#1 Dr.Web Review in 2024
Dr.Web, a name that's been around in the antivirus world since 1992, has always intrigued me. With its reputation for robust protection and a wide range of features, I decided it was time to put it to the test and see how it really performs.
In this Dr.Web review, I'm going to thoroughly examine its capabilities, looking at everything from its malware protection to its impact on system performance. I've spent a good chunk of time testing every feature, and I'm excited to share my findings with you.
Here's what you'll learn in this review:
- How effective Dr.Web is at stopping various types of malware
- The range of extra security features it offers
- How user-friendly the interface is
- Its impact on your computer's performance
- Whether it's worth your money
So, let's jump right in and see what Dr.Web has to offer!
In a Hurry? Here's a Quick Summary
If you're short on time, here's a quick overview of what I discovered for this Dr.Web review:
What You'll Like:
- Strong malware and ransomware protection
- Clean, intuitive user interface
- Useful additional features like data loss prevention and device access control
- Customizable scan options
- Decent web protection capabilities
What You May Not Like:
- Slightly higher system resource usage during scans
- Initial installation process can be a bit confusing
- Some features might be overwhelming for basic users
- No data backup feature included
What Makes This Dr.Web Review Different?
You might have come across other Dr.Web reviews, but I promise you, this one's different. I'm not just repeating information from the company's website or other reviews. No, I've gone the extra mile.
I've actually purchased, installed, and thoroughly tested Dr.Web on my own devices. I've spent weeks investigating every aspect of this antivirus, putting it through its paces in real-world scenarios. I've run numerous scans, simulated various threats, and even tried to break things (all in the name of thorough testing, of course!).
For this Dr.Web review, I primarily used my trusty Dell XPS laptop running Windows 11. But I didn't stop there. I also tested it on a MacBook Pro and even an Android phone to get a complete picture of its cross-platform performance.
Throughout this process, I've taken numerous screenshots, carefully selecting the most relevant ones to include in this review. These aren't just stock photos - they're real, first-hand evidence of my experience with Dr.Web.
So, when you read this review, you're getting insights from someone who's actually lived with Dr.Web, experienced its strengths and peculiarities, and can give you an honest, unbiased opinion. Let's examine and see what I discovered!
Buying Dr.Web
When it comes to purchasing Dr.Web, I found the process to be uncomplicated, although there were a few minor issues along the way. I opted for their most extensive package, Dr.Web Security Space, which offers protection for Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android devices.
The buying process itself was simple enough. I was presented with options to choose the license period (1, 2, or 3 years), the number of devices (from 1 to 5), and whether I wanted technical support included. I settled on a 1-year subscription for 2 PCs without technical support.
After entering my customer details, I was given several payment options including debit card, PayPal, and wire transfer. I went with the debit card option, and the payment was processed quickly.
Once the payment was confirmed, I was directed to a store page that contained my invoice, activation key, and other relevant details. These were also sent to me via email, which I appreciated as it's always good to have a backup.
However, here's where I hit a small snag. Despite having completed the purchase, I couldn't find an easy way to download the installer. This was a bit frustrating and not what I expected from a user-friendly experience.
Installation
The installation process for Dr.Web turned out to be a bit more complicated than I anticipated. After struggling to find a download link on their website, I ended up having to register on their site first. Even then, when I finally reached a page with a download link for my product, it didn't work.
As a workaround, I had to download the installer from their Trial page and then activate the free trial version with my license key. This indirect method was not ideal and could definitely be improved for a smoother user experience.
Dr.Web installation was fast and painless.Once I got past these initial hurdles, the actual installation process was pretty simple. I was able to choose my preferred language and had the option to connect to Dr.Web Cloud and install the Dr.Web firewall, both of which I enabled.
The next step involved entering the registration key, after which the program began installing. The whole process, including a required restart at the end, took about four minutes. While not the fastest installation I've experienced, it wasn't terribly slow either.
Despite the initial download difficulties, I was relieved to see that the installation itself was relatively painless. However, I do think Dr.Web could improve their download and installation process to make it more user-friendly, especially for less tech-savvy users.
Interface
After the somewhat bumpy installation process, I was pleasantly surprised by Dr.Web's user interface. It's clean, well-organized, and easy to understand, which is always a plus in my book.
The tray icon interface should be enough for most users.The default interface consists of a tray icon menu that provides quick access to the Security Center (the more detailed user interface), license information, update options, and customer support. This layout makes it easy to get to the most important features quickly.
The Security Center itself is divided into several modules or "cassettes", each representing a main feature:
- Files and Network: For file system scans and network threat protection
- Preventive Protection: Controls third-party app activity
- Devices and Personal Data: Manages device access and protects files and folders
- Parental Control: Controls access to computer, internet, files, and folders for different users
- Tools: Includes the Quarantine manager and other management tools
- Exclusions: Allows you to set exclusions from protection component scans
The Security Center lets you configure the features and access statistics.Other components of the main UI include:
- A Statistics tab that provides data on the main program operation events
- A settings button at the top for accessing program settings
- A support button for generating reports and reviewing product version information
- A Notification Feed button for important program operation notifications
- An Administrative mode toggle at the bottom of the window for controlling all groups of settings
- A protection status indicator at the top, showing whether the computer is protected and when the license expires
One thing I particularly liked was the ability to choose between light and dark themes, and the availability of 18 different languages. This level of customization is always appreciated.
