Each year Panda attempts to move in a new direction, but each year they fall short in most respects. While there are a few areas where Panda succeeds, the negatives outweigh the positives.
For starters, our tests showed Panda Antivirus to be about average in both virus protection and removal.
Resource usage, the measure of how much drain the antivirus software puts on your PC, tended to be higher than we'd like to see.
Then there is Panda's tech support which can best be described as sad.
Certified by:
For starters, our tests showed Panda Antivirus to be about average in both virus protection and removal.
Resource usage, the measure of how much drain the antivirus software puts on your PC, tended to be higher than we'd like to see.
Then there is Panda's tech support which can best be described as sad.
Certified by:
- AV Comparatives
- AV-Test
- PC Security Labs
- VB Bulletin
- WestCoast Labs
Virus & Spyware Protection: 88%
Panda's virus and spyware protection is fairly good. Independent testing labs gave Panda "passing" grades in regard to real-time protection and removal.
Panda blocked about 90% of known viruses and other threats during our own in-house tests, which puts it in line with what other labs report.
Overall, it's a decent performance, but other areas leave the product wanting. More on that in a second.
Resource Usage: 70%
As with other areas of Panda, resource usage was average all around. When running idle, CPU stayed mostly at 0% with unusual peaks as high as 11%, the same as we saw with its sibling product Panda Internet Security. Memory usage was a little high averaging around 175MB.
When running a full system scan, that's when we started seeing a much heavier footprint. CPU usage ranged from 30%-60%, while memory was consistently high, around 210MB. For our 2GB testing PCs, that memory usage is quite a bit more than most of the competition this year.
User Interface: 73%
Panda blocked about 90% of known viruses and other threats during our own in-house tests, which puts it in line with what other labs report.
Overall, it's a decent performance, but other areas leave the product wanting. More on that in a second.
Resource Usage: 70%
As with other areas of Panda, resource usage was average all around. When running idle, CPU stayed mostly at 0% with unusual peaks as high as 11%, the same as we saw with its sibling product Panda Internet Security. Memory usage was a little high averaging around 175MB.
When running a full system scan, that's when we started seeing a much heavier footprint. CPU usage ranged from 30%-60%, while memory was consistently high, around 210MB. For our 2GB testing PCs, that memory usage is quite a bit more than most of the competition this year.
User Interface: 73%
Click images to enlarge
Panda makes a big departure from last year's interface with a design that looks much like the Windows 8 "tile" layout.
Instead of a more logical, simple navigation, this can sometimes be difficult to find which section you need, especially since you need to scroll left to right to all available tiles.
This interface might makes sense on a tablet but on a desktop of laptop, it's not great.
Inside, each section is better arranged, where most consumers will quickly find what they're after.
It's not that Panda has a horrible user interface, don't get us wrong. It just doesn't make much sense in some areas. At some point, when touch screens are everywhere, this interface might make sense. For now though, a more traditional layout would probably be a better option for most people.
Technical Support: 50%
In spite of the high resource usage, Panda had pretty good virus detection, so we had hopes that the software might do well overall, but during our review process, we uncovered something unsettling.
Panda has been using a third-party support provider called, "Advanced Tech Support." When we called their phone support line, we were confronted with a long automated recording informing us that the FTC has filed a complaint against the company and have suspended all business until a verdict is reached.
Ouch. While we're not one to pass judgment as to what happened, something appears to be off the rails with Advanced Tech Support and Panda. While this issue may well be resolved amicably in court sometime soon, it leaves Panda's customers in the lurch in the meantime.
Without phone support, your only options are of the self-help, do-it-yourself variety.
For everyone involved, Panda and consumers alike, we hope this is resolved quickly.
Conclusion - Overall Score: 68%
Instead of a more logical, simple navigation, this can sometimes be difficult to find which section you need, especially since you need to scroll left to right to all available tiles.
This interface might makes sense on a tablet but on a desktop of laptop, it's not great.
Inside, each section is better arranged, where most consumers will quickly find what they're after.
It's not that Panda has a horrible user interface, don't get us wrong. It just doesn't make much sense in some areas. At some point, when touch screens are everywhere, this interface might make sense. For now though, a more traditional layout would probably be a better option for most people.
Technical Support: 50%
In spite of the high resource usage, Panda had pretty good virus detection, so we had hopes that the software might do well overall, but during our review process, we uncovered something unsettling.
Panda has been using a third-party support provider called, "Advanced Tech Support." When we called their phone support line, we were confronted with a long automated recording informing us that the FTC has filed a complaint against the company and have suspended all business until a verdict is reached.
Ouch. While we're not one to pass judgment as to what happened, something appears to be off the rails with Advanced Tech Support and Panda. While this issue may well be resolved amicably in court sometime soon, it leaves Panda's customers in the lurch in the meantime.
Without phone support, your only options are of the self-help, do-it-yourself variety.
For everyone involved, Panda and consumers alike, we hope this is resolved quickly.
Conclusion - Overall Score: 68%
- Passing scores from some testing labs
- Built-in firewall
- No money-back guarantee
With about average protection, self-help only tech support, heavier system resource footprint, and a field of highly advanced competitors, Panda Antivirus Pro 2015 scores pretty poorly this year.
Each year, Panda delivers a new look and a decent feature list, so we always have high hopes that the company will bring it all together in a truly great product.
Unfortunately, in no small part because of the ongoing court proceedings over the product's tech support, this isn't the year.
Each year, Panda delivers a new look and a decent feature list, so we always have high hopes that the company will bring it all together in a truly great product.
Unfortunately, in no small part because of the ongoing court proceedings over the product's tech support, this isn't the year.
