Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity giant primarily known for its antivirus software. It is one of the larger cybersecurity providers, with arguably the most popular and controversial antivirus program available today.
We investigated how the Kaspersky antivirus software fares compared to other antivirus providers such as AVG, Avast, Avira, Surfshark One, and Bitdefender, including how its ties to Russia may affect customers’ privacy and security.
During our tests, we used the Kaspersky Internet Security package. The features in this plan are comparable to the most popular software packages of other providers. However, we also mention how features are broken down into all other subscription tiers. Here’s our comprehensive Kaspersky review.
Kaspersky Short Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multilayered malware protection | Based in Russia, subject to government oversight |
| Scanning to detect zero-day threats | The privacy policy could be better |
| Extended protection for Wi-Fi networks & peripherals | Moderate to high system impact |
| One, three, and five-device license options | Kaspersky collects license and subscription information |
| Packages available for Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices | The basic package is only available for Windows |
| User-friendly | Challenging to get in touch with customer service |
| Built-in VPN, password manager, and parental controls included in some packages | Built-in VPN offers limited traffic bandwidth |
| 30-day money-back guarantee |
Kaspersky’s antivirus software does its job well: it keeps you safe from malware and shows excellent results in external tests. On top of that, it offers countless additional security and privacy features that users can benefit from, like an ad blocker, VPN, anti-fraud features, and performance optimization options.
During our Kaspersky review tests, we paid special attention to its attitude towards privacy. Since Kaspersky is a Russian company, and since Russia’s laws don’t always support the public’s right to privacy, it’s important that this antivirus provider has their business in order. Unfortunately, while Kaspersky has done a lot of work to show that it’s working to regain people’s trust, the Kaspersky privacy policy could be improved a lot in terms of clarity and completeness.
When it comes to Kaspersky’s speed and performance, we were generally impressed, although the thorough scan demanded a lot from our system. Our device heated up, and these issues would likely result in some lag and slower systems for many other users.
Kaspersky’s software is easy to install and use. You can protect up to five devices with one Kaspersky Antivirus subscription. With their 30-day money-back guarantee, you have a full month to test the Kaspersky antivirus software and see if it works for you. The major drawback we found in terms of usability is that customer support can be hard to reach.
Based on our tests, Kaspersky receives an overall score of 7.7. Do you want to get a subscription to one of the Kaspersky packages straight away? Click on the button below to get your premium antivirus subscription today.
Kaspersky Specifications and Subscriptions
The Kaspersky Antivirus programs do not just protect you against viruses and malware, but also safeguard, for example, online payments and privacy. Unfortunately, Kaspersky has different offers based on where you live as well as which device you use.
Here is an overview of Kaspersky’s packages for Windows in most parts of the world (excluding the US, Canada, and the UK):
| Feature | Kaspersky Antivirus | Kaspersky Internet Security | Kaspersky Total Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $27.99 (one year)* | From $41.99 (one year)* | From $55.99 (one year)* |
| Number of devices | One PC | One device | One device |
| Compatibility | Windows | Windows, macOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Real-Time Antivirus | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Anti-Phishing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Performance Optimization | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Payment Protection | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Smart & Fast VPN | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ad Blocker | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Private Browsing | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| WebCam Protection | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Adult Content Blocker | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Screen-Time Management | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| GPS Child Locator | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| File Protection | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Password Manager | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Download Link | Get Kaspersky Anti-Virus | Get Kaspersky Internet Security | Get Kaspersky Total Security |
In the US, Canada, the UK, and other parts of the world, they have rolled out slightly different plans:
Regardless of what you buy, all packages offer a scan function. This can be a quick scan, a thorough scan, chosen folder/subfolder scan, or a scan of external devices (a USB, for example). All plans also feature advanced scan scheduling and plenty of options about what to do if you do find malware on your PC. So the core protection is there no matter what plan you choose.
The macOS versions of Kaspersky’s packages is slightly different: both Internet Security and Total Security lack some additional features, like the ad blocker.
Kaspersky also offers additional packages for macOS and Android devices:
- Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac: from $19.99 per year* (not available in all countries)
- Kaspersky Internet Security for Android: from $9.99 per year*
- Kaspersky Security Cloud Personal: from $62.99 per year*
- Kaspersky Safe Kids: from $14.99/year*
- Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection: from $29.99/year*
- Kaspersky Password Manager: from $14.99/year*
* Kaspersky prices change regularly and fluctuate greatly depending on the time of your visit, your location, and your browser. If you find higher prices than those listed above, it might help to use a different browser or activate a VPN. For the most recent prices, visit the Kaspersky site directly.
