One of the most common questions Windows 8 users have is do I need to install an antivirus software to protect my PC and data as Windows 8 ships with an improved Windows Defender that now packs-in almost all features of Microsoft’s popular Security Essentials software.

Kaspersky, Bitdefender, ESET, Norton, AVG, Avast, Avira  and many other lesser known antivirus software have been updated to add support for Windows 8. Each antivirus program comes with variety of features such as the Anti-theft and data backup. Even though it’s easy to choose the best antivirus software on the basis of features it has to offer, it’s hard to choose the best antivirus program based on its performance, real time protection and usability.

If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and aren’t sure which antivirus to choose from all the supported antivirus, then you need to first go through the below provided best antivirus comparison chart. AV-Test, German based independent security firm, has compared 22 Windows 8 compatible antivirus and rated them on the basis of protection, performance, and usability.

AV-Test has compared V3 Internet Security 8.0, Avast Free Antivirus 7.0, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2013, AVG Internet Security 2013, Avira Internet Security 2013, Bitdefender Internet Security 2013, BullGuard Internet Security 13.0, ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 11.0, Comodo Internet Security Premium 6.0, ESET Smart Security 6.0, F-Secure Internet Security 2013, G Data Internet Security 2013, VIPRE Internet Security 2013, Kaspersky Internet Security 2013, Ad-Aware Pro Security 10.4,McAfee Internet Security 2013, eScan Internet Security Suite Pro 14.0, Normon Security Suite Pro 10.0, Panda Cloud Antivirus Free 2.1, PC Tools Internet Security 2012, Qihoo 360 Antivirus 4.0, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2013, Tencent PC Manager 7.4, Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security 2013, Webroot Secure Anywhere Complete 8.0 and Microsoft Windows Defender 4.0.

According to AV-Test, Bitdefender Internet Security 2013 is currently the best antivirus program out there. Interestingly, BullGuard Internet Security 13.0, one of the lesser known antivirus program, has scored a total of 16.5 points and has emerged as the second best antivirus software.

In this test, AV-Test used Windows Defender 4.0 as the baseline and it has scored 11.5 points.

And if you’re wondering what’s the best free antivirus software, it’s AVG Antivirus Free 2013. AVG has scored a total of 15.5 points which is equal to the points scored by Norton Internet Security 2013 and better higher than ESET Smart Security 6.0 (14.5).

Below are the top 3 paid antivirus programs:

  • Bitdefender Internet Security 2013
  • BullGuard Internet Security 2013
  • Kaspersky Internet Security 2013