1 VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware

It's difficult for a relative newcomer like VIPRE to introduce a brand-new version of antivirus software into this very competitive field.

But VIPRE is no ordinary antivirus.

And Sunbelt Software, makers of VIPRE, is no ordinary company.

With this release of VIPRE, Sunbelt has managed to pack a mighty blow against viruses, spyware, and all forms of malware in one powerful punch. Not only has VIPRE Antivirus + Antispyware come out of the corner swinging, but they've done it with the grace and expertise consumers demand from antivirus software.


It's easy to install, easy to use, and is the lightest running antivirus application we've ever seen.

Really, this should come as no surprise since Sunbelt, founded in 1994, has a track record of producing award-winning programs for Windows.

With their latest antivirus release of VIPRE, they're getting rave reviews across the board, and we're in the same fan club. Does it hold up against the powerful malware foes out there today? Can it really run that light and still be that potent? Read on to find out why we think it's the best antivirus software for 2009...

2 BitDefender Antivirus 2009


Imagine a world where viruses, spam, worms, and crackers are no more.

(Perhaps this is just a dream, but 'til it's a reality, at least there's BitDefender .)

As you can no doubt tell from BitDefender's impressive score, if you're looking for the best antivirus software, this is an outstanding product at any price--especially given the stiff competition.

Overall, it's an excellent antivirus program, and like our former Editor's Choice, Kaspersky, BitDefender offers hourly updates and a great bang for your buck.

In fact, we recently re-evaluated our rankings of BitDefender, Kaspersky, and the rest of the antivirus software we rate and decided because of its lower sticker price, BitDefender (with all its great features) was a better value, so it's clearly worthy of being our second choice this year.

BitDefender Antivirus 2009 installs easily, uses minimal PC resources, has an intuitive interface, and protects your computer against all malware tested with a 96% accuracy rate.

NEW - Instant Messaging Encryption
NEW - Laptop mode prolongs battery life
NEW - Family network protection

And frankly, it's inexpensive, too. At just $24.95 (and less with our coupon!), it's so inexpensive it doesn't make sense not to own it.

BitDefender has been a strong competitor in the antivirus field for some time, but they've really stepped up their game in this version

3 Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2009

The name Kaspersky may not be the most widely recognized to most consumers when it comes to software, but they've certainly become champions in the antivirus arena.

Founded in 1997, the company has mainly been involved in antivirus solutions for home and business users. Interestingly, their antivirus scan engine is actually found in a whopping 50(!) software security products from different manufacturers, so they've been well-regarded for a long time when it comes to virus protection.

It's more expensive than some other antivirus software, but it really is a strong antivirus solution. Overall this product is one of our top choices this year because of its solid features, scanning speed, and ease of use.

4 Panda Antivirus Pro 2009

Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 has a lot of great things going for it this year. Previous versions of Panda Antivirus have been less than stellar, and sometimes downright bad.

But we've researched this 2009 version and found it to be worth the investigation.

The main aspects of Panda Antivirus Pro 2009 that we like so much is three-fold: they've included a whole host of extras, the resource usage is comparable to most antivirus applications (although a little sluggish at times), and they've even added a personal firewall! Not bad at all.

5 Norton AntiVirus 2009

Norton has improved their 2009 antivirus product quite a bit from last year. For one thing, their heavy system and ugly design are now a thing of the past.

The overall footprint and scanning speeds are much leaner and meaner than before. And, some new innovations like their 'Insight' feature which whitelists trusted files make for a well-rounded product.

The only real downside to Norton Antivirus 2009 is still their lack of acceptable support. Norton is still trying to push their expensive paid tech support when most other companies have wisely opted for free and expanded support.

Our top choice for best antivirus software, VIPRE, even boasts that 100% of their tech support is done in the U.S.

6 McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009

McAfee updates their new antivirus software with a few bells and whistles making it a good antivirus competitor. McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 comes in close behind Norton only because of a slightly slower scanning speed and slightly lower malware detection rate.

On the plus side, McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 holds its own again this year with a solid antivirus model, good antispyware, and a software firewall that other antivirus applications simply don't offer.

While McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009 isn't perfect, it's a respectable choice for those comfortable with McAfee's history of competent antivirus software. You'll find lots of the same features, just more streamlined and easier to use.

7 Trend Micro AntiVirus plus AntiSpyware 2008

Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2009 gets off to a good start this year with the same clean and easy to use interface. The antivirus software is easy to install and intuitive. However, the antispyware portion of this application leaves much to be desired. Plus, the software tends to be resource-heavy and even sluggish at times.

On top of that, Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2009 doesn't do so well in independent testing. Results on overall effectiveness range from average to poor depending on the test.

Despite the nice look and feel, Trend Micro AntiVirus + AntiSpyware 2009 doesn't give us much confidence this year.

8 CA Anti-Virus 2009

CA Anti-Virus 2009 is a bare-bones, no frills antivirus software solution. If you're looking for a straight-forward, easy to use anti-virus software, CA Anti-Virus 2009 will work.

However, we're sorry to report that CA Anti-Virus 2009 still drops the ball even on its bare-bones, no frills approach.

For starters, the antivirus application still slows down computer speed a bit despite it being a light program. Resource usage is still an issue even though the antivirus is doing minimal work.

Basically, it scans for viruses, worms, trojans, etc, removes them, then does its best to prevent future attacks. That's it. We'd like to see more from CA Anti-Virus.