- Written by: Osama Zahid Cybersecurity Specialist
Kaspersky Overview
Kaspersky’s reputation for strong antivirus protection now comes with a warning label. As of July 2024, the US government banned all new Kaspersky sales and blocked updates after September 29 of the same year. That means no virus definitions, no patches, and no ongoing protection if you’re in the States.
I tested Kaspersky’s features, ran malware simulations, and cross-checked everything with 2025 lab data. It blocked 99.3% of real-world threats and earned near-perfect protection scores. System performance stayed smooth, even during full scans on older machines.
Despite privacy concerns, the Plus plan still packs value with its VPN, password manager, and Safe Money tools. But if you live in the US and want long-term reliability, it may be time to switch to a top alternative like Norton. This review gives you everything you need to decide.
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In a Rush? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary
- Excellent security. Kaspersky has high malware detection scores and other features for safety. Learn more about Kaspersky’s security.
- Many extra features. The app includes many tools to improve safety, but you should note that only a few are impactful. Read about all of Kaspersky’s features.
- Intuitive apps. Kaspersky provides beginner-friendly apps for all major platforms. Discover more about the various apps.
- Reliable support. You can get help via live chat, email support, phone support, and the knowledge base. Learn about my experience with customer support.
- Multiple price plans. Kaspersky provides various worthwhile price plans and a free trial for each. Find out more about all the price plans.
Pros
- Strong malware detection
- Includes a VPN and other extras
- Clean, beginner-friendly apps
Cons
- US sales ban limits updates
- Mac and iOS apps are limited
- Live chat isn’t very useful
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Security
Kaspersky has a robust anti-malware engine to defend against threats. Its scans reliably find any viruses hidden on your system, and the various other safety features ensure you won’t get infected by novel cyber threats in the future. Note that its security isn’t flawless like some of the best antiviruses , but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Virus Scan — Flexible Scans That Dig Deep
Kaspersky’s full scan thoroughly inspected over 2.8 million files and caught every sample I planted, including trojans, worms, and test malware hidden in deep folders. One harmless file got flagged, but that’s expected for strict detection engines. The scan took a while, but my system stayed responsive throughout. You can also run lighter scans for faster checks.
