Kaspersky Standard: Top Lab Scores

Awash in security features.

- NEIL J. RUBENKING

Editors’ Note: PCMag rates and evaluates all products based on their merits and effectiveness, not on any political or other considerations. However, due to the increasing censure and criticism of Kaspersky by US government agencies, foreign agencies, and informed third parties, we no longer recommend Kaspersky products. Because we have not found any hard evidence of misdeeds on the part of Kaspersky, though, we continue to evaluate and report on the company’s products for those who wish to decide for themselves.

In the security business, it’s common to see a three-tier line of products: a standalone antivirus tool, a security suite with basic features, and a mega-suite with all the bells and whistles. Sometimes, though, the antivirus has so many features it’s almost a suite. With its completely new product line, Kaspersky has eliminated the distinction. In addition to Kaspersky Free, it now offers Standard, Plus, and Premium security suites. Kaspersky Standard, reviewed here, roughly takes the antivirus position, and I’ll treat it as such in this review. It’s awash in features, but its sprawling new layout can make it cumbersome to find a particular component.

It’s true that the US government flags Kaspersky as a Russian security risk, but that designation has no bearing on Kaspersky’s product line makeover. The new products were almost ready for release when the war in Ukraine began in February. Now that the release has arrived, Kaspersky will roll out these new products gradually, so the old and new products will coexist for a few months.