Surprised by F-Secure’s Low Detection Score in Recent Antivirus Test?

Debby
Debby Posts: 46 Contributor
edited June 2025 in General Discussion

https://unwire.hk/2025/06/16/antivirus/tech-secure/

In the latest antivirus comparison by Unwire.hk, F-Secure with only 3 points in the manual scan test — failing to detect several malicious samples.
What are your thoughts on this result? Do you agree with the test methodology, or have different experiences?

Comments

  • YRY
    YRY Posts: 3 Observer

    A manual scan test does not have any reference value.

    Testers can manipulate test results by tinkering with samples.

    Test results demonstrating the success rate of antivirus protection after malware execution are the only credible ones.

  • Sean30003
    Sean30003 Posts: 6 Explorer
    edited August 2025

    @Debby The low score for F-Secure in the Unwire.hk manual scan test shouldn’t be taken as the full picture, since manual scans only measure one part of protection. What matters more is real-time protection, and independent labs like AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives usually show F-Secure performing much better there. So while the test result is interesting, I wouldn’t judge the product only by that one method. I wouldn’t judge the product only by that one method—especially because when you’re sharing files, strong real-time protection is what truly keeps you safe.

  • 91club
    91club Posts: 8 New Member

    I completely agree with @YRY and @Sean30003 here.

    Evaluating modern security software based purely on a "manual scan" test is an outdated approach that misses how endpoint security actually operates today.

    • Static vs. Dynamic Protection: A manual scan only looks at static file signatures. If a piece of malware requires execution or a specific trigger to be intercepted by behavioral monitoring, a basic right-click scan won't capture that.
    • The Role of Cloud Telemetry: F-Secure, like many top-tier security suites, heavily relies on real-time cloud lookup and behavioral analytics (like DeepGuard). These systems are designed to kick in exactly when a file attempts to run or interact with the system—especially during critical actions like sharing files.
    • Look at the Bigger Picture: While niche tech-blog tests can be interesting data points, they lack the standardized, rigorous environments of established testers like AV-TEST or AV-Comparatives. Those labs consistently show F-Secure scoring top marks in "Real-World Protection" and "Performance," which are the metrics that actually impact daily user safety.

    Ultimately, preventing an active infection in real-time is infinitely more important than how many dormant, unexecuted samples a scanner catches in an isolated folder