Kaspersky Antivirus Review
Kaspersky is known for its impressive ability to catch malware, but is that all that matters when choosing antivirus software? Find out if Kaspersky is the right brand for you.
What We Like
- Best performing virus scans on the market: Kaspersky detected all five malware we hid in our computer, a feat that only one other antivirus software achieved.
- Greater level of control over the timing and details of scans: Scans were fully customizable and could be initiated at the times we were least busy on our computers.
- Affordable pricing: With a free option and premium subscriptions starting at around $3 per month, Kaspersky is affordable.
What We Don't Like
- Risk of data exposure to foreign governments: Kaspersky is facing allegations from the U.S. government regarding its ties with Russia.
- Contracts start at a year long: There are no monthly subscription options. All subscriptions are one-, two-, or three-year long.
Bottom Line
Throughout several tests, Kaspersky consistently impressed us with its ability to detect malware. Whether through manual scans or real-time scans happening in the background, Kaspersky detected all the malware we hid in our computer, making it one of the best products at isolating and getting rid of even the newest types of threats.
Developing Story: In June 2024, The Bureau of Industry and Security announced a total ban of Kaspersky antivirus software in the U.S., which started to take effect on July 20. In response, Kaspersky announced that it will wind down its U.S. operations. That will end Kaspersky’s 20 years of operation in the U.S., which started in 2004. Because the ban also affects software updates – meaning, malware databases of U.S. users will no longer be updated – we recommend looking for a different option for anyone in the U.S. See our list of the best Kaspersky alternatives.
Choosing antivirus software isn’t hard when all you need to do is compare prices, features, and software performance. But things are different when it comes to Kaspersky – a Moscow-based cybersecurity giant – because there are geo-political factors involved.
The U.S. government has effectively banned the sale and licensing of Kaspersky software in the country as of July 20, 2024. And since our team of cybersecurity experts are based in the U.S., we can no longer test Kaspersky ourselves. On top of that, Kaspersky has announced that it will gradually shutter its U.S. operations.
Fortunately, we’ve had the chance to test out Kaspersky one last time before the ban took effect. So if you live outside the U.S. and are looking into getting Kaspersky for your malware protection needs, here’s what we think about the antivirus software and the controversy surrounding it.
Kaspersky Antivirus Features
Malware scans | Yes |
---|---|
On-demand scans | Yes |
On-access scans | Yes |
Scan options | Quick, full, and selective |
Quick scan duration | Around 7 minutes |
Overall Rating
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Coverage for up to five devices
- Free antivirus software available for Windows, Android and iOS devices
Can You Trust Kaspersky?
Before we dive into the software itself, let’s talk about the company that made it: Kaspersky Labs. Eugene Kaspersky – a Russian cybersecurity expert – along with two others, started developing the AntiVirus Toolkit Pro (AVP) software in 1989. After eight years, they founded Kaspersky Lab and later renamed the AVP software to Kaspersky. Even then, the software was hailed for its innovative features. For example, it was the first software to quarantine malware – an antivirus feature that has become widely-used since.
Its roots in Russia, however, contributed to the controversies surrounding Kaspersky. Here’s a timeline of what happened that led to the Kaspersky U.S. ban.
- 2012: Rumors about Kaspersky’s alleged ties with the Russian government started spreading when Bloomberg pointed out a pattern of new hires with connections to the Russian military establishment.1
- 2017: During the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned the use of Kaspersky software by all federal departments, alleging that Kaspersky worked with Russia’s Federal Security Server on secret projects.2
- 2017: In the same year, the NSA alleged that Kaspersky helped Russia hack into an NSA contractor’s laptop in 2015.3
- 2022: When Russia’s war against Ukraine escalated, several government agencies around the world put out warnings urging the public to stop using Kaspersky software due to its alleged ties with Russia. Among those agencies was The German Federal Office for Information Security, known as BSI.
- 2023: More governments announced bans on Kaspersky, including Canada where the use of Kaspersky software on government-issued phones and computers is no longer allowed.
- 2024: Reports started coming out in April that Kaspersky could face a blanket ban in the U.S. It was later confirmed by the Commerce Department in June, and it took effect on July 20. By September 2024, all U.S. users will no longer receive crucial software updates, including malware database updates.
- 2024: Following the ban, Kaspersky has announced that it will gradually shutter its U.S. office, ending its 20-year operation in the country.
Despite everything that has happened, Kaspersky maintains that it’s a private company with no secret ties with Russia. In fact, it moved its core infrastructure from Moscow to Switzerland in 2018, shortly after the allegations came out. This move was finished in 2022.
