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AV-Comparatives releases results of its Real-World Protection Test from February to May 2026, revealing that sources of malware for home users are increasingly unexpected

Innsbruck, AustriaJune 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AV-Comparatives, a leading independent cybersecurity testing organization, has released the results of its Real-World Protection Test for the period from February to May 2026. This evaluation tested 20 consumer security products under conditions simulating the threats faced by home users daily, including malicious URLs.

Key findings at a glance:

• 20 security products for home users were evaluated against real-world internet threats in a controlled test environment
• 7 products achieved the highest award level, ADVANCED+, demonstrating stable and reliable protection
• The full test report is available for free at av-comparatives.org, with no registration or payment required

Why independent consumer security testing matters more than ever

The threat landscape for home users has changed significantly. In early 2026, AV-Comparatives researchers discovered MEL/Vacphage, a Python worm embedded in Autodesk Maya binary files, distributed via Epic Games’ Fab.com—a widely used creative asset marketplace trusted by professionals and enthusiasts alike. The findings were responsibly disclosed to the Epic Games security team prior to publication.

This discovery reflects a broader and increasingly common pattern: attackers are embedding malware into files shared through platforms that users have every reason to trust.

Andreas Clementi, founder and CEO of AV-Comparatives, said: “The Fab.com discovery is a reminder that malware doesn’t always enter a system through suspicious links or shady downloads. It can come from platforms that professionals or enthusiasts visit daily. The Real-World Protection Test is designed to assess how security software performs when the unexpected happens.”

How the Real-World Protection Test works

The test was conducted from February to May 2026, covering 20 widely used home security products. Each product was evaluated against a curated selection of real-world internet threats, with the primary criterion being whether a specific threat could compromise the test system. All products also underwent a false positive test to assess their ability to correctly identify legitimate files and avoid unnecessary alerts. Products with high false positive rates had their award levels adjusted accordingly.

The 20 products evaluated include: Avast One Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free, Bitdefender Total Security, ESET HOME Security Essential, F-Secure Internet Security, Fortect PC Suite, G DATA Total Security, K7 Total Security, Kaspersky Premium, Malwarebytes Premium, McAfee Total Protection, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, Norton Antivirus Plus, Panda Free Antivirus, Quick Heal Total Security, Sophos Home Premium, Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus, TotalAV Premium, Trend Micro Internet Security, and VIPRE Advanced Security.

Which products achieved the highest award level?

Seven products earned the ADVANCED+ award, the highest level in AV-Comparatives’ consumer testing framework. Listed alphabetically by vendor name: Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Microsoft, Norton, and TotalAV.

Frequently asked questions

Is the test report available to the public?
Yes. AV-Comparatives provides open access to all test reports without registration or payment. For the full Real-World Protection Test report from February to May 2026, visit av-comparatives.org.

What is the ADVANCED+ award?
ADVANCED+ is the highest award level in AV-Comparatives’ consumer testing framework. It is granted to products that consistently demonstrate excellent protection against real-world threats with low false positive rates.

How often does AV-Comparatives release Real-World Protection Test results?
The Real-World Protection Test is part of an ongoing consumer main test series that runs throughout the year. This report covers the first half of 2026.

Read the full report

The complete Real-World Protection Test report for February to May 2026 is available for free, with no registration required:
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-february-may-2026/

About AV-Comparatives

AV-Comparatives is a leading independent cybersecurity testing organization that evaluates security solutions far beyond traditional antivirus software. Our systematic testing covers modern endpoint protection, threat detection, and mobile security on PCs, Macs, Android, and IoT devices. Leveraging one of the most relevant and complex threat sample libraries globally, we build real-world test environments and conduct comprehensive evaluations. Test results are freely available worldwide, and AV-Comparatives certification provides globally recognized authority for verified cybersecurity performance.

Media contact
AV-Comparatives
Grabenweg 68, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
www.av-comparatives.org