All antivirus, by their very nature, will have an impact on computer performance. These programs are executed at a very low level of the system, and must be constantly analyzing everything that happens on the PC. Thanks to the cloud and AI, almost all are able to detect most threats. But now the problem is who does it with the least possible impact.
Measure the impact on the PC performance ourselves is a very complicated task. But for that are the platforms, such as AV-Comparaives, which are responsible for measuring, in a very methodical and precise way, the safety and impact on the performance of the computer.
Today, this platform has just published its new performance tests for the latest versions of the main market antivirus. And, almost certainly, you are using one that makes your PC slower than normal.
Faster antivirus in 2025
Av-Company measures the impact on the Antivirus performance In several tasks, such as:
- Copy files
- Compress and break files
- Install programs
- Execute programs
- Download files
- Navigate online
Thus, we have only 4 antivirus that have achieved a global score of 90 points. These programs, regardless of their safety and protection, ensure the least impact on PC performance. And they are the following:
- McAfee
- Avast / AVG
- Norton
- Panda
These 4 antivirus have achieved a perfect score in all the performance tests that have been performed.
There are other antivirus that have also achieved a very good score in the tests, such as Kaspersky, K7 or ESET, which, although they have faltered in some tests (for example, when working with compressed files), the general impact on the PC is quite low, being also very good options.
And what about Microsoft Defender What do we always recommend? Its main virtue is that it is free security software, which is installed as standard, and that has a very good detection rate. But as far as performance is concerned, it leaves much to be desired. This has been just in the middle of the table, with a score of 80. and its main weak points are, as always, working with compressed files and installing programs on the PC. For the rest, performance is good.
Do we continue to recommend it? For now, yes. But Microsoft should put the batteries and optimize its engine a little more.
The worst antivirus
Now, the impact may not be so important for you, and that any of the 15 best, those who have obtained 2 stars in the Av-Company tests serve you. But there are 3 signatures that have been below all of them, occupying positions 16, 17 and 18.
Thus, the antivirus that slowerize your computer are:
- VIPRE
- Bitdefender
- Total Defense
Of the three, Bitdefender’s attention, a very popular and veteran firm, which always highlights the security tests. Well, according to AV-Company, this security program slows down, and much, the PC when performing tasks to copy and paste files, work with compressed files, and execute programs installed on the PC.
