Software · head to head
Kaspersky Total Security vs Nessus
Kaspersky Total Security
Software
Complete protection for your digital life
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Kaspersky Total Security uS sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024; Nessus nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier
- They diverge on capability: Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection, Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Kaspersky Total Security and Nessus actually diverge.
| Attribute | Kaspersky Total Security | Nessus |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Desktop, Api |
| Founded | 1997 | 2002 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Kaspersky Total Security
- Real-time protection
- Ransomware protection
- Safe Money
- Privacy protection
- Parental controls
- Password manager
- VPN
- File encryption
Only in Nessus
- Vulnerability scanning
- Configuration auditing
- Malware detection
- Web application scanning
- Cloud scanning
- Compliance checks
- Patch auditing
- Pre-built policies
Both cover
- Cloud deployment
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Kaspersky Total Security
- Antivirusnot Nessus
- Internet Securitynot Nessus
- Parental Controlnot Nessus
Nessus
- Scanning hosts and applications for known vulnerabilities and misconfigurationsnot Kaspersky Total Security
- Running compliance and configuration audits against a defined scopenot Kaspersky Total Security
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Kaspersky Total Security
- US sales banned since June 2024 with support ending September 29, 2024
- VPN limited to 200 MB per day and servers in only 24 countries
- Password manager has privacy concerns with questionable terms and policies
- VPN and password manager only included in Plus and Premium tiers, not in Standard
- Occasionally flags legitimate files as false positives
- Firewall leaves open ports on public networks
Nessus
- Nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, with no free or low cost commercial tier
- Multi year terms are the only discount route, at $9,330.95 for two years and $13,637.54 for three
- It is a single user scanner, so team workflows mean migrating to another Tenable product
- Tenable One vulnerability management is priced separately, starting at $3,500 a year for 100 assets
Pricing, plan by plan
Kaspersky Total Security
Free- FreeFree
- Basic antivirus
- No real-time protection
- Standard$38.99/year
- Antivirus
- Firewall
- Anti-phishing
- Plus$52.99/year
- Standard features
- Password manager
- VPN with limit
- Premium$74.99/year
- Plus features
- Identity protection
- Unlimited VPN
Nessus
Free- Nessus Essentials (Free)Free
- 16 IP addresses
- Vulnerability scanning
- Configuration auditing
- Nessus Professional$2990/year
- Unlimited IPs
- Compliance checks
- Live results
- Nessus Expert$5290/year
- All Pro features
- External attack surface
- Cloud infrastructure scanning
Which should you pick?
Choose Kaspersky Total Security if
- You need real-time protection.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want ransomware protection.
Choose Nessus if
- You need vulnerability scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Desktop, Api.
- You also want configuration auditing.
Questions people ask
- Is Kaspersky Total Security or Nessus better?
- Neither clearly leads. Kaspersky Total Security starts at Free and Nessus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Kaspersky Total Security or Nessus?
- Kaspersky Total Security starts at Free and Nessus at Free.
- Does Kaspersky Total Security or Nessus run on more platforms?
- Kaspersky Total Security runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android. Nessus runs on Desktop, Api.
- Can I use Kaspersky Total Security for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Kaspersky Total Security best used for?
- Kaspersky Total Security is most often used for antivirus, internet security, parental control. Of those, antivirus and internet security are not what Nessus is typically brought in for.
- What can Kaspersky Total Security do that Nessus cannot?
- Kaspersky Total Security covers Real-time protection, Ransomware protection, Safe Money, Privacy protection. Nessus covers Vulnerability scanning, Configuration auditing, Malware detection, Web application scanning. Both handle Cloud deployment.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Kaspersky Total Security: What does Kaspersky Total Security include?
Kaspersky Total Security (Premium tier) includes antivirus, firewall, password manager, VPN with 200 MB daily limit, parental controls (Kaspersky Safe Kids), and anti-ransomware protection.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: How much does Kaspersky Total Security cost?
Kaspersky Standard costs $38.99/year for 3 devices. Plus tier is $52.99/year for 5 devices. Premium is $74.99/year for 10 devices. Multi-year discounts available.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: Is Kaspersky available in the United States?
No. The U.S. government banned Kaspersky software sales in June 2024, with support and software updates ceasing September 29, 2024, citing national security concerns regarding Russian government ties.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: Does Kaspersky have parental controls?
Yes. Premium and Plus tiers include one year free access to Kaspersky Safe Kids parental controls app, which provides activity reports, app monitoring, usage limits, and geo-fencing with location tracking.
SourceKaspersky Total Security: How much does the VPN provide?
Kaspersky's free VPN (Kaspersky Secure Connection) offers only 200 MB per day of traffic, limiting data usage. Full VPN is included in Plus and Premium plans but with limited servers in only 24 countries.
SourceRelated pages
More on Kaspersky Total Security
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