Name: Kaspersky Total Security
Brand: Kaspersky

Every full-scale security suite has antivirus protection at its core. Beyond that, suites can differ wildly in the collection of features they offer. Some products include an antivirus, a firewall, a spam filter, parental controls, and little more. Others, like Kaspersky Total Security, pack in a vast number of features, covering every aspect of security. Among the goodies that this suite adds beyond what you get with Kaspersky's entry-level suite are file encryption, a backup system, and a seriously enhanced parental control system. It's an impressive collection.

All these extras come at a price, however. A three-license subscription lists for $89.99 per year, and one for five licenses costs $99.99. Upgrading to the 10-license family plan raises that price to $149.99. With Bitdefender Total Security, $89.99 gets you five licenses and $99.99 raises that to 10, quite a bit less than Kaspersky’s 10-license price. These prices are often deeply discounted, it’s true, but the discount typically covers the first year only.

Norton 360 Deluxe runs $99.99 for five licenses, but that also includes 50GB of online storage for your backups and five no-limit VPN licenses. Removing the limits from Kaspersky's VPN costs an extra $4.99 per month.

You pay $119.99 per year for McAfee Total Protection, but that subscription lets you install protection on all devices in your household, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.

Similar Products

Kaspersky, too, offers cross-platform support—you can use your licenses on Windows, macOS, or Android devices, and some of the components specific to Total Security support iOS as well. To get started, you activate your purchase on the My Kaspersky web portal and then download the appropriate installer.

The entry-level Kaspersky Internet Security features six buttons for six major features: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. When you install Total Security, you'll find that same group of six, plus two more buttons: Password Manager, and Backup and Restore. Kaspersky Security Cloud Free displays a slightly different group of eight buttons, with a shield overlay identifying features that require a premium upgrade.

As with the rest of the Kaspersky product line, a status indicator at the top shines a happy green when your security configuration is correct, but changes to glaring red if there's an issue. It also reports recommendations, with a button to get details.

Shared Features

This suite includes every one of the many security features found in Kaspersky Internet Security. I'll summarize those features briefly, then get on to what makes Total Security different. For full details, you’ll want to read my review of the entry-level suite.

Kaspersky Total Security Lab Results Chart

All four of the independent antivirus labs I follow include Kaspersky in their set of tested products, and it earned perfect and near-perfect scores in all the latest tests. I use an algorithm to normalize the scores to a 10-point scale and derive an aggregate—Kaspersky scored 9.7 out of 10. Bitdefender Internet Security, scored higher, 9.9 points, but that was based on results from just three labs.

Kaspersky Total Security Malware Protection Chart

Scores in my hands-on malware protection tests weren't as uniformly good, but when the labs all agree, I defer to their judgment.

In the past, Kaspersky has done an excellent job detecting phishing sites—fraudulent sites that masquerade as banks or other sensitive institutions so they can steal your login credentials. Last time around, it managed 100 percent detection. The score this time was still good, 96 percent, but Trend Micro Maximum Security scored 100 percent in its last phishing test, and a half-dozen others did better than Kaspersky.

Kaspersky Total Security Phishing Protection Results Chart

Kaspersky's System Watcher feature supplements other protective layers with behavior-based detection. While it tracks all kinds of malware behaviors, it proved especially effective at ransomware protection. Even with other protection layers turned off, it successfully detected and blocked my real-world ransomware samples. One screen-locker ransomware slipped past it, but Kaspersky's lock-breaker key combination defeated it.

The sturdy firewall blocked all port scans and other web-based attacks. Kaspersky’s application control system manages application access to network and system resources without bothering the user, assigning each application a trust level. In previous versions, you could use Trusted Applications Mode to ban any program not at the highest trust level. However, this feature was both complex and little-used, so Kaspersky retired it.

Protection against attacks that exploit security holes in Windows and popular apps is typically considered part of a firewall’s job, but in Kaspersky’s case, the Web Anti-Virus component handled it, and handled it well. Kaspersky detected 84 percent of the exploit attacks I generated, beating out Bitdefender’s impressive 74 percent. Only Norton 360 Deluxe has proven as effective in this test.

Kaspersky Total Security Performance Chart

Kaspersky checks your system for missing security patches and automatically applies found updates. It includes webcam control for spyware protection, and an active Do Not Track feature to keep advertisers and others from snooping on your surfing habits. The Safe Money feature protects financial transactions, and a straightforward spam filter marks spam in your POP3 and IMAP email accounts. The entry-level suite has parental control, but it's the free, feature-limited edition of Kaspersky Safe Kids. With Total Security, you get all parental control features.

This suite offers a large collection of bonus features, some of which are shared with the standalone Kaspersky Anti-Virus. These include: a bandwidth-limited VPN; a privacy cleaner to wipe traces of browser and computer use; a Rescue Disk for cleaning persistent malware; and more.

You can use your Kaspersky Total Security licenses to install Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac, which is an Editors' Choice for Mac antivirus. As the name suggests, it's truly a security suite, not just an antivirus.

Kaspersky Internet Security (for Android), also available by using one of your licenses, naturally includes protection against malware, with an on-demand scan and real-time protection. The app also offers a full range of anti-theft features, including the ability to snap a mug shot of whoever's using your device.

Again, all these features of Kaspersky Internet Security are also present in Total Security. Note that basic security protection for macOS and Android devices is precisely the same in the two suites, but Total Security offers additional utilities for those two platforms, and for iOS. For a deeper dive into those shared features, read my review of the entry-level suite.

See How We Test Security Software

Kaspersky Safe Kids

The first time you click the Protection for kids button, the suite prompts you to install Kaspersky Safe Kids, You can also go to My Kaspersky online and download the appropriate installer for Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. Note that as a separate product, Kaspersky Safe Kids costs $14.99 per year. If you've paid for Total Security family plan, you get the premium features at no extra charge. We've reviewed Safe Kids and given it four stars. For full details about its capabilities, please read that review.

You manage Safe Kids online, defining child profiles and aligning them with the devices each child uses. There's no limit on child profiles or devices. A local agent on each device enforces the rules you define online and gives the child a summary of those rules.

You can set Safe Kids to block or allow websites in 14 categories, or to allow access but warn that parents will receive a notification. You can also set limits on when and for how long the child can use each device. For mobile devices, you can check the child's location. An advanced geofencing system lets you define safe areas along with the time the child should be in each area.

Kaspersky Total Security Safe Kids Geofencing

Safe Kids can monitor social media activity on Facebook or on VK (which is popular in Russia). However, monitoring requires the child's cooperation. Parents can define applications as Allowed, Forbidden, or Limited (meaning they're allowed on a specific schedule). As with many of the features, application control is limited under iOS. The main thing it can do is hide apps that have a too-high age rating.

In testing, we discovered that under Windows and macOS, the content filtering system relies on Kaspersky’s browser extension to handle secure HTTPS websites. In an off-brand browser with no extension, forbidden websites that use a HTTPS connection slip right through. That means a smart teen could totally evade content filtering by going through a secure anonymizing proxy. The recommended solution is to use application control to ban use of off-brand browsers.

On Android, parents must disable all browsers except Chrome. Content filtering on iOS devices only works in the Safe Kids browser, so parents must disable all others.

Parents can control the notifications they get, and the online console offers detailed reports on every facet of the child's activity. Overall, this is a modern, cross-platform parental control tool. It didn't make Editors' Choice—that honor goes to Qustodio—but it's very good.

Kaspersky Password Manager

Kaspersky's password manager makes a cameo appearance in Kaspersky Internet Security on various platforms. However, it's just the free version, which limits you to a total of 15 passwords, credit cards, notes, or other saved items.

With Total Security, you get the full Kaspersky Password Manager, available separately for $14.99 per year, and you can use it to sync passwords across all your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. It does the basic job of password management, and has a few unusual features, but it's not a standout. Please read my review for the nitty-gritty details; I'll recap my findings here.

On Windows, Kaspersky offers an extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and the Russian browser Yandex, and can also import passwords from these browsers. The extension handles the expected capture and replay of passwords. Your devices sync through the My Kaspersky online portal; you can also access your passwords and secure data via the portal.

Kaspersky Total Security Password Manager iOS

The Security Check rates the strength of your passwords and flags any duplicates. It also reports passwords that may have been exposed in a breach. You can use the password generator to gin up new, strong replacements for bad passwords. And the password manager can also fill in credit card info and other personal data on web forms.

The unusual secure document storage feature seeks PDFs and scanned images that look like they represent documents, offering to move them into secure online storage. But you won't find advanced features like two-factor authentication, secure sharing, or password inheritance. To get those, you need a more advanced password manager.

Backup and Restore

Backing up your essential files is, in a way, the ultimate form of security. If ransomware destroys your files or a rogue asteroid smashes your computer, you can recover from a backup. Kaspersky offers a straightforward backup system that lets you create as many backup jobs as you need for local or Dropbox backup.

Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete comes with 25GB of hosted online storage for your backups. Norton 360 Deluxe gives you 50GB, while other Norton bundles offer as much as 500GB. Because these products control the secure online storage, they can offer advanced features like remote access and file syncing. With Kaspersky, you supply the online backup storage yourself by linking with Dropbox, so these advanced features aren't available.

A wizard walks you through the steps of creating a backup job, starting with what to back up. If you accept the default, it backs up everything from the Documents and Desktop folders. You can instead choose all pictures, all movies, or all music files, or put together your own set of folders for backup.

You can store your backups on Dropbox, as noted—you simply give Kaspersky permission to use your Dropbox account. Any local, remote, or removable drive can also be your backup storage destination. Until recently, true techies could choose to store backups on an FTP server, but Kaspersky has quite reasonably removed this little-used feature.

By default, backups run on demand, but you can also set a schedule for regular backups. The scheduler supports daily, weekly, and monthly backups. It also lets you back up every weekday, or every weekend day. You do need to give the backup system your Windows account password if you want to use the scheduler, something I haven’t seen in other products.

Restoring from a backup is simple. You can restore all files, selected files, or an earlier version of a file, and put the restored data in its original location or a new location. Kaspersky's backup system has hardly changed in the last several years. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that some competing suites do, but it gets the job done.

Data Encryption and Other Tools

Like AVG Internet Security - Unlimited, ESET, and others, Kaspersky's encryption system creates virtual disk drives called vaults to hold your sensitive files. When open, a vault acts like any other drive. When locked, no access to the contents is possible. Unlike most, Kaspersky focuses on the files you plan to protect, not just on vault creation. As the first step in vault creation, you drag the files and folders that you want encrypted onto the application, or select files by browsing for them.

Kaspersky Total Security Encryption System

Next you select the vault size. Naturally, it must be large enough to hold the files you selected. As with most such apps, you can't change the vault size after creation. If you need more space, you must create a new, bigger vault and move your files into it.

At the next step, you create a password for encryption. The app warns that if you forget the password, you can't get back your files. Passwords must have at least six characters and contain capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. Kaspersky rates password strength as you type and checks off the requirements as you meet them.

As a final step, and a very smart one, Kaspersky offers to put the unencrypted originals of your sensitive files through the shredder, so that even forensic recovery tools can't bring them back.

By default, the shredder overwrites a file's data area once with zeroes and once with random bits. That should really be enough. But if you want to really, really scrub the data, you can open the file shredder app and choose from another half-dozen algorithms, most of them military-approved.

Kaspersky Total Security Shredder Options

The Unused Data Cleaner is unusual in that it appears in the free Kaspersky Security Cloud, but not in the entry-level Kaspersky Internet Security. To use it, click the More Tools button on the main window, click the Clean and optimize tab, and click Unused Data Cleaner. This tool scans for temp files, cache files, logs, and other data that you don't really need. As with the other cleanup and optimization components, it organizes actions into strongly recommended, recommended, and additional. All actions in the first two categories are checked by default. Click Next and the unnecessary data vanishes.

Excellent but Expensive

The real value of a security mega-suite lies in the features it adds beyond what comes with the corresponding entry-level suite. In this case, Kaspersky Internet Security, the entry-level suite, offers a huge number of effective security features, along with cross-platform security. The features Kaspersky Total Security adds don't entirely measure up.

The Kaspersky Safe Kids parental control system is excellent, but not everyone needs that feature, and those that do may not realize they own it. In addition, you can manage unlimited kids and unlimited licenses for a separate fee of $14.99 per year. The backup component lacks online hosting for your archives; you must provide that yourself. The password manager handles just the basics. And this product's pricing is out of line with the competition. It's still an excellent suite, with the same outstanding features found in Kaspersky Internet Security, but our Editors' Choice for security mega-suite remains Bitdefender Total Security.

This suite does offer cross-platform security, but it doesn't own the Editors' Choice honor in that realm either. Its biggest competition comes from Kaspersky Security Cloud, which gives you all the same features, plus more, at a better price. Kaspersky Security Cloud is an Editors’ choice for cross-platform security. It shares that honor with Norton 360 Deluxe, which gives you award-winning protection for five devices, five no-limit VPN licenses, and 50GB of online storage for backups.

Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.

Kaspersky Total Security

4.0

See It

$49.99 for 1 Year 5 Devices at Kaspersky

Per Year, Starts at $89.99

Pros

Excellent scores from four antivirus labs
Comprehensive parental control
File encryption and shredding
Backup system
Cross-platform protection
Tons of bonus features

Cons

Relatively expensive
Lacks hosted storage for online backup

The Bottom Line

The excellent Kaspersky Total Security offers nearly everything you could want in a security suite, but it’s eclipsed by Kaspersky Security Cloud, which gets you even more features, at a better price.