Kaspersky recently responded to the U.S. ban by saying that the company “has implemented significant transparency measures that are unmatched by any of its cybersecurity industry peers to demonstrate its enduring commitment to integrity and trustworthiness.” It also stated that “the Department of Commerce’s decision [to ban Kaspersky] unfairly ignores the evidence.”
Our Stance on Kaspersky: Good Software, Controversial Company
While Kaspersky Lab as a company is controversial, it has good software. And even if the allegations are true, they’re more likely to impact companies, businesses, and high-profile executives and officials than average individuals. Still, the ban makes Kaspersky a bad choice for U.S. users, as it will leave them unprotected from the latest malware threats. Additionally, there are options that better suit our security standards than Kaspersky. Our top choices emphasize a balance of reliable threat detection and minimal system impact. Kaspersky is good, but by our standards and based on our tests, these options are better:
What Malware Did Kaspersky Find?
Setting aside those allegations and concerns, the Kaspersky antivirus software itself has a strong reputation for being reliable at detecting potential threats. After all, with all the allegations about the company, Kaspersky wouldn’t have lasted as long as it has if it’s not good at doing its job.
Filled with curiosity, we signed up for a Kaspersky subscription to test exactly what makes Kaspersky a popular choice one last time. And just to clarify, we performed these tests in June 2024, a month before the ban was set to take place. We wanted to see for ourselves if Kaspersky is still a great antivirus option – at least for non-U.S. users – focusing on areas important to users such as ease of use, privacy, cost, customer support, and threat detection ability.
Right off the bat, we learned that Kaspersky protects against a wide range of threat types. Primarily, it detects and removes malware including viruses, spyware, adware, ransomware, keyloggers, remote access trojans, and zero-day attacks.
Kaspersky also has a Web Anti-Virus feature that monitors web traffic to stop attempts to visit phishing websites or download malicious files. In 2021, this feature alone blocked nearly 65 million unique malicious objects from entering devices.4 As cool as that sounds, though, that feature is not exactly unique to Kaspersky or antivirus software in general. We also see it from VPNs, particularly the top VPN options like NordVPN and Surfshark. It’s definitely a nice feature to have, but don’t let it be the main reason you’ll choose Kaspersky.
FYI: Throughout the years, the cyberworld has seen some truly devastating malware and viruses. In an effort to prevent the next big malware from proliferating, Kaspersky is one of the cybersecurity brands that constantly researches digital threats as they emerge and evolve.
Our primary focus is Kaspersky’s ability to detect malware and threats existing on local devices. So we purchased the cheapest subscription available, which was Kaspersky AntiVirus a.k.a. Kaspersky Standard. This software doesn’t offer a firewall, parental controls, or password storage, but it does include the Web Anti-Virus feature mentioned above.
Should you wish to bundle add-on software and tools, we recommend either the Kaspersky Plus and Premium plans, both of which offer all-in-one digital security through a host of other Kaspersky tools and services.
Testing Kaspersky for Viruses
We installed Kaspersky first on a Windows desktop. The setup was a breeze. It took about three minutes to download all the resources needed, but it was all automatic. We started the install wizard, got up to get a cup of coffee, and it was done by the time we got back to our chairs.
Once installed, we cleared our desktop and started the first scan. This took about 18 minutes, which is normal for a first scan. It was actually quite fast, given that we had to wait overnight for the first scan to finish when we tested McAfee.
Kaspersky’s first scan didn’t turn up anything. It gave us the all clear, so to test Kaspersky’s real capabilities, we loaded our test computer with five of the sneakiest pieces of malware we could get our hands on. One is even hiding within a .zip archive file, and it’s the toughest one to detect. Only about 30-percent of the 40 antivirus software we tested detected it.
So how did Kaspersky do? It detected all five malware. You’d think that’s normal, but in our testing, most good software detects only three of five. Some even detected just one. Kaspersky’s 100-percent detection rate is rare; only one other software we tested achieved that feat. That one was Bitdefender. You can read about our virus detection test in our in-depth review of Bitdefender.
Third-Party Tests Corroborate Our Results
Five viruses is a pretty small sample size, we must admit. Fortunately, we’re not the only ones who test antivirus software. AV-Test, an institution that tests antivirus software in controlled environments, tested Kaspersky most recently in October 2023. Their results corroborated ours.
AV-Test gave Kaspersky a 100-percent score when it comes to both detecting zero-day malware attacks and detecting widespread and prevalent malware discovered within four weeks before the test. AV-Test tested it both on Android and Windows.