Security: Can Kaspersky Be Trusted?
Kaspersky offers some of the best protection against malware attacks. These are our findings:
- Independent test results show that Kaspersky has a 99.70% online protection rate and a track record of very few false positives.
- Kaspersky has received multiple top product awards from AV-Comparatives and Top Product certified awards from AV-Test.
- Aside from solid real-time threat protection, Kaspersky offers many extra security options, as well as anti-fraud features.
We give Kaspersky a score of 8.5 for its security, earning it a good place in our rankings.
Security testing: How does Kaspersky measure up?
We completed our testing of Kaspersky’s security and also reviewed AV-Test and AV-Comparatives tests. We combined these findings to determine our security score for this Kaspersky review.
We found that Kaspersky’s real-time protection capabilities are excellent. We tried to download a number of test files, which were disguised as malware for antivirus scanners. Each time, we immediately received a notification regarding the malicious file or URL. In fact, in most cases, the files were blocked in the browser and never made it onto our system.
AV-Test reported that Kaspersky had 100% threat protection during their tests in September and October of 2022. These tests were against malware attacks, inclusive of web and e-mail threats.
When we reviewed AV-Comparatives’ tests for 2022, we found that the antivirus program had a 95% online detection rate, which is high but not among the highest in this particular test. It was able to fend off 99.70% of the threats, with only one false positive. These are very good results compared to most antiviruses. However, a lot of services had comparable or better results. Software like Avast, AVG, and Norton all performed better.
False positives occur when an antivirus program incorrectly identifies a file as a threat. This can be highly inconvenient if the files you are trying to download are harmless but are quarantined regardless. A benefit of Kaspersky is that you can more easily take files out of quarantine if you know they’re safe.
Real-time threat protection
Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Kaspersky Internet Security, and Kaspersky Total Security do not only automatically scan all incoming data, but they all use a firewall for real-time protection as well. The firewall provides the first level of defense by either allowing or blocking certain traffic.
The scans cover data coming from all sources, including the internet, e-mail, and external drives like a USB stick. They also check the activity of all installed programs, preventing them from executing any harmful actions. Scans can be scheduled or user-initiated, and they range from quick to thorough checks. You’ll read more about this in the “Speed and Performance” section.
Kaspersky offers extremely high functionality and excellent real-time protection. Even so, most antivirus software in the same price range is comparable in this department, so while Kaspersky does a good job, the competition is tough.
Anti-fraud and anti-ransomware features
When it comes to extra safety features, Kaspersky has a few interesting options:
- Anti-banner filter: This filter can disable displays of annoying advertisements within your browser.
- Anti-phishing: You can protect yourself against phishing via text messages and e-mails with Kaspersky’s extensive database that automatically recognizes phishing messages in e-mail programs such as Outlook.
- System Watcher: This feature helps prevent ransomware and other malicious programs from locking you out of your PC. It also scans your system for network attacks, so they can be stopped before reaching your device.
- Virtual keyboard: This protects you against keyloggers. Instead of typing on your regular keyboard, you can simply use the virtual one to securely enter sensitive information, such as your online banking details.
- Vulnerability scans: When you use this scan, it analyzes all of your apps to see if any of them can be exploited. However, this option is not available in the Kaspersky Security package or the Standard Plan.
- Safe Money: If you get the Kaspersky Browser Extension, it will automatically analyze the websites and payment processors you visit to certify that they’re trustworthy.
In other words: Kaspersky offers more than enough high-quality tools to keep your device safe against outside attacks. The question is: do you need to sacrifice your privacy in return?
Privacy: How Does Kaspersky Handle Your Data?
When we looked at privacy, we didn’t just consider Kaspersky’s own privacy protection capabilities but also the privacy policy of the company itself, the company’s history, and government influence. We came to the following conclusions:
- Kaspersky offers multiple privacy-enhancing features, including its own VPN for Plus plans and above.
- Most of the information collected by Kaspersky is necessary, and optioning out of (some forms of) data collection might influence the performance of the product.
- Kaspersky has solid features to limit tracking by ad networks when you browse the internet.
- Despite worries about government control, we found no evidence to suggest Kaspersky is influenced by the Russian authorities.
After reviewing all the areas above, taking into account the necessity of data sharing and the possible influence of the governing bodies, we gave Kaspersky a score of 6.5 for privacy.
Kaspersky’s privacy protection features
Kaspersky offers users an impressive level of security, and their privacy features include some extra options which are especially helpful for keeping your information private. These features include:
- Kaspersky VPN: A VPN helps keep you anonymous while browsing online when you’re on public Wi-Fi at the local coffee shop. Kaspersky VPN is only available through the Internet Security and Total Security packages and has a bandwidth limit of 300MB per day, which you can easily use up in less than an hour when streaming online. If you’re looking for better VPNs, check out the dedicated providers in our top 5 VPN list.
