Seven security products have obtained the 2026 fake online store detection certification; reports indicate a surge in the number of holiday-related fake online stores.
Innsbruck, Austria, November 6th / PRNewswire / -- As Black Friday on November 27th and the holiday shopping season approach, AV-Comparatives has released its 2026 holiday online store testing results. Seven security products for consumers have been certified for their ability to reliably alert users to identify fraudulent online stores. For the full results, please visit: https :// av-comparatives.org / fake-shops-detection-test-2026 / .
Overview:
According to a recent industry report, reports of holiday-themed fake online stores have increased fivefold within 60 days. AV-Comparatives tested security products on 500 actually existing fake online store websites and 100 legitimate shopping websites. A total of seven products have obtained certification for detecting fake online stores in 2026.
How serious are the problems with fake online stores this season?
The American company Savi Security stated in its "2026 Holiday Shopping Scam Report" released on October 20th that users of its Scamwise service report a new fake store every three minutes on average, which amounts to about 500 fake stores per day. The report indicates that the number of reports of holiday-themed fake stores has increased fivefold within 60 days. According to the report, 85% of these fake stores will disappear within two weeks.
Why do short-lived online stores need automated protection?
It is difficult to shut down shops that exist for only a few days in advance, and common warning signs such as spelling mistakes or rough design are also becoming less reliable. Security software that can analyze when users visit websites can fill this gap.
AV-Comparatives Cybersecurity Evangelist Thomas Uhlemann states: "Fake online stores have become very realistic, and even experienced online shoppers can be deceived, especially during Black Friday, the Black Friday weekend, and holiday seasons when everyone is looking for discounts. Security software that can issue warnings before you enter your payment information can provide a valuable layer of protection."
AV-Comparatives How to test?
From October 1st to 7th, 2026, AV-Comparatives conducted tests on 500 fake online store URLs, which were randomly selected from a larger pool of samples, and these URLs were still online during the testing period. The organization also performed false positive tests using 100 popular and legitimate shopping websites. To obtain certification, the system must be able to identify at least 80% of the fake online stores without any false positives.
Which products have obtained certification?
Avast Premium Security, Bitdefender Total Security, F- Secure Internet Security, Kaspersky Premium, NordVPN Next - gen antivirus, Norton 360 Deluxe as well as Norton VPN Ultimate.
What else can consumers do?
Check if there are any spelling mistakes in the website address, be wary of excessively exaggerated discounts, and use payment methods that provide buyer protection.
For the complete results, product reports, and more tips, please refer to: https :// av-comparatives.org / fake-shops-detection-test-2026 /.
About AV-Comparatives
AV-Comparatives is a leading independent cybersecurity testing organization that evaluates security solutions that go far beyond the scope of traditional antivirus software. Its systematic testing covers modern endpoint protection, threat detection, as well as mobile security on devices such as PC, Mac, Android, and IoT. AV-Comparatives utilizes one of the most relevant and complex threat samples in the world to create a real-world testing environment for comprehensive evaluations. Test results are available for free globally, while AV-Comparatives certification provides a globally recognized mark of verified cybersecurity performance.
www.av-comparatives.org
