effective on September 29, 2024, it’s best that you start doing your research to not be caught off guard.
We hope this comprehensive guide helped you make the right decision. And remember that if you are ready to replace Kaspersky for another app, InvGate Asset Management can help you do it in just a couple of clicks. Request our 30-day free trial and see it for yourself!