<div x-ref="emailForm" x-on:form-onSuccess.window="isSuccess = $event.detail.value" class="mt-4" tracking-source="review-page" context="{"id":7822,"legacy_id":331781,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr","status":"Published","product_uuid":"04cl2BMpHsY5cm4lEbB5iA2","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"Kaspersky Total Security","slug":"kaspersky-total-security","deck":"Excellent feature set in a pricey package","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.0","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":2541,"body":"Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement. <\/span><\/em>While there's always an antivirus at their core, <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> products can differ wildly in the collection of features they offer. Some products include an antivirus, a firewall, a spam filter, parental controls, and little more. Others, like Kaspersky Total Security, pack in a vast number of features, covering every aspect of security. Among the goodies that this suite adds beyond what you get with Kaspersky's entry-level suite are a basic password manager, a backup system, and a seriously enhanced parental control system. It's an impressive collection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll these extras come at a price. A five-license subscription lists for $99.99 per year; upgrading to the 10-license family plan raises that price to $149.99. For comparison, the price for 10 Bitdefender Total Security licenses is $99.99. Norton 360 Deluxe costs $99.99 for five licenses, but that also includes five no-limit VPN licenses. Removing the limits from Kaspersky's VPN costs an extra $4.99 per month. You also pay $99.99 per year for <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a>, but that subscription lets you install protection on all devices in your household, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky, too, offers cross-platform support—you can use your licenses on Windows, macOS, or Android devices, and some of the components specific to Total Security support iOS as well. To get started, you activate your purchase on the My Kaspersky web portal and then download the appropriate installer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe entry-level Kaspersky Internet Security features six buttons for six major features: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. When you install Total Security, you'll find that same group of six, plus two more buttons: Password Manager, and Backup and Restore. <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2282\">Kaspersky Security Cloud Free<\/a> displays a slightly different group of eight buttons, with a shield overlay identifying features that require a premium upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Main' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 543'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-1.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Main' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-1.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs with the rest of the Kaspersky product line, a status indicator at the top shines a serene green when your security configuration is correct, but changes to glaring red if there's an issue. It also reports recommendations, with a button to get details. In testing, this mega-suite offered two warnings and five recommendations after installation. It warned that the antivirus database is outdated, and advised me to install its extension for Internet Explorer. It also recommended that I install the password manager and try the parental control system, among other things.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThis suite includes every one of the many security features found in Kaspersky Internet Security. I'll summarize those features briefly, then get on to what makes Total Security different.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-9.v_1569469964.png', 'Kaspersky Total Security Lab Results Chart', 'Kaspersky Total Security Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-10.v_1569469964.png', 'Kaspersky Total Security Malware Protection Chart', 'Kaspersky Total Security Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-11.v_1569469964.png', 'Kaspersky Total Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Kaspersky Total Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-12.v_1569469964.png', 'Kaspersky Total Security Performance Chart', 'Kaspersky Total Security Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll four of the independent antivirus labs I follow include Kaspersky in their set of tested products, and it earned perfect scores in all but one of the latest tests. Like <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a>, it took one score that was just short of perfection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nScores in my hands-on malware protection tests weren't as uniformly good, but when the labs all agree, I defer to their judgment. Kaspersky did shine in my antiphishing test, matching McAfee's 100% detection rate and beating Bitdefender's 99 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky's System Watcher feature supplements all other protective layers with behavior-based detection. While it tracks all kinds of malware, it proved especially effective at ransomware protection. Even with other protection layers turned off, it successfully detected and blocked all my encrypting ransomware samples. One screen-locker ransomware slipped past it, but Kaspersky's lock-breaker key combination defeated it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn testing, the firewall deflected precisely as many exploit attacks as Bitdefender. <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe<\/a> blocked more exploits than any competitor, nearly twice as many as Kaspersky. The application control system manages application access to network and system resources without bothering the user. You can also enable Trusted Applications mode, which bans execution of any program that's not on Kaspersky's whitelist; doing so should prevent any malware attack, even one never encountered by any antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469964.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469964.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky checks your system for missing security patches and automatically applies found updates. It includes webcam control for spyware protection, and an active Do Not Track feature to keep advertisers and others from snooping on your surfing habits. The Safe Money feature protects financial transactions, and a straightforward spam filter marks spam in your POP3 and IMAP email accounts. The entry-level suite has parental control, but it's the free, feature-limted edition of Kaspersky Safe Kids. With Total Security, you get all parental control features, provided that you opt for the 10-license family plan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis suite offers a large collection of bonus features, some of which are shared with the standalone <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-anti-virus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8919\">Kaspersky Anti-Virus<\/a>. These include: a bandwidth-limited VPN; a privacy cleaner to wipe traces of browser and computer user; a Rescue Disk for cleaning persistent malware; and more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can use your licenses to install <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4031\">Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac<\/a>, which is an Editors' Choice for Mac antivirus. As the name suggests, it's truly a security suite, not just an antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky Internet Security (for Android), also available by using one of your licenses, naturally includes protection against malware, with an on-demand scan and real-time protection. The app also offers a full range of anti-theft features, including the ability to snap a mug shot of whoever's using your device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAgain, all these features of Kaspersky Internet Security are also present in Total Security. Note that basic security protection for macOS and Android devices is precisely the same in the two suites, but Total Security offers additional utilities for those two platforms, and for iOS. For a deeper dive into those shared features, read my review of the entry-level suite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469964.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469964.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Kaspersky Safe Kids<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe first time you click the Protection for kids button, the suite prompts you to install Kaspersky Safe Kids, You can also go to My Kaspersky online and download the appropriate installer for Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. Note that as a separate product, <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2163\">Kaspersky Safe Kids<\/a> costs $14.99 per year. If you've paid for a Total Security family plan, it's free. We've reviewed Safe Kids and given it four stars. For full details about its features, please read that review.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou manage Safe Kids online, defining child profiles and aligning them with the devices each child uses. There's no limit on child profiles or devices. A local agent on each device enforces the rules you define online and gives the child a summary of those rules.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can set Safe Kids to block or allow websites in 14 categories, or to allow access but warn that parents will receive a notification. You can also set limits on when and for how long the child can use each device. For mobile devices, you can check the child's location. An advanced geofencing system lets you define safe areas along with the time the child should be in each area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Kids' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 371'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-4.fit_lim.size_740x371.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Kids' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-4.fit_lim.size_740x371.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSafe Kids can monitor social media activity on Facebook or on VK (which is popular in Russia). However, monitoring requires the child's cooperation. Parents can define applications as Allowed, Forbidden, or Limited (meaning they're allowed on a specific schedule). As with many of the features, application control is limited under iOS. The one thing it can do is hide apps that have a too-high age rating.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nParents can control the notifications they get, and the online console offers detailed reports on every facet of the child's activity. Overall, this is a modern, cross-platform parental control tool. It didn't quite make Editors' Choice—that honor goes to <a href=\"\/reviews\/qustodio\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6917\">Qustodio<\/a>—but it's very good.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Kaspersky Password Manager<\/h2>\r\n\r\nKaspersky's password manager makes a cameo appearance in Kaspersky Internet Security on various platforms. However, it's just the free version, which limits you to a total of 15 passwords or other items.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith Total Security, you get the full <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11075\">Kaspersky Password Manager<\/a>, available separately for $14.99 per year, and you can use it to sync passwords across all your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. It does the basic job of password management, and has a few unusual features, but it's not a standout. Please read my review for the nitty-gritty details; I'll summarize here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Windows, Kaspersky offers an extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and the Russian browser Yandex, and can also import passwords from these browsers. The extension handles the expected capture and replay of passwords. Your devices sync through the My Kaspersky online portal; you can also access your passwords and secure data via the portal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Password' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 552'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-5.fit_lim.size_740x552.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Password' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-5.fit_lim.size_740x552.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Security Check rates the strength of your passwords and flags any duplicates. It also reports passwords that may have been exposed in a breach. You can use the password generator to gin up new, strong replacements for <a href=\"\/how-to\/12345-is-really-bad-your-ultimate-guide-to-password-security\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"4781\">bad passwords<\/a>. And the password manager can also fill in credit card info and other personal data on web forms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe unusual secure document storage feature seeks PDFs and scanned images that look like they represent documents, offering to move them into secure online storage. But you won't find advanced features like two-factor authentication, secure sharing, or password inheritance. To get those, you need a more advanced <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-password-managers\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"168\">password manager<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Backup and Restore<\/h2>\r\n\r\nBacking up your essential files is, in a way, the ultimate form of security. If ransomware destroys your files or a marauding direwolf savages your computer, you can recover from a backup. Kaspersky offers a straightforward backup system that lets you create as many backup jobs as you need for local or Dropbox backup.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"568\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete<\/a><\/span> comes with 25GB of hosted online storage for your backups. Norton 360 Deluxe gives you 50GB, while other Norton bundles offer as much as 500GB. Because these products control the secure online storage, they can offer advanced features like remote access and file syncing. With Kaspersky, you supply the online backup storage yourself by linking with Dropbox, so these advanced features aren't available.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA wizard walks you through the steps of creating a backup job, starting with what to back up. If you accept the default, it backs up everything from the Documents and Desktop folders. You can instead choose all pictures, all movies, or all music files, or put together your own set of folders for backup.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can store your backups on Dropbox, as noted—you simply give Kaspersky permission to use your Dropbox account. Any local, remote, or removable drive can also be your backup storage destination. True techies can even choose to store backups on an FTP server.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Backup' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 596 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-6.fit_lim.size_596x538.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Backup' width='596' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-6.fit_lim.size_596x538.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy default, backups run on demand, but you can also set a schedule for regular backups. The scheduler supports daily, weekly, and monthly backups. It also lets you back up every weekday, or every weekend day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nRestoring from a backup is simple. You can restore all files, selected files, or an earlier version of a file, and put the restored data in its original location or a new location. Kaspersky's backup system has hardly changed in the last several years. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that some competing suites do, but it gets the job done.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Data Encryption and Other Tools<\/h2>\r\n\r\nLike <a href=\"\/reviews\/avg-internet-security-unlimited\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10971\">AVG Internet Security - Unlimited<\/a><\/span>, Bitdefender, ESET, and others, Kaspersky's encryption system creates virtual disk drives called vaults to hold your sensitive files. When open, a vault acts like any other drive. When locked, no access to the contents is possible. Unlike most, Kaspersky focuses on the files you plan to protect, not just on vault creation. As the first step in vault creation, you drag the files and folders that you want encrypted onto the application, or select files by browsing for them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Encrypt' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 543'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-7.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Encrypt' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-7.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNext you select the vault size. Naturally, it must be large enough to hold the files you selected. As with most such apps, you can't change the vault size after creation. If you need more space, you must create a new, bigger vault and move your files into it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAt the next step, you create a password for encryption. The app warns that if you forget the password, you can't get back your files. Passwords must have at least six characters and contain capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. Kaspersky rates password strength as you type and checks off the requirements as you meet them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs a final step, and a very smart one, Kaspersky offers to put the unencrypted originals of your sensitive files through the shredder, so that even forensic recovery tools can't bring them back.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy default, the shredder overwrites a file's data area once with zeroes and once with random bits. That should really be enough. But if you want to really, really scrub the data, you can open the file shredder app and choose from another half-dozen algorithms, most of them military-approved.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Shred' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 596 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-8.fit_lim.size_596x538.v_1569469964.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-8.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Total Security Shred' width='596' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-8.fit_lim.size_596x538.v_1569469964.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-8.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's one more bonus tool that's not included in the entry-level suite, but it's well hidden. Click the More Tools button on the main window, click the Clean and optimize tab, and click Unused Data Cleaner. This tool scans for temp files, cache files, logs, and other data that you don't really need. As with the other cleanup and optimization components, it organizes actions into strongly recommended, recommended, and additional. All actions in the first two categories are checked by default. Click Next and the unnecessary data vanishes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOr does it? In testing, I found that I could run the scan over and over and it would always find a handful of actions, among them clearing the temp folder and Internet Explorer's cache. It did clean up all the other unused data items.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Excellent But Expensive<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe real value of a security mega-suite lies in the features it adds beyond what comes with the corresponding entry-level suite. In this case, Kaspersky Internet Security, the entry-level suite, offers a huge number of effective security features, along with cross-platform security. The features Kaspersky Total Security adds don't entirely measure up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Kaspersky Safe Kids parental control system is excellent, but not everyone needs that feature, and those that do may not realize they own it. In addition, you only get full parental control with the 10-license family plan, or with a separate subscription. The backup component lacks online hosting for your archives; you must provide that yourself. The password manager handles just the basics. And this product's pricing is out of line with the competition. It's still an excellent suite, with the same outstanding features found in Kaspersky Internet Security, but our Editors' Choice for security mega-suite remains Bitdefender Total Security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis suite does offer cross-platform security, but it doesn't own the Editors' Choice honor in that realm either. Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe gives you award-winning protection for five devices, five no-limit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\">VPN<\/a> licenses, and 50GB of online storage for backups. With Kaspersky Security Cloud you get all the same features as Kaspersky Total Security, plus more, at a better price. These two are our Editors' Choice picks for cross-platform suite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n4.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Parental Control: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/><\/b><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Every full-scale ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":null}}]},{"text":" has antivirus protection at its core. Beyond that, suites can differ wildly in the collection of features they offer. Some products include an antivirus, a firewall, a spam filter, parental controls, and little more. Others, like Kaspersky Total Security, pack in a vast number of features, covering every aspect of security. Among the goodies that this suite adds beyond what you get with Kaspersky's entry-level suite are file encryption, a backup system, and a seriously enhanced parental control system. It's an impressive collection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All these extras come at a price, however. A three-license subscription lists for $89.99 per year, and one for five licenses costs $99.99. Upgrading to the 10-license family plan raises that price to $149.99. With ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", $89.99 gets you five licenses and $99.99 raises that to 10, quite a bit less than Kaspersky\u2019s 10-license price. These prices are often deeply discounted, it\u2019s true, but the discount typically covers the first year only.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe runs $99.99 for five licenses, but that also includes 50GB of online storage for your backups and five no-limit VPN licenses. Removing the limits from Kaspersky's VPN costs an extra $4.99 per month.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You pay $119.99 per year for ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", but that subscription lets you install protection on all devices in your household, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky, too, offers cross-platform support\u2014you can use your licenses on Windows, macOS, or Android devices, and some of the components specific to Total Security support iOS as well. To get started, you activate your purchase on the My Kaspersky web portal and then download the appropriate installer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The entry-level Kaspersky Internet Security features six buttons for six major features: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. When you install Total Security, you'll find that same group of six, plus two more buttons: Password Manager, and Backup and Restore. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Free","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" displays a slightly different group of eight buttons, with a shield overlay identifying features that require a premium upgrade.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-25.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Main Window","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As with the rest of the Kaspersky product line, a status indicator at the top shines a happy green when your security configuration is correct, but changes to glaring red if there's an issue. It also reports recommendations, with a button to get details.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite includes every one of the many security features found in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". I'll summarize those features briefly, then get on to what makes Total Security different. For full details, you\u2019ll want to read my review of the entry-level suite.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-32.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Lab Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All four of the independent ","type":"text"},{"text":"antivirus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-antivirus-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":" labs I follow include Kaspersky in their set of tested products, and it earned perfect and near-perfect scores in all the latest tests. I use an algorithm to normalize the scores to a 10-point scale and derive an aggregate\u2014Kaspersky scored 9.7 out of 10. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", scored higher, 9.9 points, but that was based on results from just three labs.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-33.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Malware Protection Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Scores in my hands-on malware protection tests weren't as uniformly good, but when the labs all agree, I defer to their judgment.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In the past, Kaspersky has done an excellent job detecting phishing sites\u2014fraudulent sites that masquerade as banks or other sensitive institutions so they can steal your login credentials. Last time around, it managed 100 percent detection. The score this time was still good, 96 percent, but ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Maximum Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" scored 100 percent in its last phishing test, and a half-dozen others did better than Kaspersky.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-34.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Phishing Protection Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's System Watcher feature supplements other protective layers with behavior-based detection. While it tracks all kinds of malware behaviors, it proved especially effective at ","type":"text"},{"text":"ransomware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":". Even with other protection layers turned off, it successfully detected and blocked my real-world ransomware samples. One screen-locker ransomware slipped past it, but Kaspersky's lock-breaker key combination defeated it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The sturdy firewall blocked all port scans and other web-based attacks. Kaspersky\u2019s application control system manages application access to network and system resources without bothering the user, assigning each application a trust level. In previous versions, you could use Trusted Applications Mode to ban any program not at the highest trust level. However, this feature was both complex and little-used, so Kaspersky retired it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Protection against attacks that exploit security holes in Windows and popular apps is typically considered part of a firewall\u2019s job, but in Kaspersky\u2019s case, the Web Anti-Virus component handled it, and handled it well. Kaspersky detected 84 percent of the exploit attacks I generated, beating out Bitdefender\u2019s impressive 74 percent. Only ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" has proven as effective in this test.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-35.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Performance Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky checks your system for missing security patches and automatically applies found updates. It includes webcam control for ","type":"text"},{"text":"spyware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software","target":null}}]},{"text":", and an active Do Not Track feature to keep advertisers and others from snooping on your surfing habits. The Safe Money feature protects financial transactions, and a straightforward spam filter marks spam in your POP3 and IMAP email accounts. The entry-level suite has parental control, but it's the free, feature-limited edition of Kaspersky Safe Kids. With Total Security, you get all parental control features.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite offers a large collection of bonus features, some of which are shared with the standalone ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Anti-Virus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-anti-virus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". These include: a bandwidth-limited VPN; a privacy cleaner to wipe traces of browser and computer use; a Rescue Disk for cleaning persistent malware; and more.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can use your Kaspersky Total Security licenses to install ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", which is an Editors' Choice for Mac antivirus. As the name suggests, it's truly a security suite, not just an antivirus.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security (for Android), also available by using one of your licenses, naturally includes protection against malware, with an on-demand scan and real-time protection. The app also offers a full range of anti-theft features, including the ability to snap a mug shot of whoever's using your device.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Again, all these features of Kaspersky Internet Security are also present in Total Security. Note that basic security protection for macOS and Android devices is precisely the same in the two suites, but Total Security offers additional utilities for those two platforms, and for iOS. For a deeper dive into those shared features, read my review of the entry-level suite.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test Security Software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Safe Kids","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The first time you click the Protection for kids button, the suite prompts you to install Kaspersky Safe Kids, You can also go to My Kaspersky online and download the appropriate installer for Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. Note that as a separate product, ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Safe Kids","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" costs $14.99 per year. If you've paid for Total Security family plan, you get the premium features at no extra charge. We've reviewed Safe Kids and given it four stars. For full details about its capabilities, please read that review.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You manage Safe Kids online, defining child profiles and aligning them with the devices each child uses. There's no limit on child profiles or devices. A local agent on each device enforces the rules you define online and gives the child a summary of those rules.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can set Safe Kids to block or allow websites in 14 categories, or to allow access but warn that parents will receive a notification. You can also set limits on when and for how long the child can use each device. For mobile devices, you can check the child's location. An advanced geofencing system lets you define safe areas along with the time the child should be in each area.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-26.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Safe Kids Geofencing","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Kids can monitor social media activity on Facebook or on VK (which is popular in Russia). However, monitoring requires the child's cooperation. Parents can define applications as Allowed, Forbidden, or Limited (meaning they're allowed on a specific schedule). As with many of the features, application control is limited under iOS. The main thing it can do is hide apps that have a too-high age rating.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In testing, we discovered that under Windows and macOS, the content filtering system relies on Kaspersky\u2019s browser extension to handle secure HTTPS websites. In an off-brand browser with no extension, forbidden websites that use a HTTPS connection slip right through. That means a smart teen could totally evade content filtering by going through a secure anonymizing proxy. The recommended solution is to use application control to ban use of off-brand browsers.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On Android, parents must disable all browsers except Chrome. Content filtering on iOS devices only works in the Safe Kids browser, so parents must disable all others.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Parents can control the notifications they get, and the online console offers detailed reports on every facet of the child's activity. Overall, this is a modern, cross-platform parental control tool. It didn't make Editors' Choice\u2014that honor goes to ","type":"text"},{"text":"Qustodio","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/qustodio","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":"\u2014but it's very good.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Password Manager","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's password manager makes a cameo appearance in Kaspersky Internet Security on various platforms. However, it's just the free version, which limits you to a total of 15 passwords, credit cards, notes, or other saved items.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"BdoM2qyG09"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With Total Security, you get the full ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Password Manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", available separately for $14.99 per year, and you can use it to sync passwords across all your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. It does the basic job of password management, and has a few unusual features, but it's not a standout. Please read my review for the nitty-gritty details; I'll recap my findings here.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On Windows, Kaspersky offers an extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and the Russian browser Yandex, and can also import passwords from these browsers. The extension handles the expected capture and replay of passwords. Your devices sync through the My Kaspersky online portal; you can also access your passwords and secure data via the portal.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-28.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Password Manager iOS","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Security Check rates the strength of your passwords and flags any duplicates. It also reports passwords that may have been exposed in a breach. You can use the ","type":"text"},{"text":"password generator","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-use-a-random-password-generator","target":null}}]},{"text":" to gin up new, strong replacements for bad passwords. And the password manager can also fill in credit card info and other personal data on web forms.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The unusual secure document storage feature seeks PDFs and scanned images that look like they represent documents, offering to move them into secure online storage. But you won't find advanced features like two-factor authentication, secure sharing, or password inheritance. To get those, you need a more advanced ","type":"text"},{"text":"password manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-password-managers","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Backup and Restore","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Backing up your essential files is, in a way, the ultimate form of security. If ransomware destroys your files or a rogue asteroid smashes your computer, you can recover from a backup. Kaspersky offers a straightforward backup system that lets you create as many backup jobs as you need for local or Dropbox backup.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" comes with 25GB of hosted online storage for your backups. Norton 360 Deluxe gives you 50GB, while other Norton bundles offer as much as 500GB. Because these products control the secure online storage, they can offer advanced features like remote access and file syncing. With Kaspersky, you supply the online backup storage yourself by linking with Dropbox, so these advanced features aren't available.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A wizard walks you through the steps of creating a backup job, starting with what to back up. If you accept the default, it backs up everything from the Documents and Desktop folders. You can instead choose all pictures, all movies, or all music files, or put together your own set of folders for backup.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can store your backups on Dropbox, as noted\u2014you simply give Kaspersky permission to use your Dropbox account. Any local, remote, or removable drive can also be your backup storage destination. Until recently, true techies could choose to store backups on an FTP server, but Kaspersky has quite reasonably removed this little-used feature.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-29.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Backup","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"By default, backups run on demand, but you can also set a schedule for regular backups. The scheduler supports daily, weekly, and monthly backups. It also lets you back up every weekday, or every weekend day. You do need to give the backup system your Windows account password if you want to use the scheduler, something I haven\u2019t seen in other products.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Restoring from a backup is simple. You can restore all files, selected files, or an earlier version of a file, and put the restored data in its original location or a new location. Kaspersky's backup system has hardly changed in the last several years. It doesn't have the bells and whistles that some competing suites do, but it gets the job done.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Data Encryption and Other Tools","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like ","type":"text"},{"text":"AVG Internet Security - Unlimited","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avg-internet-security-unlimited","target":null}}]},{"text":", ESET, and others, Kaspersky's encryption system creates virtual disk drives called vaults to hold your sensitive files. When open, a vault acts like any other drive. When locked, no access to the contents is possible. Unlike most, Kaspersky focuses on the files you plan to protect, not just on vault creation. As the first step in vault creation, you drag the files and folders that you want encrypted onto the application, or select files by browsing for them.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-30.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Encryption System","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Next you select the vault size. Naturally, it must be large enough to hold the files you selected. As with most such apps, you can't change the vault size after creation. If you need more space, you must create a new, bigger vault and move your files into it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At the next step, you create a password for encryption. The app warns that if you forget the password, you can't get back your files. Passwords must have at least six characters and contain capital letters, lowercase letters, and numbers. Kaspersky rates password strength as you type and checks off the requirements as you meet them.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As a final step, and a very smart one, Kaspersky offers to put the unencrypted originals of your sensitive files through the shredder, so that even forensic recovery tools can't bring them back.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"By default, the shredder overwrites a file's data area once with zeroes and once with random bits. That should really be enough. But if you want to really, really scrub the data, you can open the file shredder app and choose from another half-dozen algorithms, most of them military-approved.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-31.png","altText":"Kaspersky Total Security Shredder Options","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Unused Data Cleaner is unusual in that it appears in the free Kaspersky Security Cloud, but not in the entry-level Kaspersky Internet Security. To use it, click the More Tools button on the main window, click the Clean and optimize tab, and click Unused Data Cleaner. This tool scans for temp files, cache files, logs, and other data that you don't really need. As with the other cleanup and optimization components, it organizes actions into strongly recommended, recommended, and additional. All actions in the first two categories are checked by default. Click Next and the unnecessary data vanishes.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Excellent but Expensive","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The real value of a security mega-suite lies in the features it adds beyond what comes with the corresponding entry-level suite. In this case, Kaspersky Internet Security, the entry-level suite, offers a huge number of effective security features, along with cross-platform security. The features Kaspersky Total Security adds don't entirely measure up.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Kaspersky Safe Kids ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control system","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":null}}]},{"text":" is excellent, but not everyone needs that feature, and those that do may not realize they own it. In addition, you can manage unlimited kids and unlimited licenses for a separate fee of $14.99 per year. The backup component lacks online hosting for your archives; you must provide that yourself. The password manager handles just the basics. And this product's pricing is out of line with the competition. It's still an excellent suite, with the same outstanding features found in Kaspersky Internet Security, but our Editors' Choice for security mega-suite remains Bitdefender Total Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite does offer cross-platform security, but it doesn't own the Editors' Choice honor in that realm either. Its biggest competition comes from Kaspersky Security Cloud, which gives you all the same features, plus more, at a better price. Kaspersky Security Cloud is an Editors\u2019 choice for cross-platform security. It shares that honor with Norton 360 Deluxe, which gives you award-winning protection for five devices, \u00a0five no-limit ","type":"text"},{"text":"VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services","target":null}}]},{"text":" licenses, and 50GB of online storage for backups.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will ","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]},{"text":"treat them as unproven","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/opinions\/should-you-buy-kaspersky-security-products","target":null}}]},{"text":", and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":36,"images":[{"index":24,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-24.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":482,"hash":"47fe42cc68b36b9211e5263a6ae52de7","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":25,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-25.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"161f33889f09db85c13b93119d573e39","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":26,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-26.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1920,"height":969,"hash":"36a2554e17050b22443b35528fa7585d","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":27,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-27.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":2048,"height":1536,"hash":"ff96269648b0b2358fdc0c60f54d84a2","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":{"content-blocks-editor-uploaded-image":"content-blocks-editor-uploaded-image-74516"}},{"index":28,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-28.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":2048,"height":1536,"hash":"ff96269648b0b2358fdc0c60f54d84a2","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":29,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-29.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"46543f4ede83b1012ff498581a0c939a","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":30,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-30.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"40217f23a099867eb88f2f169393a672","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":31,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-31.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":586,"height":533,"hash":"935d817bd0e6bc39ad867ea846cce27e","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":32,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-32.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":574,"height":746,"hash":"8fbf49500c7f36a20a8e17c9bec3ec90","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":33,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-33.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":677,"height":714,"hash":"31a9855c7bf11062d0a75cbccfc013b1","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":34,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-34.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":696,"height":626,"hash":"3497732249d7d33b0836dd879542f849","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]},{"index":35,"path":"reviews\/07d4fAwfyoooaDrBovtPNTr-35.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":664,"height":462,"hash":"d6d1f9ac5d6322e2cd370e6fd7ce90de","timestamp":1598892333,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Excellent scores from four antivirus labs\nComprehensive parental control\nFile encryption and shredding\nBackup system\nCross-platform protection\nTons of bonus features","cons":"Relatively expensive\nLacks hosted storage for online backup","bottom_line":"The excellent Kaspersky Total Security offers nearly everything you could want in a security suite, but it\u2019s eclipsed by Kaspersky Security Cloud, which gets you even more features, at a better price.","best_for":"Best for Parents","first_published_at":"2015-02-05T18:00:51.000000Z","published_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:05.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-08-31T18:00:06.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2015-02-05T18:03:54.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:05.000000Z","related_reviews":[{"id":4338,"legacy_id":325833,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc","status":"Published","product_uuid":"011Q2vQ9si3Bj4Ttv9le2lU","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"Bitdefender Total Security","slug":"bitdefender-total-security","deck":"A feature-rich suite that protects all your computers, phones, and tablets","is_editors_choice":true,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":3252,"body":"Many security companies that offer a basic <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> go on to add a higher-level suite, typically taking one of two directions. Some create a mega-suite by adding advanced features for Windows computers, things like online backup and system performance optimization. Others go cross-platform, adding support for macOS, Android, and iOS. Bitdefender Total Security does a bit of both. On Windows, it adds system optimization and anti-theft. It also lets you install full-blown protection for your macOS and Android devices, and limited protection on iOS. Bitdefender Total Security is our current Editors' Choice for security mega-suites; it also does well in the cross-platform realm.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor $89.99 per year you can install Bitdefender on five devices; upping that to $99.99 raises the limit to 10 devices. That same $99.99 would get you five licenses for Kaspersky Total Security, while Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe costs $99.99 per year for five suite licenses, five VPN licenses, and 50GB of hosted online storage for your backups. Note that for those who manage a ton of devices, <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a> is a good deal, as it costs $99.99 per year for unlimited installations on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs befits a product that's not limited to one platform, you activate your subscription by entering a code in the Bitdefender Central online console. Once the product appears in your console, you can install it on the system you're using, or send an email with a link to install on other devices. The installation link automatically downloads the appropriate installer for the active operating system.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Windows' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 493'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-1.fit_lim.size_740x493.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Windows' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-1.fit_lim.size_740x493.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Features for Windows<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOn a Windows device, the product looks almost identical to <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7468\">Bitdefender Internet Security<\/a>. Other than the window title, the only difference is that the Utilities page gives you four useful utilities, instead of an invitation to upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469943.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469943.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe installer also adds Bitdefender's VPN, powered by <a href=\"\/reviews\/anchorfree-hotspot-shield-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3961\">AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite<\/a>. However, to lift the 200MB daily bandwidth cap you must purchase a separate VPN subscription. For full details on the VPN and basic Windows suite, please read our review of Bitdefender Internet Security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Optimization for Windows<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOn the Utilities page of the Windows edition you'll find three optimization tools: OneClick Optimizer, Startup Optimizer, and Disk Cleanup. To get things rolling, click Optimize My Device under OneClick Optimizer. On my test system, the scan quickly found hundreds of items in the categories Disk Cleanup, Registry Cleanup, and Privacy Cleanup. As recommended, I clicked to view details in each category.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nDisk issues included junk, temporary, and cache files, occupying about half a gig of disk space. In the Registry issues category, Bitdefender reported useless or erroneous entries of several types, including help files and shared DLLs. Privacy issues turns out to refer to browser cache, cookies, and history. I clicked Optimize to remediate all the issues.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Utils' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 493'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-3.fit_lim.size_740x493.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-3.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Utils' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-3.fit_lim.size_740x493.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-3.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn completion, the suite offered a detailed report, an extremely lengthy HTML document listing every single file and Registry change. Similar components in some suites let you preview the changes and exempt specific ones, or reverse some or all of the changes afterward. Most users would have no idea what to look for among the hundreds of items, so Bitdefender doesn't bother with either preview or undo.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOver time your computer can become cluttered with a glut of products whose publishers think they're important enough to launch at startup and always run in the background. In many cases, these products aren't truly essential, and it takes time to load them all. The Startup Optimizer helps clear the background process clutter. Quick Heal and BullGuard, among others, offer basic management of startup programs, but Bitdefender kicks the process to the next level, showing you just how much the programs slow your startup experience.