Overall, I found the interface to be easy to use and navigate. Even if you're not particularly tech-savvy, you should be able to find your way around Dr.Web's features without much trouble.
Major Features
We’ll now take a closer look at Dr.Web and its defining characteristics. We’ll evaluate what sets it apart and why it could be a good fit for your security strategy.
Web Protection (SpIDer Gate)
In today's online environment, web protection is crucial, and Dr.Web's SpIDer Gate internet monitor aims to provide just that. By default, it automatically scans incoming traffic and blocks any objects containing viruses or other malicious programs.
SpIDer Gate settings include scanning traffic and URLs in IM clients, and setting blocklist parameters.One feature I particularly appreciated was the URL filtering of malicious and unreliable websites, which is enabled by default. SpIDer Gate scans traffic over HTTP, XMPP (Jabber), and TLS (SSL) protocols, providing a comprehensive shield against web-based threats.
To put SpIDer Gate to the test, I visited several websites known for testing security software. Here's what I found:
Dr.Web catching a web threat. Reason: known infection source.While these results are generally good, there's still some room for improvement, especially with the EICAR test. However, for most users, this level of protection should be more than adequate for day-to-day browsing.
Scan
Dr.Web's Scanner component is the heart of its antivirus capabilities. It performs thorough scans of your computer, checking boot sectors, memory, individual files, and even objects within archives, containers, or email attachments.
One thing I liked about the Scanner during this Dr.Web review is its flexibility. When it detects a malicious object, it doesn't just automatically delete it. Instead, it informs you about the threat and displays a report where you can choose the necessary action. This gives you more control over how threats are handled.
Dr.Web offers three main scan modes: Express, Full, and Custom. Let's take a closer look at each:
The scan modes: Express, Full, and Custom.Express Scan
The Express scan mode focuses on critical Windows objects:
- Boot sectors of all disks
- Random access memory
- Boot disk root folder
- Windows system folder
- User documents folder ("My Documents")
- Temporary files
- System restore points
- Presence of rootkits (if run with administrative privileges)
Express scan in progress: 75603 objects scanned and 1 threat found.In my Dr.Web review tests, the quick scan took about 15 minutes to finish, scanning 75,600 objects and detecting 1 threat. It's worth noting that this mode doesn't check archives or email files.
Full Scan
The Full scan mode is more extensive, checking random access memory, all hard drives (including boot sectors), and running a check for rootkits.
The full scan is more comprehensive. Here you can see it scanned over 500,000 files and the scan is not yet finished.My full scan took about 53 minutes to complete, scanning 618,000 files and detecting 5 threats. I chose to neutralize these threats, and Dr.Web handled this process smoothly.
The full scan detected 5 threats and neutralized them.Custom Scan
The Custom scan mode allows you to select specific files, folders, or objects like random access memory and boot sectors to scan. While this flexibility is nice, I found the options somewhat limited compared to some other antivirus solutions I've used.
Exclusions
Dr.Web allows you to configure exclusions from scans, which can be useful for improving performance or avoiding false positives with trusted files.
You can exclude websites, files, and folders, applications, and emails from being scanned..In the Exclusions section, you can:
- Configure access to websites not recommended by Doctor Web
- Exclude certain files and folders from SpIDer Guard and Scanner scans
- Exclude specific processes from SpIDer Guard, SpIDer Gate, and SpIDer Mail scans
- Configure SpIDer Mail message scan for spam
This level of detailed control is something I always appreciate in an antivirus solution.
Ransomware Protection
With ransomware being one of the most prevalent and damaging types of malware (the oters being trojans, keyloggers, spyware, and adware) today, I was particularly interested in testing Dr.Web's ransomware protection capabilities.
Ransomware protection settings include setting reaction to app attempts to encrypt user data.Dr.Web's ransomware protection is designed to detect processes that attempt to encrypt user files. In my Dr.Web review tests, it successfully stopped 13 out of 22 ransomware simulation scenarios. While this is on par with the average success rate, I would have liked to see a higher detection rate given the critical nature of ransomware threats. Popular antivirus alternatives like Kaspersky and McAfee scored a little bit better in the ransomware protection department.
Exploit Prevention
The Exploit Prevention component is designed to block malicious programs that exploit vulnerabilities in well-known applications.
Exploit prevention settings let you select the preventive action,You can choose from three levels of protection against exploits:
- Prevent unauthorized code from being executed
- Interactive mode (prompts you for action when a threat is detected)
- Allow unauthorized code to be executed (not recommended)
I found this feature to be a valuable addition to Dr.Web's security arsenal, providing an extra layer of protection against sophisticated threats.