- Kaspersky privacy browsing: This allows users to keep their activities and data from being tracked by websites, giving users some anonymity while surfing the web. If you add websites to a “Safe Money” list, they will automatically be opened in Protected Browser mode.
- Kaspersky WebCam security: The antivirus software also offers protection against third-party takeovers of your webcam. You’ll be able to grant or deny applications permission when they try to access your webcam.
- Data collection protection: Kaspersky offers protection against your data being collected while visiting websites. This can be extremely invasive, and Kaspersky stops tracking on numerous browsers. Just make sure you also opt out of tracking by Kaspersky and its plenty of ad partners!
- Ad Blocker: Kaspersky can block ad banners, remove adware, or check websites for advertising. Unfortunately, the Ad Blocker is only available on Windows PC versions of Total Security and Internet Security. If you purchase the Plus or Premium plan though, you’ll get the feature on macOS, too.
Kaspersky’s privacy policy
Like most privacy policies, Kaspersky’s privacy document can be tricky to read. It states several times that they give users the option to opt out of “most” forms of data collection. However, you have to dig to find exactly what information the company collects and what you can opt out of. Below are our findings:
- You can opt out of certain data used for marketing personalization.
- Promotional offer pop-ups can be disabled.
- Users can choose to opt out of Kaspersky Security Network (KSN), but this can cause issues with the viability of the product or service.
- Per Kaspersky’s support, the only information the company shares with third parties is the one-time password for activating the program on your device. For example, a one-time password is sent to Google when you use Google Play to download the application.
- Other information that Kaspersky could collect and use includes: license and subscription information, product information, device data (type of device, operating system, etc.), threats and suspicious files detected, information on installed applications, URLs visited, Wi-Fi connection data (including your access point), user contact information, e-mails, child’s device information (including their location), and the unique identifier of a mobile device.
While that may seem like a lot of information, much of that data is required for the services and products to function properly. In Kaspersky’s own words:
“[I]f you do not provide personal data when requested, you may not be able to benefit from the full range of Kaspersky Lab products and services, and we may not be able to provide you with information about products, services, and promotions.”
In theory, Kaspersky appears to be a decent antivirus as far as privacy is concerned, but there are some strange inconsistencies that make us wary. You can opt out of tracking for promotional reasons, and you can use Kaspersky to block data collection by ad networks, which is nice. We just wish it was easier to stop Kaspersky’s own tracking. On top of that, it would be nice if Kaspersky’s privacy policy was more straight-forward and complete, so all information is found in one place.
Kaspersky privacy issues and government connections
Kaspersky has its share of privacy concerns, but not due to data breaches or lax controls. For example, although the company had some issues with certain scripts on web pages that could be exploited to steal data, no evidence of actual abuse was ever found.
Instead, Kaspersky’s privacy concerns have to do with the composition and location of the company. Kaspersky was founded in and is still based in Russia, meaning the company could be bound by law to aid the Russian intelligence service if requested. In its privacy policy, Kaspersky even states that they comply with government agency requests.
However, the company also says: “Kaspersky has strict principles and internal procedures in regard to requests from law enforcement and government agencies worldwide. Every request we receive goes through legal verification to ensure our compliance with applicable laws and procedures.”
In practice, this looks as follows. Kaspersky is governed by the laws of the country where the original purchase was completed. This means that if you live in a country with more government control, your private information could be shared with local government authorities without your permission. This is a cause for concern, but there is good news.
When reviewing Kaspersky’s Law Enforcement and Government Requests Report, we noticed that, although Russia has requested the most user data, Kaspersky has not complied with its personal data requests in the past three years.
| Year | Number of Requests | Requests Approved |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 27 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2022* | 9 | 0 |
*This data only covers the first half of 2022. Kaspersky’s transparency report for the second half is not out at the time of writing.
Kaspersky’s Global Transparency Initiative
In response to allegations about Kaspersky’s ties to Russia and the possible negative effects of that on user privacy, Kaspersky has set up the Global Transparency Initiative. This project is aimed at proving the company’s dedication to privacy and independence. As part of this, they’ve moved their data centers to Switzerland and opened up their source code for review to organizations and governments, among other transparency-oriented decisions.
Over the past few years, Kaspersky has faced a lot of negative press, which has damaged their reputation thoroughly. Though part of it might be unfounded, there are some serious privacy concerns when it comes to this antivirus program. In turn, Kaspersky is doing everything in their power to prove their sincerity and dedication. If you ask us, they’re on the right path, but only time will tell.
