Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
AV-TEST’s 2026 Windows endurance test produced six tied maximum scores, not one overall winner: Avast, AVG, K7 Computing, Kaspersky, McAfee and Norton each earned 105/105. The result reflects three rounds of mixed ransomware and infostealer scenarios—not ransomware alone, every Windows PC or a guarantee of protection. The useful choice depends on how much of the test a product completed, how it handled attacks, and whether its protection suits your devices and daily use.
Which products scored highest in AV-TEST’s 2026 Windows test?
AV-TEST tested 24 consumer security products in its Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) endurance series from January through June 2026. The series used Windows attack scenarios involving both ransomware and infostealers. Among the results reported here, six products completed all three rounds and reached the maximum score.
| Product | AV-TEST score | Test exposure and reported outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Avast | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| AVG | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| K7 Computing | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| Kaspersky | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| McAfee | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| Norton | 105/105 | Completed all three rounds; correctly identified 30 attackers in the tested scenarios. |
| Bitdefender | 100/105 | Completed the three-round series and detected the attackers in all 30 scenarios, but did not stop every attack. |
| ESET | 93.5/105 | Completed the three-round series and detected 29 of 30 attackers. |
| Avira | 63/70 | Completed two rounds, detected and fended off 18 of 20 attackers. |
| Microsoft | 35/35 | Reported for one test round, a shorter exposure than the three-round results above. |
| Trend Micro | 28/35 | Reported for one test round, a shorter exposure than the three-round results above. |
These are the specific results reported by AV-TEST; they are not a complete score list for all 24 products. The scores also should not be read as a universal product ranking. In particular, a 35-point or 70-point series is shorter than a 105-point series, so its total does not represent the same number of tested rounds.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What does an AV-TEST score say about ransomware protection?
Detection is not the same as prevention. In AV-TEST’s scoring, successfully defending against a ransomware attack earns three points, while defeating an infostealer attack earns four. Slow or partial prevention can lose points. A product may therefore recognize an attacker yet fail to stop every action it takes. Bitdefender’s 2026 result illustrates that distinction: it detected attackers in all 30 scenarios but did not stop every attack.
#1 Best Overall
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 3 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qw3FS3qLL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 3 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
The maximum scores show how products performed in the lab’s defined Windows scenarios during the stated test period. They do not establish how a product will behave against every new threat, on another operating system, or on a particular household’s devices. AV-Comparatives likewise cautions that there is no single perfect security program for every user.
How do AV-Comparatives results add context?
AV-Comparatives tests different aspects of protection, so its results complement rather than replace AV-TEST’s ATP endurance scores. Its consumer Real-World Protection Tests assess security suites under default settings, including on-execution protection features. That is useful context for everyday use, but it is not the same as a targeted attack-chain endurance test.
Rank #2
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
In its 2025 annual report, AV-Comparatives based awards on several test types: Real-World Protection, Performance, Malware Protection, False-Alarm and Advanced Threat Protection. Bitdefender, ESET, Kaspersky and Norton were among the products receiving Top-Rated status. Those 2025 awards are historical, multi-test context; they are not a substitute for product-specific 2026 results or a ransomware-only ranking.
AV-Comparatives’ February–May 2026 report also explains why small differences in real-world results need care: dynamic test conditions limit exact repeatability, cloud-service availability can affect outcomes, and false positives and sample volume matter. Products within a result cluster may be considered equally effective when their false-positive rate is below the industry average.
Rank #3
![Norton 360 Deluxe 2027 Antivirus, 5 Devices, Auto-Renews [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41IYV5zGyCL._SL160_.jpg)
- ONGOING PROTECTION Download instantly & install protection for 5 PCs, Macs, iOS or Android devices in minutes!
- TOP-PERFORMING VPN Faster speeds, more server locations, and greater connection control to protect your privacy across all your devices, including Smart TVs.
- ADVANCED SCAM PROTECTION Help spot hidden scams online. With the built-in Genie AI assistant, you’ll never wonder if a message or email is suspicious again.
- REAL-TIME PROTECTION Advanced security protects against existing and emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses, and it won’t slow down your device performance.
- DARK WEB MONITORING Identity thieves can buy or sell your information on websites and forums. We search the dark web and notify you should your information be found.
How should you choose protection for your household?
- Match the evidence to your devices. The AV-TEST results above concern consumer protection on Windows; they do not establish equivalent results for macOS, mobile devices or other platforms.
- Look beyond whether a threat was detected. Check whether the test reports full prevention, partial prevention or detection alone, and how many rounds the product completed.
- Consider false positives and usability. Security that blocks legitimate files or routine work can create daily friction. Performance, false alarms and protection results answer different questions.
- Check household fit. Before choosing a suite, confirm its currently supported operating systems, device limits, setup options and controls. Decide whether extra suite features are useful or simply add complexity.
- Treat recommendations as judgments, not test results. Security.org’s 2026 guide recommends Norton 360 and describes cloud backup as a recovery feature. That recommendation does not turn the AV-TEST score into proof that Norton is best for every household.
What is the best free ransomware protection?
For a Windows user, the built-in Windows security features are a sensible starting point before paying for a separate suite. Security.org’s 2026 guide says Controlled Folder Access is included in Windows 10 and 11, but feature availability and settings can change; check current Windows documentation and the controls on your own PC before relying on it. The available test findings do not establish a single best free product.
Also distinguish real-time or behavioral protection from an on-demand scan. A scan can find malicious software already present, while real-time and behavioral defenses are intended to identify or block suspicious activity as it happens. Neither approach guarantees that every attack will be prevented.
Rank #4
- THREAT DETECTION – Stay one step ahead. Suspicious links, risky sites, viruses, and scams, caught automatically before they reach you.
- PERSONAL INFO PROTECTION – Keep your personal info safer. Identity monitoring watches for your exposed info and tells you what to do about it.
- SECURE CONNECTIONS – Just a few easy clicks, and we'll automatically protect your info on public Wi‑Fi, every time you connect.
- GUIDED ACTION – Know what matters and what to do next. Clear alerts and simple guidance make it easy to take action.
- MORE THAN ANTIVIRUS – Scam protection, identity monitoring, VPN, web protection, and antivirus work together to protect you, all in one place.
What happens if ransomware encrypts your files?
Prevention and recovery are separate needs. Antivirus may remove malicious software without decrypting files that were already encrypted. A clean backup is one possible way to restore them, so maintain a backup that ransomware cannot alter along with the files on your everyday device, and know how you would restore it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Malwarebytes Standard, Premium Security| Amazon Exclusive | 18 Months, 2 Devices | Windows, Mac OS, Android, Apple iOS, Chrome [Online Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41LbYnawq9L._SL160_.jpg)
- AWARD WINNING Antivirus, anti-malware, anti-spyware & more
- 24/7 REAL TIME PROTECTION against emerging malware threats, including ransomware and viruses- without slowing you down.
- PROTECTS YOUR DEVICES ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Get cyber protection for your computers, smartphones, or tablets- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
- DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INSTANTLY
- UNMATCHED THREAT DETECTION: We found malware on 40 percent of devices that already had a third-party antivirus installed.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
