Comparison of antivirus software
Legend
The term "On-demand scan" refers to the possibility of performing a manual scan (by the user) on the entire computer/device, while "on-access scan" refers to the ability of a product to automatically scan every file at its creation or subsequent modification.
The term "CloudAV" refers to the ability of a product to automatically perform scans on the cloud.
The term "Email security" refers to the protection of email from viruses and malware, while "Antispam" refers to the protection from spam, scam and phishing attacks.
The term "Web protection" usually includes protection from: infected and malicious URLs, phishing websites, online identity (privacy) protection and online banking protection. Many antivirus products use "third-party antivirus engine". This means that the antivirus engine is made by another producer; however, the malware signature and/or other parts of the product may (or may not) be done from the owner of the product itself.
Microsoft Windows
Company |
Software |
On-demand |
On-access |
Boot-time |
Heuristics |
CloudAV |
Firewall |
IDS |
IPS |
Sandbox |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Macro protection |
Live |
Support |
Settings import/ |
Installer/ updater MIMA safe |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Original Author/s |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avast (Gen Digital) |
Avast Free Antivirus |
(basic) |
1988 |
Czech Republic |
Pavel Baudiš and Eduard Kučera |
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Avast (Gen Digital) |
Avast Premium Security |
1997 |
Czech Republic |
Pavel Baudiš and Eduard Kučera |
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AVG Technologies (Gen Digital) |
AVG Antivirus Free |
1992 |
Czech Republic |
Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer |
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AVG Technologies (Gen Digital) |
AVG Antivirus |
2006 |
Czech Republic |
Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer |
||||||||||||||||||||
AVG Technologies (Gen Digital) |
AVG Internet Security |
2008 |
Czech Republic |
Jan Gritzbach and Tomáš Hofer |
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Avira (Gen Digital) |
Avira Free Security |
1988 |
Germany |
Tjark Auerbach |
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Avira (Gen Digital) |
Avira Internet Security |
2002 |
Germany |
Tjark Auerbach |
||||||||||||||||||||
Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Antivirus Free |
2013 |
Romania |
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Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus |
1996 |
Romania |
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Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Internet Security |
2008 |
Romania |
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Check Point |
ZoneAlarm PRO Antivirus + Firewall |
2002 |
Israel |
Third-party antivirus engine (Kaspersky) |
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Check Point |
ZoneAlarm Extreme Security |
2002 |
United States |
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Cisco (originally Immunet) |
Immunet |
2010 |
United States |
Third-party antivirus engine (ClamAV) |
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Cisco Systems, Inc |
Clam Antivirus |
2002 |
United States of America |
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ClamWin |
ClamWin Free Antivirus |
(with Winpooch or Clam Sentinel) |
(with Clam Sentinel) |
2002 |
Australia |
Third-party antivirus engine (ClamAV) |
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Comodo Group |
Comodo Internet Security |
* |
* |
2010 |
United States |
| |
*Protection via containment of untrusted executable code. |
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Dr.Web |
Dr.Web Anti-virus |
* |
1992 |
Russia |
Igor Danilov |
*macOS/Linux feature only |
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Dr.Web |
Dr.Web Security Space |
2006 |
Russia |
Igor Danilov |
||||||||||||||||||||
Emsisoft |
Emsisoft Anti-Malware |
2003 |
New Zealand |
Christian Mairoll |
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ESET |
ESET NOD32 Antivirus |
1987 |
Slovakia |
Peter Paško and Miroslav Trnka |
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ESET |
ESET Smart Security |
2007 |
Slovakia |
Peter Paško and Miroslav Trnka |
||||||||||||||||||||
F-Secure |
F-Secure Antivirus |
1991 |
Finland |
Petri Allas and Risto Siilasmaa |
Third-party antivirus engine (Avira) |
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F-Secure |
F-Secure SAFE |
2004 |
Finland |
Petri Allas and Risto Siilasmaa |
Third-party antivirus engine (Avira) |
|||||||||||||||||||
FRISK Software |
F-PROT Antivirus |
1989 |
Iceland |
Friðrik Skúlason (second engine also with Dr. Vesselin Bontchev) |
EOL 2021 |
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Fortinet |
FortiClient |
2004 |
United States |
|||||||||||||||||||||
G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA AntiVirus |
1987 |
Germany |
Andreas Lüning and Kai Figge |
Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
|||||||||||||||||||
G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA Internet Security |
2004 |
Germany |
Andreas Lüning and Kai Figge |
Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
|||||||||||||||||||
G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA Total Security |
2004 |
Germany |
Andreas Lüning and Kai Figge |
Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
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Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Anti-Virus |
1997 |
Russia |
Eugene Kaspersky and Natalia Kaspersky |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
|||||||||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Internet Security |
2007 |
Russia |
Eugene Kaspersky and Natalia Kaspersky |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
|||||||||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Total Security |
1997 |
Russia |
Eugene Kaspersky and Natalia Kaspersky |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
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Malwarebytes |
Malwarebytes |
2008 |
United States |
Marcin Kleczynski and Bruce Harrison |
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McAfee |
McAfee Antivirus |
1987 |
United States |
John McAfee |
John McAfee "uninstall video" scandal |
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McAfee |
McAfee Internet Security |
2006 |
United States |
John McAfee |
John McAfee "uninstall video" scandal |
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Microsoft |
Windows Defender |
using Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security |
2012 |
United States |
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NANO Security Ltd |
NANO Antivirus |
2009 |
Russia |
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Gen Digital |
Norton Internet Security |
2000 |
United States |
Whitelists FBI backdoor scandal |
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Gen Digital(originally PC Tools) |
Spyware Doctor with AntiVirus |
2003 |
United States |
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Panda Security |
Panda Antivirus Pro |
1990 |
Spain |
Mikel Urizarbarrena |
||||||||||||||||||||
Panda Security |
Panda Internet Security |
2002 |
Spain |
Mikel Urizarbarrena |
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Panda Security |
Panda Free Antivirus |
2009 |
Spain |
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Qihoo 360 |
360 Total Security |
2006 |
China |
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Sophos |
Sophos Anti-Virus |
1988 |
United Kingdom |
Jan Hruska and Peter Lammer |
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Sophos |
Sophos EndUser Protection |
2000 |
United Kingdom |
Jan Hruska and Peter Lammer |
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Trend Micro |
Titanium Antivirus Plus |
1990 |
Japan |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Trend Micro |
Titanium Internet Security |
2008 |
Japan |
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VirusBlokAda |
Vba32 AntiVirus |
2010 |
Belarus |
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Webroot |
SecureAnywhere |
2010 |
United States |
Apple macOS
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Heuristics |
CloudAV |
Firewall |
IDS |
IPS |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Live-update |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avast (Gen Digital) |
Avast Mac Security |
2012 |
Czech Republic |
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Avira Operations (Gen Digital) |
Avira Free Mac Security |
2011 |
Germany |
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Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac |
2011 |
Romania |
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Cisco |
Clam AntiVirus |
2000 |
United States |
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Clario Tech |
MacKeeper |
2010 |
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Comodo Group |
Comodo Mac Security |
2012 |
United States |
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Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Anti-virus for Mac OS X |
2012 |
Russia |
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ESET |
ESET Cyber Security |
2011 |
Slovakia |
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ESET |
ESET Cyber Security Pro |
2013 |
Slovakia |
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F-Secure |
F-Secure Anti-Virus for Mac |
2008 |
Finland |
Third-party antivirus engine (Bitdefender + F-PROT) |
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G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA AntiVirus |
1987 |
Germany |
|Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
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G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA Internet Security |
2004 |
Germany |
Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
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G Data CyberDefense |
G DATA Total Security |
2004 |
Germany |
Third-party antivirus engine (G Data + Bitdefender) |
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Intego |
VirusBarrier |
1997 |
United States |
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Intego |
Mac Internet Security |
2000 |
United States |
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Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Internet Security |
2010 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
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Quick Heal |
Quick Heal Total Security for Mac |
1995 |
India |
Jayanta |
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Malwarebytes |
Malwarebytes for Mac |
2006 |
United States |
4 vulnerabilities found by Project Zero in 2016 |
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Panda Security |
Panda Antivirus for Mac |
2008 |
Spain |
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Sophos |
Sophos Anti-Virus for Mac |
2010 |
United Kingdom |
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Gen Digital |
Symantec Endpoint Protection |
2012 |
United States |
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Gen Digital |
Norton Security Standard for Mac |
2012 |
United States |
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Trend Micro |
Titanium Internet Security for Mac |
2011 |
Japan |
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Webroot |
SecureAnywhere AntiVirus |
(only in Apple Safari) |
2012 |
United States |
||||||||||||||
Webroot |
SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus and Complete |
(only in Apple Safari) |
2012 |
United States |
Linux
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Heuristics |
CloudAV |
Firewall |
IDS |
IPS |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Live-update |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AVG Technologies (Gen Digital) |
AVG Linux Server Edition |
2008 |
Czech Republic |
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Cisco |
Clam AntiVirus |
1998 |
United States |
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Comodo Group |
Comodo Internet Security Linux |
2008 |
United States |
Very difficult to install, needing extensive system hacks/edits. |
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Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Anti-virus for Linux |
1992 |
Russia |
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ESET |
ESET File Security for Linux |
2008 |
Slovakia |
EOL March 16 2023 |
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ESET |
ESET Endpoint Antivirus for Linux |
2020 |
Slovakia |
Currently in 'Limited Support' doesn't have all functions available via GUI interface. EOL March 16 2023 |
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ESET |
ESET NOD32 Antivirus |
2003 |
Slovakia |
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FRISK Software |
F-PROT Antivirus |
1989 |
Iceland |
EOL 2021 |
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F-Secure |
F-Secure Linux Security |
2008 |
Finland |
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Fortinet |
Forticlient |
2009 |
United States |
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align/ref> =left|Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux |
2012 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the USG |
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Panda Security |
Panda DesktopSecure for Linux |
2008 |
Spain |
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Sophos |
Sophos Anti-Virus for Linux |
2008 |
United Kingdom |
Not for home users, only provide paid business version via resellers. |
Solaris
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Live-update |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cisco |
Clam AntiVirus |
1998 |
United States |
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FRISK Software International |
F-PROT Antivirus |
1989 |
Iceland |
EOL 2021 |
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Panda Security |
Panda DesktopSecure for Linux |
2009 |
Spain |
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Sophos |
Sophos AntiVirus for Unix |
UK |
Central management |
FreeBSD
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Live-update |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cisco |
Clam AntiVirus |
1998 |
United States |
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FRISK Software International |
F-PROT Antivirus |
1989 |
Iceland |
EOL 2021 |
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Panda Security |
Panda DesktopSecure for Linux |
2009 |
Spain |
OS/2, ArcaOS
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Email security |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Live-update |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cisco |
Clam AntiVirus/ClamAV-GUI |
1998 |
United States |
Google Android
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Privacy advisor |
Antitheft |
Call/SMS filtering |
Backup |
Parental control |
Support |
AV |
AV |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avast (Gen Digital) |
Avast Mobile Security |
2011 |
Czech Republic |
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Avast (Gen Digital) |
Avast Premier Mobile Security |
2013 |
Czech Republic |
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AVG Technologies (Gen Digital) |
AVG AntiVirus FREE for Android |
2010 |
Czech Republic |
||||||||||||||||
Avira Operations (Gen Digital) |
Avira Free Android Security |
2004 |
Germany |
||||||||||||||||
Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Mobile Security |
2011 |
Romania and United States |
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Cheetah Mobile |
Security Master |
2012 |
China |
Former CM Security, Purged from Google Play Store |
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Comodo Group |
Comodo Mobile Security |
2012 |
United States |
||||||||||||||||
Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite |
2010 |
Russia |
||||||||||||||||
ESET |
ESET Mobile Security |
2011 |
Slovakia |
||||||||||||||||
F-Secure |
F-Secure Mobile Security |
2010 |
Finland |
||||||||||||||||
G Data CyberDefense |
G Data Mobile Security |
2012 |
Germany |
||||||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Mobile Security |
2011 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
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McAfee |
McAfee Mobile Security |
2011 |
United States |
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Sophos |
EndUser Protection |
2011 |
United Kingdom |
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Sourcefire |
FireAMP Mobile |
2012 |
United States |
||||||||||||||||
Gen Digital |
Norton Mobile Security |
2011 |
United States |
||||||||||||||||
Trend Micro |
Trend Micro Mobile Security |
2012 |
Japan |
||||||||||||||||
Webroot |
SecureAnywhere Mobile |
2012 |
United States |
iOS
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Antitheft |
Call/SMS filtering |
Backup |
Parental control |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G Data CyberDefense |
G Data Mobile Security |
Germany |
||||||||||||||
Intego |
VirusBarrier iOS |
1997 |
United States |
Discontinued |
||||||||||||
Gen Digital |
Norton Mobile Security |
2011 |
United States |
|||||||||||||
Bitdefender |
Bitdefender Mobile Security |
2018 |
Romania |
|||||||||||||
Seqrite |
mSuite MDM |
1994 |
India |
Windows Mobile
This list excludes Windows Phone 7 and Windows Phone 8 as they do not support running protection programs.
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Antitheft |
Call/SMS filtering |
Backup |
Parental control |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite |
2006 |
Russia |
|||||||||||||
ESET |
ESET Mobile Security |
2010 |
Slovakia |
|||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Mobile Security |
2008 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
||||||||||||
Seqrite |
mSuite MDM |
1994 |
India |
|||||||||||||
Symbian
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Antitheft |
Call/SMS filtering |
Backup |
Parental control |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite |
2006 |
Russia |
|||||||||||||
ESET |
ESET Mobile Security |
2010 |
Slovakia |
|||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Mobile Security |
2008 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
BlackBerry
Company |
Software |
On-demand scan |
On-access scan |
Firewall |
Antispam |
Web protection |
Antitheft |
Call/SMS filtering |
Backup |
Parental control |
Support |
License |
Price |
First release |
Country of origin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Web |
Dr. Web Mobile Security Suite |
2015 |
Russia |
|||||||||||||
Kaspersky Lab |
Kaspersky Mobile Security |
2008 |
Russia |
Banned in U.S. government departments by the DHS |
||||||||||||
McAfee |
McAfee Mobile Security |
2011 |
United States |
See also
- Antivirus software
- International Computer Security Association
- Internet security
- Virus Bulletin