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Heralded

The most visible antivirus apps, October 2026

October 2026 · 15 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 84 answers read

Most cited source

microsoft.com

24citations

From Google AI Mode, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Norton

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on Gemini, not on Google AI Mode, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
11 Panda Security ES New entry 3 , range 1–16
3
  • : score 3 · #11
 4% 0% None First reading
12 TotalAV GB New entry 2 , range 1–11
2
  • : score 2 · #12
 2% 0% None First reading
– Aura US Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 1% 0% None First reading
– AVG CZ Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 2% 0% First reading
– Avira DE Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 2% 0% None First reading
– ESET SK Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 4% 3% None First reading
– Trend Micro JP Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 2% 0% None First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

This month's moves

First reading. No comparable previous month yet.

Biggest risers

No clear rise.

Biggest fallers

No clear fall.

Drop-outs

No drop-outs.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
1 microsoft.com Brand site 16.7% 4 of 4 18 4
2 google.com Vendor site 17.9% 4 of 4 18 3
3Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
4Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
5 apple.com Vendor site 10.7% 2 of 4 8 0
6 kaspersky.com Brand site 13.1% 2 of 4 9 2
7Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
8Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
9Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
10Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
do i need antivirus protection if i only download apps from official stores English Microsoft Defender
what can replace relying on built-in security to protect my laptop English Bitdefender and Malwarebytes, tied
how can i replace separate security apps with one for my devices English Microsoft Defender
i work remotely and need to protect my laptop on public wi-fi English Microsoft Defender
i have children using shared devices and need to block unsafe downloads English Microsoft Defender

Each engine's top three

Method

Each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured