AV-Comparatives Releases 2024 Summary Report: Celebrating Excellence in Cybersecurity

INNSBRUCK, Austria, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AV-Comparatives, the independent antivirus testing lab, is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Summary Report for 2024. This comprehensive report evaluates 16 leading consumer security products for Windows, assessing their performance across multiple rigorous tests conducted throughout the year.

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

Tested Products

The 2024 evaluation encompassed the following security solutions:

• Avast Free Antivirus
• AVG Internet Security
• Avira Free Antivirus
• Bitdefender Total Security
• ESET HOME Security Essential
• F-Secure Internet Security
• G DATA Total Security
• Kaspersky Standard
• McAfee Total Protection
• Microsoft Defender
• Norton Antivirus Plus
• Panda Free Antivirus
• Quick Heal Internet Security
• Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus
• TotalAV Antivirus Pro
• Trend Micro Internet Security

Key Highlights

In 2024, AV-Comparatives conducted a series of comprehensive tests to assess each product's ability to:

• Protect against real-world internet threats.
• Detect and recent malicious programs.
• Defend against advanced targeted attacks.
• Operate efficiently without compromising system performance.

Outstanding Performances

While all evaluated products met acceptable standards, several distinguished themselves with exceptional performance:

• ESET HOME Security Essential: Awarded Product of the Year 2024, ESET achieved the highest "Advanced+" rating in all seven tests, underscoring its superior protection capabilities.
• Avast Free Antivirus: Recognized as a Top-Rated Product, Avast earned "Advanced+" in six out of seven tests and "Advanced" in one, securing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.
• AVG Internet Security: Also a Top-Rated Product, AVG mirrored Avast's achievements with "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, sharing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.
• Bitdefender Total Security: As a Top-Rated Product, Bitdefender garnered "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, earning the Gold Award in the Malware Protection Test.
• Kaspersky Standard: Honored as a Top-Rated Product, Kaspersky achieved "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, receiving the Gold Award in the False-Positives Test.

Additional Recognitions

The following products also demonstrated very commendable performance:

• Avira Free Antivirus: Secured the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test, highlighting its robust defense against internet-borne threats.
• McAfee Total Protection: Earned the Gold Award in the Performance Test, reflecting minimal impact on system performance.
• G DATA Total Security: Received the Silver Award in the Malware Protection Test, showcasing effective malware detection capabilities.

Areas for Improvement

While the majority of products excelled, Trend Micro Internet Security and Quick Heal Internet Security exhibited areas needing enhancement to align with industry leaders. AV-Comparatives encourages these vendors to analyse the detailed findings to bolster their products' effectiveness in future evaluations.

Comprehensive User-Interface Review

The Summary Report also includes an in-depth user-interface review of all tested products, providing insights into usability aspects such as installation processes, security alerts, scan options, quarantine management, and access controls.

Cybersecurity and Endpoint Protection for Enterprises and Corporate Users

The latest test results for leading business security solutions, including Avast, Bitdefender, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Elastic, ESET, G Data, K7, Kaspersky, Microsoft, NetSecurity, Rapid7, SenseOn, Sophos, Trellix, VIPRE, and VMware, are now available on AV-Comparatives' website.

Commitment to Transparency and Excellence

AV-Comparatives remains dedicated to delivering transparent, comprehensive, and scientifically rigorous cybersecurity assessments. By providing unbiased evaluations, we aim to empower consumers and businesses to make informed decisions about their digital security solutions.

For a detailed analysis and the full 2024 Summary Report, please visit:

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

Media contact: media@av-comparatives.org, +43512287788

INNSBRUCK, Austria, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AV-Comparatives, the independent antivirus testing lab, is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Summary Report for 2024. This comprehensive report evaluates 16 leading consumer security products for Windows, assessing their performance across multiple rigorous tests conducted throughout the year.

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

Tested Products

The 2024 evaluation encompassed the following security solutions:

• Avast Free Antivirus
• AVG Internet Security
• Avira Free Antivirus
• Bitdefender Total Security
• ESET HOME Security Essential
• F-Secure Internet Security
• G DATA Total Security
• Kaspersky Standard
• McAfee Total Protection
• Microsoft Defender
• Norton Antivirus Plus
• Panda Free Antivirus
• Quick Heal Internet Security
• Total Defense Essential Anti-Virus
• TotalAV Antivirus Pro
• Trend Micro Internet Security

Key Highlights

In 2024, AV-Comparatives conducted a series of comprehensive tests to assess each product's ability to:

• Protect against real-world internet threats.
• Detect and recent malicious programs.
• Defend against advanced targeted attacks.
• Operate efficiently without compromising system performance.

Outstanding Performances

While all evaluated products met acceptable standards, several distinguished themselves with exceptional performance:

• ESET HOME Security Essential: Awarded Product of the Year 2024, ESET achieved the highest "Advanced+" rating in all seven tests, underscoring its superior protection capabilities.
• Avast Free Antivirus: Recognized as a Top-Rated Product, Avast earned "Advanced+" in six out of seven tests and "Advanced" in one, securing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.
• AVG Internet Security: Also a Top-Rated Product, AVG mirrored Avast's achievements with "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, sharing the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test.
• Bitdefender Total Security: As a Top-Rated Product, Bitdefender garnered "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, earning the Gold Award in the Malware Protection Test.
• Kaspersky Standard: Honored as a Top-Rated Product, Kaspersky achieved "Advanced+" in six tests and "Advanced" in one, receiving the Gold Award in the False-Positives Test.

Additional Recognitions

The following products also demonstrated very commendable performance:

• Avira Free Antivirus: Secured the Gold Award in the Real-World Protection Test, highlighting its robust defense against internet-borne threats.
• McAfee Total Protection: Earned the Gold Award in the Performance Test, reflecting minimal impact on system performance.
• G DATA Total Security: Received the Silver Award in the Malware Protection Test, showcasing effective malware detection capabilities.

Areas for Improvement

While the majority of products excelled, Trend Micro Internet Security and Quick Heal Internet Security exhibited areas needing enhancement to align with industry leaders. AV-Comparatives encourages these vendors to analyse the detailed findings to bolster their products' effectiveness in future evaluations.

Comprehensive User-Interface Review

The Summary Report also includes an in-depth user-interface review of all tested products, providing insights into usability aspects such as installation processes, security alerts, scan options, quarantine management, and access controls.

Cybersecurity and Endpoint Protection for Enterprises and Corporate Users

The latest test results for leading business security solutions, including Avast, Bitdefender, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Elastic, ESET, G Data, K7, Kaspersky, Microsoft, NetSecurity, Rapid7, SenseOn, Sophos, Trellix, VIPRE, and VMware, are now available on AV-Comparatives' website.

Commitment to Transparency and Excellence

AV-Comparatives remains dedicated to delivering transparent, comprehensive, and scientifically rigorous cybersecurity assessments. By providing unbiased evaluations, we aim to empower consumers and businesses to make informed decisions about their digital security solutions.

For a detailed analysis and the full 2024 Summary Report, please visit:

Access the full report here: Summary Report 2024

Media contact: media@av-comparatives.org, +43512287788

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

AV-Comparatives Releases 2024 Summary Report: Celebrating Excellence in Cybersecurity

Financing supports U.S. critical mineral security and helps reshore the American steel supply chain

NASHWAUK, Minn., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesabi Metallics Company LLC (Mesabi Metallics), backed by the Essar Group, today announced that it has entered into a new $520 million senior secured credit facility with Valor Mining Credit Partners II, L.P. (VMP II), a dedicated mining and critical minerals credit fund managed by Breakwall Capital LP (Breakwall) in partnership with Vitol, as it advances toward commercial operations later this year.

Located on more than 16,000 acres in northern Minnesota, Mesabi Metallics is completing a $2.5 billion world-scale merchant Direct Reduction (DR) grade iron ore mine and pellet plant that will onshore a strategically important segment of the U.S. steel supply chain.

With over 750 construction workers currently onsite, the project represents one of the largest private-sector industrial investments in the state's history. Essar Group has already invested over $2 billion of equity into the project. The project has also received support from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), underscoring growing federal recognition of the project's strategic importance to U.S. manufacturing and supply chain security for the American manufacturing, automobile, infrastructure, shipbuilding and defense sectors.

"The partnership with Breakwall is an important milestone for Mesabi Metallics," said Joe Broking, President and CEO of Mesabi Metallics. "We are bringing to market a brand-new American source of the highest quality DR-grade iron ore that will help U.S. steelmakers reduce reliance on imported raw materials and international supply chains. America is already the global leader in the next generation Electric Arc Furnace-based steelmaking — the cleanest and most energy efficient way of making steel. Mesabi Metallics will create hundreds of high-quality jobs in northern Minnesota for several decades to come and will support the reshoring of American industrial dominance."

"Mesabi Metallics is a great example of the type of high-quality company and large-scale mining project we seek to partner on — anchored by a long-life resource in an advanced stage of development, with strategic importance to critical industrial development. We look forward to building upon this partnership with Mesabi Metallics and supporting them in their journey," said Daniel Flannery, President and Managing Partner of Breakwall. "This deal further demonstrates the breadth of our partnership with Vitol, combining credit solutions with global resource marketing acumen, to deliver a multitude of solutions for top tier companies like Mesabi Metallics and world class operators like the Essar Group," added Jamie Brodsky, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Breakwall.

About Mesabi Metallics Company LLC 

Mesabi Metallics Company LLC, an Essar Group company, is constructing a state-of-the-art mine and Direct Reduction (DR) grade iron ore pellet plant to produce premium DR grade pellets on over 16,000 acres in Nashwauk, Minnesota. Once completed, it will be the first new mine and pellet plant in Minnesota in almost 50 years. Mesabi's DR grade iron ore pellets will be strategically positioned to meet the demand of the Electric Arc Furnace market, ensuring supply chain security for DR grade iron pellets in the United States and replacing foreign imported pellets. The endeavor is one of the largest private sector investments in Minnesota. Mesabi Metallics has already invested over $2.2 billion.

About Breakwall Capital LP

Breakwall Capital is a leading energy specialist focused on direct lending capital solutions to middle-market and developing energy companies. As an independent asset manager and employee-owned firm, Breakwall seeks to fill the gap that other financing providers appear reluctant to service. Breakwall is led by Christopher Abbate, Jamie Brodsky, and Daniel Flannery and since 2014, the Breakwall team has built a credit investment franchise that focuses exclusively on energy credit. During its 12-year history, the team has committed approximately $7.5 billion to energy and energy-related companies or projects across more than 70 transactions. Breakwall is headquartered in New York with offices in Texas and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit Breakwall's website at www.breakwallcap.com.

Financing supports U.S. critical mineral security and helps reshore the American steel supply chain

NASHWAUK, Minn., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesabi Metallics Company LLC (Mesabi Metallics), backed by the Essar Group, today announced that it has entered into a new $520 million senior secured credit facility with Valor Mining Credit Partners II, L.P. (VMP II), a dedicated mining and critical minerals credit fund managed by Breakwall Capital LP (Breakwall) in partnership with Vitol, as it advances toward commercial operations later this year.

Located on more than 16,000 acres in northern Minnesota, Mesabi Metallics is completing a $2.5 billion world-scale merchant Direct Reduction (DR) grade iron ore mine and pellet plant that will onshore a strategically important segment of the U.S. steel supply chain.

With over 750 construction workers currently onsite, the project represents one of the largest private-sector industrial investments in the state's history. Essar Group has already invested over $2 billion of equity into the project. The project has also received support from the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), underscoring growing federal recognition of the project's strategic importance to U.S. manufacturing and supply chain security for the American manufacturing, automobile, infrastructure, shipbuilding and defense sectors.

"The partnership with Breakwall is an important milestone for Mesabi Metallics," said Joe Broking, President and CEO of Mesabi Metallics. "We are bringing to market a brand-new American source of the highest quality DR-grade iron ore that will help U.S. steelmakers reduce reliance on imported raw materials and international supply chains. America is already the global leader in the next generation Electric Arc Furnace-based steelmaking — the cleanest and most energy efficient way of making steel. Mesabi Metallics will create hundreds of high-quality jobs in northern Minnesota for several decades to come and will support the reshoring of American industrial dominance."

"Mesabi Metallics is a great example of the type of high-quality company and large-scale mining project we seek to partner on — anchored by a long-life resource in an advanced stage of development, with strategic importance to critical industrial development. We look forward to building upon this partnership with Mesabi Metallics and supporting them in their journey," said Daniel Flannery, President and Managing Partner of Breakwall. "This deal further demonstrates the breadth of our partnership with Vitol, combining credit solutions with global resource marketing acumen, to deliver a multitude of solutions for top tier companies like Mesabi Metallics and world class operators like the Essar Group," added Jamie Brodsky, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Breakwall.

About Mesabi Metallics Company LLC 

Mesabi Metallics Company LLC, an Essar Group company, is constructing a state-of-the-art mine and Direct Reduction (DR) grade iron ore pellet plant to produce premium DR grade pellets on over 16,000 acres in Nashwauk, Minnesota. Once completed, it will be the first new mine and pellet plant in Minnesota in almost 50 years. Mesabi's DR grade iron ore pellets will be strategically positioned to meet the demand of the Electric Arc Furnace market, ensuring supply chain security for DR grade iron pellets in the United States and replacing foreign imported pellets. The endeavor is one of the largest private sector investments in Minnesota. Mesabi Metallics has already invested over $2.2 billion.

About Breakwall Capital LP

Breakwall Capital is a leading energy specialist focused on direct lending capital solutions to middle-market and developing energy companies. As an independent asset manager and employee-owned firm, Breakwall seeks to fill the gap that other financing providers appear reluctant to service. Breakwall is led by Christopher Abbate, Jamie Brodsky, and Daniel Flannery and since 2014, the Breakwall team has built a credit investment franchise that focuses exclusively on energy credit. During its 12-year history, the team has committed approximately $7.5 billion to energy and energy-related companies or projects across more than 70 transactions. Breakwall is headquartered in New York with offices in Texas and Rhode Island. For more information, please visit Breakwall's website at www.breakwallcap.com.

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Mesabi Metallics Secures $520 Million from Breakwall Capital - Advances towards Q3 2026 start of New American Iron Ore Mine