This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:21:50
The video compares the efficacy of Avast and Windows 11 Defender antivirus programs through a series of malware detection tests. Initially, both programs' settings are configured, with a focus on activating key security features like firewalls and real-time protection. The test begins with the extraction of 2,125 malware samples, and each program's ability to detect and block these samples is assessed.
Throughout the tests, Windows 11 Defender performs robustly by preventing most malicious files from downloading, leveraging features like the SmartScreen filter and Edge protection. However, it encounters issues with manually rebooting, which clears some malware but also complicates the assessment process. Defender struggles with persistent malware and shows signs of infection such as tampered settings and black wallpaper, indicative of malware evasion tactics.
On the other hand, Avast is praised for thoroughly removing detected threats, albeit with a longer scan duration. Despite encountering hung samples requiring manual intervention, once Avast's scan is completed, it shows no active malware, confirmed by VirusTotal scores. The presenter notes high CPU usage related to a Visual Basic command line and identifies broken startup items.
Additional antivirus scans reveal that both programs left some residual, less critical system changes, but Avast effectively quarantined all threats while Defender continued showing pop-ups and signs of tampering. In the final assessment, Avast delivers superior protection with no infections or malware detected, whereas Windows Defender, despite some successful blockages, demonstrates inefficiencies in fully addressing malware threats on the system.
The video concludes by declaring Avast the winner for its overall better protection and invites viewers to share their experiences with antivirus programs. Upcoming tests are also teased.
00:00:00
In this segment of the video, the reviewer begins an anti-malware test comparing Avast against Windows 11 Defender. The video first showcases the settings for both Avast and Defender. For Avast, file and web shields, along with unwanted tools, are set to resolve automatically, analyze rootkits, and enable the firewall. In contrast, Defender settings include real-time protection, cloud delivery, tamper protection, controlled folder access, reputation-based protection, and an enabled firewall.
The reviewer then temporarily disables all protection to prepare for the test by extracting samples. They mention using the Dark theme for the demonstration despite its viewing challenges. The test includes 2,125 samples consisting of various files such as disk images, malware, office documents, and applications. Finally, protection for both Avast and Defender is re-enabled, with Avast being activated last to prevent early malware detection. The segment ends with the reviewer noting that Avast’s firewall is turned off.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the presenter discusses the performance of Defender and Avast in detecting and blocking malware on a test machine. They describe turning off the system and note that malware is already being detected. The test involves downloading files from malicious websites to see how both security programs react. Defender uses features like the smart screen filter and Edge protection to block most malware from downloading, showing good results. Avast is also noted to be actively busy removing detected malware. The presenter comments that Defender performed well by preventing any files from downloading, though they acknowledge that some image files might have embedded malware. They decide to further investigate by opening some files to confirm the results.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the process and difficulties encountered while running malware tests on two security applications. The tests were executed multiple times due to some malware samples getting stuck, requiring manual intervention. Microsoft Defender finished its scan earlier but unexpectedly rebooted, possibly due to the malware, which cleared a lot of malware from memory. Avast’s scan took longer, and once completed, a review showed no active malware according to VirusTotal scores. The presenter switches to a light theme for better visibility before concluding the assessment of both applications’ performance.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the presenter examines the startup items and identifies high CPU usage related to a Visual Basic command line. They find one broken item among the startup entries. The presenter notes differences in how two security solutions handle issues: one has already rebooted itself while the other requires a manual reboot. They plan to reboot and run full scans on both systems to analyze the results. After the reboot, they observe that one solution quarantined all threats, while Windows Defender still shows malware pop-ups. The presenter explains that Defender struggles to remove threats effectively and highlights an exclusion created by malware in Defender’s settings, a common tactic used to bypass the security software.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the ongoing issues with pop-ups after executing program data. Despite initiating actions, the system fails to resolve the issues, leading to repeated alerts. The Defender program indicates tampering by showing a black wallpaper, suggesting a possible infection. The presenter reboots and conducts third-party opinion scans. The final results show that Avast detected a few malware samples, while Defender identified some files as startup items and detected cookies. MPE detected program data and temp files. Kaspersky’s quick scan found a VB script, similar to what Norton detected. On the desktop, various malware items were sorted and some were identified by MSI soft. Windows Defender continued scanning, indicating its slow performance, but it is not expected to find additional threats.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses updating specific local files and examining their system with Malwarebytes, stressing that some detected items are just shortcuts. They check the desktop for malware, noting the presence of files from Windows Defender in temporary locations, including `engine.exe`, VBS scripts, scheduled tasks, and registry key entries, highlighting their role in maintaining persistence. They inspect startup items and find some broken or non-functional entities. Using Process Explorer, they confirm that there is nothing malicious running at this stage. Additionally, they verify that their documents and pictures are protected, with no signs of infection, and note that their wallpaper returns after a reboot.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the presenter checks the control panel for additional software and user accounts. They find unwanted software like Foundzilla and additional PPS installed. The fender seems to have fewer PPS installed compared to the vest. Upon reviewing user accounts, it appears there are no extra ones, which is positive.
The test concludes with Avast providing excellent protection, showing no infections or malware. However, Windows Defender, while performing adequately, indicates potential issues with malware it struggles to remove. Despite fewer unwanted installations in Windows Defender, there are still concerns about its efficiency in addressing malware on the system.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the speaker concludes the test of two free antivirus programs, hinting at a possible ransomware issue that required a system reboot. The speaker declares a winner in the test, acknowledges that Windows Defender performed well despite both being free options, and invites viewers to share their preferences and experiences with antivirus programs. Finally, the speaker mentions upcoming tests and signs off.