07-31-2023 , 08:24 PM
https://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-conte...g_2023.pdf Data transmission of
consumer security products
TEST PERIOD: AUGUST 2022 – JULY 2023
LAST REVISION : 31 ST JULY 2023
I N C OOPERATION WITH : PC MAGAZIN, PCGO, CONNECT-LIVING.DE, ET AL.
WWW.AV-COMPARATIVES.ORG Data transmission of consumer security products - 2023 www.av-comparatives.org
Management Summary
Many Internet users are concerned about who has access to their personal information and what is
done with it. Computer security software has legitimate grounds for sending its makers some
information about the system it’s running on; in particular, details of malware found on the machine
must be sent to the manufacturer to protect the user effectively. However, this does not mean that a
program should have carte blanche to send all personal information found on a computer to the
manufacturer (other than with the specific knowledge and agreement of the system’s owner).
This report analysed the data collection and data sharing practices of 20 market-leading consumer
Anti-Virus (AV) products. Each vendor was scored based on their data collection; data sharing;
accessibility; control of software and processes; and openness. The scoring system is meant to provide
a general overview based on qualitative evaluation and some vendors that failed to respond received
lower scores. The report aims to encourage user awareness about data-sharing practices and
transparency.
How vendors performed
The scores range from one (lowest) to five (highest). Higher scores indicate better practices. The
vendors with the highest scores are Bitdefender, ESET, F-Secure, G Data, K7, Kaspersky, and VIPRE.
Those of these achieved a score of four stars or more. The vendors with the lowest scores are
Malwarebytes, TotalAV, Total Defense, Sophos, Norton, and Microsoft. McAfee and Trend Micro received
mixed scores.
Data sending can be an important factor when deciding which security solution best matches your
needs. This report highlights the importance of user privacy, options for users to consent to the
transfer of certain personal data, the trust required between users and vendors as well as the
transparency of the vendors.
consumer security products
TEST PERIOD: AUGUST 2022 – JULY 2023
LAST REVISION : 31 ST JULY 2023
I N C OOPERATION WITH : PC MAGAZIN, PCGO, CONNECT-LIVING.DE, ET AL.
WWW.AV-COMPARATIVES.ORG Data transmission of consumer security products - 2023 www.av-comparatives.org
Management Summary
Many Internet users are concerned about who has access to their personal information and what is
done with it. Computer security software has legitimate grounds for sending its makers some
information about the system it’s running on; in particular, details of malware found on the machine
must be sent to the manufacturer to protect the user effectively. However, this does not mean that a
program should have carte blanche to send all personal information found on a computer to the
manufacturer (other than with the specific knowledge and agreement of the system’s owner).
This report analysed the data collection and data sharing practices of 20 market-leading consumer
Anti-Virus (AV) products. Each vendor was scored based on their data collection; data sharing;
accessibility; control of software and processes; and openness. The scoring system is meant to provide
a general overview based on qualitative evaluation and some vendors that failed to respond received
lower scores. The report aims to encourage user awareness about data-sharing practices and
transparency.
How vendors performed
The scores range from one (lowest) to five (highest). Higher scores indicate better practices. The
vendors with the highest scores are Bitdefender, ESET, F-Secure, G Data, K7, Kaspersky, and VIPRE.
Those of these achieved a score of four stars or more. The vendors with the lowest scores are
Malwarebytes, TotalAV, Total Defense, Sophos, Norton, and Microsoft. McAfee and Trend Micro received
mixed scores.
Data sending can be an important factor when deciding which security solution best matches your
needs. This report highlights the importance of user privacy, options for users to consent to the
transfer of certain personal data, the trust required between users and vendors as well as the
transparency of the vendors.