Those results show that Kaspersky is really great at detecting malware. And unlike our test with a small sample size of five malware, AV-Test used nearly 20,000 samples.
Purchasing and Installing Kaspersky
To us, the best antivirus software doesn’t just detect malware well; it also provides a good user-experience. That also includes a seamless buying and set up process, so let’s backtrack a little and talk about our experience purchasing and installing Kaspersky’s software.
In our experience, buying Kaspersky is straightforward. Its website lists a number of options both for personal and business use. For the former, three options are available: Kaspersky Standard, Plus, and Premium. Unsurprisingly, the most expensive option is what Kaspersky recommends, but we suggest taking a look at each option to see what works best for you and your budget.
For us, the Kaspersky Standard plan offered everything we needed to test the antivirus software. It didn’t have any of the extras like a VPN and identity protection, but the antivirus software that comes with it is full-featured. It can perform scans, offers real-time protection, and even has performance optimization for desktops (Windows and macOS) and smartphones (Android and iOS).
We paid $29.99 for an entire year of access, which averages out to just over $1 per month. That’s a great price if you’re just testing the waters. Better still, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee; if Kaspersky doesn’t turn out to be as good as expected, you can cancel within 30 days and request a refund.
Once we purchased the license, the download went right through and took under a minute, even on our laggy computer. Unlike some other tiered-price software, we were glad to see that Kaspersky did not immediately try to upsell us. Best of all, there wasn’t a pop-up in sight.
Our Experience Using Kaspersky Anti-Virus
Kaspersky Anti-Virus has a simple, clean interface focused mainly on its primary job of checking for viruses. It’s broken into four main sections: scan, database update, reports, and on-screen keyboard, and it also has links to settings and additional tools. We’ll run through them from the most simple to the most complicated.
On-Screen Keyboard
The on-screen keyboard feature may seem trivial — unnecessary even. But to those familiar with the keylogger method of hacking, this is a nice addition.
Hackers use programs that record keystrokes (a.k.a. keyloggers) to steal personal information, account passwords, and other data we type on our keyboards. It’s a sneaky way to steal data and it’s often left unnoticed.
With Kaspersky’s malware detection capability, we’re positive it would have detected keyloggers if we had any on our computer, but as an added measure, we like to use the on-screen keyboard when typing sensitive information like passwords. It’s less convenient to use than a normal keyboard, but on-screen keyboards provide extra privacy (unless someone is watching from behind you).
Reports
Just as it sounds, Kaspersky’s Reports section showed us details on the software’s scans of files, web traffic, network threats, and more. That’s also where we found data from one of Kaspersky’s more advanced features, System Watcher. While we thankfully weren’t the victims of a malware attack while testing the product, System Watcher provided us the ability to roll back the impact of a malware attack, like remote file locks.
Database Update
The Database Update section was just as straightforward. It let us know that the software was up to date with all of the latest information about threats, and was set to automatically update at regular intervals. We had the option to set it to refresh at certain times, but we thought it was best to leave the recommended auto updates in place. It’s also possible to run a manual update.
Scans
Onto the most important part! The scans section is the meat and potatoes of this software. The scan menu offered a host of features, the most prominent of which is the Quick Scan. This scan, which we ran right away, took seven minutes. It focused on the areas on our computer most susceptible to viruses and malware. If it found anything troubling, the software would run a full scan of every single piece of information on the machine.
While our quick scan didn’t find anything on our computer, we decided to run a full scan manually, even though Kaspersky noted that it “may take a while and slow down your computer.” In our experience, that’s putting it mildly—the full scan took hours (we started it in the mid-evening and were in bed before it finished) and our computer, which was already on the older and slower side, basically ground to a halt. This was definitely disappointing, though we can’t say Kaspersky didn’t warn us. Surprisingly, everything came back clean!
Our Advice: Starting full scans at night minimizes disruption from a slowed-down computer.
Other scanning options include Selective Scan, which we used to check out individual folders and files, and a removable drive scan to protect against any dangers on a USB or hard drive. We set each type of scan to run on a schedule of our choice (options included every hour, every week, or every time the application is launched). After our experience with the full scan, we appreciated that Kaspersky offers the option to set the software to only run when the computer is idle so it won’t slow down important work. We ultimately set the software to run a Quick Scan every day and a Full Scan once a month at a time when the computer wasn’t being used.