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you click Optimize Device Boot for the first time, it warns that you must reboot so it can measure how fast the apps launch. After reboot, it displays how long the boot process took and how much of that time involved loading startup apps. On one test system apps used less than one second of a nearly two-minute boot time; your mileage may vary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can reversibly disable any startup program, meaning that you'll have to launch it manually if you want it. For a situation in which necessary startup programs slow the boot process, you can set some of them to load after a delay. The startup manager also aims to report what percentage of Bitdefender users choose Enable, Delay, or Disable for each app. If you don't see the community data right away, just give it a little time. BullGuard Premium Protection offers a similar feature, with a full timeline of processes that load at startup. The startup manager in <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe<\/a> reports resource usage and prevalence among other Norton users.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhere the Optimizer component looked for useless files taking up space, Disk Cleanup seeks very large files and leaves you to judge whether any are useless. It does list files essential to Windows, such as pagefile.sys, but it warns that you can't delete these files. The report buckets found items into four size ranges: More than 5GB; 1GB to 5GB; 500MB to 1GB; and 10MB to 500MB. Deciding which files might be unnecessary can be tough, but you should probably ignore any that aren't in familiar document, image, or movie formats. Sorting the results by file type makes identifying those easier. Once you make your choices and confirm deletion, Bitdefender wipes the files from disk, bypassing the Recycle Bin.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Anti-Theft for Windows<\/h2>\r\n\r\nFor a chunky desktop computer that resides in your home, or a locked office, theft isn't the biggest worry. However, modern laptops are so powerful that many individuals (and companies) eschew the desktop altogether. How convenient, taking your computer wherever you want! Or, from a thief's viewpoint, how convenient, taking your computer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou don't have to do anything special to enable anti-theft on a Windows laptop. To manage this feature, you log into Bitdefender Central. Buttons on the Anti-Theft page let you locate, lock, or wipe the device. The option to sound a loud alarm is Android-only.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen the device connects via Wi-Fi, Bitdefender gets its location using Wi-Fi triangulation. In testing, this proved quite accurate. However, on an Ethernet connection it falls back on IP address geolocation, with much coarser accuracy. You'll be lucky if it gives you the right city. In my case, it located the laptop about three miles away, on a downtown street corner. Fortunately, a stolen laptop will almost always connect via Wi-Fi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Theft' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 439'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-4.fit_lim.size_740x439.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Theft' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-4.fit_lim.size_740x439.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf the thief stole your laptop while it was logged in to your account, you're sunk. Fortunately, you can send a command to remotely lock your user account. Without your Administrator password, the thief can't get at your data. Do be sure to use a strong password to protect your account. If by some mischance you don't have a password on the account (for shame!), you get a chance to add one during the lock process.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat's it for anti-theft, but really, this is everything you need for a laptop. Yes, the option to sound an alarm is absent, but you're a lot more likely to lose an Android phone around the house than a laptop. You can locate a lost or stolen laptop and lock it to prevent misuse. If it's hopelessly unrecoverable, you can send a remote command to wipe the device, keeping your data out of unfriendly hands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Premium Parental Control<\/h2>\r\n\r\nBitdefender's suites include a basic parental control system that works across all the Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. New since my last review, you can add Premium Parental Control for an additional $49.99 per year. This feature is available in Bitdefender Internet Security, as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPremium Parental Control aims to let parents know when kids may be in trouble online, without totally trampling the child's privacy. If the child posts an inappropriate photo, it lets parents know that happened, but doesn't supply the photo itself. If its AI-based analysis suggests the child is being cyberbullied, it notifies parents, without going into detail. The point is to give parents an opening to talk to the child and work on the problem together.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI didn't have any trouble checking on the handling of risky images. As soon as my imaginary child snapped a naughty pic, without even sending it, Bitdefender ratted her out. Testing the bullying detection took a bit more work.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSome parental monitoring systems that claim to identify risky posts do so using a simple-minded keyword search. A phrase like \"I'm growing flowers in a pot\" or \"I lost my keys; my mom's gonna kill me\" would set them off. Bitdefender's analysis couldn't be more different. For example, my company contacts explained that the cyberbullying flag requires three triggers:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Intent to harm (the actual aggressive language)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Repeatability (must be more than once)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Imbalance of power (the child struggles to fight back)<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nIn addition, the analysis doesn't occur until two hours after the conversation ends, to make sure it gets everything.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Parental' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 430'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-5.fit_lim.size_740x430.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Parental' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-5.fit_lim.size_740x430.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat being the case, testing this system isn't easy. Bitdefender maintains a special Instagram account for the sole purpose of helping reviewers by sending them messages that mimic cyberbullying. By interacting with the engineers handling the account, I managed to trigger three alerts. Posting a made-up home address (PCMag's Fifth Avenue address) got a warning that my imaginary child shared personal information. Responding to a request for a credit card number, even though I didn't enter a number, triggered a report of a suspicious request. And a nasty interchange with various insults brought on a cyberbullying warning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nEach warning identified the account involved, but didn't spell out details of the interaction. And each offered tips such as \"Listen to your child. Find out exactly what happened and how he\/she felt and why.\" Each also contained a link for more tips from Bitdefender's digital parenting experts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nParents of teenagers may not care about typical parental control features like controlling the child's screen time and blocking access to raunchy sites. Cyberbullying and inappropriate contact, on the other hand, are big concerns. I'd love to hear from parents who actually use this with their teens.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Protection for macOS<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe parental control system in Bitdefender's entry-level suite supports Macs, but that's just parental control, nothing more. Installing this cross-platform product on a Mac, you get a full installation of <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-antivirus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8341\">Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac<\/a>, as well as the free version of the VPN. Independent antivirus testing labs love this product, and it aced our hands-on phishing protection test. It protects your files and your backups against ransomware. And its TrafficLight browser extension warns of dangerous links in search results, just as it does in a Windows installation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBitdefender Antivirus for Mac is an Editors' Choice in its field, sharing that honor with <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4031\">Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac<\/a>. To learn all the details about Bitdefender's macOS product, please read my full review.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Total Protection for Android<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe easiest way to install Bitdefender Security on an Android device is to send an email from Bitdefender Central. Click the link to download the app from Google Play, and you're ready to go. Your Bitdefender Central credentials are baked into the process.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nInitially, Bitdefender Security leads you through a lengthy series of important settings and actions. You need to give it Device Administrator status to enable anti-theft, as well as more mundane permissions such as access to your calls, photos, media, and files. It recommends a full malware scan and invites you to enable App Lock (more about that shortly). If you activate the feature, Bitdefender can snap a photo of someone trying to guess your lockscreen PIN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nFrom the online console, you can locate, lock, or wipe the device, as with Windows. You can also make it sound a loud alert, handy if you've misplaced your phone. Previous editions included the ability to trigger anti-theft features using coded SMS messages, but changes by Google meant Bitdefender had to remove this feature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat malware scan at startup runs quickly, and you can launch it again any time you feel uneasy. Bitdefender also scans new apps as you install them. It doesn't go quite as far as Norton's Android app, which rates apps as you look at them in the Play Store, but it won't let you install anything malicious.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAccount Privacy is a mobile-specific feature that checks your Bitdefender account against known breaches, and reports any hits. On my test device, it found a couple of breaches dating back a few years. The app advises to change the account password and then mark the warnings as solved. You can add check other email accounts if you wish.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNobody can access your phone when it's locked with a PIN or, even better, a fingerprint. However, someone who picks it up unlocked while you're not looking could dig into your private email or other data. App Lock lets you put additional security on email, Messages, Settings, or any other apps you wish. Just tap to choose the protected apps.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs for how and when those apps lock up, you have choices. By default, every use of a locked app requires unlocking via PIN or fingerprint. You can set it to keep unlocked apps open until the screen goes off (which kind of defeats the purpose). More usefully, you can configure it so apps stay unlocked for 30 seconds after exit, making it easy to come right back. You can set it so that all apps remain unlocked when you're on a trusted Wi-Fi network.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBitdefender also applies its powerful web protection to keep you safe from malicious and fraudulent sites, just as it does on Windows. It protects Chrome automatically, and can optionally protect Dolphin, Firefox, and Opera.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhile not the security lollapalooza that Bitdefender offers on Windows, Bitdefender Total Security on Android is a comprehensive suite of security components. It includes antivirus, anti-theft, web protection, locking for your sensitive apps, and even account privacy reporting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Some Protection for iOS<\/h2>\r\n\r\nBitdefender's mobile security for iOS is a free product, and not technically part of Total Security. When you install protection on an iPhone or iPad, it doesn't use up one of your licenses unless you enable the new Web Protection. That's understandable, because other than Web Protection the iOS product just doesn't do a lot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWeb Protection uses VPN technology that lets it filter all web traffic. When it encounters something nasty, it cuts the connection and slides in a warning. This is a totally local use of VPN technology, no servers involved. My Bitdefender contacts confirmed that it doesn't interfere with your use of the actual VPN, which is built right into the app.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security iOS' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 555'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-6.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security iOS' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-6.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOut of the box, you can use the VPN for 200MB per day of secured internet connection on a server selected by the app. If you've paid for a Premium VPN subscription, you can choose the country for your server and use the VPN as much as you like, with no bandwidth cap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis app incudes the same Account Privacy feature found on Android, along with similar antitheft abilities. You can't make it sound an alarm the way you can on Android, but from the Bitdefender Central console you can locate, lock, or wipe the device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nEnabling the full range of anti-theft features requires downloading and installing an MDM profile. This process is confusing enough that even I got it wrong at first. It's easy to look at the downloaded profile and think you're done, but in truth, you must locate and tap the Install link and confirm your intentions. With that done, I could see that Locate, Lock, and Wipe were all enabled.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLocate worked just fine, as on other platforms. Tapping lock quickly sent the device to its lock screen. Of course, this is only as effective as the lock screen protection you've set. If your PIN is 1234, you may still be in trouble. I didn't try the Wipe feature, not wanting to start over with the iOS device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBitdefender's mobile security for iOS is seriously limited, but again, that this is not precisely a feature of Total Security. Unless you turn on Web Protection, it doesn't use one of your licenses. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>The Power of Bitdefender Central<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAt the start, I mentioned Bitdefender Central as the location for extending protection to new devices. As you've seen, it's also the go-to for locating lost device and activating anti-theft features. But there's more to this console. Just how much more depends on the device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSelect a Windows device in the console and you get five tabs: Dashboard, Protection, Optimizer, Anti-Theft, and Vulnerability. I've already gone over the Anti-Theft features. Dashboard, the default tab, displays stats on threats blocked in the last week, along with details like the device's MAC address, the type of device, and the company that made it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFrom the Protection tab, you can view the results of the latest quick or full scan for malware. You can also launch either scan remotely. That can be handy if you're managing devices for a less-techie family member. Similarly, the Optimizer tab shows the results of the latest optimizer and startup optimizer scans. You can remotely optimize the Windows system, and remotely manage startup items. And on the Vulnerability page you can launch a vulnerability scan or view existing scan results.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Central' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 366'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-7.fit_lim.size_740x366.v_1569469943.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Bitdefender Total Security Central' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-7.fit_lim.size_740x366.v_1569469943.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you choose an Android device, the console offers the same Dashboard information, along with Protection and Anti-Theft tabs. There's just the one malware scan, no distinction between quick and full, and you can view the latest results or launch a scan remotely.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nDevices running macOS just get the Dashboard and Protection tabs, with the option to run a quick or full scan. Sorry, no Anti-Theft for Macs! And for an iOS device, Dashboard and Anti-Theft appear. The Dashboard will always report no threats blocked in the last week, since there's no antimalware component on iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"568\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete<\/a> offers a similar dashboard, with the ability to remotely review scan results and recent malware detections, as well as a set of remote commands. You can remotely launch a malware, cleanup, or system optimization scan, and you can lock, restart, or shut down the device remotely. However, Webroot's anti-theft component is strictly for mobile devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe My Kaspersky dashboard associated with <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1105\">Kaspersky Security Cloud<\/a> lets you manage licenses and devices, log into password manager data, and configure parental control, but it doesn't include the remote scan options that Bitdefender offers. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can set up a trust relationship that lets McAfee installations check and change each other's configuration, but only within the same network. Bitdefender's ability to remotely monitor and control security on your devices is outstanding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Truly Total Security<\/h2>\r\n\r\nBitdefender Antivirus Plus wins awards from independent labs and aces our web-based tests. It includes a raft of features, among them multi-layered ransomware protection, banking protection, a password manager, and a virtual private network. Bitdefender Internet Security expands Windows protection with a firewall, a spam filter, a file encryption system, and a fully functional cross-platform parental control system. At the top of the heap sits Bitdefender Total Security. For Windows systems, it adds system tune-up and anti-theft, and it extends protection to macOS and Android devices. It can even manage Bitdefender's free iOS security tool.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith its massive collection of security features, all of them top notch, Bitdefender Total Security is our Editors' Choice for security mega-suites. If your real aim is full protection for many devices on different platforms, consider Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe or Kaspersky Security Cloud, our Editors' Choice products for cross-platform, multi-device security.<\/span><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Many security companies that offer an entry-level ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" go on to add a higher-tier suite for even more security. Some craft a mega-suite by adding advanced features for Windows computers, things like online backup and system performance optimization. Others extend protection to additional platforms, adding support for macOS, Android, and iOS. Bitdefender Total Security does a bit of both. On Windows, it adds system optimization and anti-theft. It also lets you install full-blown protection for your macOS and Android devices, and very limited protection on iOS. Bitdefender Total Security is our current Editors' Choice for security mega-suites.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For $89.99 per year, you can install Bitdefender on five devices; upping that to $99.99 raises the limit to 10 devices. If you need more than five licenses, that\u2019s $10 well spent. That same $99.99 would get you five licenses for ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-total-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", while Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe costs $99.99 per year for five suite licenses, five VPN licenses, and 50GB of hosted online storage for your backups.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For those who manage a ton of devices, ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" is a good deal, as it costs $119.99 per year for unlimited installations on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Depending on the number of devices in your household, Bitdefender\u2019s 15-license family pack may be just as suitable as McAfee\u2019s unlimited subscription, for the same price. Not to be outdone, Kaspersky offers a 20-license subscription to ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" for $149.99.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As befits a product that's not limited to one platform, you activate your subscription by entering a code in the Bitdefender Central online console. Once the product appears in your console, you can install it on the system you're using, or send an email with a link to install on other devices. The installation link automatically downloads the appropriate installer for the active operating system.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-22.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security on Windows","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Features for Windows","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On a Windows device, the product looks almost identical to ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". Other than the window title, the only difference is that the Utilities page gives you useful utilities, instead of an invitation to upgrade. More about those utilities below.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The installer also adds Bitdefender's VPN, powered by ","type":"text"},{"text":"Hotspot Shield","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/anchorfree-hotspot-shield-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". However, even with this top-tier suite you must purchase a separate VPN subscription to lift the 200MB daily bandwidth cap and gain the ability to use the server of your choice. For full details on the VPN and basic Windows suite, please read our review of Bitdefender Internet Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Optimization for Windows","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the Utilities page of the Windows edition you'll find a handy ","type":"text"},{"text":"tune-up tool","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tune-up-utilities","target":null}}]},{"text":" called OneClick Optimizer. Just click Optimize to get things started. On my test system, the scan quickly found hundreds of items in the categories Disk Cleanup, Registry Cleanup, and Privacy Cleanup. As recommended, I clicked to view details in each category.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Disk issues included junk, temporary, and cache files, occupying more than half a gig of disk space. In the Registry issues category, Bitdefender reported useless or erroneous entries of several types, including help files and shared DLLs. Privacy issues turns out to refer to browser cache, cookies, and history. To be specific, it reported on Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera\u2014not Edge. I clicked Optimize to remediate all the issues.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-23.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security Optimization","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On completion, the suite offered a detailed report, an extremely lengthy HTML document listing every single file and Registry change. Similar components in some suites let you preview the changes and exempt specific ones, while others let you roll back some or all of the changes afterward. Most users would have no idea what to look for among the hundreds of items, so Bitdefender doesn't bother with either preview or rollback, except insofar as it lets you exempt a whole category such as Windows Junk Files or Chrome Cookies.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Some Changes to Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Those familiar with previous versions of this product may note the absence of Startup Optimizer and Disk Cleanup from the Utilities page. The elaborate Startup Optimizer analyzed programs that launch at startup, letting you know how much time each took to load. It also allowed you to reversibly disable launch of any startup program or set it to launch after a delay. Disk Cleanup identified huge files, ones that you might want to delete if you\u2019re low on disk space.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"My Bitdefender contact explained that \u201cless used and timeworn secondary functionalities have been removed\u2026as part of a continuous revision in terms of user needs.\u201d Also dropped are the Safe Files component, which aimed to balk ","type":"text"},{"text":"ransomware","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":" by banning unauthorized changes to protected files, and the File Vault encryption system. Note that enhanced Ransomware Remediation takes up the slack left by removing Safe Files. In testing, it proved effective.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Premium ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":null}}]},{"text":" was never built into Bitdefender\u2019s suite products. Rather, it was an add-on, with an additional price of $49.99 per year. This ambitious project used artificial intelligence to analyze the child\u2019s texts and other instant messages for signs of cyberbullying and other troubles. The system didn\u2019t directly expose the child\u2019s communication to parents. Rather, it flagged the type of problem detected and directed parents with advice such as \"","type":"text"},{"text":"Listen to your child. Find out exactly what happened and how he\/she felt and why.","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]},{"text":"\"","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Apparently, this system didn\u2019t get enough users to merit its continuation. Bitdefender no longer offers premium parental control.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Anti-Theft for Windows","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For a blocky desktop computer that sits in your home, or in a locked office, theft isn't the biggest worry. However, modern laptops are so powerful that many individuals (and companies) skip the desktop altogether. It\u2019s convenient to take your computer wherever you want, but for a thief, it\u2019s just plain convenient to take your computer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You don't have to do anything special to enable anti-theft on a Windows laptop. To manage this feature, you log into Bitdefender Central. Buttons on the Anti-Theft page let you locate, lock, or wipe the device. The option to sound a loud alarm is Android-only.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When the device connects via Wi-Fi, Bitdefender gets its location using Wi-Fi triangulation. In testing, this proved quite accurate. However, on an Ethernet connection it falls back on IP address geolocation, with much coarser accuracy. You'll be lucky if it gives you the right city. In my case, it located the laptop about ten miles away, in the middle of a park. Fortunately, a stolen laptop will almost always connect via Wi-Fi.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-24.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security Anti-Theft","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If the thief stole your laptop while it was logged in to your account and managed to run off without letting it go into sleep mode, you might have a problem. Fortunately, you can send a command to remotely lock your user account. Without your Administrator password, the thief can't get at your data. Do be sure to use a strong password to protect your account. Carrying around a computer with no password protection is foolish, but if you do, Bitdefender can still help. You get a chance to add a password during the lock process, and this will continue to be your login password.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That's it for anti-theft, but really, this is everything you need for a laptop. Yes, the option to sound an alarm is absent, but you're a lot more likely to lose an Android phone around the house than a laptop. You can locate a lost or stolen laptop and lock it to prevent misuse. If it's hopelessly unrecoverable, you can send a remote command to wipe the device, keeping your data out of unfriendly hands.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Protection for macOS","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The parental control system in Bitdefender's entry-level suite supports Macs, but that's just parental control, nothing more. Installing this cross-platform product on a Mac, you get a full installation of ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-antivirus-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", as well as the free, feature-limited version of the VPN product.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Th independent antivirus labs that extend their testing to macOS love this product, and it aced our hands-on phishing protection test. It protects your files and your backups against ransomware. And its TrafficLight browser extension warns of dangerous links in search results.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac is an Editors' Choice in its field, sharing that honor with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". To learn all the details about Bitdefender's macOS product, please read my full review.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Total Protection for Android","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To install Bitdefender Security on an Android device you can send yourself an email from Bitdefender Central. Click the link to download the app from Google Play, and you're ready to go. Your Bitdefender Central credentials are baked into the emailed link. You can also download the Bitdefender Central mobile app and install from there.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Initially, Bitdefender Security leads you through a lengthy series of important settings and actions. You need to give it Device Administrator status to enable anti-theft, as well as more mundane permissions such as access to your photos, media, and files. It recommends a full malware scan and invites you to enable App Lock (more about that shortly). If you activate the feature, Bitdefender can snap a photo of someone trying to guess your lockscreen PIN.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the Bitdefender Central console, you can locate, lock, or wipe the device, as with Windows. You can also make it sound a loud alert, handy if you've misplaced your phone.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That malware scan at startup runs quickly, and you can launch it again any time you feel uneasy. Bitdefender also scans new apps as you install them. It doesn't go quite as far as Norton's Android app, which rates apps as you look at them in the Play Store, but it won't let you install anything malicious.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Account Privacy is a mobile-specific feature that checks your Bitdefender account against known breaches, and reports any hits. On my test device, it found a couple of breaches dating back a few years. The app advises to change the account password and then mark the warnings as solved. You can add other email accounts for checking if you wish, but you can\u2019t go snooping other people\u2019s email for breaches. Bitdefender won\u2019t scan until you enter a confirmation code emailed to the selected address.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Nobody can access your phone when it's locked with a PIN or, even better, a fingerprint. However, someone who picks it up unlocked while you're not looking could dig into your private email or other data. App Lock lets you put additional security on email, Messages, Settings, or any other apps you wish. Just tap to choose the protected apps.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-25.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security Android Montage","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As for how and when those apps lock up, you have choices. By default, every use of a locked app requires unlocking via PIN or fingerprint. You can set it to keep unlocked apps open until the screen goes off (which kind of defeats the purpose). More usefully, you can set it so apps stay unlocked for 30 seconds after exit, making it easy to come right back. Don\u2019t want to mess with all that when you\u2019re at home? You can configure it to stay unlocked when you\u2019re on a Wi-Fi network that you\u2019ve identified as trusted.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender also applies its powerful web protection to keep you safe from malicious and fraudulent sites, just as it does on Windows. It protects Chrome automatically, and can optionally protect Brave, Dolphin, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and more.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"While it\u2019s not the security extravaganza that Bitdefender offers on Windows, Bitdefender Total Security on Android is a comprehensive suite of security components. It includes antivirus, anti-theft, web protection, locking for your sensitive apps, and even account privacy reporting.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Diminished Protection for iOS","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender's mobile security for iOS is a free product, and not technically part of Total Security. When you install protection on an iPhone or iPad, it doesn't use up one of your licenses unless you enable the Web Protection feature. That's understandable, because other than Web Protection the iOS product just doesn't do a lot.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can install protection on an iOS device by sending an email link from Bitdefender Central or by first installing the Bitdefender Central app. Installing the Bitdefender central app is smart, as it gives you access to most of the same information and actions you get by logging in to the online console.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Web Protection system uses ","type":"text"},{"text":"VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services","target":null}}]},{"text":" technology that lets it filter all web traffic. When it encounters a dangerous domain, it cuts the connection and slides in a warning. This is a totally local use of VPN technology, no servers involved. My Bitdefender contacts confirmed that it doesn't interfere with your use of the actual VPN, which is built right into the app.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Note that this is not the same kind of protection you get on other platforms. The iOS version blocks connections at the domain level, not at the web page level. So, for example, it won\u2019t catch the ","type":"text"},{"text":"AMTSO phishing test page","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.amtso.org\/feature-settings-check-phishing-page\/","target":null}}]},{"text":" because the amtso.org domain is not in itself dangerous.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-26.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security iOS","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As on other platforms, you can use the built-in VPN for 200MB per day of secured internet connection using a server selected by the app. If you've paid for a Premium VPN subscription, you can choose the country for your server and use the VPN as much as you like, with no bandwidth cap. This app also includes the same Account Privacy feature found on Android.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In previous editions, Bitdefender made a limited set of anti-theft features available for iOS devices. From the Bitdefender Central console, you could locate an iOS device, shut it down to its lock screen, or wipe the device. These functions still appear in the Bitdefender Central website for iOS devices, but the company ","type":"text"},{"text":"shut down iOS anti-theft in December of 2019","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitdefender.com\/consumer\/support\/answer\/32253\/","target":null}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender's mobile security for iOS is seriously limited, even more so now that there\u2019s no anti-theft. But again, that this is not precisely a feature of Total Security. Unless you turn on Web Protection, it doesn't use one of your licenses.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"The Power of Bitdefender Central","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At the start, I mentioned Bitdefender Central as the location for extending protection to new devices. As you've seen, it's also the go-to for locating lost device and activating anti-theft features. But there's more to this console. Just how much more depends on the device.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Select a Windows device in the console and you get five tabs: Dashboard, Protection, Optimizer, Anti-Theft, and Vulnerability. I've already gone over the Anti-Theft features. Dashboard, the default tab, displays stats on threats blocked in the last week, along with details like the device's MAC address, the type of device, and the company that made it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the Protection tab, you can view the results of the latest quick or full scan for malware. You can also launch either scan remotely. That can be handy if you're managing devices for a less-techie family member. Similarly, the Optimizer tab shows the results of the latest optimizer scan. You can remotely optimize the Windows system, and view details about the latest optimization activities. And on the Vulnerability page you can launch a vulnerability scan or view existing scan results.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-27.png","altText":"Bitdefender Total Security Central","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you choose an Android device, the console offers the same Dashboard information, along with Protection and Anti-Theft tabs. There's just the one malware scan, no distinction between quick and full, and you can view the latest results or launch a scan remotely.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Devices running macOS just get the Dashboard and Protection tabs, with the option to run a quick or full scan. Sorry, no Anti-Theft for Macs! And for an iOS device, Dashboard and Anti-Theft appear. The Dashboard will always report no threats blocked in the last week, since there's no antimalware component on iOS. And, as noted, anti-theft features are no longer part of the iOS edition.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" offers a similar dashboard, with the ability to remotely review scan results and recent malware detections, as well as a set of remote commands. You can remotely launch a malware, cleanup, or system optimization scan, and you can lock, restart, or shut down the device remotely. However, Webroot's anti-theft component is strictly for mobile devices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The My Kaspersky dashboard associated with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" lets you manage licenses and devices, log into password manager data, and configure parental control, but it doesn't include the remote scan options that Bitdefender offers.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Sophos Home Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/sophos-home-premium","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" goes a bit farther, with all configuration and logging activities handled by the online dashboard. A small, local agent on each device takes orders from the dashboard. Like Bitdefender, its ability to remotely monitor and control security on your devices is outstanding.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Truly Total Security","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security stands on the shoulders of giants. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus wins awards from independent labs and aces our web-based tests. It includes a raft of features, among them multi-layered ransomware protection, banking protection, a password manager, and a virtual private network. Bitdefender Internet Security expands Windows protection with a firewall, a spam filter, and a fully functional cross-platform parental control system. At the top of the heap sits Bitdefender Total Security, with additional features for Windows systems and protection that extends to macOS, Android, and (to an extent) iOS devices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With its massive collection of security features, all of them top notch, Bitdefender Total Security is our Editors' Choice for security mega-suites. If your real aim is full protection for many devices on different platforms, consider ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" or Kaspersky Security Cloud, our Editors' Choice products for cross-platform, multi-device security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"\u00a0","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":28,"images":[{"index":21,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-21.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":450,"hash":"752b98e5387002116f8731f49dda87e1","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":22,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-22.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":872,"height":640,"hash":"7529302779d782f79f6aab159c46ff92","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":23,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-23.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":798,"height":542,"hash":"fdb0a6640133cf4bbd16f798bb0d04e3","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":24,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-24.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1347,"height":671,"hash":"e69a2376e08b08b2cba2e4322130f86d","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":25,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-25.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":3264,"height":1928,"hash":"5dc430c30e5de5912d0d1515a0561f0f","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":26,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-26.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":2048,"height":1536,"hash":"24c3b4f2b8c5164d98bfc0615723f018","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]},{"index":27,"path":"reviews\/05tOekU4dNswLHEykvhE7Lc-27.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1347,"height":671,"hash":"83175868707fc9d1963ed53c6eed83ff","timestamp":1597873584,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Award-winning antivirus\nProtects Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices\nOnline management for your devices\nMany bonus features, including VPN and ransomware protection\nAnti-theft for Windows, Android, and iOS\nOptimization for Windows","cons":"Support for iOS extremely limited","bottom_line":"Bitdefender's Total Security mega-suite combines a bonanza of security components and bonus features in a single integrated package and also offers protection for macOS, Android, and iOS devices.","best_for":"Best for Unusual Bonus Features","first_published_at":"2014-07-28T12:53:44.000000Z","published_at":"2020-08-20T21:25:09.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-08-20T20:16:07.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-07-25T17:56:51.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-20T21:25:09.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":4338,"rank":1,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":568,"legacy_id":328595,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng","status":"Published","product_uuid":"01g0BHriaWEXa6yAzPEdZMp","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete","slug":"webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete","deck":"Webroot's top suite adds hosted online backup and secure deletion","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"3.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":2213,"body":"A powerful antivirus or <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> can protect your devices against all kinds of digital attacks, from ransomware that encrypts all your files to phishing pages that try to steal your passwords. However, there's nothing software can do if your computer gets hit by a meteor, or submerged in a flash flood. When it comes to physical damage, backup is the ultimate security. With Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete, you get Webroot's award-winning antivirus plus 25GB of hosted online backup. This suite also adds an optimization and tune-up system, along with a secure deletion tool. With backup and tune-up, it fits the profile of a security mega-suite, though it lacks the parental control and spam filtering found in some competitors.<\/p>\r\n\r\nFor $79.99 per year, you can install Webroot on five devices, a lower per-device price than most. <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a> and Kaspersky Total Security also offer five licenses, but they cost $89.99 and $99.99, respectively. At $109.99 per year, Norton Security Premium looks expensive, but that price gets you 10 licenses along with 25GB of hosted storage for your online backups, the same amount of storage that Webroot offers. If even Norton's 10-license subscription isn't enough, well, for $149.99 per year you get 20 Kaspersky Security Cloud licenses. You could also consider McAfee Total Protection—with this suite, a $99.99 subscription lets you install protection on every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\nWebroot includes a modicum of security for iOS, but installing it on an iOS device doesn't use up one of your licenses. Your Webroot licenses let you install protection on Windows, macOS, and Android devices. This top-tier suite adds backup and tune-up for your PCs, and also enhances <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6491\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac)<\/a> with those features. It also adds a modicum of backup support to the Android app.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSecurity protection on Windows comes from Editors' Choice <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8502\">Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus<\/a>. The product looks identical to the standalone antivirus, until you click the Backup & Sync button or Utilities button. In the antivirus or the entry-level suite, clicking one of those buttons just gets you the option to learn more about the feature, and what you learn is that you need to upgrade.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Windows Antivirus' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 518'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-1.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Windows Antivirus' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-1.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Read Me First<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhen reviewing a new or updated security product line, I typically start by reviewing the antivirus. With that review in the can, I move on to the entry-level security suite, summarizing my antivirus findings but focusing on the suite-specific features. When there's a high-level mega-suite or a cross-platform suite, I do the same, summarizing my review of the entry-level suite and moving on to the features that you only get at the top tier.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe differences between this suite and <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"46\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus<\/a> are self-contained enough that a summary of shared features would make up most of the review. Rather than summarize, I'll ask you to click that link and read my review of the entry-level suite. When you're finished, read the rest of this review to learn about the top-tier features.<\/p>\r\n\r\nVery briefly, Webroot's antivirus is an Editors' Choice on Windows and a very good contender on macOS. The entry-level suite adds Android support and a password manager, but the password manager, while licensed from LastPass, doesn't even have all the features of the free LastPass edition. My conclusion is that the entry-level suite doesn't add enough value to be worth upgrading from the excellent antivirus. As you'll see, this top-tier suite brings a lot more value to the table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Easy Backup and Sync<\/h2>\r\n\r\nTo get started using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-backup-services\">online backup<\/a> system, you click a button to log in to your Webroot account online and follow the prompts. As part of the process, you select a storage region: Europe, Japan, or the US. Once you finish, you have a new folder named Webroot Anywhere. Whatever you put in this folder syncs to the Webroot cloud, in encrypted form. It also automatically shows up in the Webroot Anywhere folder on your other macOS and Windows devices. You can add other sync folders, perhaps for files that need to sync with some, but not all, of your devices. On an Android device you have full access to those files but can't manipulate folders. The Panda Cloud Drive component in <a href=\"\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6585\">Panda Gold Protection<\/a> works in a similar fashion.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you designate a folder for backup, Webroot backs up the folder's contents to the cloud but doesn't sync it with other devices. You can choose whether subfolders get backed up (they do by default), and specify file types for inclusion or exclusion. By default, Webroot includes all file types and doesn't exclude any. If you regret the edits you made just before backing up, fear not. Webroot retains the last 10 versions of backed-up files. For sync folders, it keeps the last five versions.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot updates new and changed files in sync folders immediately, and it pushes its updates to all your devices. It processes backup folders once a day, by default. In Advanced Settings you can set the time of day for the daily backup, choose days of the week when backup will run, or configure Webroot to back up files every so-many hours, from one to 999.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Cloud Backup' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 456'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-2.fit_lim.size_740x456.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-2.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Cloud Backup' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-2.fit_lim.size_740x456.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-2.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFrom the online console you can view and manage your synced and backed-up files. Conveniently, you can log in from any secure computer and download a local copy of any file or folder as a zipped archive. There's no restore function like what you get with <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10607\">Symantec Norton Security Premium<\/a> and others, just the ability to download files and folders. But you can de-authorize a lost or stolen device, to ensure the thief can't also steal your backed-up files.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you click the Get More Storage button, it opens a web page that invites you to purchase the product again, choosing 50GB, 100GB, or 500GB of storage for roughly $80, $100, or $200 per year, respectively. Note that unless you actively choose otherwise, adding storage also renews your subscription for a year. Norton starts you with 25GB of backup storage, and each additional 10GB you add costs $10, prorated based on how much of the year remains when you sign up. To get 500GB from Norton, you'd pay nearly $500, which is quite a lot more than Webroot's price.<\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton does offer more options, with the ability to store backups on any local or network drive, without using the cloud. Kaspersky only offers local backup, though you can set it to store your archives on Dropbox. <a href=\"\/reviews\/bullguard-premium-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8799\">BullGuard Premium Protection<\/a>, too, focuses on local backup. It can store your archives on local, network, or removable drives, or send them to your DropBox, Google Drive, or OneDrive account.