Webcam and Microphone Protection
In an age where privacy is increasingly important, I was pleased to see that Dr.Web offers protection for your webcam and microphone.
You can configure the control over webcams, microphones, and more.You can choose to allow, block, or be asked about application access to your webcam. This feature gave me peace of mind, knowing that no application could secretly access my camera without my knowledge.
Data Loss Prevention
Dr.Web's Data Loss Prevention feature is designed to protect important folders from being modified by malicious software.
In the data loss prevention settings you can choose folders to protect.You can add files to a protected folder, and any modification or removal of files from this folder is blocked. You can also configure application access parameters for each folder. I found this feature particularly useful for protecting sensitive documents.
Device Access Control
The Device Access Control feature allows you to manage access to devices with file systems.
You can block or allow access to specified devices.You can set access rules for devices, choosing between "Allow all" or "Read-only" modes. This feature can be especially useful in corporate environments or for parents wanting to control their children's access to external devices.
Quarantine Manager
The Quarantine Manager is a tool that allows you to manage isolated files where malicious objects were detected.
The quarantine manager displays infected object, the threat name, date added, and path.In administrator mode, you can restore, check again, or delete quarantined objects. I found this tool to be uncomplicated and useful, especially when dealing with false positives.
Firewall
Dr.Web's Firewall protects your computer from unauthorized access and prevents leak of vital data through networks. It monitors connection attempts and data transfers, helping you block unwanted or suspicious connections on both network and application levels.
In the firewall settings, you can select the operation mode and configure app rules.Key features of the firewall include:
- Control and screening of all incoming and outgoing traffic
- Access control on the application level
- Screening of packets on the network level
- Fast selection of rule sets
- Event logging
I tested the firewall's effectiveness using a popular firewall test tool, and I'm pleased to report that Dr.Web passed this test successfully.
Email Protection (SpIDer Mail)
Email is often a pathway for malware, so I was keen to test the email protection capabilities for this Dr.Web review. The SpIDer Mail component is installed by default and runs automatically at OS startup.
SpIDer Mail is a tool that allows you to choose preventive actions to take if your emails contain infections.SpIDer Mail can scan messages for spam and malicious objects using Dr.Web Anti-spam. You can adjust various settings, such as allowing Cyrillic or Asian text, adding a prefix to subjects of spam messages, and choosing actions for infected or suspicious messages.
Parental Control
Dr.Web's Parental Control component allows you to manage access to websites, files, and folders, as well as set time limits on internet and computer usage.
In the parental control main interface you can configure access to websites and set black and white lists.By default, Parental Control is enabled for each account and operates in the "No restrictions" mode. You can enable or disable it for each user and adjust various settings:
You can set time limits for device access.- Internet: Configure access to internet resources
- Time: Set time limits on computer and internet usage
- Files and Folders: Restrict access to certain files or folders
I found the parental control features to be thorough and easy to set up, making it a valuable tool for families.
Statistics
Dr.Web provides detailed statistics on the operation of its main components, which I found useful for understanding how the software was performing.
Statistics overview: detailed report, parental control, threats, and firewall.The statistics include:
- Detailed reports on component operation events
- Parental control events for each user
- Blocked threats detected by the scanner or real-time protection
- Firewall reports on active applications and packet filtering
For my tests, I used a Dell XPS laptop with an Intel i7-1065G7 CPU @ 1.30GHz and 16 GB of RAM running on Windows 11.
While running a full scan, I observed that Dr.Web consumes about 50% CPU power and 350MB of RAM. This is above the average CPU usage of 25% and the average RAM consumption of 300 MB that I've seen in other antivirus solutions.
This higher resource usage might be noticeable on older or less powerful systems, but on my relatively modern laptop, I didn't experience any significant slowdowns during day-to-day use.
Dr.Web Review: Conclusion
After perfoming many tests for this Dr.Web review, I can say it's a solid antivirus solution with some strong points and a few areas for improvement.
Pros:
- Thorough malware scanning with good detection rates
- Strong ransomware protection
- Useful additional features like web protection, data loss prevention, and device control
- Clean and easy-to-use interface
Cons:
- Initial installation process could be smoother
- Slightly higher system resource usage compared to some competitors
- Some features might be daunting for basic users
Overall, Dr.Web provides thorough malware scanning, good ransomware protection, decent email security, and satisfactory web protection. The extra protection features like webcam and mic protection, data protection, and device control manager are also valuable additions.
However, the user experience could be improved, especially regarding the installation process. Once installed, though, I found the interface to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Interested in alternative antivirus protection? TotalAV, Norton, and Bitdefender are excellent. Also, check out our guide to the best antivirus software for 2024.
Octav Fedor (Cybersecurity Editor)
Octav is a cybersecurity researcher and writer at AntivirusGuide. When he’s not publishing his honest opinions about security software online, he likes to learn about programming, watch astronomy documentaries, and participate in general knowledge competitions.