We understand if you’re still apprehensive about using a service headquartered in Russia. So, by all means, choose a different antivirus if it puts your mind at ease. You can check out our Bitdefender review or our TotalAV review if you are looking for other alternatives. But as it stands, Kaspersky isn’t as bad for your privacy as some might fear.
Usability: How User-Friendly Is Kaspersky?
In our opinion, the Kaspersky software is generally easy to use. However, their customer support could do with some minor improvements. Here are our main conclusions:
- Kaspersky has a very insightful website and the installation process is easy.
- The Kaspersky dashboard is designed to allow you easy and quick access to all options.
- This provider has a straightforward cancellation process with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- It can be a struggle to get in touch with Kaspersky’s customer service, but you’ll get great assistance once you find the right contact information.
We awarded Kaspersky with an 8.0 for ease of use.
How do I install Kaspersky?
Kaspersky’s installation process is user-friendly, with self-explanatory prompts, similar to many other antivirus programs. Kaspersky’s website looks clean and professional, making it easy to get a subscription and download the app.
Here’s how you can install Kaspersky on your Windows computer:
- Go to the Kaspersky website. In some countries, you first have to select whether you’re a business or a home user. In other countries, you can go straight to the product section. To install Kaspersky, click on “View Products.”
- Choose the system and package of your choice and click “Learn More.”
- Choose the number of devices you’d like to get a subscription for as well as the length of your plan. Make sure you (un)check the “Auto-Renewal” option, based on whether you want your subscription to renew automatically or not. then click “Buy Now.”
- Fill in your billing information and choose your payment method, then click “Buy Now.”
- Once your payment is processed, you can download the software by following the link that shows up on the confirmation page and by clicking “Download.”
- Open the file you’ve downloaded and click on “Run.”
- Follow the steps and agree to the license agreement by checking the boxes and pressing “Accept.” We advise you to decline the agreement about data collection for marketing purposes.
- Click “Install” and wait for Kaspersky to finish installing.
- Add your “MyKaspersky” account for full access to all the features of the software.
You’re done! Kaspersky will immediately scan your system, after which the start screen appears.
You might have to indicate what part of the world you live in to make Kaspersky work properly before the installation file is downloaded. If this is the case, you can do this on the drop-down menu as shown below.
Make sure you pay attention during this step. Otherwise, the program you download might not work properly.
Kaspersky’s antivirus software
The options Kaspersky’s Internet Security software offers are not much more extensive than other providers. However, the software comes across as very transparent and easy to navigate.
It is, for example, very easy to view details of different parts of the software. By clicking on a section’s button, you can see what is protected and what is not at a glance.
A brief explanation appears on your screen when you open a program component for the first time. With “Safe banking,” for example, it isn’t immediately clear from the standard interface what this feature entails, but then the pop-up explanation tells you how to use it.
You can view these user manuals at any point later in time by clicking the “How does it work?” button. This is very user-friendly and makes Kaspersky easy to use for beginners.
These explanations don’t appear in the “Privacy Protection” section, since the interface there is more self-explanatory. It’s really easy to enable privacy-enhancing features, like the option to block website tracking, for example.
This shows that the developers have really thought about the design of the software so you aren’t confronted with annoying and unnecessary content.
How easy is it to cancel a Kaspersky subscription?
With its 30-day money-back guarantee, you have a full month to test the Kaspersky software. If you decide it’s not for you, you can cancel and get a full refund. The cancellation process is pretty easy:
- Log in to your account online.
- Click on “Existing Customers” and then “My Kaspersky.”
- Go to “Subscriptions.”
- Click on the subscription in question.
- Open the “Manage subscription” menu.
- Click on the “Cancel” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Confirm your cancellation.
Remember that, if you cancel your subscription after the first 30 days, you won’t get a refund.
Kaspersky’s customer support
When you go to the “Customer Support” section under “Existing Customers” on the homepage, you’ll see that Kaspersky offers different options to connect with customer service.
These had varying degrees of success when we tested them:
- Knowledge base and FAQ: Kaspersky’s online support library can help you find the answer to a question, as long as it’s a more general one.
- Kaspersky’s forum: Here, users can post their questions and get help from other users and Kaspersky moderators. Searching the forum for answers might help you out when you encounter an issue.
- Live chat: Live chat is usually a quick, reliable way for customers to get support. Unfortunately, Kaspersky’s version is an AI assistant that never connected us with a human. The prompts only led us to links on the website or provided a phone number.