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-3.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469919.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-3.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469919.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe online backup component in most security suites aims to protect your most important files, not to back up your whole computer. If you want more than 25GB of online storage for your synced and backed-up files, you should probably look at a standalone backup utility. Editors' Choice <a href=\"\/reviews\/idrive\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10120\">IDrive<\/a>, for example, gives you four times the storage of Webroot's top tier, for less than a tenth of the price.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Backup for Android<\/h2>\r\n\r\nI've discussed security features of Webroot's Android protection in my review of Webroot's entry-level suite. What's new in the top-tier suite is the backup component. On Android, upgrading to the top-tier suite adds a Backup & Sync button to the main window.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe app lets you access all your backup and sync folders, which it calls Remote Containers. You can manage backed-up files, or save local copies. And you can open platform-independent file types such as videos and pictures directly from the backup. This component also serves as a file manager for your documents and data files, but the most important thing you can do with it is send local files to cloud storage. It's not as elaborate as the backup component in the Windows edition, but it gets the job done.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Android Backup' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-4.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Android Backup' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-4.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Android, Webroot's backup system offers special features for your media files, accessed by tapping the Camera button. You can snap a photo or record video directly to cloud storage, without saving a local copy. You can tap to upload all media files on the device. Finally, you can view your cloud-stored media files.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>System Analysis and Optimization<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAn old-fashioned, bloated security suite that slows down your everyday computer use might try to hide its performance impact by adding a performance tune-up tool, but Webroot is the opposite of a resource hog. It displayed no impact at all in my hands-on performance tests. Even so, Webroot offers two tools to make your Windows and macOS systems run faster and better.<\/p>\r\n\r\nClicking Utilities on the main window shows two buttons, Optimize Now and Run System Analyzer. Clicking Optimize Now launches a scan for useless files and for traces that might let a snoop learn too much about your browsing and computer usage. These include things like browser history and cache, Windows temporary files, and various lists of recently used files. It's a quiet tool; you might not even realize that it finished its job. When its scan is complete, it shuts down, simply reporting in the main window how much space it recovered.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSystem Optimizer on the macOS platform works in much the same way. However, it offers a pair of features not found under Windows. You can click Verify Disk to check whether your Mac's hard drive has any errors, and Repair Disk to fix any problems found.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Mac Optimize' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-5.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Mac Optimize' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-5.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy digging into Advanced Settings, you can see the kinds of junk Webroot clears away in its default configuration. On Windows, you can also tag more items for removal. Webroot doesn't clear browser cookies by default, but you can add them to the trash list, along with more persistent Flash cookies. It can sweep away memory-dump files and disc-burning temp storage files. It can even clear the contents of the clipboard. As with the backup system, Webroot defaults to running optimization once a day.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSystem Analyzer checks your hardware, software, and security status. It's like a scaled-down version of Norton's Diagnostic report. Note, though, that where Norton's report includes automatic fixes for some problems, Webroot leaves the resolution to you.<\/p>\r\n\r\nOn my Windows test system it reported high disk fragmentation, advised turning on Windows Firewall, and noted that upgrading to a dual core processor would improve performance. As the test system is a virtual machine, switching to a dual-core processor was just a matter of tweaking the settings. I also turned on Windows Firewall and ran the built-in defrag tool. A repeat scan showed no problems. I did observe that System Analyzer no longer reports a numeric score. My Webroot contacts confirmed they made this change based on customer feedback.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete System Analyzer' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 678 450'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-6.fit_lim.size_678x450.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete System Analyzer' width='678' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-6.fit_lim.size_678x450.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Windows and macOS operating systems are quite different, so I wasn't surprised to find different kinds of System Analyzer results on the Mac. Some made plenty of sense. I have the firewall component turned off, to let third-party firewalls do their job. I turn on Time Machine when I want it to make a backup, rather than leaving it on all the time. Others, I didn't really know how to manage. Apparently processes on my test Mac use a \"high amount of RAM\" and maintain a \"large number of open files.\" Even so, with a little tweaking I got closer to an all-green result.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Bonus: Secure Erase<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf you right-click any file or folder in Windows you'll find a new menu option, Permanently Erase With Webroot. A secure deletion tool like this is handy when you want to erase a file and ensure it can't be recovered using forensic software or hardware. It's especially useful when paired with <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-encryption-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"343\">encryption software<\/a>—after encrypting a sensitive file, you securely delete the original. Webroot doesn't offer encryption, but you may still find uses for this tool.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAs I've mentioned before, out of the box this tool does not<\/em> perform secure deletion. All it does is delete the file without sending it to the Recycle Bin, something you can accomplish for yourself by holding down shift while deleting the file. To get real security against forensic recovery, you must dig into the settings and change the tool's security level at least to Medium. At this level, it overwrites the file's data three times before deletion, which should foil any software-based attempt at forensic recovery. If you crank it up to Maximum, it overwrites the file's data seven times, overwrites the unused data in the file's last data cluster, and wipes other traces within the file system. Yes, it takes longer, but a file wiped at this level is gone forever. It's not even recoverable with forensic hardware.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Secure Erase' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 518'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-7.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469919.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Secure Erase' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-7.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469919.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you're using Webroot on a Mac, you'll find this feature on the System Optimizer page. All you need to do is click Delete Files Securely and select files or folders for destruction. Interestingly, on macOS Webroot defaults to the Medium level, meaning it does overwrite file data before deletion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>A Good Deal on macOS and Windows<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe best part of Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete is the powerful, unusual antivirus component. Upgrading to the entry-level suite adds a password manager with limited capabilities, as well as full protection for your Android devices. With this suite, the top of the line, your macOS and Windows devices get a pair of tune-up tools, a simple secure deletion tool, and an online backup system, along with 25GB of hosted storage for backed-up files. You can also access those backups from Android. On a per-device basis, the suite costs roughly $16, which is actually lower than the per-device price of the antivirus ($59.99 for three devices). If you want Webroot protection on many devices and can do without spam filtering and parental control, this suite can be a good deal.<\/p>\r\n\r\nHowever, our Editors' Choice for security mega-suite is Bitdefender Total Security, which packs a phenomenal collection of features and gets near-perfect scores from the antivirus testing labs. With its support for Mac and Android, Webroot could also be considered a cross-platform multi-device suite. In that realm, our Editors' Choice products are Symantec Norton Security Premium (which also gives you 25GB of storage for backups) and <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1105\">Kaspersky Security Cloud<\/a><\/span>, both of which also boast low per-device prices.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Parental Control: n\/a<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"An antivirus utility or a full ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" can protect your devices against all kinds of malware attacks, from ransomware that encrypts all your files to phishing pages that try to steal your passwords. However, there's nothing software can do if your computer gets run over by a bus or struck by lightning. In a case like that, backup is the ultimate security. With Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete, you get Webroot's award-winning antivirus plus 25GB of hosted online backup. In previous years, your upgrade also bought you a tune-up system for your Macs and Windows boxes, but that component now comes with the standalone antivirus products. In the Webroot pantheon, this product takes the mega-suite position, though it lacks the parental control and spam filtering components found in many competitors.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In truth, this suite has faded a bit since its last review. Backup used to be available for Windows, macOS, and Android; it\u2019s just Windows now. The Android app used to offer app permissions inspection, a battery monitor, a network monitor, and more. Now it\u2019s just a secure browser with antivirus built in. The web console used to include a full antitheft system for your Android devices. Now it just directs you to Google\u2019s Find My Device. All these small cuts add up.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"How Much Does Webroot Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Cost?","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"One thing that hasn\u2019t changed is the price. For $79.99 per year, you can install Webroot on five devices, a lower per-device price than most. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and Kaspersky Total Security also offer five licenses, but they cost $89.99 and $99.99, respectively. At $104.99 per year, Norton 360 Deluxe is a bit more expensive, but that subscription gets you five high-powered suite installations, five no-limits VPN licenses, and 50GB of storage for your backups, twice what Webroot offers. Webroot used to offer a 10-license pack for twice the price of five licenses, no discount. The company has dropped that package. If you need to protect a large number of devices, consider McAfee Total Protection. With McAfee\u2019s suite, a $159.99 subscription lets you install protection on every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Security protection on Windows comes from Editors' Choice pick ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". This top-level suite product looks identical to the standalone antivirus, until you click the Backup & Sync button. In the antivirus or the entry-level suite, clicking that one just gets you the option to learn more about the feature, and what you learn is that you need to upgrade.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-21.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Windows Antivirus","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Read Me First","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When reviewing a new or updated security product line, I start by evaluating the antivirus. With that review finished, I move on to the entry-level security suite, summarizing my antivirus findings but focusing on the suite-specific features. When there's a high-level mega-suite or a cross-platform suite, I do the same, summarizing my review of the entry-level suite and moving on to the features that you only get at the top tier.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The differences between this suite and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" are self-contained enough that a summary of shared features would occupy most of the review. Rather than summarize, I'll ask you to click the link above and read my review of the entry-level suite. When you're finished, finish this review to learn about the top-tier features.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Very briefly, Webroot's antivirus is an Editors' Choice pick on Windows and a decent contender on macOS. The entry-level suite adds a Webroot-branded edition of ","type":"text"},{"text":"LastPass Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/lastpass","target":null}}]},{"text":" along with an Android security app that lacks most of the features found in Webroot\u2019s previous Android app, as well as an iOS app that does even less. I concluded that the entry-level suite just doesn\u2019t add enough value beyond the standalone antivirus. This top-tier suite doesn\u2019t tack on a huge number of features, but it\u2019s closer to a good deal.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Easy Backup and Sync","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To get started using the ","type":"text"},{"text":"online backup","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-backup-services","target":null}}]},{"text":" system, you click a button to log in to your Webroot account online and follow the prompts. As part of the process, you select a storage region: Europe, Japan, or the US. Once you finish, you\u2019ll find that have a new folder named Webroot Anywhere. Whatever you put in this folder syncs to the Webroot cloud, in encrypted form. It also automatically shows up in the Webroot Anywhere folder on your other Windows devices. You can add other sync folders, perhaps for files that need to sync with some, but not all, of your devices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Yes, I said \u201cyour other Windows devices.\u201d In the past, the backup system extended to macOS, and even somewhat to Android. There\u2019s no place for it on Android now, and if you click Backup & Sync on a Mac, you see the message, \u201cBackup is no longer available on macOS.\u201d","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-22.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Backup Settings","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you designate a folder for backup, Webroot backs up the folder's contents to the cloud but doesn't sync it with other devices. You can choose whether subfolders get backed up (they do by default) and specify file types for inclusion or exclusion. By default, Webroot includes all file types and doesn't exclude any. If you regret the edits you made just before backing up, fear not. Webroot retains the last 10 versions of backed-up files. For sync folders, it keeps the last five versions.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Note that you can\u2019t directly edit files in the Anywhere folder. If you try to open such a file, Webroot warns that you\u2019ll be opening a read-only temporary copy. For permanent changes to a file in the Anywhere folder, you must make a copy, edit the copy, and put the new file back in place.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-23.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Backup Folders","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot updates new and changed files in sync folders immediately, and it pushes its updates to all your devices. It processes backup folders once a day, by default. In Advanced Settings you can set the time of day for the daily backup, choose days of the week when backup will run, or configure Webroot to back up files every so-many hours, from one to 999. Note that you don\u2019t control scheduling from the Backup & Sync settings page, but rather from a separate page devoted to the Scheduler.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the online console you can view and manage your synced and backed-up files. Conveniently, you can log in from any secure computer and download a local copy of any file or folder as a zipped archive. There's no restore function like what you get with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and others, just the ability to download files and folders. You can, however, de-authorize a lost or stolen device, to ensure the thief can't also steal your backed-up files.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-24.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Cloud Backup","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you click the Get More Storage button, it opens a web page that invites you to purchase the product again and encourages you to add the ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot WiFi Security VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-wi-fi-security-vpn","target":null}}]},{"text":" to your purchase for a discount. However, even when you proceed to checkout there\u2019s no offer to add storage. You used to have a choice of 50GB, 100GB, or 500GB of storage for roughly $80, $100, or $200 per year. ","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With Norton, you get 50GB of storage, period. If you want more, you must upgrade to a higher-level suite, which also gets you more licenses, more access to LifeLock features, or both. For example, with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Select","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", you still get five VPN and suite licenses, but backup storage doubles to 100GB and you get basic LifeLock identity protection. At the Ultimate tier you can install on as many devices as you like, you get maximal LifeLock protection, and you can use 500GB of storage for your backups.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Norton does offer more options, with the ability to store backups on any local or network drive, without using the cloud. Kaspersky only offers local backup, though you can set it to store your archives on Dropbox. ","type":"text"},{"text":"BullGuard Premium Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bullguard-premium-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", too, focuses on local backup. It can store your archives on local, network, or removable drives, or send them to your DropBox, Google Drive, or OneDrive account.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The online backup component in most security suites aims to protect your most important files, not to back up your whole computer. If you want more than 25GB of online storage for your synced and backed-up files, you should probably look at a standalone backup utility. Editors' Choice pick ","type":"text"},{"text":"IDrive","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/idrive","target":null}}]},{"text":", for example, gives you four times the storage of Webroot's top tier, for around a quarter the price.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Bonus: Secure Erase","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you right-click any file or folder in Windows you'll find a new menu option, Permanently Erase With Webroot. A secure deletion tool like this is handy when you want to erase a file and ensure it can't be recovered using forensic software or hardware. It's especially useful when paired with ","type":"text"},{"text":"encryption software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-encryption-software","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u2014after encrypting a sensitive file, you securely delete the original. Webroot doesn't offer encryption, but you may still find uses for this tool.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Here's a little background. When you delete a file in Windows, it isn\u2019t really gone. It just goes into the Recycle Bin. Even if you bypass the Recycle Bin, or empty it, the file\u2019s data still isn\u2019t gone. Those data sectors remain on disk, unchanged except for a marker that says they\u2019re available, not in use. Simple forensic software can often recover these files\u2014","type":"text"},{"text":"Windows 10 itself includes a file recover feature","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/how-to-recover-deleted-files-in-windows-10","target":null}}]},{"text":". That\u2019s fine when you deleted the file accidentally, but not if your intent was to eliminate the file completely.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The typical secure deletion utility foils forensic recovery very simply. It overwrites the file\u2019s data sectors with random data before deletion, so the recovery software gets nothing but gibberish. Even lab-quality hardware-based forensic recovery systems can\u2019t recover data that\u2019s been overwritten seven times.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Unfortunately, Webroot\u2019s Secure Erase does not perform secure deletion out of the box. All it does is delete the selected file or folder without sending it to the Recycle Bin. To enable actual secure deletion, you must dig into settings and raise the security level at least to Medium. At this level, Webroot overwrites the data three times, in three different ways, before deletion. That\u2019s a level of security that satisfies the Department of Defense, so it should be good enough for almost all consumers.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For those who deal with illegal or otherwise sensitive data, the Maximum security level goes all out. It overwrites the data seven times, which, as noted, means there\u2019s no possibility of recovery even with the fanciest hardware. It also overwrites the unused bytes at the end of the file\u2019s last data sector and wipes other traces around the file system. This level of secure deletion takes longer, of course, so don\u2019t use it unless you really need it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-25.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete Secure Erase","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you're using Webroot on a Mac, you'll find this feature on the System Optimizer page. All you need to do is click Delete Files Securely and select files or folders for destruction. Interestingly, on macOS Webroot defaults to the Medium level, meaning it does overwrite file data before deletion.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Offers Less Than Before","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The best part of Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete is the powerful, unusual antivirus component. Upgrading to the entry-level suite adds a third-party password manager, as well as limited protection for your mobile devices. In past years, you had to upgrade to this top-tier suite to get the tune-up tools for macOS and Windows, but those got moved to the basic antivirus. The main thing you get by upgrading to this suite is an online backup system for your Windows boxes, along with 25GB of hosted storage for those backed-up files. Also gone is the option to expand beyond that basic 25GB of storage.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Installing protection on an Android or iOS device uses up a license and does little to enhance your security. If you have five Windows or macOS devices to protect, though, this suite can be a Webroot bargain. The per-device price is almost the same as if you bought a three-license subscription for the antivirus, so you get the backup system effectively for free.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"However, most users looking for a security suite want something more substantial. Our Editors' Choice pick for security mega-suite is Bitdefender Total Security, which packs a phenomenal collection of features and gets near-perfect scores from the antivirus testing labs. With its support for Mac and Android, Webroot could also be considered a cross-platform multi-device suite. In that realm, our Editors' Choice products are Norton 360 Deluxe and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". These two cost a bit more, but they give you much, much more in terms of security features.","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":26,"images":[{"index":20,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-20.jpg","extension":"jpg","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":720,"hash":"ab5e93fb9daa4feec95beaeacb733217","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]},{"index":21,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-21.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":560,"hash":"295c8f7e06b25bc716a4f1ba743a25bd","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]},{"index":22,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-22.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":560,"hash":"9f549718ff96c32a5643dd6b68964963","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]},{"index":23,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-23.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":560,"hash":"74304d952946268c1b0b840bc4daa2ef","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]},{"index":24,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-24.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1363,"height":665,"hash":"294fc1f827a32649ffbea83a289be0c7","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]},{"index":25,"path":"reviews\/00fkymhKJbS3yBdzYI7mrng-25.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":560,"hash":"457b0deb611a47f9f61604b3eabe8df4","timestamp":1619719439,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Excellent antivirus protection\n25GB hosted storage to back up and sync files\nThird-party password manager\nLight on system resources\nFast scan","cons":"Backup no longer available for macOS or Android\nAndroid support seriously diminished\nFirewall not working during testing\nSecure deletion tool does no data overwriting at default level","bottom_line":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete adds hosted online backup for your Windows devices to the limited features of Webroot\u2019s entry-level suite. If what you need is antivirus plus backup and not a lot more, it\u2019s worth consideration.","best_for":"Best for Advanced Users","first_published_at":"2016-11-03T09:37:23.000000Z","published_at":"2021-05-05T18:14:22.000000Z","last_published_at":"2021-05-05T17:23:40.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-10-17T16:46:26.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-05-05T18:14:22.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":568,"rank":2,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":1662,"legacy_id":327977,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz","status":"Published","product_uuid":"01Jqy2664JzrUIur8BozgNm","spec_sheet_uuid":null,"title":"Norton 360 Deluxe","slug":"norton-360-deluxe","deck":null,"is_editors_choice":true,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":false,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":5272,"body":"\n\n<a href=\"\/news\/the-best-tech-products-of-2019\" class=\"no-underline\" data-link-type=\"lineup\" data-link-id=\"2835\"><img alt='Best of the year 2019 Bug' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 181 150'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-40.fit_lim.size_181x150.v_1575680972.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-40.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Best of the year 2019 Bug' width='181' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-40.fit_lim.size_181x150.v_1575680972.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-40.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/a>\n\nIf you haven't totally cut the cord, you've probably seen TV advertisements touting the combination of Norton's <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> with LifeLock identity theft protection. It probably won't come as a surprise to learn that the company behind both products is now called NortonLifeLock. The Symantec name still exists, but it, along with Symantec's enterprise-level business, now belongs to Broadcom. Where the basic Norton AntiVirus Plus just protects one Windows or macOS device, Norton 360 Deluxe lets you protect Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. It adds a full-powered VPN, Dark Web Monitoring, Parental Control, and more. Windows users get special enhancements including Online Banking Protection and 50GB of hosted storage for online backups. This suite packs a ton of features, for a very reasonable price.<\/p>\r\n\r\nA year's subscription to Norton 360 Deluxe lists for $99.99, which gets you five security suite and VPN licenses to use on your devices. That's impressive, given that after the first year, Norton's VPN alone would cost $79.99 per year. Webroot's cross-platform suite runs $79.99 for five licenses, while <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7583\">Trend Micro Maximum Security<\/a> 's is $89.95 per year for three. McAfee Total Protection costs the same per year as Norton, but the subscription lets you install protection on every device in your household.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn the unlikely event that you truly have just one device to protect, you might consider Norton 360 Standard. This single-license subscription costs $20 less than Deluxe; it also cuts your online backup storage to 10GB. There must be a market, or Norton wouldn't bother with this offering, but for most users Norton 360 Deluxe is a much better deal. On the flip side, if you're shopping for Norton at Walmart, Amazon, or certain other retailers, you may encounter Norton 360 Premium (10 licenses, 75GB of storage) or Norton 360 Platinum (20 licenses, 100GB of storage). This review focuses on Deluxe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you show your support by signing up for automatic renewal, Norton reciprocates with a Virus Protection Promise. That means if malware infests one of your devices despite Norton's protection, a tech support expert will remotely log in and remediate the problem. If the support expert can't make things right, you can apply for a refund. McAfee and <a href=\"\/reviews\/check-point-zonealarm-extreme-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11240\">Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security<\/a> offer similar guarantees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>My Norton, My Way<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWith the current product line, Norton strongly emphasizes making sure customers take advantage of all their Norton benefits. To that end, the My Norton app becomes the suite's overall face. It features a soothing nature scene at left, somewhat reminiscent of the nature backgrounds in Panda's security apps. Down the right side, it lists six significant security components: Device Security, Dark Web Monitoring, Secure VPN, Cloud Backup, Password Manager, and Parental Controls. At the top, it displays the number of licenses you've used, with a link to install protection on more devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe My' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 556'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-41.fit_lim.size_740x556.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-41.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe My' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-41.fit_lim.size_740x556.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-41.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nClicking to open Device Security brings up a window that long-time Norton users will find very familiar. One big panel reflects your security status, along with stats like Most Recent Update and Most Recent Scan. Five big button panels link to Security, Online Safety, Backup, Performance, and My Norton. Clicking that last one takes you back to the My Norton app. Clicking one of the other four slides down the whole row of panels, revealing more buttons related to the one you clicked. For example, clicking Backup shows icons for Run Backup, Restore Files, and Backup Sets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAfter installation, be sure to run a Live Update. Even though the status panel indicated my protection updates were current, the Live Update found more to install. You should also launch each of the browsers that you use and at least install the Norton Toolbar. You can also add other extensions: Norton Safe Search, which marks dangerous search results; Norton Home Page, which puts Safe Search and a collection of quick links on your home page; and the Norton Password Manager.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou won't find a button for the firewall component—to tweak the firewall configuration, you dive straight into Settings. If you find the list of settings overwhelming, just click the search icon at top right in the main window. Not only does it search across all pages of the Settings dialog, like the similar feature in <a href=\"\/reviews\/eset-multi-device-security-pack\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1226\">ESET Multi-Device Security Pack<\/a>, it even lets you tweak simple on\/off settings right in the search results.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Antivirus Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOf course, this suite incorporates all the features of <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-antivirus-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10841\">Norton AntiVirus Plus<\/a>, and adds even more. Please read that review for my detailed findings; I'll summarize here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-25.v_1574729903.png', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Lab Results Chart', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-26.v_1574729903.png', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Malware Protection Chart', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-27.v_1574729903.png', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn addition to the expected full, quick, and custom antivirus scans, you can run the aggressive Norton Power Eraser to root out persistent threats. The full scan ran much more quickly than when last tested, likely due to my increasing the number of virtual processors in my virtual machine test systems. A Norton Insight scan identifies trusted programs that don't need to be scanned for malware, and the Diagnostic Report identifies a wide range of system problems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll four independent antivirus testing labs I follow include Norton in their regular reports, and it aces most of the tests. For example, Norton achieved AAA certification (the best of five certification levels) from <a href=\"https:\/\/selabs.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">SE Labs<\/a>, and took a perfect 18 of 18 points from AV-Test Institute. It also passed both the grueling tests performed by MRG-Effitas, while more than a third of tested products failed at least one.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton's aggregate lab score of 9.8 points is excellent. Looking at other products tested by all four labs, only one has done better. With 9.9 points, <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-prime\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6652\">Avira Prime<\/a><\/span> is the current record holder. Kaspersky held a 9.9 aggregate score until recently, but a minor bobble took it down to 9.7, for now.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton didn't score quite as well in my hands-on <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"198\">malware protection<\/a> tests, earning 9.0 of 10 possible points. However, when the labs praise a product to the skies, I give their results more weight. Malwarebytes, Sophos, and Windows Defender are tied for best score at present, all with 9.8 points. <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8502\">Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus<\/a> had the best detection rate, at 100 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Win' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 494'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-42.fit_lim.size_740x494.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-42.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Win' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-42.fit_lim.size_740x494.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-42.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nChallenged with 100 recently discovered malware-hosting URLs, Norton defended the test system by blocking the browser's access to a bit more than half of them and wiping out most of the remainder by quarantining the malware payload. Its overall 97 percent score matches that of Windows Defender. That's quite good, but not the top score. McAfee, Sophos, and <a href=\"\/reviews\/vipre-advanced-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8278\">Vipre Advanced Security<\/a> all scored a perfect 100 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPhishing sites are fraudulent pages that ape secure sites and try to fool visitors into giving away their credentials. Using several different techniques, Norton detected 99 percent of the very recent real-world phishing pages I used for testing. Norton 360's macOS edition proved almost as effective, though it missed a few pages caught by its Windows cousin. Few others have scored so well. In their latest phishing protection challenges, <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a> and McAfee tied with Norton, while Kaspersky and Trend Micro both scored 100 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton's current edition adds Script Control and Data Protector to its malware protection arsenal. I didn't find a way to test Script Control, which strips scripts from downloaded documents. Data Protector aims to keep ransomware from damaging your documents even if regular real-time protection misses the attack. However, in testing with real-time protection turned off, it only caught about one in three real-world ransomware samples.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469926.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469926.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Other Shared Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAs the \"P<\/span>lus\" in the name suggests, Norton AntiVirus Plus goes beyond the features of a simple antivirus. Its Intrusion Prevention system aims to block exploits at the network level, and indeed it did block every exploit I threw at it. However, a little digging revealed that it wasn't detecting the exploit activity so much as detecting the penetration testing tool I used. I'm sure that feature works, but my test didn't really demonstrate its abilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton's firewall protects against outside attack, as any firewall must. It also aims to prevent programs from misusing your network connection. For program control, it automatically configures permissions for known good programs and puts extra scrutiny on the behavior of unknowns. It proved resistant to tampering in our testing. And yes, you get this high-end firewall as part of the nominally standalone antivirus. New in this edition, the firewall includes specific protection against network shenanigans such as man-in-the-middle attacks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll products in the current Norton line come with local and online backup. The only difference is the amount of hosted online storage Norton provides. With the antivirus, you get just 2GB, while this suite gives you 50GB. It's worth noting that dedicated online backup services such as <a href=\"\/reviews\/idrive\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10120\">IDrive<\/a> typically measure storage capacity in TB, while backup components in security suites offer much less storage space.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton prevents your browser from visiting dangerous pages, replacing such pages with a warning. If you ignore Norton's advice and continue to the page, you now have the option to do so in Isolation Mode. In this mode, Norton's servers render the page and pass along a safe, sanitized version to your browser. In a similar fashion, Online Banking Protection isolates your visits to known financial sites to prevent any meddling with your transactions. Both features are new in the current edition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYour Norton installation gets you <a href=\"\/reviews\/symantec-norton-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1172\"> Norton Password Manager<\/a>, also available for free as a standalone product. The password manager syncs across all your devices and handles all common password management tasks. It includes an actionable password strength report, with automated password updates for a growing number of popular sites, but doesn't extend to advanced features like secure sharing and password inheritance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA spam filter integrates with Microsoft Outlook to divert spam into its own folder; those using a different email client must define a message rule to divert the marked spam messages. Other bonus features shared by this suite and the antivirus include a tool to manage files that launch at startup, a disk optimizer, and a simple file cleanup tool.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Dark Web Monitoring<\/h2>\r\n\r\nNorton acquired identity theft mitigation service LifeLock in 2017, and the top-tier Norton suites now include varying levels of LifeLock protection. Norton 360 Deluxe, reviewed here, doesn't come with a LifeLock subscription, but some of that LifeLock technology powers the Dark Web Monitoring feature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nEven before you do anything to configure this feature, you may get an alert based the email address associated with your Norton account. But the real monitoring starts when you flesh out your collection of personal information. The Dark Web Monitoring page online lists several types of personal data: Bank Accounts, Credit Cards, Phone, Address, Driver License, Insurance, Mother's Maiden Name, and Email. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe page does point out that the basic Norton 360 plan doesn't monitor as many types of info as do plans that include LifeLock. In addition, each data entry page includes the disclaimer, \"No one can prevent all identity theft. LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Dark' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 439'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-43.fit_lim.size_740x439.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-43.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Dark' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-43.fit_lim.size_740x439.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-43.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI went through the list and added one item of each type. Doing so, I learned that you get to add just one driver license and mother's maiden name, up to 10 credit cards and bank accounts, and five apiece of the remaining data types. It's smart—rather than asking you the credit card type it deduces it based on the number you enter. Setting up this feature is simple, but I couldn't truly test it, not without somehow creating a data breach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nChecking with my Norton contacts, I learned that those whose subscription includes LifeLock get the option to track three more important data types: Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Name. Advanced verification steps during signup for the LifeLock-equipped suites lets Norton be sure that users are only tracking their own details.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Full-Powered VPN<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOver the last few years, consumers have become more and more aware of the need to enhance local antivirus protection with a <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"315\">virtual private network, or VPN<\/a>. Security companies have responded by creating their own VPNs or licensing VPN technology, and many have begun to add the VPN as a security suite component. However suite users often get nothing more than the equivalent of the company's free, feature-limited VPN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs an example, the entire Panda product line, starting with the free antivirus, includes a VPN. However, in every product except the expensive top-tier <a href=\"\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6585\">Panda Dome Premium<\/a><\/span>, VPN use is limited to 150GB per day. Kaspersky and Bitdefender also offer bandwidth-limited VPN support, and charge $4.99 per month (Kaspersky) or $49.99 per year (Bitdefender) to lift that limitation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe VPN' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 401'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-44.fit_lim.size_740x401.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-44.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe VPN' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-44.fit_lim.size_740x401.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-44.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith Norton, you get the full power of <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-secure-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8100\">Norton Secure VPN<\/a> on all five of your devices. After a first-year discount, you'd pay $79.99 per year for the VPN as a standalone. Getting it as part of Norton 360 is a huge bargain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPlease read PCMag's review of Norton Secure VPN for a deep dive into this product. Briefly, it's a simple but effective VPN, with a decent number of servers in locations around the world. It earned better than average results in our speed tests, the company maintains a no-log policy for your privacy, and as a bonus it can block ad trackers. However, it lacks advanced features and bans BitTorrent. You could do better choosing a standalone VPN, but you won't go wrong using it as part of Norton 360.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>SafeCam Webcam Security<\/h2>\r\n\r\nSome of your personal data translates easily into money. A ne'er-do-well who steals your credit card or bank account details can usually wring some cash out, even if you quickly shut down the compromised account. That kind of personal data theft is nasty, but understandable. Creepier types of spyware subvert the webcam in your laptop, activating the camera without the tell-tale light and peeking out at you wherever you may be. Norton's SafeCam <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"294\">spyware protection<\/a> system aims to keep pervy peepers from misusing your webcam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike the similar feature in Kaspersky Internet Security, SafeCam defaults to allowing camera access for known good programs. If an unknown program tries to activate the camera, Norton pops up a warning and lets you choose to allow or block that program, just this once or always. When you've just installed a new video communication tool, feel free to respond to the pop-up by always allowing access. But if you didn't trigger the camera access, block it!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Cross-Platform Parental Control<\/h2>\r\n\r\nMy colleague Ben Moore completed a thorough review of the latest <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-family-premier\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"846\">Norton Family Premier<\/a> last year. You get precisely the same product with Norton 360 Deluxe, though it's not integrated like the backup system. To get started, you click the Manage button next to Parental Controls in the My Norton dashboard. I'll summarize Ben's findings here. If you're in the market for parental control software, you can click the link above to read his detailed review.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll Norton Family configuration activity happens online, with a tiny local agent to enforce the rules on each device. You log in to your Norton account, create a profile for each child, and install the app on each device used by a child. There's no limit to the number of child profiles or devices. The parental control system support Windows, Android, and iOS, but not macOS. Mac users can log in to perform management, but there's no local agent for macOS. When configuring a Windows system, you can associate the child profile with a Windows user account.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton Family describes its various features as providing supervision, rather than control. It also emphasizes keeping lines of communication open with your kids. In fact, the local app boils down your settings into a simple set of house rules that the kids can check any time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Parent' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 525'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-45.fit_lim.size_740x525.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-45.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Parent' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-45.fit_lim.size_740x525.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-45.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebsite supervision refers to the content filter, which can block sites matching almost four dozen categories. For older kids, it can warn instead of blocking, and log the event if the child ignores the warning. New since our last review, Norton has added browser-independent HTTPS content filtering to supplement the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. That closes the loophole whereby a smart kid could log into a secure anonymizing proxy using any unsupported browser and thereby completely evade the content filter. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen I tested this feature with my standard hand-coded browser, it didn't work. My Norton contacts explain that the system filters content for any program that registers with Windows as a browser—<\/span>the ones that show up when you select a new default browser. My rudimentary program doesn't do that, so Norton doesn't treat it as a browser.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAfter some experimenting, I can confirm that Web supervision works with Avant Browser, Brave, Comodo Dragon, Epic Privacy Browser, Maxthon, Vivaldi, and Yandex, as well as the usual suspects. The browser displays an error message, while Norton pops up an explanation of what happened.<\/p>\r\n\r\nNote that such filtered HTTPS sites don't get recorded in the activity log. Also, some features, among them Search Supervision and Video Supervision, don't work without a browser extension. You get a notification when Norton detects online activity using an unsupported browser.<\/p>\r\n\r\nTime supervision lets parents set a schedule for device use along with a daily maximum, separately for each day of the week. Here, too, parents can opt to just give a warning when time runs out and log any usage beyond the limit. The usage cap is cumulative across all devices, which is good.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSearch supervision forces Safe Search in popular search portals, and logs search terms. Social media supervision warns you if your child creates a Facebook account with a fake age, or posts any information you've defined as personal data.