ZERO TRUST
Coming soon: Best practices for malware prevention well as results of real-time AV tests
NETWORK
Coming Soon: A section devoted to best practices for networking and my personal approach
IDENTITY
Coming Soon: Articles that relate to best practices in terms of account security
Anti Malware
Top 5 Antivirus Solutions of 2025
Cyber threats continue to evolve, making a strong antivirus solution essential for safeguarding your devices. Here’s a quick rundown of the best five antivirus solutions in 2025:
1. Bitdefender Total Security
Best for Overall Protection
Bitdefender offers top-tier malware detection, real-time threat defense, and an advanced firewall. Its lightweight design ensures minimal system impact while providing excellent ransomware protection.
2. Norton 360 Deluxe
Best for Comprehensive Security
With features like a secure VPN, dark web monitoring, and excellent phishing protection, Norton 360 remains a top pick for users needing all-around cybersecurity.
3. ESET NOD32 Antivirus
Best for Performance & Low System Impact
ESET’s lightweight yet powerful antivirus is perfect for gamers and professionals who need strong security without slowing down their computers.
4. McAfee Total Protection
Best for Families & Multi-Device Protection
McAfee provides robust malware defense, identity theft monitoring, and a password manager, making it ideal for families and businesses with multiple devices.
5. Kaspersky Security Cloud
Best for AI-Powered Threat Detection
Kaspersky’s cloud-based approach offers real-time AI-driven protection, ensuring that even the latest threats are detected and blocked instantly.
In addition to other layers of security a strong anti malware solution is critical to minimize as well as remediate risk
This list was generated by CHAT GPT and does not reflect my personal list of antivirus solutions for the top 5; I would include EmsiSoft Antimalware, and it is also hard to ignore Avast’s often superior detection rate even with the annoying ads for the free version. In a corporate environments SentinelOne or BitDefender Gravity Zone would I believe outperform and outdetect all of these, although these top 5 listed are all quite reasonable solutions.
A goal I would like to revisit in 2025 is ‘manual’ testing of several majors AV providers and compare their results on several factors (i.e accuracy of threat identification, ability to remediate threats, level of detail in reporting, etc) and if I compile enough useful data I will post it here as well. I tested several MSP based AV solutions in 2022 and 2023 with surprising results, espechially when using ‘homemade’ bind and reverse shell scripts)
“All warfare is based on deception.”
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War
The Global Cost of Malware: Billions Lost Annually
Malware remains one of the most costly cybersecurity threats worldwide, with financial damages reaching staggering levels each year. In 2024, global malware-related losses exceeded $10.5 trillion, and experts predict this number will continue rising in 2025. These costs include ransom payments, data breaches, business disruptions, and recovery efforts.
Breakdown of Malware Costs:
Ransomware Attacks – Cybercriminals demand payments, often in cryptocurrency, totaling billions annually. In 2024, the average ransom payment exceeded $1 million per attack.
Data Breaches – Stolen customer or corporate data can lead to lawsuits, regulatory fines, and lost consumer trust, costing businesses millions.
Operational Downtime – Businesses can lose thousands of dollars per minute during malware-induced downtime.
Fraud and Identity Theft – Financial losses from stolen credentials, banking fraud, and phishing scams continue to surge.
Who is Most at Risk?
Corporations & Enterprises: Targeted by advanced ransomware and espionage attacks.
Small Businesses: Often lack resources to recover from malware incidents.
Individuals: Victims of identity theft, banking fraud, and personal data breaches.
The Future of Malware Costs
With the rise of AI-driven cyber threats, deepfake scams, and sophisticated ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models, malware losses are expected to climb even higher. Organizations must invest in robust cybersecurity solutions, employee training, and proactive monitoring to reduce risks.
Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue—it’s a financial necessity in today’s digital world.