Over the years we have all seen a gazillion test report sites on various anti-virus products with differing results. I have found myself mystified in the numbers, testing procedures, results and conclusions by these reports. So this morning when I stumbled on yet another test site here, I wasn’t very excited to even bother with trying to interrupt the test results nor spend any time trying to determine who or what products are best.

I guess the first and foremost observation in any testing procedure is how and why is it done? Who is the tester? For what purpose is the tester performing the test? Is this a independent laboratory and a single person who is trying all of these different products out? Where do they get these new viruses to test? Is there a site that posts every virus out there? These are some of the questions I always ask myself and that come to mind when I see testing sites.

Am I skeptical of any test results? You beat I am. Why? Over the years I have read more reports my some of the major PC publications, those alleged testing laboratories, tests from individuals and others, with so many varying results it is very difficult for any of us to try and figure what anti-virus program is best. PLUS, on any given day, any of these software products can be circumvented by a smart virus writer. In other words, IMO, no anti-virus software programs is 100% perfect. I don’t care what any testing results say.

As I have mentioned before, I have been using AVG on my systems and client systems for well over 3 years. I use it because it is free and does a fairly good job. On my personal systems I have never had a infection. It is good enough for me and I don’t need a test report to confirm or discount my own personal conclusions. One a month or so I go to various online sites such as Symantec, Trend-Mirco and others, and run a virus scan. Does this mean I don’t trust AVG? Nope. But I do know software and one of the baddies could slip through. So I mainly do it as a precaution.

So what do you think? Do any of these testing procedures really make sense or are you like me, skeptical?

Comments as always are welcome.

PS Let us not make this into a flame war for any product. Just the facts please.
[tags]anti-virus, testing, procedures, results, [/tags]