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAny full-scale parental control system should include the features noted above. Video supervision goes beyond those basics, reporting all videos the child views on YouTube and Hulu. It also tracks videos watched on Android devices. Location supervision (for iOS and Android) keeps track of the child's location. And mobile app supervision lets parents block unwanted apps on Android devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOnce you've defined the house rules, Norton Family manages all your children's devices. A separate tab summarizes activity in each of the supervision areas; naturally you can click for a more detailed view.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIt's worth noting that upgrading from Kaspersky's entry-level suite to Kaspersky Total Security or Kaspersky Security Cloud upgrades your parental control to <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2163\">Kaspersky Safe Kids<\/a>, a high-end parental control tool with features comparable to Norton Family.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton Family Premier is a modern cross-platform parental control system with all the expected features and more. It doesn't quite come up to Editors' Choice <a href=\"\/reviews\/qustodio\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6917\">Qustodio Parental Control<\/a>, but with protection for unlimited kids and unlimited Windows, Android, and iOS devices, it's a dandy choice for large families that don't use Macs. You also get it as part of your Norton 360 subscription, where a standalone subscription would cost $49.99 per year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Surprising Performance Impact<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf a consumer perceives that security is putting a drag on system performance, even if that perception is false, security is likely to go out the window. Fortunately, security companies know this, and have been work hard to minimize any effects on system performance for many years. I do still put each Windows-based suite through some simple performance tests, just in case that trend reverses.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nReal-time on-access protection systems necessarily keep an eye on file-system operations, so they can scan any suspicious files before they launch. This vigilant monitoring could put a drag on file operations, which would be bad news. To check for this kind of system drag, I start by timing a lengthy script that moves and copies an eclectic collection of files between drives. I average multiple timing runs, then install the security suite and average multiple runs again, comparing the averages. With Norton installed, that script took 20 percent longer, a bit longer than when I last tested it, but still not a lot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor another look at file operations, I time a similar test that repeatedly zips and unzip the same collection of files. This time, Norton had no measurable effect on performance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-28.v_1574729903.png', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Performance Chart', 'Norton 360 Deluxe Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou need security protection from the moment your computer starts to boot, but getting that protection up and running could increase the time before the computer is ready to use. To measure boot time, I start with a script that launches at boot and waits for 10 seconds in a row with CPU usage five percent or less. At that point I consider the system ready to use, so I can calculate the boot time, and averaging multiple runs produces a reliable figure. After installing the security suite, I average another set of runs and compare the resulting times.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton seems to alternate between big and tiny results in this test. Two reviews ago it exhibited a large boot-time slowdown, 55 percent, while in the subsequent review it showed no appreciable slowdown. This time the boot test averaged 43 percent longer. Because the result was so different, I ran the test again, with no significant improvement. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe good news is that most of us rarely reboot our computers, except when forced to by a Windows update or similar. And that 43 percent longer boot time is still under a minute.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAlmost all current security suites have a light enough touch that you shouldn't notice any drag on performance. Admittedly, some are lighter than others. For example, Webroot, <a href=\"\/reviews\/g-data-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4767\">G Data Total Security<\/a>, and a few others didn't show any measurable slowdown in my three simple tests.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Changing Android Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYour subscription lets you install Norton 360 on up to five devices running Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. Extending protection to an Android smartphone or tablet is a snap. From My Norton, click the plus icon next to Protect Another Device. Enter an email address used on that device and click the arrow to send a link. Unlike the similar feature in <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a><\/span>, you don't have to choose the platform. Clicking the emailed link on the device automatically selects the proper download.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Android, you start with three downloads, Mobile Security, VPN, and Password Manager. As on other platforms, you can open My Norton for an overview of all available security features. The feature list starts with the same six items you see in Windows: Device Security, Dark Web Monitoring, Secure VPN, Cloud Backup, Password Manager, and Parental Controls. At the bottom of the list are two apps that you can choose to add: Norton App Lock and Norton Clean.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Many Permissions<\/h3>\r\n\r\nAs always, getting your Android security up and running requires a variety of permissions. For example, the App Advisor needs Accessibility permission as well as permission to display on top of other apps. The main security protection app needs permission to run in the background, so Android doesn't turn it off unexpectedly. And the anti-theft feature needs full Device Administrator permission, as well as access to the device's location, and to the camera.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Android' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-46.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1575680972.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-46.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 Deluxe Android' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-46.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1575680972.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-46.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Multiple Layers of Malware Protection<\/h3>\r\n\r\nNorton scans for malicious and risky apps, as expected, and it now checks for surveillance apps. Its real-time protection now checks apps as they launch, not just at installation. The App Advisor works inside Google Play, checking every app you tap and reporting the risk level. Tap the small notification at the bottom to see details of App Advisor's findings. That's something I haven't seen in any competing products. App Advisor also checks existing apps, and maintains a list for your reference.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton can help you by blocking unwanted calls and messages. In recent editions, Google's constraints disabled this feature, along with the SIM Anti-Theft feature. Norton has since found away to work within those constraints, so these features are back to full function. I couldn't test them, though, because the Android device I use for testing isn't provisioned with cellular service.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>Anti-Theft to Be Discontinued<\/h3>\r\n\r\nAs of this writing, Norton still offers a full anti-theft suite. You can locate, lock, or wipe the device, and the scream feature helps find a device that you've misplaced around the house. The Sneak Peek feature lets you remotely (and silently) snap a photo of whoever is holding the device. In addition, you can remotely back up your contacts before resorting to the Wipe command, which performs a factory reset.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nHowever, these features are going away. According to the My Norton console, \"We will be discontinuing Norton Mobile Security's Anti-Theft features on December 16, 2019.\" My contacts at the company explained that they are \"retiring some redundant or infrequently used features.\" I had the impression that anti-theft was central to Android security, but apparently not. They suggested that users wanting similar protection use Google's Find My Device and Device Contacts Backup services.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3>VPN Protection and More<\/h3>\r\n\r\nNorton's VPN works the same on Android as on other platforms. It's a full-powered VPN with no limits on bandwidth or available servers. Just tap to choose a server region and it connects, protecting all data traffic to and from your device. As on Windows and macOS, it includes a built-in blocker for ads that try to track your surfing habits. Unlike the Windows and macOS editions, it has the ability (enabled by default) to turn on the VPN any time you connect with an insecure Wi-Fi hotspot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMany Android security products notify you if you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot that's not secured. As with the Windows product, Norton goes quite a bit beyond that, checking for specific network-based attacks. New in this edition, it warns of \"Evil Twin\" attacks. When seeking Wi-Fi, your phone checks for hotspots it knows, as if saying \"Hey, CoffeeShop123, are you there?\" The attacker users a special device that responds \"Yup, that's me!\" and captures your phone's Wi-Fi connection. But not when Norton is on duty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs on other platforms, Safe Search steers you away from dangerous links in search results. Web Protection, enabled by default, keeps you away from dangerous links in Chrome, Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. Now it's backed up by the optional Link Guard, which broadens that protection to include links in other apps such as email and text messages, but Link Guard is also on the chopping block.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI'm sorry to see the anti-theft component go, but Norton 360 on Android remains a powerful and multi-faceted security tool.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Suite for macOS Security<\/h2>\r\n\r\nA common pattern with cross-platform suites is to give Windows users a full security suite, brimming with features, but stick macOS users with a plain, unadorned antivirus. Norton doesn't follow that pattern. <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"9399\">Norton 360 Deluxe (for Mac)<\/a> goes well beyond basic antivirus, adding a full two-way firewall, a password manager, Norton's VPN, and a cleanup utility to eliminate junk files. It supports the current macOS version plus the two previous, meaning that with the release of macOS Catalina it goes back to macOS High Sierra (10.12). You can read my review for full details; I'll hit the high points here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe macOS antivirus earned certification from AV-Test Institute, with 100 percent detection of Mac-centered malware. In my phishing protection test, it scored almost as well as on Windows, meaning it did very well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-8.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469926.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-8.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-8.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469926.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-8.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Mac firewall blocks unsolicited incoming connections and warns when you connect to an insecure network. Like the Windows antivirus, it defends against exploit attacks. If you enable application blocking, the firewall goes old-school, asking you what to do each time it sees a new program attempting network access. On Windows, the firewall uses an online database to define permissions for many known safe programs. On the Mac, it asks about every program, even its own internet-aware components. As noted, you get a file cleanup utility, and you can install Norton Password Manager and sync it with your other devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs on Windows, My Norton becomes the face of the app. Do note that some features appear in My Norton even though they don't function on your Mac. Clicking the icon for Cloud Backup just lets you manage your backup sets online, for example. And while you can go online to tweak parental control settings or view reports, there isn't a local agent to enforce house rules on Mac.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Simpler Security for iOS<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAs with Android, clicking a link in the new-device email gives you options to install Norton Security, Norton VPN, and the Password Manager. I found that after installing the fifth of five Norton 360 licenses, I could no longer reach the links for the other two components, receiving instead a message about no more licenses available. I had no trouble installing the VPN and Password Manager directly from My Norton, fortunately.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe VPN looks and acts almost exactly as it does on Android. The one notable exception is that it can't turn on automatically when you connect with an insecure Wi-Fi hotspot. It does offer to warn you when you connect insecurely, and turning on the VPN manually takes just a tap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn addition to the six icons seen in My Norton on other platforms, iOS users can choose to install Norton Ad Blocker. The redundant Norton Snap QR code reader has been removed. Yes, Norton Secure VPN comes with blocking of ad trackers built in, but Norton Ad Blocker works any time, not just when you're connected to the VPN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIncluding the My Norton page, the Security app has four pages. On the Wi-Fi Security page, it reports the security status of your current connection. The Device page checks for problems including an outdated operating system, a jailbroken device, or the presence of a suspicious profile. That leaves Web Protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you set up Web Protection, it leverages VPN technology to run all websites through a local filter before allowing access. It's not a full-scale VPN; there's no server at the other end. But the result is that no matter what browser or internet-aware app you use, Norton can filter out dangerous and fraudulent websites. My Norton contacts confirmed that this feature can function at the same time as the VPN. When both are active, the web filtering VPN gets first crack at traffic and then hands it off to the full-powered VPN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe same Apple technology that makes malware attacks tough under iOS also gets in the way when security companies try to install protection. But with the current edition of Norton 360, you get full VPN protection for your iOS devices, and that's a significant and valuable contribution. Its abilities to filter dangerous websites, warn of insecure Wi-Fi, and report problems with overall device security are also helpful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Fantastic Feature Collection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nNorton 360 Deluxe starts with an antivirus that earns excellent scores in independent labs tests and our own tests, and includes an impressive set of bonus security components. It builds on that foundation with a dazzling collection of features. It has expected suite features like spam filtering, firewall protection, and defense against exploit attacks, as well as less common features like system cleanup and online backup. The jewel in its crown is the addition of Norton Secure VPN, a utility that would cost almost as much as Norton 360 Deluxe if purchased separately. And the My Norton app makes sure that you get all the security you're entitled to, on all platforms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIt's true that this suite only offers five licenses—if you want more, you must upgrade to one of Norton's higher tiers. But its cross-platform security is more comprehensive than most, and it comes with extras that make its price a bargain. Norton 360 Deluxe is an Editors' Choice for cross-platform security suite. Those who really need to protect a boatload of devices should consider our other Editors' choice in this area, Kaspersky Security Cloud. Its VPN is hobbled by a bandwidth cap, and it doesn't offer hosts online backup, but for $149.99 per year you can protect 20 devices. That's a lot!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n3.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Parental Control: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>","body_content_blocks":null,"images":{"autoincrement":47,"images":[{"index":null,"path":"reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-1.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":555,"hash":"dc0318a387dc1da64b52d123708fa9ee","timestamp":1569469926,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe My Norton","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe My Norton","legacy_id":"629063","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-16 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Dark","legacy_id":"662442","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-21 12:28:17.430"}},{"index":null,"path":"reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-44.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":401,"hash":"e63f7e8deec74e8dd9c13802c6866575","timestamp":1575680972,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 Deluxe VPN","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 Deluxe VPN","legacy_id":"662443","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-21 12:28:54.537"}},{"index":null,"path":"reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-45.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":525,"hash":"7e942d90c378c93fa4a137c37599574b","timestamp":1575680972,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 Deluxe Parent","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 Deluxe Parent","legacy_id":"662444","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-21 12:29:31.860"}},{"index":null,"path":"reviews\/01dD7c6Jiwhc0I2GjnOxkdz-46.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":437,"hash":"844f1bb1122df33df67b21501c9f9582","timestamp":1575680972,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 Deluxe Android","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 Deluxe Android","legacy_id":"662446","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-21 12:30:05.593"}}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"No-limits VPN.\nExcellent scores in our phishing protection and malicious URL blocking tests.\nHosted storage for online backup.\nPowerful, self-sufficient firewall.\nSupports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.\nVirus protection promise.","cons":"Android anti-theft to be discontinued.\nSecurity protection limited on iOS devices.\nParental control and backup unavailable on macOS.","bottom_line":"In addition to cross-platform security, hosted online backup, and a ton of security features, Norton 360 Deluxe gives you a no-limits VPN and full-featured parental control system that would cost plenty by themselves. It's a high-security bargain.","best_for":null,"first_published_at":"2016-08-16T16:26:45.000000Z","published_at":"2019-11-25T09:44:00.000000Z","last_published_at":"2019-12-03T10:58:07.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-09-30T18:44:17.000000Z","updated_at":"2019-12-03T15:58:06.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":1662,"rank":3,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":1105,"legacy_id":358429,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2","status":"Published","product_uuid":"065UlefOjvr1BQ0IINxufMh","spec_sheet_uuid":null,"title":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","slug":"kaspersky-security-cloud","deck":"Feature-laden protection for all your devices","is_editors_choice":true,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":3228,"body":"\n\n<a href=\"\/news\/the-best-tech-products-of-2018\" class=\"no-underline\" data-link-type=\"lineup\" data-link-id=\"1708\"><img alt='Best of the year 2018 logo small' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 181 150'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-1.fit_lim.size_181x150.v_1569469923.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-1.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Best of the year 2018 logo small' width='181' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-1.fit_lim.size_181x150.v_1569469923.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-1.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/a>\n\nEditors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky's inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will treat them as unproven, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement. <\/span><\/em>Most modern security companies offer protection at three levels: a basic antivirus, an entry-level <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a>, and a mega-suite with additional features. However, that model isn't universal. Kaspersky Security Cloud offers everything you get with mega-suite Kaspersky Total Protection, plus some additional features and platform-specific improvements the company calls Adaptive Security. If you have a boatload of devices, it's a very good deal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis product comes in two editions, Personal and Family. Pricing for the Personal edition is the same as for Kaspersky Total Security, $89.99 per year for three licenses or $99.99 for five. You pay $149.99 per year for the Family edition, but that lets you install protection on up to 20 devices. That same price gets you just 10 licenses for Total Security. You can also define as many as 19 other My Kaspersky accounts, with some limitations. Only the master account can manage the parental control component, for one. And while there's no limit on installations of the password manager, you can only have five distinct user accounts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPrices for this kind of cross-platform multi-device suite vary wildly. You get unlimited McAfee licenses for $99.99 per year, for example. <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe<\/a> looks more expensive, at $99.99 for five licenses. However, Norton comes with 50GB of online storage for your backups and also gives you five full VPN licenses, where Kaspersky offers no online storage and charges $4.99 per month to remove limits on its VPN. At the high end 10 licenses for Panda Dome Premium will run you $274.99 per year. Note that these are all list prices, and all are frequently discounted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you just want antivirus for all your devices, you might consider <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2282\">Kaspersky Security Cloud Free<\/a>. This tool looks just like Kaspersky Security Cloud, but shield-shaped icon overlays identify features that aren't available for free. Among the premium features are PC Cleaner, Privacy Protection, Safe Money, and most of the bonus tools.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Installation Marathon<\/h2>\r\n\r\nKaspersky Security Cloud runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You get a security app (on all but iOS), a virtual private network, or <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"315\">VPN<\/a>, a password manager, and a parental control system. To start the ball rolling, you create or log into a My Kaspersky account online, enter your registration code, and download the appropriate package for your operating system. To extend protection to another device, you can either log in from the device or send an email with a link to the installer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSince my last review, installation has become slightly less arduous. Previously, you had to log in to My Kaspersky and separately install Kaspersky Password Manager and Kaspersky Safe Kids on all platforms. Now the password manager installs automatically the first time you try to use it. The main installer adds the VPN component along with Kaspersky Security Cloud. You still install Safe Kids separately, but that makes sense given that many people don't need it. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can now install on mobile devices by snapping a QR code that has your My Kaspersky credentials baked in. Once the app is running, it walks you through adding the password manager and (for Android) the separate Kaspersky Internet Security app, again without requiring you to log in to My Kaspersky. There's also a separate QR code reader app for Android and iOS, and a battery monitor for Android. I lost count of the number of separate installations, but there were plenty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe process of getting Kaspersky Security Cloud and its components on all your devices is easier than when I last evaluated the product. You don't have to keep logging in to My Kaspersky over and over, and the QR code approach for mobile devices is nice. Even so, Kaspersky Security Cloud still behaves more like a committee of separate programs than like an integrated suite. It's more a service for managing your security than a security product itself. However, it offers some unique features not found in other Kaspersky products. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>My Kaspersky Dashboard<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAs noted earlier, you log in to the My Kaspersky dashboard to install Kaspersky Security Cloud on additional pieces of hardware. The Devices tab lists every single piece of hardware associated with your My Kaspersky account, along with the Kaspersky apps installed on each. If you haven't installed all available apps for a given computer, phone, or tablet, it displays an Add Application button.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Dash' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 390'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-2.fit_lim.size_740x390.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-2.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Dash' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-2.fit_lim.size_740x390.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-2.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Licenses tab displays details about your Kaspersky Security Cloud license, as well as licenses for any other Kaspersky products you may have installed. If you opted for the family edition, clicking Share Protection lets you set up a family member with a secondary My Kaspersky account. The app explains that sharing will not give away access to your account, bank cards, or private data. You can list any number of family members, up to your maximum of 20 licenses and 20 devices. Once the recipients install Kaspersky Security Cloud, their hardware shows up in your dashboard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSelecting a device on the Devices tab and clicking Manage gives you remote control and monitoring. You can check status and launch a full or quick scan. You can also remotely check for and install updates, and turn components on or off.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFrom the My Kaspersky dashboard, you can do more than just manage your devices and licenses. You can log in to your password manager data from any browser for full access to passwords, personal data, and secure notes. From the Kids page you can locate your children, view reports on their recent activity, and adjust the configuration of the parental control system. You can do many of the same parental control tasks using the app on your smartphone in parent mode.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou get 200MB of VPN bandwidth per PC, phone, or tablet per day. That's not much. Stream a bunch of YouTube videos and you've exhausted it. The Secure Connection page in the dashboard lets you check how much you've used, either overall or on a per-device basis. If you yearn to watch one more chapter, and you want VPN protection while you do it, this page helps you figure out which devices have bandwidth available.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe My Kaspersky dashboard isn't new, nor is its ability to manage security on multiple platforms. But with Kaspersky Security Cloud, the online dashboard becomes the star of the show.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Protection for Windows<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you install this product on a Windows box, you get protection equivalent to <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7822\">Kaspersky Total Security<\/a>, with a slightly different appearance and a few additional features. For full details on all the shared features, please read my review of Total Security; I'll offer a brief summary here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky Total Security's main window features a security status banner at the top, with eight large icons below: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Password Manager, Privacy Protection, Backup and Restore, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. Kaspersky Security Cloud is almost the same, but the icon lineup differs: Scan, Database Update, PC Cleaner, Password Manager, Privacy Protection, Safe Money, Mobile protection, and Secure Connection. Security Cloud includes all the same features; the only difference is in which features appear on the main window.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Windows' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 543'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-3.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-3.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Windows' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-3.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-3.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a>, Kaspersky earned perfect scores in the latest releases of almost every independent lab test I follow. Kaspersky missed perfection by a hair in one test, Bitdefender did the same in another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky didn't do quite as well in my own hands-on tests, but when results differ, I defer to the labs. It earned an unprecedented 100 percent detection rate in my antiphishing test, tying with McAfee for top score. Bitdefender and <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7583\">Trend Micro Maximum Security<\/a><\/span> came very close with 99 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe suite includes a powerful firewall that makes its own decisions about network permissions for programs at varying trust levels. Parental control comes from the excellent <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2163\">Kaspersky Safe Kids<\/a>, which requires a separate installation. The content filter can block unwanted content, or just warn the child to stay away (of course it notifies you when a child ignores the warning.) Its ability to set time limits or time schedules for usage is unusually flexible. It can monitor social media, block or time-limit certain apps, locate your children via their mobile devices, and more. This full-featured parental control tool also offers extensive parental alerts and detailed reporting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou also get the unremarkable <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11075\">Kaspersky Password Manager<\/a><\/span>, which, like Safe Kids, sells separately for $14.99 per year. This utility, which also requires a separate installation, handles the basics of password management, no more. You won't find advanced features like two-factor authentication, secure sharing, or password inheritance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike <a href=\"\/reviews\/eset-smart-security-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1362\">ESET Smart Security Premium<\/a>, Bitdefender, and others, Kaspersky can create encrypted virtual drives to store your sensitive files. Cleverly, it automates the process of securely deleting the unprotected originals, thereby foiling any attempt at forensic recovery of sensitive files.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe suite includes <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-secure-connection-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4963\">Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN<\/a>, but what you get is the bandwidth-limited free edition. This version allows up to 200MB of VPN network traffic per device per day, and it doesn't give you a choice of servers. If you need more bandwidth or want your choice of servers, you pay an additional $4.99 per month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebcam protection keeps untrusted apps from peeking at you. The software updater finds and applies missing security patches. For those who need it, Kaspersky filters out spam. A virtual keyboard foils even hardware keyloggers. And the backup feature lets you archive files locally or in your Dropbox account. This suite is bursting with features.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Home Network Scan<\/h2>\r\n\r\nDo you have a clue how many devices connect to your Wi-Fi network? Sure, you know about the computers, and tablets, and smartphones. But don't forget all those Internet of Things devices, things like smart speakers, smartphone-controlled garage doors, and refrigerators that text you when you're out of milk. Kaspersky Security Cloud can help in a way that Kaspersky Total Security doesn't.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFrom a Windows, macOS, or Android device, Kaspersky scans your Wi-Fi network and reports on exactly what's connected. When possible, it displays the name and device type. You can click an item to see its IP address, MAC address, and (when available) manufacturer. If those clues help you identify a mystery device, you can edit the entry to give it a friendly name and choose a device type. The list also adds a shield icon overlay to devices that have Kaspersky protection installed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Network' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 657'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-4.fit_lim.size_740x657.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Network' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-4.fit_lim.size_740x657.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOnce you've done the initial scan, Kaspersky notifies you any time it detects a new device connecting to your Wi-Fi. You can't block unwanted intruders the way you can with the similar feature in <a href=\"\/reviews\/panda-dome-essential\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"9048\">Panda Dome Essential<\/a>, but you'll at least know about the incursion. For the technically inclined, Kaspersky offers instructions on how to block a specific device in your router settings. You can also just change your Wi-Fi password to lock out unwanted devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs with Panda, this feature only works on Wi-Fi networks. That makes sense. An intruder isn't likely to walk up and plug in an Ethernet cable. Despite the name, the Wi-Fi Inspector in <a href=\"\/reviews\/avast-free-antivirus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5185\">Avast Free Antivirus<\/a> scans both wired and wireless networks. Its purpose isn't to detect intruders, but to identify devices that have security risks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Account Check<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhichever platform you're using, Kaspersky Security Cloud can check whether any of your email addresses appeared in data dumped from a known security breach. It checks the email address associated with your My Kaspersky account against the haveibeenpwned.com databases every 24 hours. You can also manually enter any email account for a checkup. That's something Kaspersky Total Security won't do for you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Breach' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 555'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-5.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Breach' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-5.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf the check turns up anything bad, you get plenty of detail. It lists websites that may have leaked your data, the date of the suspected leak, and the categories of data that may be compromised. It also suggests actions you can take to mitigate the damage.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Hard Drive Health Monitor<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAlso specific to Kaspersky Security Cloud is a health monitor for the hard drives in your Windows and macOS devices. This feature relies on the S.M.A.R.T. (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) feature found in modern drives.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can launch this feature at any time to view the status of your hard drives. Select a drive from the list at left and you get two main status indicators, overall drive condition and drive temperature. It also lists the number of hours the drive has been powered on, and the number of power cycles. Techies can dig in for detailed statistics, but in truth, you don't need to look at all. If there's a problem brewing, Kaspersky notify you proactively. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Disk Health' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 738 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-6.fit_lim.size_738x538.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Disk Health' width='738' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-6.fit_lim.size_738x538.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Mac Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nMany security vendors offer simple antivirus protection for macOS. Kaspersky is among the few that give Mac users a security suite, albeit not one that's as comprehensive as the Windows suite. And it costs no more than many standalone antivirus utilities. You can check my review of <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4031\">Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac<\/a><\/span> for a deep dive into this utility's features. Installed on a Mac, Kaspersky Security Cloud includes all the same features plus the new account check, network scan, and hard disk health components. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOnly two of the labs I follow test macOS antivirus tools. Both certified Kaspersky for Mac antivirus protection, with the best possible detection scores (though it did lose a half-point for a minor impact on performance). Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac also took the best possible scores and received both certifications.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI don't have the resources to do hands-on antivirus testing on the macOS platform, but I do test protection against phishing. Phishing websites are platform-agnostic; they can fool you into giving away your login credentials no matter what browser or operating system you use. Like the Windows edition, Kaspersky's Mac edition performed flawlessly, reaching 100 percent detection. McAfee also hit this milestone; with 99 percent, Bitdefender came very close.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe full antivirus scan finished faster than most. Kaspersky also scans files on access, and now includes an option for scheduled scans. It runs a full scan at installation, which is good. After that, the real-time scan should take care of any problems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Mac' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-7.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469923.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Security Cloud Mac' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-7.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469923.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhile it is more than just antivirus, the macOS version doesn't have all the features that you get under Windows. It does include the VPN, a version of Safe Money, a simpler webcam blocker, and a virtual keyboard. The Network Attack Blocker performs some of a firewall's functions. A URL advisor warns you away from dangerous links. And you can enable the active Do Not Track feature to hide your habits from tracking ads and other trackers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Protection for Android<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Kaspersky Security Cloud Android app shows more signs of the promised adaptive security than the desktop editions do. Its single scrolling window starts with a section that offers advice on improving security. It checks that all the components are installed and warns if your Wi-Fi connection is insecure. If it finds dangerous settings such as USB Debugging or Password Visibility enabled, it explains how to correct the problem. Scrolling down reveals large panels that report the status of each component; tapping a panel installs or opens the corresponding component.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike the PC Cleaner in Windows, Kaspersky helps you optimize storage on your Android. It lists apps you rarely (or never) use, and offers to uninstall them. It also flags apps that have potentially dangerous permissions. If you see a flashlight app that has access to your contacts, for example, you might consider getting rid of it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy default, you get a warning when you're down to two hours of battery life, or if battery power is draining quickly. The main menu also offers a link to install Kaspersky Battery Life: Saver and Booster. This separately installed app monitors the Android device's power consumption and warns the user if it becomes critically low. You can use it to view current charge status, and to terminate apps that are uselessly running in the background. You can also install Kaspersky's QR code scanner, though modern Android versions build this functionality into the camera.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nUnlike on Windows and macOS, the main Android app does not itself provide antivirus or other direct security features. Rather, it advises you to install Kaspersky Internet Security, which supports Windows and Mac as well as Android. You also install Safe Kids, Secure Connection, and the password manager separately. I did say that all those installs add up!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI described Kaspersky Internet Security for Android at length in my review of Kaspersky Internet Security. That's where you can go if you want a complete rundown on the Android security app. It offers on-demand antivirus scanning and real-time protection. With the anti-theft feature you can locate, lock, or wipe a lost phone or tablet as well as finding a misplaced one by having it sound a loud alarm. You can also snap mug shots of a device thief. A PIN lock for selected apps protects against the possibility that someone might pick up and use your phone while it's unlocked. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Android, Kaspersky Safe Kids differs somewhat from the version that runs on Windows or macOS. It does offer content filtering and social media monitoring. Parents can use the app in parent mode to check reports and configure most settings. Naturally, you can use the app to track your child's location. You can also set timed geofences, so, for example, you get notification if your child leaves school during school hours. Please read our review of Safe Kids for full details.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Kaspersky Protection for iOS<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Kaspersky Security Cloud iOS app is a single scrolling window, just like the Android one. You don't have as many extras to install, just Safe Kids, Secure Connection, and the password manager. Like many security companies, Kaspersky doesn't bother with antivirus for iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe VPN and password manager work just as they do on other platforms. However, Kaspersky Safe Kids on the iPhone is tuned very closely to the requirements of iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-8.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469923.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-8.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-8.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469923.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-8.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA surprising number of iOS parental control apps are toothless, easily uninstalled by a clever child. Safe Kids, by contrast, protects itself against removal. It offers the same geofencing, content filtering, and flexible time scheduling as on other platforms. However, it can't block use of the device when time is up, or during times the schedule doesn't allow use, due to iOS limitations. It can only display a warning and notify parents.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Protect All Your Devices<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf you use all 20 of your family-plan licenses, Kaspersky Security Cloud comes in at $7.50 per license, which is quite a good deal. Kaspersky Total Security costs the same for half as many devices, and doesn't include all of Security Cloud's features. In our reviews, many of Kaspersky Security Cloud's component parts rate four stars or better. Getting all the separate components installed can take quite a while, but that's something you only do once. And this suite adds useful features not found in Kaspersky Total Protection, including hard drive health monitoring and a check for compromised accounts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky's core antivirus protection aced all the latest lab tests, and it earned a perfect 100 percent in our antiphishing test. It offers serious security protection on Windows, macOS, and Android, and does more than many for iOS. Kaspersky Security Cloud joins Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe as an Editor's Choice for cross-platform multi-device security suites.<\/span><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Security companies typically offer protection at three levels: a basic antivirus, an entry-level ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", and a mega-suite with additional features. However, that model isn't universal. Kaspersky offers those three levels, and one beyond the mega-suite. Kaspersky Security Cloud offers everything you get with Kaspersky Total Protection, plus additional features, along with platform-specific improvements the company calls Adaptive Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This product comes in two editions, Personal and Family. Pricing for the Personal edition is the same as for Kaspersky Total Security, $89.99 per year for three licenses or $99.99 for five. You pay $149.99 per year for the Family edition, which lets you install protection on up to 10 devices, also the same as Kaspersky Total Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Prices for this kind of cross-platform multi-device suite vary wildly. You get unlimited cross-platform ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" licenses for $119.99 per year, for example. Norton 360 Deluxe looks more expensive, at $99.99 for five licenses. However, Norton comes with 50GB of online storage for your backups and also gives you five full VPN licenses, where Kaspersky offers no online storage and charges $4.99 per month to remove limits on its VPN. At the high end 10 licenses for Panda Dome Premium will run you $274.99 per year. Note that these are all list prices, and all are frequently discounted.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With the Family edition, you can also define as many as 9 secondary My Kaspersky accounts, with some limitations. Only the master account can manage the ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":null}}]},{"text":" component, for one. And while there's no limit on installations of the password manager, you can only have five distinct user accounts.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Changes to Pricing","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Long-time readers may remember that the Family edition used to include up to 20 devices. Kaspersky cut that offering in half shortly before this review, on the basis that few consumers made use of the 20 licenses. That was a mistake, in my opinion. Offering 20 licenses is very generous, even if people don\u2019t use them all. In fact, if they don\u2019t use all the licenses they paid for, looking generous costs Kaspersky nothing.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you just want antivirus for all your devices, you might consider ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Free","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". This tool looks just like Kaspersky Security Cloud, but shield-shaped icon overlays identify numerous features that aren't available for free. Among the premium-only features are Backup and Restore, Privacy Protection, Safe Money, and most of the bonus tools.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Extensive Installation","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud runs on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. You get a security app (on all but iOS), a ","type":"text"},{"text":"Virtual Private Network, or VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", a password manager, and a parental control system, among other things. To start the ball rolling, you create or log into a My Kaspersky account online, enter your registration code, and download the appropriate package for your operating system. To extend protection to another device, you can log in from the device, send an email with a link to the installer, or (for mobile devices) scan a QR code that has your credentials baked in.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The password manager installs automatically the first time you try to use it. The main installer adds the VPN component along with Kaspersky Security Cloud. You still install Safe Kids separately, but that makes sense given that many people don't need it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Once the mobile app is running, it walks you through adding the password manager and (for Android) the separate Kaspersky Internet Security app, without requiring you to log in to My Kaspersky. There's also a separate QR code reader app for Android and iOS, and a battery monitor for Android. I lost count of the number of separate installations, but there were plenty.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Getting Kaspersky Security Cloud and its components on all your devices takes some doing, but it\u2019s easier than in the past. Kaspersky Security Cloud behaves a bit more like a committee of separate programs than like an integrated suite. However, it offers some unique features not found in other Kaspersky products.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"My Kaspersky Dashboard","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As noted earlier, you log in to the My Kaspersky dashboard to install Kaspersky Security Cloud on each additional device. The Devices tab lists every single piece of hardware associated with your My Kaspersky account, along with the Kaspersky apps installed on each. If you haven't installed all available apps for a given computer, phone, or tablet, it displays an Add Application button.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-21.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Dashboard","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Licenses tab displays details about your Kaspersky Security Cloud license, as well as licenses for any other Kaspersky products you may have installed. If you opted for the family edition, clicking Users lets you manage secondary My Kaspersky accounts for family members. The app explains that sharing will not give away access to your account, bank cards, or private data. You can add any number of family members, up to your maximum of 10 licenses and 10 devices. Once the recipients install Kaspersky Security Cloud, their hardware shows up in your dashboard.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Selecting a device on the Devices tab and clicking Manage gives you remote control and monitoring. You can check status and launch a full or quick scan. You can also remotely check for and install updates, and turn components on or off.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the My Kaspersky dashboard, you can do more than just manage your devices and licenses. You can log in to your password manager data from any browser for full access to passwords, personal data, and secure notes. From the Kids page you can locate your children, view reports on their recent activity, and adjust the configuration of the parental control system. You can do many of the same parental control tasks using the app on your smartphone in parent mode.