Personal AV speed/file count comparisons

Since I'm bored this morning, thought I'd share with everyone my own results as re: scanning speed and no. of files checked on the various AV programs I have on here. All AV/AT progs were updated and the maximum amount of files/extensions were scanned on the drives selected

So here goes:

AVG checked 36,510 files in 10 minutes.

ETrust AV checked 32,013 files in 10 minutes.

NOD32 checked 35,716 files in 8 minutes.

Tauscan checked 66,038 files in 25 minutes.

The Cleaner checked 45,720 files in 18 minutes.

(All scans came up clean, of course! ).

Wow, I need to find a hobby, don't I? Pete

 

for the test to be usable, the AVs need to scan the SAME files. bigger or smaller don't scan at the same rate.

 

Agreed - maybe just setting aside a whole bunch of files in a folder, and having each anti-virus scanning that folder would provide more accurate results. (Think of it as an extension on your "hobby" )

I would recommend using different compression programs also - some .zips, .rar, etc. (since different AV's take MUCH longer depending on the compression algorithm).

 

all good ideas. Also, test are more conclusive with a great many files. So I recommend  testing 100,000 files of assorted sizes and types. Don't forget to throw in some actually infected files. You can get a bunch at the C# girl's webpage.

To add a mesure of validity and professionalism, I suggest you register a new domain name, perhaps www.avspeed.com (nope it is registered already, maybe www.avscantimes.com) that will give a place to show off your research.

how are you liking your new hobby now?

 

lol! Whoa, guys! This isn't rocket science I've got going on here, this was just Pete sitting down at his computer and starting off his AV/AT programs one-at-a-time and seeing how long they took to run and how many files they checked - you know, real-world stuff.

This 'set # of files stuff' is for the birds as far as the average computer user goes - none of us, I daresay, have the same amount of files to check, to start with, nor do we all have the same options checked in the individual AV/AT programs.

Come to think of it, why
didn't all the programs check the same no. of files? I have them all set up to run as 'in-depth' or 'full' a scan as possible.

Is AVG "better" than the other two because it checked a larger total no. of files? Does eTrust suck because it checked the least amount of files and took longer to do so?

Is The Cleaner the better AT program of the two because it checked a  lot more files faster than Tauscan did?

I just thought the differences in the speed and amount of files checked were interesting, that's all - and I always have wondered why the file counts weren't all the same if the settings on the various programs were all as nearly the same as possible.

So, enlighten me already! Pete

 

So you checked your whole system with each AV and had that much descrepency in the number of files checked with all settings set to maximum for each AV!!??

I am amazed! Whwn I set all settings to maximum, and told NOD32 to check all files, I expected NOD32 to check every single file on my system. But you are saying that it is missing tens of thousands of files? YIKES!

 

A possible answer to the difference in numbers could be how different AV's are counting for example zipped files.

 

ah yes, this could indeed be a factor. Some av may count it once, others may could all files inside. If this was done with Cabnet files, the effects would be even moreso.

but 30,000 files?

 

With .cab files AND .zip files being counted as ONE (and not counting all the files inside individually) I could understand the difference - Windows is FULL of .cab files, although a 30,000 file difference DOES seem a little high...

Did you check to see what file/folder exclusions are in each of the products? (for example, maybe one doesn't scan Temporary Internet Files, or /temp folders...)

 

On a side-note:

Although KAV/AVP is not in Pete's list, it could also count a different number cause it is able to scan for example in stored OE-emails and the quarantaine of NAV.

 

"All AV/AT progs were updated and the maximum amount of files/ extensions were scanned on the drives selected" .

The AV programs are scanning 'C' drive - the AT programs are scanning 'C' and 'D'.

Sorry, thought you understood that part Pete

 

well..another mistery solved, Time for a scooby snack!

 

Really?

AVG checked only 794 more files than NOD32 but

AVG checked 4,497 more files than eTrust.

Also, The Cleaner checked 10,004 more files than Tauscan did.

Still puzzles me. But the scooby snack was good! Pete

 

It surely is interesting!

I still think it is a bit difficult to compare those numbers.
You should know exactly how a scanner counts the files it is asked to scan.
For example:
how does it count maps?
how does it count zipped files? and cab files?
how does it count (master) boot records?
Does it scan zipped files in zipped files; and how deep?

Just try this:
zip a file.
zip it together with some other files and maps again.
then do a right click scan with your scanners.

 

agreed! This will be great information on Pete's new website!

I offer to help with the testing and site building. Hell I'll even host the site and DNS. We'll litter it with paid advertising, then block all the ads.

 

lol! I guess it's just going to remain one of the secrets to the universe! Pete