Note: The scanning speeds shown below are for default settings for each Internet Security program. Since the default settings for each program are quite different, the testing below doesn't necessarily indicate which Internet Security program has the fastest virus scanner. However, since most users don't alter the default settings, it's useful to see how fast each program is in default mode.

Scan speeds were found for the first/initial scan after installation (a 1.0 GB set of 3000 files was scanned - which included Windows system files, media files, and other files commonly found on a computer system). Subsequent scans are generally faster than the initial scan speeds shown below. (See our Internet Security Performance Tests where we also tested Subsequent Scan Speeds.)


Internet Security Versions Tested: Avast! Internet Security 6.0, AVG Internet Security 2011, Avira Premium Security Suite 10.0, BitDefender Internet Security 2011, eScan Internet Security Suite 11.0, ESET Smart Security 5, F-Secure Internet Security 2011, G Data Internet Security 2011, Kaspersky Internet Security 2012, McAfee Internet Security 2011, Norton Internet Security 2012, Panda Internet Security 2011, PC Tools Internet Security 2011, Trend Micro Titanium Internet Security 2011, and Webroot Internet Security Essentials 2011.

Test Computer Specifications: Toshiba Pentium Dual-Core T4200 @ 2.00GHz (64-bit), with 3 GB RAM memory and 210 GB Hard-drive running Windows 7 Home Premium. Acronis True Image is used to create a backup image and to restore from before each software installation, so each AV program runs in a similar environment.

Each program was run with its Default Settings.

Graph compiled October 11, 2011.


Other Internet Security Software Tests:

• Internet Security Performance Tests
• Internet Security Updates Per Day

*Also, see our AntiVirus Scan Speeds.