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Secure Connection page lets you check how much VPN bandwidth you\u2019ve used, either overall or on a per-device basis. If you\u2019ve used up your daily bandwidth allotment on one device, this page helps you figure out which devices have bandwidth available.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The My Kaspersky dashboard isn't new, nor is its ability to manage security on multiple platforms. But with Kaspersky Security Cloud, the online dashboard becomes the star of the show.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Protection for Windows","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you install this product on a Windows box, you get protection equivalent to ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-total-security","target":null}}]},{"text":", with a slightly different appearance and some additional features. For full details on all the shared features, please read my review of Total Security; I'll recap my findings here.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Total Security's main window features a security status banner at the top, with eight large icons below: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Password Manager, Privacy Protection, Backup and Restore, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. Kaspersky Security Cloud is almost the same, but the icon lineup differs: Scan, Database Update, PC Cleaner, Password Manager, Privacy Protection, Safe Money, Mobile protection, and Secure Connection. Security Cloud includes all the same features\u2014the only difference is in which features appear on the main window.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-22.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Windows Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky earned perfect and near-perfect scores in the latest releases of every independent lab test I follow. Feeding those scores into my test score aggregation algorithm yielded 9.7 points for Kaspersky, out of a possible 10. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" managed 9.9 points, but its score comes from just three labs where Kaspersky hit all four.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Scores in my hands-on malware protection tests weren't as uniformly good, but when the labs all agree, I defer to their judgment. In the past, Kaspersky has earned 100 percent detection in my antiphishing test. This time it scored 96 percent, which is still quite good, though ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Maximum Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" scored 100 percent in its latest antiphishing test, and six other products scored higher than Kaspersky.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The System Watcher component identifies malware, including ransomware, by behavior. I tested its ","type":"text"},{"text":"ransomware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" skills by turning off all other protective layers and launching a dozen real-world samples. Its defense proved totally effective.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The suite includes a powerful firewall that makes its own decisions about network permissions for programs at varying trust levels. In testing, Kaspersky blocked more exploit attacks than almost any competitor.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Parental control comes from the excellent ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Safe Kids","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", which requires a separate installation. The content filter can block unwanted content, or just warn the child to stay away (of course it notifies you when a child ignores the warning.) Its ability to set time limits or time schedules for usage is unusually flexible. It can monitor social media, block or time-limit certain apps, locate your children via their mobile devices, and more. This full-featured parental control tool also offers extensive parental alerts and detailed reporting.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You also get the unremarkable ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Password Manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", which, like Safe Kids, sells separately for $14.99 per year. This utility, which also requires a separate installation, handles the basics of password management, no more. You won't find advanced features like two-factor authentication, secure sharing, or password inheritance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like ","type":"text"},{"text":"ESET Smart Security Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/eset-smart-security-premium","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", AVG, and others, Kaspersky can create encrypted virtual drives to store your sensitive files. Cleverly, it automates the process of securely deleting the unprotected originals, thereby foiling any attempt at forensic recovery of sensitive files.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The suite includes ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-secure-connection-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", but even in this top-tier suite you get a limited edition. Other Kaspersky products limit you to 200MB of VPN traffic per device per day, or 300MB if you\u2019re connected to My Kaspersky. This suite raises that to 500MB per device per day, which is a little better. But you still don\u2019t get the ability to select a server, or use the Kill Switch feature. Upgrading to the premium VPN costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webcam protection keeps untrusted apps from peeking at you. The software updater finds and applies missing security patches. For those who need it, Kaspersky filters out spam. A virtual keyboard foils even hardware keyloggers. And the backup feature lets you archive files locally or in your Dropbox account. This suite is bursting with features that it shares with Kaspersky Total Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Home Network Scan","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Do you have any idea how many devices connect to your Wi-Fi network? You probably know about the computers, and tablets, and smartphones. But what about all those smart speakers, smartphone-controlled garage doors, refrigerators that text you when you're out of ice cream, and other ","type":"text"},{"text":"Internet of Things","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/encyclopedia\/term\/internet-of-things","target":null}}]},{"text":" devices? Kaspersky Security Cloud can help in a way that Kaspersky Total Security doesn't.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From a Windows, macOS, or Android device, Kaspersky scans your Wi-Fi network and reports on exactly what's connected. When possible, it displays the name and device type. You can click an item to see its IP address, MAC address, and (when available) manufacturer. If those clues help you identify a device marked Unknown, you can edit the entry to give it a friendly name and choose a device type. The list also adds a shield icon overlay to devices that have Kaspersky protection installed.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-23.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Network Devices List","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Once you've done the initial scan, Kaspersky notifies you any time it detects a new device connecting to your network. You can't block unwanted intruders the way you can with the similar feature in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Panda Dome Essential","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/panda-dome-essential","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", but you'll at least know about the incursion.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A button in the list offers to explain how you can block an unfamiliar device. In the past, this went to a page of instructions on how to block a device in router settings. Currently, it just displays general help for the network device monitor, with no mention of blocking.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Panda\u2019s similar feature only works on Wi-Fi networks. That makes some sense. An intruder isn't likely to walk up and plug in an Ethernet cable. But by observation Kaspersky can track both wired and wireless networks. Despite the name, the Wi-Fi Inspector in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Avast Free Antivirus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avast-free-antivirus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" also scans both types of networks. Its purpose isn't to detect intruders, but to identify devices that have security risks.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Account Check","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Whichever platform you're using, Kaspersky Security Cloud can check whether any of your email addresses appeared in data dumped from a known security breach. It checks the email address associated with your My Kaspersky account against the haveibeenpwned.com databases every 24 hours. You can also manually enter any email account for a checkup. That's something Kaspersky Total Security won't do for you. In fact, the only Kaspersky products that offer this feature are the free and paid editions of Kaspersky Security Cloud.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-24.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Account Check","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If the check turns up anything bad, you get a detailed list of websites that may have leaked your data, the date of the suspected leak, and the categories of data that may be compromised. It also suggests actions you can take to mitigate the damage.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The similar feature in ","type":"text"},{"text":"MacKeeper","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mackeeper","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" goes a bit farther. You can drill down into any reported breach and see the actual passwords and other exposed data. That power could be misused, so MacKeeper refuses to search on any email address that you can\u2019t verify as belonging to you.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Hard Drive Health Monitor","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Also specific to Kaspersky Security Cloud is a health monitor for the hard drives in your Windows and macOS devices. This feature relies on the ","type":"text"},{"text":"S.M.A.R.T.","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/encyclopedia\/term\/smart-hdd","target":null}}]},{"text":" (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) feature found in all modern drives.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can launch this feature at any time to view the status of your hard drives. Select a drive from the list at left and you get two main status indicators, overall drive condition and drive temperature. It also lists the number of hours the drive has been powered on, and the number of power cycles. Techies can dig in for detailed statistics, but in truth, you don't need to look at all. If there's a problem brewing, Kaspersky notifies you proactively.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-25.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Hard Drive Health Monitor","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Mac Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Many security vendors offer simple ","type":"text"},{"text":"antivirus protection for macOS","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-mac-antivirus-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":". Kaspersky is among the few that give Mac users a security suite, albeit one that's not as comprehensive as the Windows suite. As a standalone product, ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" costs no more than many bare-bones Mac antivirus utilities. You can check my review for a deep dive into this utility's features. Installed on a Mac, Kaspersky Security Cloud gives you all the same features plus the account check, network scan, and hard disk health components.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Only two of the four independent antivirus testing labs I follow test macOS antivirus tools. Both certify Kaspersky for Mac antivirus protection, with the best possible scores. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-antivirus-for-mac","target":null}}]},{"text":" also took the best possible scores and received both certifications.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-26.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud on macOS","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I don't have the resources to do hands-on antivirus testing on the macOS platform, but I do test protection against phishing. Phishing websites are platform-agnostic; they can fool you into giving away your login credentials no matter what browser or operating system you use. In my previous test, Kaspersky reached 100 percent detection both on Windows and macOS. This time around the macOS edition got 84 percent, quite a bit below the 96 percent earned by the Windows edition. I hope to see that score snap back up in my next round of testing.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The full antivirus scan took just slightly longer than the current average. Kaspersky also scans files on access and includes an option for scheduled scans. It runs a full scan at installation, which is good. After that, the real-time scan should take care of any problems.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"While it is more than just antivirus, the macOS version doesn't have all the features that you get under Windows. It does include the VPN, a version of Safe Money, a simpler webcam blocker, and a virtual keyboard. The Network Attack Blocker performs some of a firewall's functions. A URL advisor warns you away from dangerous links. And you can enable the active Do Not Track feature to hide your habits from tracking ads and other trackers.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Protection for Android","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Kaspersky Security Cloud Android app shows more signs of the promised adaptive security than the desktop editions do. Its single scrolling window starts with a section that offers advice on improving security. It checks that all the components are installed and warns if your Wi-Fi connection is insecure. If it finds dangerous settings such as USB Debugging or Password Visibility enabled, the Security Live advisor explains how to correct the problem. Scrolling down reveals large panels that report the status of each component; tapping a panel installs or opens the corresponding component.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like the PC Cleaner in Windows, Kaspersky helps you optimize storage on your Android. It lists apps you rarely (or never) use and offers to uninstall them. It also flags apps that have potentially dangerous permissions. If you see a flashlight app that has access to your contacts, for example, you might consider getting rid of it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-27.png","altText":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Android Montage","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"By default, you get a warning when you're down to two hours of battery life, or if battery power is draining quickly. The main menu also offers a link to install Kaspersky Battery Life: Saver and Booster. This separately installed app monitors the Android device's power consumption and warns the user if it becomes critically low. You can use it to view current charge status, and to terminate apps that are uselessly running in the background. You can also install Kaspersky's QR code scanner, though modern Android versions build this functionality into the camera.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Unlike on Windows and macOS, the main Android app does not itself provide ","type":"text"},{"text":"Android antivirus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-android-antivirus-apps","target":null}}]},{"text":" or other direct security features. Rather, it advises you to install Kaspersky Internet Security for Android. You also install Safe Kids, Secure Connection, and the password manager separately. I did say that all those installs add up!","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I described Kaspersky Internet Security for Android at length in my review of Kaspersky Internet Security. That's where you can go if you want a complete rundown on the Android security app. It offers on-demand antivirus scanning and real-time protection. With the anti-theft feature you can locate, lock, or wipe a lost phone or tablet as well as finding a misplaced one by having it sound a loud alarm. You can also snap mug shots of a device thief. A PIN lock for selected apps protects against the possibility that someone might pick up and use your phone while it's unlocked.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On Android, Kaspersky Safe Kids differs somewhat from the version that runs on Windows or macOS. It does offer content filtering and social media monitoring. Parents can use the app in parent mode to check reports and configure most settings. Naturally, you can use the app to track your child's location. You can also set timed geofences, so, for example, you get notification if your child leaves school during school hours. Please read our review of Safe Kids for full details.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Protection for iOS","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Kaspersky Security Cloud iOS app is a single scrolling window, just like the Android one. You don't have as many extras to install, just Safe Kids, Secure Connection, and the password manager. Like many security companies, Kaspersky doesn't bother with antivirus for iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The VPN and password manager work just as they do on other platforms. However, Kaspersky Safe Kids on the iPhone is tuned very closely to the requirements of iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A surprising number of iOS parental control apps are toothless, easily uninstalled by a clever child. Safe Kids, by contrast, protects itself against removal. It offers the same geofencing, content filtering, and flexible time scheduling as on other platforms. However, it can't block use of the device when time is up, or during times the schedule doesn't allow use, due to iOS limitations. It can only display a warning and notify parents.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Protect All Your Devices","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Previously Kaspersky Security Cloud was a bargain on a per-device basis, with protection for 20 devices at $7.50 each. The current edition effectively doubles the price by offering just 10 licenses, the same as Kaspersky Total Security. Even at the same price, Kaspersky Security Cloud is a better deal because of its additional features. I don\u2019t understand why the company bothers to offer both.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In our reviews, many of Kaspersky Security Cloud's component parts rate four stars or better as standalone products. Kaspersky's core antivirus protection aced all the latest lab tests, and scored higher than almost any competitors against exploits. It offers serious security protection on Windows, macOS, and Android, and does more than many competitors do for iOS. Kaspersky Security Cloud joins ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":null}}]},{"text":" as an Editor's Choice for cross-platform multi-device security suites.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky Labs' inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will ","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]},{"text":"treat them as unproven","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/opinions\/should-you-buy-kaspersky-security-products","target":null}}]},{"text":", and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement.","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":28,"images":[{"index":20,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-20.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":482,"hash":"47fe42cc68b36b9211e5263a6ae52de7","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":21,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-21.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1182,"height":776,"hash":"71d20c50e92bf1682434dd0acf93b041","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":22,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-22.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"0c074415b6afe2afec6d73691397ad0f","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":23,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-23.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"221d22ce0d4bcf03efec05fe35e6c605","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":24,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-24.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"75cf5ff2d19c1db1dad46f100e20b517","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":25,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-25.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":738,"height":538,"hash":"052b66c7c785e40199cf58116a643249","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":26,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-26.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":538,"hash":"bdfa617e0977ef5508eb28042f5c1b1d","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]},{"index":27,"path":"reviews\/06rGbZPx7qbvaCn8lqTpzG2-27.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":3264,"height":1928,"hash":"0a37a54d5c968f54a9d54387ce75d4be","timestamp":1599075879,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Protects Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices\nExcellent scores from four antivirus labs\nOnline dashboard manages security\nHome network scan\nChecks for compromised accounts\nMany useful bonus features","cons":"VPN requires separate subscription to unlock all features\nPassword manager lacks advanced features","bottom_line":"Kaspersky Security Cloud is a security suite that lets you install and manage top-notch security on up to 10 PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets. It\u2019s an Editors' Choice for cross-platform security.","best_for":"Best for Multi-Device Households","first_published_at":"2018-02-02T10:46:05.000000Z","published_at":"2020-09-02T21:11:01.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-09-02T21:10:41.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2018-01-09T18:43:29.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-09-02T21:11:01.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":1105,"rank":4,"created_at":"2020-08-31T16:51:24.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:00:02.000000Z"}},{"id":2076,"legacy_id":328419,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t","status":"Published","product_uuid":"04aXyCXZ3iyPHwkXyHa2cvz","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"McAfee Total Protection","slug":"mcafee-total-protection","deck":"Multi-faceted protection for all your devices","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.0","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":5744,"body":"Which would you rather have for your <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a>, mere Internet Security or comprehensive Total Protection? Yeah, I'd choose Total Protection, too. The big thinkers at McAfee agree, to the point that they've stopped offering the entry-level McAfee Internet Security suite. If you want to go above and beyond the standalone McAfee antivirus, you now go straight to McAfee Total Protection. With so many suite-level features included in the antivirus, Total Protection needs to add a lot to impress, and it does. Cross-platform password management, no-limits VPN protection, file encryption with shredding for originals, identity protection—this suite has a lot to offer. Its components aren't all perfect, but it protects every single one of your devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor a full subscription, you pay $119.99 per year. That lets you install McAfee protection on every device in your household, whether running Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. You also get McAfee's VPN, with no limits on bandwidth or servers (though you can only use it on five devices at once). That's quite a deal, but lesser deals are available, too. If you bear an unreasoning hatred for VPNs, you can get a VPN-free version for $10 less. And if the idea of unlimited licenses triggers a phobia, you can pay $89.99 for a five-license subscription, or $68.99 to protect a single, lonely device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou pay $149.99 a year for <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10607\">Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select<\/a>, which gets you five suite licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, 100GB of storage for backups, and LifeLock identity protection. If five licenses seems like a skimpy offering, there are choices, but to reach unlimited protection à la McAfee, you must choose the top tier, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus, which costs $349.99 per year. That gets you unlimited security and VPN licenses, maximum LifeLock guarantees, and 500GB of storage for backups. McAfee Total Protection includes its own take on identity protection, which I'll discuss below.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPanda is one of the few other companies to offer a no-limits solution. At the $334.99 pricing tier, you can install <a href=\"\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6585\">Panda Dome Premium<\/a> on all your Windows, macOS, and Android devices. However, it doesn't include VPN, backup storage, or identity protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBacking off from those high, high prices, <a href=\"\/reviews\/avg-internet-security-unlimited\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10971\">AVG Internet Security - Unlimited<\/a> lets you install protection on unlimited Windows and Android devices for $79.99 per year. It does have limits, in that some features require a separate purchase, and it doesn't offer a lot beyond what you get with AVG's free antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs you can see, while McAfee's subscription price looks high at first glance, in truth it's a bargain. Provided, that is, that your household includes plenty of devices needing protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Multiple Installers<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAs with all the McAfee product line, you start by activating your registration code online. At that point, you can either immediately install it on the device you're using or send links to install on other devices. When you download the product, you get a serial number, distinct from your activation code. Hang onto that number, as you'll need it to reinstall the product on the same device.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Windows, Total Protection strongly resembles McAfee AntiVirus Plus. It has the same open-style main window, with a big indicator of your security status, a list of protected devices, and a menu across the top. Even the menu items are the same: Home, PC Security, PC Performance, My Privacy, and My Info. The pages themselves are mostly the same, except for My Privacy, which now sports six buttons rather than the lonely \"Shred unwanted files\" button of the standalone antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs with <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1105\">Kaspersky Security Cloud<\/a><\/span>, you must perform several additional installations to get full use of the product. Kaspersky Safe Kids is a separate product that you only need install if you require parental control. The first time you try to access the Safe Connect VPN, it triggers a separate download. Likewise, if you click to access the True Key password manager, McAfee installs the extension in your default browser. Finally, the spam filter and File Lock encryption components within the suite don't get installed until you request them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection Main' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 522'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-7.fit_lim.size_740x522.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection Main' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-7.fit_lim.size_740x522.v_1569546103.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Antivirus Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOf course, everything you get as part of <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-antivirus-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7456\">McAfee AntiVirus Plus<\/a> is also present in the full suite. Below is a synopsis of my findings, but for details you really should read my full review of the antivirus tool.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-14.v_1569546103.png', 'McAfee Total Protection Lab Results Chart', 'McAfee Total Protection Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-15.v_1569546103.png', 'McAfee Total Protection Malware Protection Chart', 'McAfee Total Protection Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-16.v_1569546103.png', 'McAfee Total Protection Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'McAfee Total Protection Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll four independent labs I follow include McAfee in their testing. McAfee's latest scores range from top-notch AAA certification by <a href=\"https:\/\/selabs.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">SE Labs<\/a> to a double fail from MRG-Effitas. Its aggregate lab score is 8.4 out of 10 possible points. Also having results from four labs, Kaspersky managed an aggregate score of 9.9 points, the current top score. Bitdefender also took 9.9 points, based on reports from three labs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn my own hands-on <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"198\">malware protection<\/a> tests, I observed that McAfee doesn't scan files just because Windows Explorer accessed them for display. Rather, it waits until they try to launch and quarantines any that prove to be malware. It detected 91 percent of my samples and earned 9.1 points. <a href=\"\/reviews\/microsoft-windows-defender-security-center\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10915\">Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center<\/a> has the best score against this collection of samples, 9.8 points, while Webroot is close behind with 9.7.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nChallenged with a collection of 100 active malware-hosting URLs, McAfee used two techniques to defend the test system. Its WebAdvisor browser plugin prevented the browser from even visiting roughly half of the URLs, and it eliminated the malware payloads during download for the other half, for a perfect 100 percent protection rate. Trend Micro and <a href=\"\/reviews\/f-secure-safe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5896\">F-Secure Safe<\/a> came in second, with 99 percent, while Sophos and Windows Defender, both scoring 97 percent, tied for third place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebAdvisor also steers users away from phishing sites, those fraudulent sites that pose as banks, finance sites, and even gaming sites with the purpose of stealing your login credentials. In testing with 100 very new phishing sites, McAfee achieved 99 percent protection, the same as <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a><\/span>. Kaspersky and Trend Micro share the top score of 100 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNew in this edition, WebAdvisor now includes a component to block cryptojacking. That term refers to websites that hijack your processing power to mine for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. On detecting this type of activity, McAfee slides in a notification and offers to block it. Do note that some websites legitimately ask visitors to trade processing power for access, rather than relying on advertising for financial support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nRansom Guard adds a layer of protection against ransomware. When it detects a whiff of illegitimate \"file transformation,\" it backs up files that might be affected. If that whiff matures into evidence of a ransomware attack, it quarantines the attacker and restores the files. I tested McAfee, along with other Editors' Choice antivirus tools, immediately after putting my latest sample collection into play. At that time, it totally missed almost a third of my real-world ransomware samples. In a more recent test, it caught some but still allowed one to encrypt files on my test system. It looks like this feature still needs tuning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Other Shared Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nMcAfee Antivirus Plus contains a surprising number of features that go beyond merely protecting against malware, including a variety of performance-enhancing components. The QuickClean component clears out files that waste disk space. PC Boost diverts extra resources to the foreground program, and to any processes that need more than they're getting. And Web Boost saves bandwidth by actively pausing any videos that try to launch automatically (but only in Chrome).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe firewall component both protects against outside attack and keeps programs from misusing your network connection. By default, it handles program control internally, which is much better than entrusting that task to the untutored user. For testing, I enabled its Intrusion Protection module and attacked the test system using vulnerabilities generated by the CORE Impact penetration tool. The attacks didn't penetrate the fully patched test system, but neither did McAfee's firewall actively defend against them. It mostly stood up to my direct attack test, though I managed to disable a few of its Windows services, including WebAdvisor, using techniques available to a malware coder.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469929.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469929.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn the My Network page, you can view all devices on the network. The list highlights devices that have McAfee protection, and you can set up a trust relationship between Windows installations that allows you to remotely check security status and adjust configuration.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA vulnerability scanner seeks out missing security patches for Windows and popular programs and, when possible, automates the update process. You can use the Shredder to securely delete sensitive files beyond the possibility of forensic recovery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Protect More Devices feature, accessed from the Home page, lets you send an email or text with a link to install protection on any Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device you own. Just email yourself the installation link and open the email on each device. There's also an option to find all devices on your network that don't have McAfee protection. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSecurity protection for non-Windows devices is the same whether you're subscribed for the antivirus or the full suite, though several of the suite's added features offer mobile apps. On a Mac, it installs <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-antivirus-plus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"984\">McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac)<\/a>; please read that review for an in-depth account. The Mac edition managed 98 percent protection against phishing attacks, just one percentage point below the Windows edition. The Android edition is a full-featured security suite, with antivirus, antitheft, call and text blocking, and more. Those using iOS don't get as much—secure storage for photos, backup for contacts, a collection of anti-theft features, and safe browsing using a Proxy VPN. If you had to pay for each license, installing on iOS would be a waste, but with no limit on devices you might as well install it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569546103.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569546103.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>No-Limits VPN Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nA security suite protects your data on your devices, but when that data heads for the jungle of the internet it's in danger. Running your connection through a <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"315\">Virtual Private Network, or VPN<\/a>, does a lot to secure the data in transit. The connection is encrypted between your device and the VPN server, so even if you've connected through a compromised Wi-Fi network your data is safe. A VPN also serves to mask your IP address, so nobody can track you or determine your (approximate) location using that address.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMcAfee acquired TunnelBear last year, and that acquisition came with the VPN server network of the popular <a href=\"\/reviews\/tunnelbear-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7387\">TunnelBear VPN<\/a>, a PCMag Editors' Choice for VPN protection. Now, having had time to incorporate the acquisition, McAfee has released McAfee Safe Connect, a VPN built on the same technology but without animated bears. Your McAfee Total Protection subscription lets you connect five devices at a time using Safe Connect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:1On8Y6WYlB\/embed\/?player=pcmag&autoplay=true&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you connect to a server using TunnelBear, an animated bear visibly tunnels to the location on the on-screen map. The more sedate Safe Connect simply displays your new connection on the map when it's ready. The effect is the same. Your data travels in encrypted form to the server you've chosen. The VPN network includes over 1,800 servers in 22 locations. That's decent, but several competitors have 3,000 or more servers—<a href=\"\/reviews\/nordvpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2777\">NordVPN<\/a> in particular has over 5,000. And McAfee's coverage has some blanks geographically, with nothing in Africa or the Middle East, and hardly anything in South America.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nRunning all your internet activity through a VPN company's servers requires that you trust that company not to misuse your data. We look closely at the privacy policy for each VPN, hoping to see that they retain little or no information and have sensible policies in place to handle requests for information from law enforcement. In the past we've admired TunnelBear's clear and appropriate policy. Safe Connect falls under McAfee's all-product privacy policy, which is significantly more verbose and seems (to our non-legally-trained minds) less focused on keeping customer data private.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection VPN' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 720 480'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-9.fit_lim.size_720x480.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-9.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection VPN' width='720' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-9.fit_lim.size_720x480.v_1569546103.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-9.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nQuite a few TunnelBear features didn't make it into Safe Connect. Among these are: GhostBear, which disguises VPN traffic as HTML traffic, for situations where VPN use is blocked; Vigilant Mode protection for your connection during the moments between an accidental disconnect and restored connection; and Blocker, an advanced ad-blocking browser extension. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's just one major choice on the Settings page and that involves when Safe Connect connects. By default, it waits for you to connect manually, but you can have it kick in automatically any time you're connected, or any time you're using Wi-Fi. There's also an option to define trusted Wi-Fi networks where VPN protection isn't required.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhy would you not use VPN protection when it's available without bandwidth limits? The most likely reason is speed. When you connect through a VPN your traffic necessarily travels farther and passes through more servers. The time from when your device sends a query to when it receives acknowledgement (called latency) tends to be longer, which can be a problem for gamers. More universally problematic is the fact that using a VPN can slow downloading or uploading of data.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAt PCMag, we use the <a href=\"http:\/\/pcm-intl.speedtestcustom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ookla speedtest tool<\/a> to gauge the impact a VPN has on performance. (Note that Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns PCMag.) We have a whole feature on how we test VPNs, so do read it for more on our methodology and the limits of our tests.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569546103.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569546103.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-8.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span> <a href=\"\/about\/how-we-test-vpns\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"5963\">See How We Test VPNs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nWe determined that Safe Connect increased latency by 40.8 percent. That's not bad, but in their latest tests NordVPN, <a href=\"\/reviews\/ipvanish-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7693\">IPVanish VPN<\/a>, and Hide.me VPN had no noticeable effect on latency. Interestingly, TunnelBear doubled the latency in its latest test, and HideIPVPN quadrupled it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs for upload speed and the all-important download speed, Safe Connect didn't do well. Downloads ran 91.2 percent slower when routed through Safe Connect, and uploads went 90.9 percent slower. Both those figures are substantially worse than TunnelBear's scores, and worse than all of our ten <a href=\"\/picks\/the-fastest-vpns\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"258\">fastest VPNs<\/a>. Note, though, that speed shouldn't be the only factor in your choice of a VPN, since speed effects can vary by network and by location.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWe also checked to confirm that the VPN successfully masked the originating IP address and ISP name, and that it didn't leak DNS information. As for streaming Netflix, perhaps to see BBC original content before its US release, don't count on doing so over Safe Connect. Netflix does its best to block this kind of region-cheating VPN usage, and Safe Connect isn't one of the <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-vpns-for-netflix\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"152\">VPNs that work with Netflix<\/a>. At least, not today; this is a fluid situation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith ever-growing interest in VPN usage, many security companies have started adding VPN protection to their top-tier security suites. Alas, in many cases what you get is a severely feature-limited version. Typically, you get a skimpy allowance of bandwidth per day, and you have to accept whatever server the VPN chooses for you. Bitdefender and Kaspersky fit this model, offering feature-limited VPN components powered by <a href=\"\/reviews\/anchorfree-hotspot-shield-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3961\">AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite<\/a>, with a significant added subscription price to lift those limits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSafe Connect doesn't have the advanced features and settings that a VPN expert would likely want, but it's very easy to use, and it comes without the painful limitations imposed in some competing suites. It's just dandy as a component in a general-purpose security suite. As noted, Symantec's Norton suites all include a no-limits VPN, too. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>McAfee Safe Family<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOne significant failing of the now-defunct McAfee Internet Security was its lame parental control system. With its limited feature set and awkward interface, this component was never a good option. At the same time, McAfee Total Protection gave (and still gives) users a license for <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-safe-family\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4025\">McAfee Safe Family<\/a>, a modern, cross-platform parental control utility, though one that still has its limitations. Please read our review for full details on that product; I'll briefly run down its features here. Safe Family costs $49.99 per year as a standalone, so this is a good deal for those who need it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou install Safe Family as a parent on at least one Windows, Android, or iOS device; sorry, there's no support for macOS. Then you gather the children's devices and install it in child mode on each of those, identifying which child uses each device. There's no limit on the number of child profiles or devices. Unlike most <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"65\">parental control<\/a> utilities, Safe Family doesn't let you assign different Windows user accounts to different profiles; this could be a deal-breaker.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSafe Family can block access to 16 content categories, and automatically makes an initial selection based on the child's age; parents can fine-tune this selection. It successfully blocked inappropriate sites, including HTTPS sites, so your kid couldn't evade the filter using a secure anonymizing proxy. However, unlike most similar products the content filter is not browser-independent. All your child needs is an off-brand browser to evade the filter; we found that Vivaldi did the job.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection Parental' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 549'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-10.fit_lim.size_740x549.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-10.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection Parental' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-10.fit_lim.size_740x549.v_1569546103.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-10.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn all three platforms, Safe Family can block use of specific apps. For Windows, it lists every application, including obscure ones, and lets parents prevent access to any of them. We did find that it omitted some apps, including Vivaldi. On Android, parents can block apps by type, for example \"Game Casino,\" or on an individual basis. For iOS devices, Safe Family leverages the built-in iOS ability to block apps based on age.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nParents can control when each kid is allowed screen time. By default, Safe Family sets a time span for weekdays and for weekends; parents can change those spans or add custom allowed times. On mobile devices, essential services like phoning home remain available even outside permitted screen times. Parents can also hit pause, suspending all device use for a child; here, too, essential mobile services remain available.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike the Safe Kids parental control system included with Kaspersky Security Cloud, among others, Safe Family lets you track the location of your children's devices and define known places. In testing, it correctly sent notifications when a device under its watchful eye entered and left PCMag's offices. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/reviews\/qustodio\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6917\">Qustodio Parental Control<\/a>, Norton Family Premier, and most other cross-platform parental control systems use an online console to let parents monitor kids and adjust configuration. With Safe Family, parents must use the parent app. From that app, parents can see all recent activity, view alerts, and check the child's location.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSafe Family has other limitations. As noted, content filtering isn't browser independent. It now protects itself against removal on Android, but on Windows and iOS all it can do is notify you that the child uninstalled it. You can't remove a device from tracking without removing the entire corresponding child profile. Its overly large, non-resizable window may not even fit some laptop screens. If parental control is something you need from your security suite, Kaspersky or Norton would be a better choice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Anti-Spam as Needed<\/h2>\r\n\r\nLike parental control, the anti-spam component's installation takes place the first time you try to use it. That makes total sense, because you may never use it. If you use a web-based email system, the service provider filters out spam, and such services are quite effective. Your work email probably has spam filtered out at the server level. Those who need a local spam filter are dwindling group, but if you are a member of this group, McAfee has a lot to offer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection Spam' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 612'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-11.fit_lim.size_740x612.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-11.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection Spam' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-11.fit_lim.size_740x612.v_1569546103.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-11.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMcAfee's spam filter integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. In these email clients, it adds a handy toolbar and automatically tosses spam messages in their own folder. You can still use it if you're a fan of Eudora, The Bat!, or another third-party email client, but you'll have to define a message rule to sift out the spam. McAfee filters spam from POP3 and Exchange email accounts, though it doesn't handle IMAP accounts in your email client the way Kaspersky does.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn an unusual twist, McAfee can reach into your webmail accounts to filter out spam. When this feature first came out, it was impressive. But now that most webmail services do a fine job of filtering spam internally, it's less necessary. If you choose to use it, you can view messages filtered out of your webmail stream right in the application and, if necessary, rescue any valid mail back to your online inbox.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere are quite a few options for configuring the spam filter. To start, there are five levels of protection, from Minimal, which allows more spam but doesn't throw away valid mail, to Restricted, which blocks all messages unless the sender is on your Friends list. I'd advise leaving it set to the default Balanced level.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can define custom spam filtering rules, but I can't imagine why any user would take the time to do this. The Friends list identifies addresses or domains that should always reach the Inbox. You can manually edit this list, add friends from the email client toolbar, or add all your contacts to the Friends list. There's also an option to automatically block messages written using character sets for languages you don't speak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you do need spam filtering at the local level, McAfee can handle it. Where many products limit protection to POP3 accounts, McAfee can filter Exchange accounts and even pull spam from your webmail. If you don't need it, well, at least it isn't installed by default.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>True Key Password Manager<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYour McAfee Total Protection subscription also gets you premium access to the <a href=\"\/reviews\/true-key-by-intel-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3120\">True Key<\/a> password manager. In fact, you get five licenses for True Key, so five individuals in your household can each have their own personal password manager. And each of those users can install True Key on all their Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Please read our review for the nitty gritty on this product.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AMOtB7XkTT4\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrue Key syncs nicely across devices, and supports a dazzling array of multifactor authentication options, including email verification, trusted device management, master password, fingerprint recognition, and Apple Face ID. You can even reset a lost master password using multiple other authentication factors. With almost all other password managers, losing your master password means you've lost all your data.