AV-TEST: Security packages rarely generate false alarms

AV-TEST - SITS Deutschland GmbH has released the findings from a 14-month endurance test assessing the rate of false alarms produced by security software packages. The study, conducted from January 2015 to February 2016, examined 19 protection solutions for private users and 14 for corporate environments.

The core focus of the test was the software's ability to distinguish between legitimate and malicious files or actions. This involved evaluating false detections during system scans, while visiting websites, and during the installation and use of common applications. The goal was to identify which security products are most reliable and least likely to disrupt users unnecessarily.

Overall, the results indicate that most tested security programs performed effectively, with a low incidence of false positives. Several of the tested consumer and business solutions achieved top scores across all test segments, reflecting a high degree of reliability.

AV-TEST's methodology included visiting approximately 7,000 websites and processing 7.7 million files for each individual security solution over the 14-month period. Additionally, 280 applications were launched repeatedly to monitor for erroneous blockages or warnings.