- Phone: Phone support is available in many languages, including English, French, and German. When we called them, we were aided quickly and efficiently.
- E-mail: You can send in a support request, to which you will receive an answer by e-mail. This is fine if you are not in a rush, as it can take a full day for the support team to get back to you.
Kaspersky’s knowledge base and chat assistant are both great resources, but their live support is lacking. Although the support page provides an e-mail and phone number for general inquiries, you have to pay for premium support in the setup process.
On top of that, Kaspersky asks for a lot of information about your system, account, and issue before they connect you to support, which takes a lot of time and isn’t great for your privacy.
One bright spot in our experience was how quickly our questions were answered once we finally connected with customer service. In short, the speed and effectiveness of the customer support service are great, but the options for support could’ve been more accessible overall.
Speed and Performance: Will Kaspersky Slow Down My System?
In terms of the speeds of scans and the performance of the antivirus overall, Kaspersky scored well. Here are our findings:
- Kaspersky’s quick and thorough scans took a little while and worked well.
- The specific “gaming mode” allows you to be undisturbed by the antivirus while it works in the background.
- Kaspersky didn’t have a major impact on our CPU speed, although it heated our computer considerably.
Kaspersky’s good system performance resulted in a decent score in this category. We did subtract 0.5 points for the intense thorough scan, which demanded a lot from our system. Overall, we gave Kaspersky a score of 7.5.
How long does a scan take?
Kaspersky’s scanning function gives you two options: a quick scan and a thorough scan. The thorough scan took us approximately 12.5 minutes, while the quick scan only took 40 seconds. These are excellent speeds, meaning you can quickly do a scan without it disturbing your other activities.
Aside from that, Kaspersky has several functions that make your PC easier to use and boost its performance. The gaming mode, for example, guarantees that you won’t be disturbed by antivirus notifications while gaming. Furthermore, no scheduled antivirus tasks are performed when the battery is low.
How does Kaspersky impact my CPU?
Kaspersky was pretty light on our system. You’ll barely notice when a scan is running or when real-time malware protection is active in the background. During our tests, these processes used a total of approximately 110MB of working memory when running in the background. The CPU usage remained below two percent.
In addition to checking facts and figures, we have extensively tested whether other programs stay stable in combination with Kaspersky. We can conclude that, in that regard, little or nothing gives away that an antivirus program is running.
However, during scans, CPU usage and working memory usage go up quickly. Although this is to be expected with good virus protection, it is worth noting, as this might affect your system. For us, these increases did not affect the performance of other software.
Unfortunately, during the thorough scan, our computer got very warm, and the fans were running at their full power. We can imagine that some devices might suffer due to excessive system load.
Final Verdict: Is Kaspersky a Good Virus Scanner?
Kaspersky is a high-level antivirus provider that is struggling to get rid of its negative reputation. It provides excellent security and stops nearly all malware that might try to attack you. On top of that, Kaspersky offers various extra features that help you improve your safety and anonymity. The software is easy to work with and functions well in the background.
The Russian giant also comes with a few drawbacks, as indicated in this Kaspersky review. Most notable are the privacy issues. Due to the antivirus’s ties with Russia, many users are hesitant to get a subscription. Kaspersky, however, is working on restoring trust. While their privacy policy can still be improved, we believe they’re on the right track.
Does Kaspersky sound like a good deal to you? Click on the button below to get a Kaspersky subscription.
Are you curious how other antivirus solutions compare to Kaspersky? Have a look at our antivirus review page for in-depth research on the most popular virus scanners.
Do you have a question you want a quick answer to? Check the FAQs below, and your problem may be solved immediately.
The prices currently listed on Kaspersky’s website are:
- Kaspersky Antivirus for $25 per year (one device)
- Kaspersky Internet Security for $33 per year (one device)
- Kaspersky Total Security for $66 per year (one device)
However, subscription plans show up with different prices depending on your location, the time of your visit, and sometimes even your browser, making the subscription process slightly confusing.
In Windows 10, Kaspersky can be removed by taking the following steps:
- Right-click the “Start” button in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen to open the context menu.
- Select “Apps and Features.”
- The “Apps and Features” screen opens.
- Select “Kaspersky Security Scan.”
- Click the “Uninstall” button.
For Mac, Kaspersky can be removed as follows:
- Open the installation file of your package.
- Double-click “Uninstall.”
- Enter your username and password.
- Kaspersky will be removed.
No, Kaspersky does not have a free version. But it is possible to download a demo version from the Kaspersky website to check whether the software suits you. Also, we recommend checking out our in-depth Kaspersky review to find out whether Kaspersky is for you.