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection Password' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-12.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-12.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection Password' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-12.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569546103.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-12.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrue Key's multifactor authentication system works nicely, and it handles standard password manager functions, but it lacks advanced features found in the best competing products. There's no secure password sharing, password inheritance, or automated password updating. It doesn't even fill personal data into web forms. Getting it free as part of this suite is great; if you paid for five licenses individually, they'd cost $99.95 per year. But you can do better by choosing one of our Editors' Choice <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-password-managers\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"168\">password managers<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>File Lock Encrypted Storage<\/h2>\r\n\r\nTo secure your most sensitive files, Total Security offers the File Lock encryption utility. You use it to create any number of encrypted vaults for storing sensitive files. You can work with files in an open vault just as you would on any other drive; files in a locked vault are completely inaccessible. Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer a very similar feature in their entry-level suite products. Like Anti-Spam, File Lock isn't installed until you choose to use it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNot surprisingly, you access File Lock from the main window's Privacy page. On first use, it asks you to save answers to three security questions, which can be used to unlock any of your vaults, bypassing the password. The list of questions is short, and many of them could be answered by googling you, or looking at your social media profile. This is a serious weak spot in File Lock's security. If you truly want to protect your files, I suggest getting creative. Think up wrong answers for the questions, ones that you'll remember. And get it right the first time, because once you've selected the questions and recorded your answers, you can't change them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='McAfee Total Protection Vault' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 478 481'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-13.fit_lim.size_478x481.v_1569546103.png\"}' align=\"right\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-13.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='McAfee Total Protection Vault' width='478' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-13.fit_lim.size_478x481.v_1569546103.png' align=\"right\" data-image-path='reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-13.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTo create a vault, you start by giving it a name. Next you choose its size, which can't be changed after vault creation. A simple slider selects a range of sizes from 50MB to 4GB. You can click Advanced to set a larger size, or any arbitrary size. Naturally you must enter a password to protect the vault. Since my last review the algorithm that rates password strength has clearly gotten an upgrade. It used to call \"Password1\" fair, and \"Password1!\" strong. Now it correctly labels both of those weak. By observation, the password rating algorithm downgrades passwords that contain dictionary words, which is smart.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn the final vault creation page, you choose whether to open the new vault or leave it locked. This page includes some tips on safeguarding the unencrypted originals of files you put into the vault. The most important of these is that you should copy files into the vault and then use the suite's file shredder to securely delete the originals. That way, nobody can recover the unprotected originals, not even using forensic recovery tools, <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs with similar offerings from Bitdefender and Kaspersky, File Lock doesn't let you resize a vault after creation. If you want more space, you create a new vault of the desires size, move the files over, and then delete the old vault. AVG lets you resize vaults as needed. With <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7583\">Trend Micro Maximum Security<\/a>, you only get one vault, but it resizes to fit its contents. In addition, if your computer gets lost or stolen, you can seal the Trend Micro vault remotely, so even the password can't open it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you use encrypted storage properly, either creating documents within the vault or moving documents and shredding the originals, you've got some serious protection. Just make sure to close the vault when you're not using the documents it contains. Better yet, set File Lock to automatically lock all vaults after the computer sits idle for a while.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>McAfee Identity Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYour Total Protection subscription includes access to McAfee Identity Protection Essentials. This service offers 24\/7 monitoring tools, so if your identity is compromised, you'll know right away. And it offers personalized help to recover from identity theft. As with other <a href=\"\/news\/do-you-really-need-to-pay-for-an-identity-theft-protection-service\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"5657\">identity protection services<\/a>, McAfee can't prevent identity theft, but it can give you a quick heads-up and help with recovery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere are a few limitations. Even though you can install Total Protection on many devices, Identity Protection is for one individual. It's only available in the US. And, as with the Virus Protection Pledge, access requires that you set up automatic renewal. That makes sense; if McAfee commits to monitoring your identity and remediating problems, it's only natural the company wants some commitment from you in return.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou start by setting up an account for identity protection, with your first and last name, a username, and a password, separate from your general McAfee password. You also save a security question and answer. As always, I advise using a false answer that you'll remember, but that nobody would guess, so as not to undermine your security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNext, you fill in a boatload of personal data for cyber monitoring. McAfee watches for your personal information to turn up on the Dark Web, in online chats, data dumps from website breaches, botnets, and many other shady places. It can't prevent your data from being breached, but it can give you an early warning, so you can deal with the problem before it gets out of hand. It can monitor:<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n\r\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\r\nul.article_ul {list-style-type:disc!important;}\r\nul.article_ul li {margin-left:30px!important; padding:0px 15px 5px 1px!important;}\r\n\r\n<style>\r\ntable.pcm_table1 {border-collapse:collapse!important; border:1px solid #CCC!important;}\r\ntable.pcm_table1 td, th {border:1px solid #CCC!important; padding:3px;}\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<\/style>\r\n\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 email addresses,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>One Social Security Number,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 phone numbers,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 credit and debit cards,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 bank accounts,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>One driver's license,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>One passport,<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 retail or membership cards, and<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<li> <\/span><\/span><\/span>10 medical IDs.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\nYou don't have to fill in all this data at signup; you can postpone that task until you're ready.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nCyber monitoring watches for bad guys stealing your info; social media monitoring helps you avoid giving it away yourself. When you set up monitoring for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter, the service checks the past 45 days of posts and then checks new posts from time to time to \"notify you of privacy or reputation risks with the content you are sharing.\" Don't expect it to pop up and say \"Whoa, dude, delete that post you just made!\" According to the FAQ, you'll get notification of a risky post within 24 to 48 hours.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nEvery worker needs a Social Security Number. Those who don't have their own legitimate SSN could be using yours. The Social Security Number Trace feature reports on all names, aliases, and addresses associated with your SSN. If there's something fishy, better to know about it right away. In a similar fashion, Change of Address Monitoring warns you if some scammer tries to redirect your mail, possibly to receive credit cards taken out in your name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMonitoring for possible compromises of your personal data is just one side of this service. The other side involves help with recovery when the worst happens. If you get a warning, or if you suspect your identity has been hacked, you can call McAfee's recovery experts for help with things like contacting account providers, notifying the police, reviewing your credit, and placing credit freezes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nRecovering from identity theft can be expensive. The higher, paid levels of McAfee Identity Protection include reimbursement for both direct theft of assets and expenses related to recovery, but Identity Protection Essentials, supplied with Total Protection, no longer offers reimbursement. My McAfee contact explained that in some states it's illegal to provide insurance products for free, that by offering reimbursement their service qualified as insurance, and that users get it for free simply by turning on auto-renewal. That being the case, they had to stop offering reimbursement.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMaybe nobody stole your identity, but you lost your wallet somewhere. McAfee can still help you there. The service can't just cancel all your credit cards for you; banks will only talk to the cardholder for that. But agents can help you through the process of canceling those cards and getting a replacement for lost ID. If you've lost your wallet while traveling, the service offers \"additional steps for your flight.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSymantec offers LifeLock identity protection as part of Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. This suite costs $149.99 and includes five security suite licenses, five no-limit VPN licenses, and 100GB of online storage for your backups. Springing for another $100 doubles your licenses to 10 of each and raises backup storage to 250GB. At the very top, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus costs $349.99 per year, which gives you unlimited suite and VPN licenses and 500GB of storage. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLifeLock does offer reimbursement and other payments, with available monetary caps increasing as you pay for higher levels of protection. The difference here seems to be that you can purchase <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe<\/a> without LifeLock, so when you do get it, you're explicitly paying for it. With the reimbursement component gone, McAfee Identity Protection Essentials is seriously deflated.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Significant Impact on Boot Time<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf your security suite puts such a drag on system performance that you turn it off, that's not very good protection. Fortunately, the days of resource-hog suites are long in the past. I still test performance impact using a few simple tests. I time certain common activities before and after installing the suite, averaging multiple runs, to come up with a percentage reflecting impact on performance. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor one test, I run a script that launches at startup and checks CPU usage once per second. When 10 seconds pass with CPU usage at five percent or lower, I consider the PC ready for use. Subtracting the start of the boot process (as reported by Windows) yields the length of time required to boot the system.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMcAfee slowed boot time substantially, but perhaps that's shouldn't be a surprise. I made a point of installing all the optional services, including Safe Kids, Safe Connect, True Key, the spam filter, and File Lock. Looking at free disk space before and after installation, I could see that McAfee occupied close to 2GB of disk space. With all these different services launching at startup, boot time more than tripled. This result was far enough off the norm that I carefully uninstalled all the McAfee components and re-ran the no-suite baseline test. Results weren't any better.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis sounds like a big deal, but many users may not even notice. I typically just let my computers go to sleep when not in use, rebooting only when forced to by Windows Update or a software installation. If you have similar habits, triple the boot time may not be a problem. Note, too, that even the three-time-as-long boot process finished in less than 90 seconds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-17.v_1569546103.png', 'McAfee Total Protection Performance Chart', 'McAfee Total Protection Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nMy other two tests time scripts that move and copy a mixed collection of files between drives, and that zip and unzip that same collection repeatedly. McAfee didn't slow the move and copy script at all, and hardly slowed the zip\/unzip test. That's excellent, since most users spend a lot more time working with files than restarting the system. McAfee's average impact of 86 percent is at the bottom of current products, but it's still not terrible. At the other end of the scale, ESET, G Data, and <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"46\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus<\/a> didn't have any performance impact measurable by my tests.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>A Well-Rounded Suite<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhile the basic security protection for macOS, Android, and iOS is no different in McAfee Total Protection than in the entry-level antivirus, you do get extras apps for those platforms. Up to five members of your household can use the True Key password manager on all their devices, and you can install Safe Family parental control on Windows and mobile devices. You also get a no-limits VPN that you can use to protect five devices at a time. And the identity protection service doesn't care what devices you use.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMcAfee's scores have improved in recent independent antivirus lab tests, but it's still not at the top. Kaspersky Security Cloud, on the other hand, earned perfect scores in all recent tests (well, one score was merely near-perfect). It covers up to 20 devices, and the included Safe Kids parental control system is significantly more effective than Safe Family. Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe offers five cross-platform licenses and five VPN licenses as well as 50GB of online storage for your backups. Both Kaspersky and Norton offer a full security suite on macOS, not just antivirus. These two are our Editors' Choice products for cross-platform multi-device suite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n4.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n15.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Parental Control: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n25.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Given the choice for your ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" protection, would you opt for mere Internet Security or grab comprehensive Total Protection? Without a doubt, Total Protection sounds better, enough so that McAfee has stopped promoting the entry-level McAfee Internet Security suite. If you want to go above and beyond the standalone McAfee antivirus, you now go straight to McAfee Total Protection. With so many suite-level features included in the antivirus, Total Protection needs to add a lot to impress, and it does. Cross-platform password management, no-limits VPN protection, file encryption with shredding for originals, identity protection\u2014this suite has a lot to offer. Its components aren't all perfect, but at its top pricing tier, it protects every single one of your devices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"How Much Does McAfee Total Protection Cost?","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee has long been famed (among security software reviewers, at least) for its unlimited licensing practices. Previously, you\u2019d pay $119.99 per year for a license that allowed installation on every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. That unlimited license is still available, though it now costs $159.99. The old $119.99 price now gets you 10 licenses. You can also pay $99.99 for a five-license subscription, or $79.99 to protect a single, lonely device. But seriously, given that you can get unlimited licenses for roughly twice the one-device price, there\u2019s no point in meddling with those lower price points.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Why did McAfee back off from all-unlimited? My guess is that doing so let the company charge a more reasonable amount for no-limits security. At lower levels, pricing is in line with the competition. For example, the three-license price is the same as you\u2019d pay for an entry-level suite from Bitdefender or Kaspersky. The five-license price matches that of Kaspersky\u2019s two top-tier suites. To get unlimited ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" licenses, you\u2019d pay $349.99 per year. Admittedly, this also gets you top-level LifeLock support, 500GB of storage for your online backups, and unlimited VPN licenses. McAfee does include its own take on identity protection, but even at the top level it gives just five VPN licenses.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Panda is one of the few other companies to offer a no-limits solution. At the $334.99 pricing tier, you can install ","type":"text"},{"text":"Panda Dome Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" on all your Windows, macOS, and Android devices. However, it doesn't include VPN, backup storage, or identity protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Even at the new, higher price for unlimited licenses, McAfee remains a bargain. Provided, that is, that your household includes plenty of devices needing protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Simple Installation","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As with McAfee\u2019s antivirus, you start by activating your registration code online. At that point, you can either immediately install it on the device you're using or send links to install on other devices. When you download the product, you get a serial number, distinct from your activation code. Hang onto that number, as you might need it to reinstall the product on the same device.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"New with this edition, the suite has a completely redesigned interface that focuses on helping you do the things you want easily and smoothly, without security worries. The VPN and password manager are now fully integrated. And the designers pored over all the notification popups to make them as straightforward as possible. My McAfee contacts report that this new interface will eventually trickle down to the antivirus product as well.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The airy new main window points out three types of protection, PC, Web, and Identity, each represented by a large panel. Across the top you get advice and suggestions for improving security, much like the AutoPilot recommendations from Bitdefender. A button at the bottom invites you to scan for threats.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-48.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Main Window","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To complete your setup, follow the prompts to install McAfee\u2019s WebAdvisor in Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. You\u2019ll also find that the spam filter and File Lock encryption system don\u2019t get installed until the first time you try to use them, and the parental control system is a completely separate download that you obtain from the online console.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"New, Streamlined User Interface","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee\u2019s new interface is very orderly. Each of the three category buttons opens a new page, and each page displays four features related to that category. Click PC and you get Antivirus, Firewall, Secure apps, and App Boost. On the Web page there\u2019s Browser Security, Web Boost, Tracker remover, and Secure VPN. And for Identity, you see ID protection, Password Manager, File Shredder, and File lock. If you notice some inconsistency in the use of capital letters in the feature names, that\u2019s in the product, not a typo.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-49.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Web Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Those familiar with this product may be wondering what happened to the other features. Where\u2019s the vulnerability scan, the home network analyzer, the spam filter? Never fear, you haven\u2019t lost these features. Click the Settings gear at top right and you\u2019ll find everything that didn\u2019t fit in the oh-so-orderly main user interface.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"It\u2019s worth noting that McAfee does a lot of work in the background, without any prompting from you. While I was writing about the appearance of the new user interface, it ran a scan for malware, found cookies and trackers to remove, and offered to declutter the test system to recover wasted disk space.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Antivirus Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Of course, everything you get as part of ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee AntiVirus Plus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-antivirus-plus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" is also present in the full suite, though the pages and buttons are arranged differently. Below is a synopsis of my findings, but for details you can read my full review of the antivirus tool.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-58.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Lab Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All four independent labs I follow include McAfee in their testing. McAfee took top marks from AV-Test Institute and ","type":"text"},{"text":"SE Labs","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/selabs.uk\/","target":null}}]},{"text":" in their latest reports. However, McAfee\u2019s technology (in the form of its enterprise product) earned a double fail from MRG-Effitas. Its aggregate lab score is 8.8 out of 10 possible points, the same as ","type":"text"},{"text":"F-Secure Safe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/f-secure-safe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". Looking just at products tested by all the labs, Kaspersky and Norton top the list, with 9.7 points. Bitdefender, tested by just three of the four, eked out 9.8 aggregate points.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In our own hands-on ","type":"text"},{"text":"malware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" tests, we observed that McAfee doesn't scan files just because Windows Explorer accesses them for display. Rather, it waits until they try to launch and quarantines any that prove to be malware. It detected 96 percent of our samples and earned 9.6 points. Only G Data, with 9.8 points, and Webroot, with a perfect 10, have done better against this collection of samples.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-59.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Malware Protection Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Challenged with a collection of 100 active malware-hosting URLs, McAfee used two techniques to defend the test system. Its WebAdvisor browser plugin prevented the browser from even visiting nearly half of the URLs, and it eliminated the malware payloads during download for the rest, earning a perfect 100 percent protection rate. Sophos and Vipre also blocked 100 percent in their latest tests, while Bitdefender, ","type":"text"},{"text":"F-Secure Safe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/f-secure-safe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" , G Data, and K7 came close, with 99 percent","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee also promises protection against fileless malware, threats that propagate in memory without ever appearing on disk. However, we haven\u2019t found a way to test this protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"WebAdvisor also steers users away from phishing sites, those fraudulent sites that pose as banks, finance sites, and even dating sites with the purpose of stealing your login credentials. In testing with 100 very new phishing sites, McAfee achieved 99 percent protection, the top score, shared with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and Norton 360 Deluxe.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-60.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Phishing Protection Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"WebAdvisor now warns you when it detects tech support scams, sites that try to trick you into letting them remote-control your PC. As always, it marks up search results to help you avoid dangerous ones. New in this edition, it also marks up links in LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"New in the previous edition, WebAdvisor includes a component to block cryptojacking. That term refers to websites that hijack your processing power to mine cryptocurrencies. On detecting this type of activity, McAfee slides in a notification and offers to block it. Do note that some websites legitimately ask visitors to trade processing power for access, rather than relying on advertising for financial support.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Ransom Guard adds a layer of protection against ransomware. When it detects a whiff of illegitimate \"file transformation,\" it backs up files that might be affected. If that whiff matures into evidence of a ransomware attack, it quarantines the attacker and restores the files. Because turning off ordinary antivirus protection also turns off Ransom Guard, we couldn\u2019t test its ability to handle zero-day malware. However, by using a dozen hand-modified malware samples we managed a limited test. McAfee completely missed three of the modified samples, and Ransom Guard never made an appearance. It looks like this feature still needs tuning.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Other Shared Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee Antivirus Plus contains a surprising number of features that go beyond merely protecting against malware, including a variety of performance-enhancing components. The QuickClean component clears out files that waste disk space and items such as cookies that sites could use to track you. App Boost (called PC Boost in the antivirus) diverts extra resources to the foreground program, and to any processes that need more than they're getting. And Web Boost saves bandwidth by actively pausing any videos that try to launch automatically (but only in Chrome).","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Unusually, McAfee\u2019s standalone antivirus includes firewall protection. The firewall component both protects against outside attack and keeps programs from misusing your network connection. By default, it handles program control internally, which is much better than entrusting that task to the untutored user. For testing, we enabled its Intrusion Protection module and attacked the test system using vulnerabilities generated by the ","type":"text"},{"text":"CORE Impact","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.coresecurity.com\/core-impact","target":null}}]},{"text":" penetration tool. The attacks didn't penetrate the fully patched test system, but neither did McAfee's firewall actively defend against them. It mostly stood up to our direct attack test, though we managed to disable a few of its Windows services, including WebAdvisor, using techniques available to a malware coder.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the My Network page, you can view all devices on the network. The list highlights devices that have McAfee protection, and you can set up a trust relationship between Windows installations that allows you to remotely check security status and adjust configuration.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A vulnerability scanner seeks out missing security patches for Windows and popular programs and, when possible, automates the update process. You can use the Shredder to securely delete sensitive files beyond the possibility of forensic recovery.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Choosing Add a device lets you send an email or text with a link to install protection on any Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android device you own. Just email yourself the installation link and open the email on each device. Not sure which devices need protection added? You can check the My Network list for devices that don\u2019t have a McAfee shield icon.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Security protection for non-Windows devices is the same whether you're subscribed for the antivirus or the full suite, though several of the suite's added features offer mobile apps. On a Mac, it installs ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac)","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-antivirus-plus-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":"; please read that review for an in-depth account. The Mac edition managed 98 percent protection against phishing attacks, just slightly below the Windows edition.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Android edition is a full-featured security suite, with antivirus, antitheft, call and text blocking, and more. Those using iOS don't get as much\u2014secure storage for photos, backup for contacts, a collection of anti-theft features, and safe browsing using a Proxy VPN. If you had to pay for each license, installing on iOS would be a waste, but as long as you chose the subscription with no limit on devices you might as well install it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test Security Software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"No-Limits VPN Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A security suite protects your data on your devices, but when that data heads for the jungle of the internet it's in danger. Running your connection through a ","type":"text"},{"text":"Virtual Private Network, or VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", does a lot to secure the data in transit. The connection is encrypted between your device and the VPN server, so even if you've connected through a compromised Wi-Fi network your data is safe. A VPN also serves to mask your IP address, so nobody can track you or determine your (approximate) location using that address.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When McAfee acquired TunnelBear, that acquisition came with the VPN server network of the popular ","type":"text"},{"text":"TunnelBear VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/tunnelbear-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", a PCMag Editors' Choice for VPN protection. McAfee\u2019s Safe Connect VPN, available as a separate application for $7.99 per month, is built on the same technology, but without animated bears. New in this edition, the VPN is fully integrated with the main suite, appearing on the page of Web protection features.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"1On8Y6WYlB"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you connect to a server using TunnelBear, an animated bear visibly tunnels to the location on the on-screen map. The more sedate Safe Connect simply reports when you\u2019re connected, but the effect is the same. Your data travels in encrypted form to the server you've chosen. The VPN network includes over 1,800 servers in 22 countries. That's decent, but several competitors have 3,000 or more servers; ","type":"text"},{"text":"NordVPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/nordvpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" in particular has over 5,000. And McAfee's coverage has some blanks geographically, with nothing in Africa or the Middle East, and hardly anything in South America.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Running all your internet activity through a VPN company's servers requires that you trust that company not to misuse your data. We look closely at the privacy policy for each VPN, hoping to see that they retain little or no information and have sensible policies in place to handle requests for information from law enforcement. In the past we've admired TunnelBear's clear and appropriate policy. Safe Connect falls under McAfee's all-product privacy policy, which is significantly more verbose and seems (to our non-legally-trained minds) less focused on keeping customer data private.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-50.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection VPN","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Quite a few TunnelBear features didn't make it into Safe Connect. Among these are: GhostBear, which disguises VPN traffic as HTML traffic, for situations where VPN use is blocked; Vigilant Mode protection for your connection during the moments between an accidental disconnect and restored connection; and Blocker, an advanced ad-blocking browser extension.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There's just one major choice on the Settings page and that involves when Safe Connect connects. By default, it waits for you to connect manually, but you can have it kick in automatically any time you're connected, or any time you're using Wi-Fi. There's also an option to define trusted Wi-Fi networks where VPN protection isn't required.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Why would you not use VPN protection when it's available without bandwidth limits? The most likely reason is speed. When you connect through a VPN your traffic necessarily travels farther and passes through more servers. The time from when your device sends a query to when it receives acknowledgement (called latency) tends to be longer, which can be a problem for gamers. More universally problematic is the fact that using a VPN can slow downloading or uploading of data.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At PCMag, we use the ","type":"text"},{"text":"Ookla speedtest tool","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"http:\/\/pcm-intl.speedtestcustom.com\/","target":null}}]},{"text":" to gauge the impact a VPN has on performance. (Note that Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns PCMag.) We have a whole feature on how we test VPNs, so do read it for more on our methodology and the limits of our tests.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test VPNs","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/about\/how-we-test-vpns","target":null}}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When we last tested Safe Connect, we determined that it increased latency by 40.8 percent. That's better than the median of almost 70 percent. Hotspot Shield had the least effect on latency among top products, increasing it by just 26.2 percent.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As for upload speed and the all-important download speed, Safe Connect didn't do well. Downloads ran 91.2 percent slower when routed through Safe Connect, and uploads went 90.9 percent slower. Both those figures are substantially higher than the median and worse than all of our ten ","type":"text"},{"text":"fastest VPNs","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-fastest-vpns","target":null}}]},{"text":". Note, though, that speed shouldn't be the only factor in your choice of a VPN, since speed effects can vary by network and by location.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"We also checked to confirm that the VPN successfully masked the originating IP address and ISP name, and that it didn't leak DNS information. As for streaming Netflix, perhaps to see BBC original content before its US release, don't count on doing so over Safe Connect. Netflix does its best to block this kind of region-cheating VPN usage, and Safe Connect isn't one of the ","type":"text"},{"text":"VPNs that work with Netflix","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpns-for-netflix","target":null}}]},{"text":". At least, not today; this is a fluid situation.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With ever-growing interest in VPN usage, many security companies have started adding VPN protection to their top-tier security suites. Alas, in many cases what you get is a severely feature-limited version. Typically, you get a skimpy allowance of bandwidth per day, and you must accept whatever server the VPN chooses for you. Bitdefender and Kaspersky fit this model, offering feature-limited VPN components powered by ","type":"text"},{"text":"Hotspot Shield","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/anchorfree-hotspot-shield-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", with a significant added subscription price to lift those limits.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Connect doesn't have the advanced features and settings that a VPN expert would likely want, but it's very easy to use, and it comes without the painful limitations imposed in some competing suites. It's just dandy as a component in a general-purpose security suite. As noted, Symantec's Norton suites all include a no-limits VPN, too. And where McAfee limits you to five devices even at its top tier, Norton gives you five, 10, or unlimited devices, depending on the tier.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"McAfee Safe Family","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Parental control isn\u2019t a feature integrated with this suite. Rather, your subscription gives you a license to install the separate ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Safe Family","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-safe-family","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", a modern, cross-platform parental control utility, though one that still has its limitations. Please read our review for full details on that product; I'll briefly run down its features here. Safe Family costs $49.99 per year as a standalone, so this is a good deal for those who need it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You install Safe Family as a parent on at least one Windows, Android, or iOS device; sorry, there's no support for macOS. Then you gather the children's devices and install it in child mode on each of those, identifying which child uses each device. There's no limit on the number of child profiles or devices. Unlike most ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" utilities, Safe Family doesn't let you assign different Windows user accounts to different profiles; this could be a deal-breaker.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Family can block access to 16 content categories, and initially chooses categories for blocking based on the child's age; parents can fine-tune this selection. However, unlike most similar products the content filter is not browser-independent. All your child needs is an off-brand browser to evade the filter; we found that Brave did the job.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Family\u2019s blocking behavior proved peculiar in testing. On a Windows system, trying to visit a non-secured (HTTP) inappropriate site just got a \u201cBad request\u201d error in the browser, with no notification from the content filter and nothing recorded in the parental control log. Safe Family did actively warn when it blocked HTTPS sites, and those did appear in the log. Blocking was effective\u2014your kid couldn\u2019t evade the filter using a secure anonymizing proxy.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-51.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Parental Control","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On all three platforms, Safe Family can block use of specific apps. For Windows, it lists every application, including obscure ones, and lets parents prevent access to any of them. On Android, parents can block apps by type, for example \"Game Casino,\" or on an individual basis. For iOS devices, Safe Family leverages the built-in iOS ability to block apps based on age.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Parents can control when each kid is allowed screen time. By default, Safe Family sets a time span for weekdays and for weekends; parents can change those spans or add custom allowed times. On mobile devices, essential services like phoning home remain available even outside permitted screen times. Parents can also hit pause, suspending all device use for a child; here, too, essential mobile services remain available.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like the Safe Kids parental control system included with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", among others, Safe Family lets you track the location of your children's devices and define known places. In testing, it correctly sent notifications when a device under its watchful eye entered and left PCMag's offices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Qustodio","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/qustodio","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", Norton Family Premier, and most other cross-platform parental control systems use an online console to let parents monitor kids and adjust configuration. With Safe Family, parents must use the parent app. From that app, parents can see all recent activity, view alerts, and check the child's location.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Family has other limitations. As noted, content filtering isn't browser independent. It protects itself against removal on Android, but on Windows and iOS all it can do is notify you that the child uninstalled it. You can't remove a device from tracking without removing the entire corresponding child profile. Its overly large, non-resizable window may not even fit some laptop screens. If parental control is something you need from your security suite, Kaspersky or Norton would be a better choice.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Anti-Spam as Needed","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like parental control, the anti-spam component's installation takes place the first time you try to use it. That makes total sense, because you may never use it. If you use a web-based email system, the service provider filters out spam, and such services are quite effective. Your work email probably has spam filtered out at the server level. Those who need a local spam filter are dwindling group, but if you are a member of this group, McAfee has a lot to offer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-52.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Spam Filter","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee's spam filter integrates with Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. In these email clients, it adds a handy toolbar and automatically tosses spam messages in their own folder. You can still use it if you've found you prefer another third-party email client, but you'll have to define a message rule to sift out the spam. McAfee filters spam from POP3 and Exchange email accounts, though it doesn't handle IMAP accounts in your email client the way Kaspersky does.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In an unusual twist, McAfee can reach into your webmail accounts to filter out spam. Years ago when this feature first came out, it was impressive. But now that most webmail services do a fine job of filtering spam internally, it's less necessary. And you do have to give McAfee your email password. If you choose to use it, you can view messages filtered out of your webmail stream right in the application and, if necessary, rescue any valid mail back to your online inbox.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There are quite a few options for configuring the spam filter. To start, there are five levels of protection, from Minimal, which allows more spam but doesn't throw away valid mail, to Restricted, which blocks all messages unless the sender is on your Friends list. I'd advise leaving it set to the default Balanced level.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can define custom spam filtering rules, but I can't imagine why any user would take the time to do this. The Friends list identifies addresses or domains that should always reach the Inbox. You can manually edit this list, add friends from the email client toolbar, or add all your contacts to the Friends list. There's also an option to automatically block messages written using character sets for languages you don't speak.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you do need spam filtering at the local level, McAfee can handle it. Where many products limit protection to POP3 accounts, McAfee can filter Exchange accounts and even pull spam from your webmail. If you don't need it, well, at least it isn't installed by default.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"True Key Password Manager","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Your McAfee Total Protection subscription also gets you premium access to the ","type":"text"},{"text":"True Key","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-true-key","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" password manager. In fact, you get five licenses for True Key, so five individuals in your household can each have their own personal password manager. And each of those users can install True Key on all their Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Please read our review for the nitty gritty on this product.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This tool has had a couple of enhancements since our previous review. It now supports Microsoft Edge, and it supports AutoFill in iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"youtube_video","attrs":{"id":"AMOtB7XkTT4"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"True Key syncs nicely across devices, and supports a dazzling array of multifactor authentication options, including email verification, trusted device management, master password, fingerprint recognition, Windows Hello, and Apple Face ID. You can even reset a lost master password using multiple other authentication factors. With almost all other password managers, losing your master password means you've lost all your data.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-54.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Password Manager","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"True Key's multifactor authentication system works nicely, and it handles standard password manager functions, but it lacks advanced features found in the best competing products. There's no secure password sharing, password inheritance, or automated password updating. It doesn't even fill personal data into web forms. Getting it free as part of this suite is great; if you paid for five licenses individually, they'd cost $99.95 per year. But you can do better by choosing one of our Editors' Choice ","type":"text"},{"text":"password managers","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-password-managers","target":null}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"File Lock Encrypted Storage","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To secure your most sensitive files, Total Security offers the File Lock encryption utility. You use it to create any number of encrypted vaults for storing sensitive files. You can work with files in an open vault just as you would on any other drive; files in a locked vault are completely inaccessible. ESET and Kaspersky offer a very similar feature in their entry-level suite products. Like Anti-Spam, File Lock isn't installed until you choose to use it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You access File Lock from the main window's Identity page. On first use, it asks you to save answers to three security questions, which can be used to unlock any of your vaults, bypassing the password. You must choose from a list of predefined questions, many of which could be answered by googling you or viewing your social media profile. This is a serious weak spot in File Lock's security. I suggest getting creative. Think up wrong answers for the questions, ones that you'll remember. And get it right the first time, because once you've selected the questions and recorded your answers, you can't ever change them.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-55.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection File Lock","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To create a vault, you start by giving it a name. Next you choose its size, which can't be changed after vault creation. A simple slider selects a range of sizes from 50MB to 4GB. You can click Advanced to set a larger size, or any arbitrary size. Naturally, you must enter a password to protect the vault, and McAfee rates password strength as you type. By observation, the password rating algorithm downgrades passwords that contain dictionary words, which is smart. New since my last review, you also define a trusted email address for password recovery.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the final vault creation page, you choose whether to open the new vault or leave it locked. This page includes some tips on safeguarding the unencrypted originals of files you put into the vault. The most important of these is that you should copy files into the vault and then use the suite's file shredder to securely delete the originals. That way, nobody can recover the unprotected originals, not even using forensic recovery tools,","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As with similar offerings from ESET, Kaspersky, and others, File Lock doesn't let you resize a vault after creation. If you want more space, you create a new vault of the desires size, move the files over, and then delete the old vault. With ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Maximum Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", you only get one vault, but it resizes to fit its contents. In addition, if your computer gets lost or stolen, you can seal the Trend Micro vault remotely, so even the password can't open it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you use encrypted storage properly, either creating documents within the vault or moving documents and shredding the originals, you've got some serious protection. Just make sure to close the vault when you're not using the documents it contains. Better yet, set File Lock to automatically lock all vaults after the computer sits idle for a while.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"McAfee Identity Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Your Total Protection subscription includes access to McAfee Identity Protection Essentials. This service offers 24\/7 monitoring tools, so if your identity is compromised, you'll know right away. And it offers personalized help to recover from identity theft. As with other ","type":"text"},{"text":"identity protection services","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/do-you-really-need-to-pay-for-an-identity-theft-protection-service","target":null}}]},{"text":", McAfee can't prevent identity theft, but it can give you a quick heads-up and help with recovery.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There are a few limitations. Even though you can install Total Protection on many devices, Identity Protection is for one individual. It's only available in the US. And, as with the Virus Protection Pledge, access requires that you set up automatic renewal. That makes sense; if McAfee commits to monitoring your identity and remediating problems, it's only natural the company wants some commitment from you in return.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You start by setting up an account for identity protection, with your first and last name, a username, and a password, separate from your general McAfee password. You also save a security question and answer. As always, I advise using a false answer that you'll remember, but that nobody would guess, so as not to undermine your security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-56.