Despite the ease of changing the settings, we were surprised that the default setting on download was for manual (on-demand) for both basic and full scans. Though a warning stated that Kaspersky didn’t recommend leaving it set to manual, we wouldn’t have found that information had we not checked the settings. We found this strange. A number of other settings are enabled by default (like deletion of malicious tools and automatic launch of the software at computer startup). We did notice, however, that the “Background scan” mode, which scans sections of the computer like the system memory every six hours, was switched on by default. That’s a start, but it’s not enough for total protection. Kaspersky should probably make the scheduling settings more clear so that newer anti-virus software users don’t inadvertently leave their computers unprotected.
As a whole, we found Kaspersky Anti-Virus to be very customizable. We especially loved the fact that there is a setting called “Gamer Mode”. This mode automatically postpones scheduled scans if the computer is running an app like a game in full-screen. As avid gamers, we hate being interrupted by pop-ups or slowed down by programs running in the background, and we can report that we weren’t interrupted at all during our test period.
Tip: Click the gear icon at the bottom of the app or the icons next to each of the scan options to customize the scan schedule.
We also appreciated that the software automatically postponed its tasks when the computer was running on battery or when the disks were running at high loads, reducing slowdowns. And we were grateful that Kaspersky allowed us to easily opt out of seeing special offers or receiving advertising from the company within the app. All in all, the app provided an experience that we found straightforward and customizable, and we appreciated the simple, easy to navigate design.
Kaspersky Overall Performance
Software performance is one of the most crucial decision-making factors. You wouldn’t want to use a piece of software that takes up a large portion of your disk space or uses up lots of computing power. Most users also don’t want extended scan times, complex controls, or confusing software navigation.
While testing Kaspersky, we kept close tabs on those factors, and here are our findings. Note that we used a dated laptop in our tests, so the results may vary depending on your device’s performance.
Software startup time | 30 seconds |
Quick scan | 7 minutes |
Full scan | 20 to 60 minutes (depending on background activity) |
Scan options | Quick, full, custom, scheduled |
Impact on device performance | Medium |
Disk space required | 1.5 GB or more |
RAM requirement | At least 1 GB of free RAM space |
CPU processor requirement | At least 1 GHz (2 GHz for optimal performance) |
Runs in the background | Yes |
Scans in the background | Yes (optional) |
Malware database update | Automatic |
Malware database update frequency | At least once a day |
Kaspersky’s performance was great, overall, even on our five-year-old laptop. Full scans took only 20 to 60 minutes, as opposed to when we tested McAfee on the same laptop and had to wait five hours for just a full scan.
We also didn’t notice any significant effect on our device’s performance. We only noticed a slight slowdown when we ran a scan in the background. That’s normal for most antivirus software, especially considering our laptop’s age.
Kaspersky’s app also wasn’t annoying. You know how some antivirus software keeps reminding you to do this and that to improve your cybersecurity? Kaspersky wasn’t like that. Sure, there were pop-ups here and there offering us upgraded subscriptions or additional products, but they weren’t too distracting and they only popped up after every system boot.
Overall, Kaspersky’s performance left a positive impression on us.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus Pricing
Editor’s Note: Pricing outside the U.S. may vary. Visit your country’s Kaspersky website to see how much it will cost you. Prices provided here are just for reference.
While Kaspersky offers several different levels of protection that combine antivirus with capabilities like VPNs and child settings, here we’re focusing on the straight antivirus offering (but if you want to learn more about VPNs, read our VPN guide or our list of the best VPN options).
FYI: Kaspersky has several antivirus packages, including Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium. Kaspersky Premium, as the name implies, offers overall protection, including a GPS child-locator, which you can install on your kids’ smartphones, and a password management tool.
We paid $27.99 for one year of Kaspersky Standard (formerly Anti-Virus), which covered both our Lenovo ThinkPad and two other Windows computers. That price is a first-time customer deal, though, so we’ll be sure to keep an eye on the renewal, which costs $56.99.
Number of devices/ Duration of plan | Price |
---|---|
1 year/3 devices | $27.99 |
2 years/3 devices | $55.99 |
1 year/5 devices | $31.99 |
2 years/5 devices | $64.99 |
1 year/10 devices | $43.99 |
2 years/10 devices | $87.99 |
A Kaspersky subscription can cover as many as 10 devices, which is perfect for families. Although adults primarily need antivirus software, leaving a child’s smartphone without antivirus is one of the biggest mistakes parents make when setting up a child’s smartphone. Don’t make that mistake.
After all, Kaspersky’s pricing is on the lower end of the spectrum. Keep in mind that the subscription price you’re paying is good for one or two years, so if you do the math, the cost of protecting one device is less than a dollar per month. That and Kaspersky’s skill at detecting viruses and malware make for a good purchase.
