Functional overview of Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium

Kaspersky Standard covers the "classic" basic protection (malware/web protection etc.), the variants differ mainly in additional services/functions per level.

Strong protection - Blocks malware, ransomware and exploits in real time.
Two-way firewall - Automatically controls incoming and outgoing app connections.
Secure payments - Secures bank websites in protected browser mode.
Phishing defense - Instantly detects fake websites and malicious links.
Performance enhancement - Cleans junk files and updates applications quickly.
Easy control - Simple settings, reports and exclusions for teams.

Kaspersky Plus builds on Standard and adds additional tools/services (typically things like Password Manager and VPN added value depending on package/region).

Real-time protection - Blocks malware, ransomware and phishing instantly.
Unlimited VPN - Encrypts traffic and protects Wi-Fi privacy.
Password Manager - Stores strong passwords and auto-fills logins.
Data Leak - Alerts you when accounts appear in leaks.
Secure Payments - Secures banking and payment transactions in the protected browser.
Device Cleanup - Removes junk files and speeds up performance.

Kaspersky Premium is the most comprehensive level and supplements Plus with additional premium services, some of which may be country-dependent.

Complete protection - Blocks malware, ransomware and phishing in real time.
Unlimited VPN - Encrypts data traffic and protects privacy on Wi-Fi.
Password Manager - Automatically creates, saves and fills in secure passwords.
Identity monitoring - Alerts you to leaks and risky account connections.
Premium support - Priority help with problems and security issues.
Secure payments - Protects banking and checkout transactions in a secure browser.

Click here for the Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium comparison table with all functions

For which people or customer groups is Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium recommended?

Kaspersky Standard is ideal for the following customer groups:

Kaspersky Plus is ideal for the following customer groups:

Kaspersky Premium is ideal for the following customer groups:

What are the "old" Kaspersky products called now (Anti-Virus / Internet Security / Total Security)?

In many threads, this is exactly the core question, because the old consumer names have "disappeared" in retail/renewals.
Typical assignment:

Kaspersky Anti-Virus is now called Kaspersky Standard (often referred to as "Kaspersky Standard Antivirus").

Kaspersky Internet Security is now called Kaspersky Plus (often referred to as "Kaspersky Plus Internet Security").

Kaspersky Total Security is now called Kaspersky Premium (on some Kaspersky pages it appears as "Kaspersky Premium Total Security", but the current top package is called Premium).

Important practical note from the research:
For existing licenses/upgrades, the assignment is not always 1:1 like the old names, e.g. in many cases an active Internet Security subscription is "converted" to Standard or Standard is described as compatible with Anti-Virus and Internet Security, while Plus is described as compatible with Total Security.

Is Kaspersky Password Manager included in Standard?

No, according to the Kaspersky documentation, Password Manager is only included in Kaspersky Plus and Kaspersky Premium.

Why does the VPN in Kaspersky Plus/Premium only show "300 MB per day" or "Limited", although "Unlimited" is expected?

This is one of the most frequent Plus/Premium questions in forums: Users see a daily limit in the VPN app despite Plus/Premium.
In practice, this is very often due to the VPN app not being linked to the correct My Kaspersky account, or the subscription being purchased but not (yet) correctly assigned to the respective user account/device.
If it is "unlimited" for shared family subscriptions only for the main account, several threads report exactly this symptom; then the subscription activation/assignment per user account must be correct (or there are package/regional restrictions, which the dealer text sometimes misleads).

Does "Unlimited VPN" with Plus/Premium apply to all devices in the subscription or only to some of them (e.g. 5 out of 10 devices)?

This also comes up all the time because store offers and account unlocks are described differently and users then receive contradictory messages.
In forums, there are specific cases in which only one part of several devices shows "unlimited" or second devices appear limited, although the subscription should cover more devices; this is typically an account/sharing/allocation problem or an offer condition of the specific package/reseller.

Do I need to enter an activation code in the app for Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium?

Kaspersky describes for the current subscription variants (Standard/Plus/Premium) that it is often not necessary to enter a code in the app because the subscription runs via the account (My Kaspersky).
If an app still asks for a code, this is often an indication that you are not logged into the correct account or that a different license model/product is expected.

How do I renew a Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium subscription, and when will I see the new expiration date?

Renewals are done via the account/subscription depending on the purchase method; Kaspersky has instructions for Standard/Plus/Premium in the support documentation.
According to Kaspersky, it can take up to 24 hours for the new expiration date to appear in the app if the automatic renewal is active and has been charged.

How do I deactivate the automatic subscription renewal?

This is a perennial issue because many users suddenly see "auto-renew" after purchase and want to disable it.
Kaspersky describes the way to do this (for Kaspersky Basic/Standard/Plus/Premium) via My Kaspersky and points out that there may be special cases depending on the payment service provider/reseller.

Can I simply change devices in the Kaspersky subscription (add new device, remove old one)?

Yes, this is often asked when a PC has been replaced or a device has been sold.
You can add and manage devices via My Kaspersky; you can also remove devices from your account, e.g. if you no longer use them.

On which platforms does Kaspersky Standard/Plus/Premium run?

Kaspersky lists these subscriptions as cross-platform (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android) and explains the differences between the levels in the comparison/support documentation.

Does Kaspersky Premium include identity theft protection, and does it apply everywhere in Europe?

Kaspersky describes that Premium can include "Identity Theft Protection" (provided by Iris Powered by Generali), but explicitly points out that the service is not available in all countries.
So if you buy "Premium", the exact availability of this module may depend on the country.

Can I use multiple separate "vaults/profiles" for family members with Kaspersky Password Manager?

This is a very typical Premium/Plus family scenario: separate logins/vaults per person, but one shared subscription.
In the forums, the follow-up question often arises that after setting up several profiles/vaults, the VPN usage suddenly appears as "free/limited" on some devices; this is then usually an account/sharing issue (who is logged in with what) and less "password manager broken".

Should Kaspersky still be used at all in Germany/Switzerland/Europe?

In Germany, this is one of the most discussed questions because on March 15, 2022, the BSI published a warning according to §7 BSIG and recommended replacing Kaspersky antivirus software with alternatives (reason: special risk due to the far-reaching system rights of such software and the geopolitical risk).
In Switzerland, the NCSC publicly stated in March 2022 that it had not been notified of any misuse in Switzerland at the time and that it does not issue product recommendations as a matter of principle, but would issue warnings in the event of verified information.