Kaspersky is particularly cost-effective if you’re looking to protect a number of devices. One year of protection for 10 devices costs less than $50. For roughly the same price, you can get protection from Kaspersky’s rival Norton for only five devices. You’d need to pay at least $99 to get 10-device protection from Norton, although that subscription plan offers other premium benefits.
From some other brands, 10-device protection is not even available. For example, TotalAV can protect a maximum of six devices with its most advanced plan, which costs $49.99 in the first year.
It’s safe to say that Kaspersky is a cost-effective solution for households with multiple devices.
Note: Kaspersky offers a 30-day free trial of each of its security packages—no credit card required!
Kaspersky Anti-Virus Customer Support
While we didn’t have any real problems with our software, we did have some questions about how to maximize its effectiveness on our computer, so we checked out their online support page. Like many companies, Kaspersky first asked us to review their FAQs before moving further. The page also linked to a robust customer discussion section, where we found questions and answers about all sorts of viruses and problems. But we were glad to find that, unlike some products, Kaspersky did offer a way to reach an actual human being if necessary.
Kaspersky offers three options for this kind of help: online chat, support tickets, and phone support. All three are available 24/7, though Kaspersky asks that non-time-sensitive items go to a ticket and the phone is reserved for real emergencies. Since our curiosity probably didn’t meet that bar, we didn’t call—but we were glad to know it was available.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus App
While we tested Kaspersky’s Windows app for this review, it’s also available for Android and iOS devices, although they weren’t included in the Kaspersky Anti-Virus package we purchased. In the Google Play Store, it’s listed under Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus: AppLock & Web Security, alongside a shiny 4.8 customer rating. With a 4.7 rating, the iOS app can be found under the name Kaspersky Security Cloud & VPNWare on the App store. While we only tested the desktop app, those reviews are certainly a strong sign that the phone versions are also well-designed.
How Much Information Does Kaspersky Collect?
Given the concerns about Kaspersky’s ties to Russia, we were eager to see what data the app is collecting. Here’s what they collect, as revealed by their privacy policy:
- Name
- Phone number
- License information
- Product stats (length of scans, etc)
- Threats detected
- Information about installed programs
- Information about devices
- URLs visited
- Emails (all content)
- Wi-Fi data
- Operating system alerts
- Information provided to Kaspersky tech support
- Expiration date and last four digits of the credit/debit card used for purchase
- Statistical information about browser type
- Interactions with Kaspersky website
- Stolen device data
Several other items may come onto this list in certain situations; for example, the app will track location data for users who purchase a package that includes the child GPS feature. We know this seems like a lot of data, but it’s par for the course for antivirus software. Since the software needs to access all of our files and URLs to check that they’re not carrying malware, this information is a necessity. However, Kaspersky’s privacy policy does explicitly state that they do not sell user data. Note that this privacy policy refers to the desktop version we reviewed and may not be the same on Android or iOS.
Be prepared: Kaspersky Anti-Virus needs at least one RAM of memory and at least 1,500 MB of storage space on a PC.
Recap
We won’t lie; we continue to have concerns about Kaspersky’s potential ties to the Russian government. But it’s hard to argue against Kaspersky’s performance. It outdid nearly all its competitors in testing, and its ability to roll back damage from malware is certainly attractive.
Kaspersky garnered high marks in all the five main factors we tested – ability to detect malware, ease of use, customer support, cost, and privacy. It was particularly strong in detecting malware and its affordable multi-device plans were also a main selling point.
If you live outside the U.S., we still recommend Kaspersky for personal use. If you’re in the U.S. and looking for alternatives, check out our compilation of the best antivirus software, or to learn more about antivirus software in general, read our antivirus guide.
Bloomberg. (2015). The Company Securing Your Internet Has Close Ties to Russian Spies
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-19/cybersecurity-kaspersky-has-close-ties-to-russian-spiesThe Guardian. (2017). AUS government bans agencies from using Kaspersky software over spying fears.
theguardian.com/technology/2017/sep/13/us-government-bans-kaspersky-lab-russian-spyingThe Wall Street Journal. (2017). Russian Hackers Stole NSA Data on U.S. Cyber Defense.
wsj.com/articles/russian-hackers-stole-nsa-data-on-u-s-cyber-defense-1507222108Kaspersky. (2021). Kaspersky Security Bulletin 2021. Statistics.
go.kaspersky.com/rs/802-IJN-240/images/KSB_statistics_2021_eng.pdf