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Identity Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Next, you fill in a boatload of personal data for cyber monitoring. McAfee watches for your personal information to turn up on the Dark Web, in online chats, data dumps from website breaches, botnets, and many other shady places. It can't prevent your data from being breached, but it can give you an early warning, so you can deal with the problem before it gets out of hand. It can monitor:","type":"text"}]},{"type":"bullet_list","content":[{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 email addresses,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"One Social Security Number,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 phone numbers,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 credit and debit cards,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 bank accounts,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"One driver's license,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"One passport,","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 retail or membership cards, and","type":"text"}]}]},{"type":"list_item","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"10 medical IDs.","type":"text"}]}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You don't have to fill in all this data at signup; you can postpone that task until you're ready.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Cyber monitoring watches for bad guys stealing your info; social media monitoring helps you avoid giving it away yourself. When you set up monitoring for Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter, the service checks the past 45 days of posts and then checks new posts from time to time to \"notify you of privacy or reputation risks with the content you are sharing.\" Don't expect it to pop up and say \"Whoa, dude, delete that post you just made!\" According to the FAQ, you'll get notification of a risky post within 24 to 48 hours.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Every worker needs a Social Security Number. Those who don't have their own legitimate SSN could be using yours. The Social Security Number Trace feature reports on all names, aliases, and addresses associated with your SSN. If there's something fishy, better to know about it right away. In a similar fashion, Change of Address Monitoring warns you if some scammer tries to redirect your mail, possibly to receive credit cards taken out in your name.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Monitoring for possible compromises of your personal data is just one side of this service. The other side involves help with recovery when the worst happens. If you get a warning, or if you suspect your identity has been hacked, you can call McAfee's recovery experts for help with things like contacting account providers, notifying the police, reviewing your credit, and placing credit freezes.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Recovering from identity theft can be expensive. The higher, paid levels of McAfee Identity Protection include reimbursement for both direct theft of assets and expenses related to recovery, but Identity Protection Essentials, supplied with Total Protection, no longer offers reimbursement. My McAfee contact explained that in some states it's illegal to provide insurance products for free, that by offering reimbursement their service qualified as insurance, and that users get it for free simply by turning on auto-renewal. That being the case, they had to stop offering reimbursement.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Maybe nobody stole your identity, but you lost your wallet somewhere. McAfee can still help you there. The service can't just cancel all your credit cards for you; banks will only talk to the cardholder for that. But agents can help you through the process of canceling those cards and getting a replacement for lost ID. If you've lost your wallet while traveling, the service offers \"additional steps for your flight.\"","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Symantec offers LifeLock identity protection as part of Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. This suite costs $149.99 and includes five security suite licenses, five no-limit VPN licenses, and 100GB of online storage for your backups. Springing for another $100 doubles your licenses to 10 of each and raises backup storage to 250GB. At the very top, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus costs $349.99 per year, which gives you unlimited suite and VPN licenses and 500GB of storage.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"LifeLock does offer reimbursement and other payments, with available monetary caps increasing as you pay for higher levels of protection. The difference here seems to be that you can purchase ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" without LifeLock, so when you do get it, you're explicitly paying for it. With the reimbursement component gone, McAfee Identity Protection Essentials is seriously deflated.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Minimal Impact on Performance","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If your security suite puts such a drag on system performance that you turn it off, that's not good security. Fortunately, the days of resource-hog suites are long in the past. I still test performance impact using a few simple tests. I time certain common activities before and after installing the suite, averaging multiple runs, to come up with a percentage reflecting impact on performance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For one test, I run a script that launches at startup and checks CPU usage once per second. When 10 seconds pass with CPU usage at five percent or lower, I consider the PC ready for use. Subtracting the start of the boot process (as reported by Windows) yields the length of time required to boot the system.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Before running this test, I made sure that I installed all the optional components, including Safe Kids, Safe Connect, True Key, the spam filter, and File Lock. Looking at free disk space before and after installation, I could see that McAfee occupied close to 2GB of disk space. With all these different services launching at startup, you might expect boot time to take a hit, and indeed, the last time I tested McAfee it more than tripled the boot time. Apparently the new, integrated approach solves the problem. This time around, boot time only increased by 19 percent, nothing you\u2019d notice.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-57.png","altText":"McAfee Total Protection Performance Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"My other two tests time scripts that move and copy a mixed collection of files between drives, and that zip and unzip that same collection repeatedly. Both tests took just 2 percent longer with McAfee on the job. That's excellent, since most users spend a lot more time working with files than restarting the system. McAfee's average impact of 7 percent puts it among the products with the lightest touch. Only a few have done better in this test, ESET, G Data, and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" didn't have any measurable impact on performance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"A Well-Rounded Suite","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"While the basic security protection for macOS, Android, and iOS is no different in McAfee Total Protection than in the entry-level antivirus, you do get extras apps for those platforms. Up to five members of your household can use the True Key password manager on all their devices, and you can install Safe Family parental control on Windows and mobile devices. You also get a no-limits VPN that you can use to protect five devices at a time. And the identity protection service doesn't care what devices you use.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"McAfee's scores have improved in recent independent antivirus lab tests, but it's still not at the top. Kaspersky Security Cloud, on the other hand, earned perfect or near-perfect scores in all recent tests. It covers up to 10 devices, and the included Safe Kids parental control system is significantly more effective than Safe Family. Norton 360 Deluxe offers five cross-platform licenses and five VPN licenses as well as 50GB of online storage for your backups. Both Kaspersky and Norton offer a full security suite on macOS, not just antivirus. These two are our Editors' Choice products for cross-platform multi-device suite.","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":61,"images":[{"index":47,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-47.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":3000,"height":587,"hash":"ae2ad0b85709f7e2a749fcf3eafbce90","timestamp":1602174020,"metadata":[]},{"index":48,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-48.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1050,"height":740,"hash":"81b6370b56a00a84398af76eae9c4917","timestamp":1602174020,"metadata":[]},{"index":49,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-49.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1050,"height":740,"hash":"18b07401109031f8ea4828855862c459","timestamp":1602174020,"metadata":[]},{"index":50,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-50.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1050,"height":740,"hash":"20db0f9481ae33480bf3867d66eb2934","timestamp":1602174020,"metadata":[]},{"index":51,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-51.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1535,"height":794,"hash":"2033542d7a26a6dd80678c143dae0d97","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":52,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-52.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1050,"height":740,"hash":"fb388a521c666bd88b2cc6d7662753a3","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":53,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-53.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":760,"hash":"7642887fa8aefb2957ef4982666426a0","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":{"content-blocks-editor-uploaded-image":"content-blocks-editor-uploaded-image-29126"}},{"index":54,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-54.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":760,"hash":"7642887fa8aefb2957ef4982666426a0","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":55,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-55.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1482,"height":665,"hash":"49f7be5dca52921722005258c6bb5fe2","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":56,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-56.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1050,"height":740,"hash":"ac12a5f2e2bbc31d53aa4a7daf42d7f5","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":57,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-57.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":855,"height":588,"hash":"08b233a66a14a1305818a14155490df7","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":58,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-58.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":737,"height":985,"hash":"ed95c33cb2a9b6fc9972fbb9f329070f","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":59,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-59.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":871,"height":862,"hash":"644549c8da20fdcd58ebf73ef1ba69fe","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]},{"index":60,"path":"reviews\/04UpZaKWUDv8UqaqT6hcG7t-60.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":893,"height":799,"hash":"fff8ae9d2db733feeeb3c86ce9c88c71","timestamp":1602174021,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Security for every device in your household\nNo-limits VPN\nExcellent phishing protection\nIdentity theft monitoring\nSafe Family parental control\nFile encryption","cons":"Mixed antivirus lab results\nEncryption weakened by simple security questions\nIdentity theft remediation no longer includes reimbursement\nParental control limited, awkward","bottom_line":"McAfee Total Protection offers security and password management for all your devices, and parental control for all except Macs. The suite's no-limits VPN is an enticing extra.","best_for":"Best for Multi-Device Households","first_published_at":"2014-10-14T12:28:23.000000Z","published_at":"2020-10-09T13:34:27.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-10-09T13:33:35.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-10-13T20:34:22.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-10-09T13:34:27.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":2076,"rank":5,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":10607,"legacy_id":336459,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9","status":"Published","product_uuid":"03E6uLBpgPlb5YaHGE8nuI3","spec_sheet_uuid":null,"title":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select","slug":"norton-360-with-lifelock-select","deck":"Protect your devices and your identity with one powerful suite","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":false,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":2425,"body":"A home security system protects you and your stuff with high-tech locks, motion sensors, and alarms. But burglars are resourceful, so you also carry insurance for your home and belongings. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select brings that combination of security and insurance into the digital realm. For security, you get the excellent cross-platform Norton 360 <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a>, which includes a full-featured VPN, hosted online backup, and more. On top of that, this software adds LifeLock's insurance against the crippling effects of identity theft. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhether you need both is something you'll have to decide for yourself, but the company is betting that you'll want the combination. It even sold the old Symantec name (along with its enterprise business) to Broadcom. The new company name is a somewhat awkward portmanteau, NortonLifeLock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nConsidered strictly as a cross-platform security suite, Norton 360 with Lifelock looks<\/em> expensive. At $149.99 per year, it costs $50 more than Norton 360 Deluxe and gets you the same five security and VPN licenses. That same $149.99 per year price gets you 20 licenses to install Kaspersky Security Cloud on all your devices. <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a><\/span> gives you 10 licenses for $99.99 per year. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPanda Dome Premium, with price points including $274.99 per year for 10 licenses and $334.99 for unlimited licenses, costs more than Norton, but most suites go for much less. For example, you can install McAfee Total Protection on unlimited devices for $119.99. All these prices are often deeply discounted, but only for the first year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThings look rather different when you consider that Norton gives you both cross-platform security and<\/em> LifeLock identity-theft mitigation. Norton offers a dizzying array of LifeLock price points, but even at the lowest protection level, LifeLock alone costs more than $100 per year. That makes adding LifeLock to Norton 360 for an incremental cost of $50 look like quite the bargain—provided LifeLock is something you want.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock My' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 556'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-17.fit_lim.size_740x556.v_1575681034.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-17.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock My' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-17.fit_lim.size_740x556.v_1575681034.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-17.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Your Reading Assignment<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe cross-platform security protection you get with this product is exactly the same as <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Norton 360 Deluxe<\/a><\/span>, with a few very small exceptions. The LifeLock-equipped edition offers a few more options in its Dark Web Monitoring, and gives you more hosted online storage for your backups. Other than that, the security programs and apps that you install on your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices are unchanged.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat being the case, I'm not going to recap or summarize my review of the no-LifeLock security suite. Please read that article for a full understanding of the security component of Norton 360 with LifeLock and what it brings to the various platforms. Then come back here to learn what you gain by adding LifeLock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Windows' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 494'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-18.fit_lim.size_740x494.v_1575681034.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-18.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Windows' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-18.fit_lim.size_740x494.v_1575681034.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-18.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>A Game of Numbers<\/h2>\r\n\r\nNorton offers three distinct product tiers that combine security with LifeLock. On the security side, the difference between the tiers is strictly a numbers game. Each tier gives you more licenses for Norton security, more licenses for VPN protection provided by <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-secure-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8100\">Norton Secure VPN<\/a>, and more storage for your online backups. The tiers also differ in degrees of LifeLock protection; I'll cover those differences below.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs noted, you pay $149.99 per year for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, reviewed here. That gets you the same five security and VPN licenses that you get with Norton 360 Deluxe. You also get 100GB of storage for your backups, twice as much as with the no-LifeLock edition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nAt the next level, paying $249.99 per year gets you Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage. That $100 upgrade kicks your license totals up to 10 for security and 10 for the VPN. With all those protected devices, you're likely to need more storage for your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-backup-services\">online backups<\/a>. Fortunate, you get 250GB at this level.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe top tier, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus, costs $349.99 per year, which is quite a lot, but in turn it offers quite a lot. At this level, there's no limit on the number of devices you can protect with local security and VPN. You can install Norton on every device you own. And your hosted online backup storage doubles, to 500GB.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat top-tier price far outstrips run-of-the-mill security suite pricing, with very few exceptions. Panda's products do come with an unlimited-license price, and its top product, <a href=\"\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6585\">Panda Dome Premium<\/a>, costs $334.99 per year at that license level. That's almost as much as Norton's top tier, with no identity protection component.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, McAfee Total Protection specifically protects every device belonging to every person in your household, on every popular platform, for just $119.99 per year, and it does include an identity theft component. Total Defense, <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7583\">Trend Micro Maximum Security<\/a>, and BullGuard all offer 10 licenses, which for many users is as good as unlimited, at that $99.99 price point. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nHere again, LifeLock is the difference. LifeLock Ultimate Plus by itself costs more than $300. That's $200 more than you pay for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, true, but it gets you the top tier of LifeLock, and you also go from five to unlimited licenses for device security and VPN.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-3.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469983.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-3.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469983.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn years past, Norton, Webroot, and a few others settled on 25GB as the amount of backup storage to offer along with a security suite. I'm pleased to see Norton's current product line reflecting the fact that a serious backup plan requires way more storage. At the most expensive level, Norton comes with 500GB of storage, which finally approaches what you get with dedicated online backup services. For example, Editors' Choice <a href=\"\/reviews\/idrive\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10120\">IDrive<\/a> costs $69.50 per year and gives consumers 2TB of hosted storage, for use on unlimited devices. True, that's four times Norton's storage, but it's 80 times Norton's old 25GB limit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you play Norton's numbers game, you must stick to the rules. The numbers for each tier are fixed, with no substitutions. If you need more than five security licenses, more than five VPN licenses, or more than 100GB of storage for backups, you must upgrade to the next tier. If 10 licenses won't do it, you need the very top tier.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>What Can LifeLock Do?<\/h2>\r\n\r\nFrom the name, you might imagine that LifeLock locks up your private information in a safe, keeping out identity thieves. As it turns out, that really isn't possible. What LifeLock and similar services do is alert you the moment they detect that your identity has been compromised, and help you deal with the fallout. After examining several such services, we remained undecided whether <a href=\"\/news\/do-you-really-need-to-pay-for-an-identity-theft-protection-service\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"5657\">you really need to pay for such identity protection<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy itself, <a href=\"\/reviews\/lifelock\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"702\">LifeLock<\/a> comes in three main tiers, with many, many small variations. For this review I looked at Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, the lowest tier. Norton supplied me with an impressive chart detailing just what services and features you receive at each tier.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can't do anything about identity theft until you know it has happened. At the Select level, LifeLock monitors your credit with one of the major bureaus, but that's just the beginning. It watches for unusual activity with lenders, and with social security. It warns you of USPS address change requests, as identity thieves may use fake address changes to divert your mail. It crawls the Dark Web looking for traces of your personal information. And it gives you a handy mobile app for transparency into its activities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLifeLock also aims to cut down on those annoying preapproved credit offers, which are so handy for identity thieves. And its Lost Wallet Protection walks you through all the actions you need to take when your driver's license, credit cards, and so forth fall into someone else's hands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf the worst happens and you do fall victim to identity theft, LifeLock's US-based experts and 24\/7 support line are there to help you recover. Norton touts its Million Dollar Protection Package, meaning that it will spend up to a million dollars on lawyers and experts to get your life back on track after identity theft. In addition, the company will reimburse you for up to $25,000 in stolen funds, and $25,000 in personal expenses directly related to identity theft.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMillion Dollar Protection also applies at the Advantage and Ultimate Plus tiers, and the maximum reimbursement for stolen funds and personal expenses rises. At the Advantage level, you're covered for up to $100,000 each for stolen funds and expenses, and at the Ultimate Plus level, for up to a million. Those at the Ultimate Plus level also get priority support.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nUpgrading to a higher tier also enhances monitoring, in several ways. Where the Select level offers credit monitoring with one bureau, the Advantage tier adds an annual credit report<\/em> from one bureau. Ultimate Plus users get those same services from all three major bureaus, along with monthly credit score tracking. Other monitoring services at higher levels include scanning court records, alerts on unusual financial activity, tracking of possible bank account takeover, and even sex offender registry reports.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Other Avenues<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOther security companies have their own takes on enhancing their security suites with identity theft protection. For example, BullGuard partners with Experian to offer identity protection in <a href=\"\/reviews\/bullguard-premium-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8799\">BullGuard Premium Protection<\/a>. It aims to give you early warning if your personal data shows up on the Dark Web or in data exposed by a breach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll of Check Point's ZoneAlarm products, from the free firewall to <a href=\"\/reviews\/check-point-zonealarm-extreme-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11240\">Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security<\/a>, come with one year of personal data protection supplied by partner Identity Guard. It offers early warning alerts if your data is exposed, along with identity theft assistance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAmong other suites offering an identity protection component, <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a> seems the most thorough. As part of your subscription, you get McAfee Identity Theft Essential, a version of the extra-cost McAfee Identity Theft Standard that omits credit monitoring and financial reimbursement. You still get 24\/7 support, lost wallet help, web monitoring, and more. McAfee even checks your own posts to warn if you're revealing more than you should.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf your security suite includes a service that watches for signs of identity theft, you may as well use that service. Still, we haven't concluded that such monitoring is a necessary feature for a top security suite. One thing's for sure—Norton's LifeLock protection goes beyond what competing products offer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Hands On With Norton and LifeLock<\/h2>\r\n\r\nBuying a Norton 360 with LifeLock subscription is a little more complicated than buying a plain security suite. You must submit your credit card details for payment, of course, but it also asks for your address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and mobile phone number. Get used to giving LifeLock all your personal details, as it needs them to protect you. There's an invitation to extend LifeLock protection to your spouse, children, or other adults (at an extra cost, of course). Choose monthly or yearly billing, indicate whether you want alerts via phone call or text message, and you've completed the initial setup steps.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs part of the setup process, I installed Norton 360 on my test system. The only noticeable difference from the no-LifeLock installation was in the My Norton dashboard. Instead of Dark Web Monitoring, the dashboard now showed LifeLock ID Theft Protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOpening LifeLock online to the Dashboard tab, I saw an encouraging green checkmark, with the news that I don't have any outstanding alerts. Scrolling down, I encountered an offer to manage credit freezes. New since my last review, LifeLock can help you freeze bank and utility accounts, so identity thieves can't open bogus accounts in your name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Freeze' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 469'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Freeze' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAnother panel pointed out that I don't have credit score tracking or transaction monitoring, and suggested I upgrade to get those services. It clarified that I do have privacy monitoring, meaning Norton can check various data brokers to see if my personal information is compromised. I clicked to give it permission for the search.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLifeLock turned up nothing relevant, just the name of a distant cousin. That's likely because I've used <a href=\"\/reviews\/abine-deleteme\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"9695\">Abine DeleteMe<\/a> to clear my data from brokers. DeleteMe not only finds your personal information on data broker sites, it automates the process of getting that information removed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAt the bottom I saw the same collection of personal data for Dark Web Monitoring that I encountered in the basic Norton suite. These include Bank Accounts, Credit Cards, Driver License, Insurance, Mother's Maiden Name, Email, Phone, and Address. You can choose to track one driver license and mother's maiden name, up to 10 credit cards and bank accounts, and five apiece of the remaining data types.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Dark' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 469'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Dark' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs noted, I had no outstanding alerts, but the Alerts tab did reflect one \"historical\" notification. Clicking for details revealed that my full name, address, and password may have been exposed by Experian several years ago. Given that I expose my full name every time I write an article, that one didn't worry me. And I changed my password ages ago.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Credit and Transactions pages proved mildly disappointing. They simply reiterated the dashboard's warning that my lowly subscription does not include credit scores, and reports, and doesn't monitor my financial accounts for suspicious activity. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Info' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 469'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Norton 360 with LifeLock Info' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.fit_lim.size_740x469.v_1575681034.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere wasn't much I could do on the ID Restoration tab. Had I experienced identity theft, I would have used this tab to stay in touch with the dedicated LifeLock agent working to resolve that incident. No incident means nothing to see.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe most informative tab proved to be the one titled Monitored Info. This tab provided a one-stop list of all the data I entered for monitoring. This included my SSN, birthdate, address, and phone, verified at the time I signed up for the service. It also listed all the data I had entered for Dark Web Monitoring. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFinally, a section on contact preferences let me verify or change my email and phone number, indicate whether I'd accept communication via text message, and define a verbal passcode to be used in phone communication with LifeLock. That passcode makes sense; the last thing you want to do is review your most private details with a fake LifeLock agent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Doesn't Enhance Security<\/h2>\r\n\r\nA subscription for Norton 360 With LifeLock Select gets you precisely the security protection that comes with Norton 360 Deluxe, and that's a good thing. Norton 360 Deluxe is an Editors' Choice for multi-device security, distinguished, among other things, by great test scores and a VPN with no annoying limits. Adding LifeLock doesn't enhance your security, though. It just helps you pick up the pieces after an attack on your identity. And it's expensive, especially at the higher tiers. Unless you had already planned on getting LifeLock, the straight Norton suite is a better deal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you need protection for more than five devices, Norton's system forces you into one of the upper-tier LifeLock-equipped subscriptions. Don't want that? Consider <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1105\">Kaspersky Security Cloud<\/a>, our other Editors' Choice for cross-platform security suite. For the same price as Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, it lets you install top-notch security on as many as 20 devices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A home security system protects you and your stuff with high-tech locks, motion sensors, and alarms. But burglars are resourceful, so you also carry insurance for your home and belongings. Norton 360 with LifeLock Select brings that combination of security and insurance into the digital realm. For security, you get the excellent cross-platform Norton 360\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":null}}]},{"text":", which includes a full-featured VPN, hosted online backup, and more. On top of that, this software adds LifeLock's insurance against the crippling effects of identity theft.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Whether you need both is something you'll have to decide for yourself, but the company is betting that you'll want the combination. It even sold the old Symantec name (along with its enterprise business) to Broadcom. The new company name is a somewhat awkward portmanteau, NortonLifeLock.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Considered strictly as a cross-platform security suite, Norton 360 with Lifelock\u00a0looks\u00a0expensive. At $149.99 per year, it costs $50 more than Norton 360 Deluxe and gets you the same five security and VPN licenses. That same $149.99 per year price gets you 20 licenses to install Kaspersky Security Cloud on all your devices.\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u00a0gives you 10 licenses for $99.99 per year.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Panda Dome Premium, with price points including $274.99 per year for 10 licenses and $334.99 for unlimited licenses, costs more than Norton, but most suites go for much less. For example, you can install McAfee Total Protection on unlimited devices for $119.99. All these prices are often deeply discounted, but only for the first year.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Things look rather different when you consider that Norton gives you both cross-platform security\u00a0and\u00a0LifeLock identity-theft mitigation. Norton offers a dizzying array of LifeLock price points, but even at the lowest protection level, LifeLock alone costs more than $100 per year. That makes adding LifeLock to Norton 360 for an incremental cost of $50 look like quite the bargain\u2014provided LifeLock is something you want.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-1.png","altText":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select My Norton","caption":""}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Your Reading Assignment","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The cross-platform security protection you get with this product is exactly the same as\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":null}}]},{"text":", with a few very small exceptions. The LifeLock-equipped edition offers a few more options in its Dark Web Monitoring, and gives you more hosted online storage for your backups. Other than that, the security programs and apps that you install on your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices are unchanged.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That being the case, I'm not going to recap or summarize my review of the no-LifeLock security suite. Please read that article for a full understanding of the security component of Norton 360 with LifeLock and what it brings to the various platforms. Then come back here to learn what you gain by adding LifeLock.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-2.png","altText":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select Main Window","caption":""}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"A Game of Numbers","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Norton offers three distinct product tiers that combine security with LifeLock. On the security side, the difference between the tiers is strictly a numbers game. Each tier gives you more licenses for Norton security, more licenses for VPN protection provided by\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton Secure VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-secure-vpn","target":null}}]},{"text":", and more storage for your online backups. The tiers also differ in degrees of LifeLock protection; I'll cover those differences below.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As noted, you pay $149.99 per year for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, reviewed here. That gets you the same five security and VPN licenses that you get with Norton 360 Deluxe. You also get 100GB of storage for your backups, twice as much as with the no-LifeLock edition.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At the next level, paying $249.99 per year gets you Norton 360 with LifeLock Advantage. That $100 upgrade kicks your license totals up to 10 for security and 10 for the VPN. With all those protected devices, you're likely to need more storage for your\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"online backups","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-online-backup-services","target":null}}]},{"text":". Fortunate, you get 250GB at this level.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The top tier, Norton 360 with LifeLock Ultimate Plus, costs $349.99 per year, which is quite a lot, but in turn it offers quite a lot. At this level, there's no limit on the number of devices you can protect with local security and VPN. You can install Norton on every device you own. And your hosted online backup storage doubles, to 500GB.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That top-tier price far outstrips run-of-the-mill security suite pricing, with very few exceptions. Panda's products do come with an unlimited-license price, and its top product,\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Panda Dome Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/panda-dome-premium","target":null}}]},{"text":", costs $334.99 per year at that license level. That's almost as much as Norton's top tier, with no identity protection component.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the other hand, McAfee Total Protection specifically protects every device belonging to every person in your household, on every popular platform, for just $119.99 per year, and it does include an identity theft component. Total Defense,\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Maximum Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security","target":null}}]},{"text":", and BullGuard all offer 10 licenses, which for many users is as good as unlimited, at that $99.99 price point.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Here again, LifeLock is the difference. LifeLock Ultimate Plus by itself costs more than $300. That's $200 more than you pay for Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, true, but it gets you the top tier of LifeLock, and you also go from five to unlimited licenses for device security and VPN.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In years past, Norton, Webroot, and a few others settled on 25GB as the amount of backup storage to offer along with a security suite. I'm pleased to see Norton's current product line reflecting the fact that a serious backup plan requires way more storage. At the most expensive level, Norton comes with 500GB of storage, which finally approaches what you get with dedicated online backup services. For example, Editors' Choice\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"IDrive","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/idrive","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u00a0costs $69.50 per year and gives consumers 2TB of hosted storage, for use on unlimited devices. True, that's four times Norton's storage, but it's 80 times Norton's old 25GB limit.\u00a0\u00a0","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you play Norton's numbers game, you must stick to the rules. The numbers for each tier are fixed, with no substitutions. If you need more than five security licenses, more than five VPN licenses, or more than 100GB of storage for backups, you must upgrade to the next tier. If 10 licenses won't do it, you need the very top tier.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"What Can LifeLock Do?","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the name, you might imagine that LifeLock locks up your private information in a safe, keeping out identity thieves. As it turns out, that really isn't possible. What LifeLock and similar services do is alert you the moment they detect that your identity has been compromised, and help you deal with the fallout. After examining several such services, we remained undecided whether\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"you really need to pay for such identity protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/do-you-really-need-to-pay-for-an-identity-theft-protection-service","target":null}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"By itself,\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"LifeLock","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/lifelock","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u00a0comes in three main tiers, with many, many small variations. For this review I looked at Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, the lowest tier. Norton supplied me with an impressive chart detailing just what services and features you receive at each tier.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can't do anything about identity theft until you know it has happened. At the Select level, LifeLock monitors your credit with one of the major bureaus, but that's just the beginning. It watches for unusual activity with lenders, and with social security. It warns you of USPS address change requests, as identity thieves may use fake address changes to divert your mail. It crawls the Dark Web looking for traces of your personal information. And it gives you a handy mobile app for transparency into its activities.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"LifeLock also aims to cut down on those annoying preapproved credit offers, which are so handy for identity thieves. And its Lost Wallet Protection walks you through all the actions you need to take when your driver's license, credit cards, and so forth fall into someone else's hands.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If the worst happens and you do fall victim to identity theft, LifeLock's US-based experts and 24\/7 support line are there to help you recover. Norton touts its Million Dollar Protection Package, meaning that it will spend up to a million dollars on lawyers and experts to get your life back on track after identity theft. In addition, the company will reimburse you for up to $25,000 in stolen funds, and $25,000 in personal expenses directly related to identity theft.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Million Dollar Protection also applies at the Advantage and Ultimate Plus tiers, and the maximum reimbursement for stolen funds and personal expenses rises. At the Advantage level, you're covered for up to $100,000 each for stolen funds and expenses, and at the Ultimate Plus level, for up to a million. Those at the Ultimate Plus level also get priority support.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Upgrading to a higher tier also enhances monitoring, in several ways. Where the Select level offers credit monitoring with one bureau, the Advantage tier adds an annual credit\u00a0report\u00a0from one bureau. Ultimate Plus users get those same services from all three major bureaus, along with monthly credit score tracking. Other monitoring services at higher levels include scanning court records, alerts on unusual financial activity, tracking of possible bank account takeover, and even sex offender registry reports.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Other Avenues","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Other security companies have their own takes on enhancing their security suites with identity theft protection. For example, BullGuard partners with Experian to offer identity protection in\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"BullGuard Premium Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bullguard-premium-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":". It aims to give you early warning if your personal data shows up on the Dark Web or in data exposed by a breach.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All of Check Point's ZoneAlarm products, from the free firewall to\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/check-point-zonealarm-extreme-security","target":null}}]},{"text":", come with one year of personal data protection supplied by partner Identity Guard. It offers early warning alerts if your data is exposed, along with identity theft assistance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Among other suites offering an identity protection component,\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u00a0seems the most thorough. As part of your subscription, you get McAfee Identity Theft Essential, a version of the extra-cost McAfee Identity Theft Standard that omits credit monitoring and financial reimbursement. You still get 24\/7 support, lost wallet help, web monitoring, and more. McAfee even checks your own posts to warn if you're revealing more than you should.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If your security suite includes a service that watches for signs of identity theft, you may as well use that service. Still, we haven't concluded that such monitoring is a necessary feature for a top security suite. One thing's for sure\u2014Norton's LifeLock protection goes beyond what competing products offer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Hands On With Norton and LifeLock","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Buying a Norton 360 with LifeLock subscription is a little more complicated than buying a plain security suite. You must submit your credit card details for payment, of course, but it also asks for your address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and mobile phone number. Get used to giving LifeLock all your personal details, as it needs them to protect you. There's an invitation to extend LifeLock protection to your spouse, children, or other adults (at an extra cost, of course). Choose monthly or yearly billing, indicate whether you want alerts via phone call or text message, and you've completed the initial setup steps.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As part of the setup process, I installed Norton 360 on my test system. The only noticeable difference from the no-LifeLock installation was in the My Norton dashboard. Instead of Dark Web Monitoring, the dashboard now showed LifeLock ID Theft Protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Opening LifeLock online to the Dashboard tab, I saw an encouraging green checkmark, with the news that I don't have any outstanding alerts. Scrolling down, I encountered an offer to manage credit freezes. New since my last review, LifeLock can help you freeze bank and utility accounts, so identity thieves can't open bogus accounts in your name.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.png","altText":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select Freeze","caption":""}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Another panel pointed out that I don't have credit score tracking or transaction monitoring, and suggested I upgrade to get those services. It clarified that I do have privacy monitoring, meaning Norton can check various data brokers to see if my personal information is compromised. I clicked to give it permission for the search.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"LifeLock turned up nothing relevant, just the name of a distant cousin. That's likely because I've used\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Abine DeleteMe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/abine-deleteme","target":null}}]},{"text":"\u00a0to clear my data from brokers. DeleteMe not only finds your personal information on data broker sites, it automates the process of getting that information removed.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At the bottom I saw the same collection of personal data for Dark Web Monitoring that I encountered in the basic Norton suite. These include Bank Accounts, Credit Cards, Driver License, Insurance, Mother's Maiden Name, Email, Phone, and Address. You can choose to track one driver license and mother's maiden name, up to 10 credit cards and bank accounts, and five apiece of the remaining data types.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.png","altText":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select Privacy Monitor","caption":""}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As noted, I had no outstanding alerts, but the Alerts tab did reflect one \"historical\" notification. Clicking for details revealed that my full name, address, and password may have been exposed by Experian several years ago. Given that I expose my full name every time I write an article, that one didn't worry me. And I changed my password ages ago.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Credit and Transactions pages proved mildly disappointing. They simply reiterated the dashboard's warning that my lowly subscription does not include credit scores, and reports, and doesn't monitor my financial accounts for suspicious activity.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.png","altText":"Norton 360 With LifeLock Select Personal Information","caption":""}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There wasn't much I could do on the ID Restoration tab. Had I experienced identity theft, I would have used this tab to stay in touch with the dedicated LifeLock agent working to resolve that incident. No incident means nothing to see.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The most informative tab proved to be the one titled Monitored Info. This tab provided a one-stop list of all the data I entered for monitoring. This included my SSN, birthdate, address, and phone, verified at the time I signed up for the service. It also listed all the data I had entered for Dark Web Monitoring.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Finally, a section on contact preferences let me verify or change my email and phone number, indicate whether I'd accept communication via text message, and define a verbal passcode to be used in phone communication with LifeLock. That passcode makes sense; the last thing you want to do is review your most private details with a fake LifeLock agent.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Doesn't Enhance Security","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A subscription for Norton 360 With LifeLock Select gets you precisely the security protection that comes with Norton 360 Deluxe, and that's a good thing. Norton 360 Deluxe is an Editors' Choice for multi-device security, distinguished, among other things, by great test scores and a VPN with no annoying limits. Adding LifeLock doesn't enhance your security, though. It just helps you pick up the pieces after an attack on your identity. And it's expensive, especially at the higher tiers. Unless you had already planned on getting LifeLock, the straight Norton suite is a better deal.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you need protection for more than five devices, Norton's system forces you into one of the upper-tier LifeLock-equipped subscriptions. Don't want that? Consider\u00a0","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud","target":null}}]},{"text":", our other Editors' Choice for cross-platform security suite. For the same price as Norton 360 with LifeLock Select, it lets you install top-notch security on as many as 20 devices.\u00a0\u00a0","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":32,"images":[{"index":22,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-22.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":888,"height":500,"hash":"157e55590e69297dbfafa15f42d79742","timestamp":1601654667,"metadata":[]},{"index":23,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-1.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":555,"hash":"1ca943ceddd7511eeef4013e5c877765","timestamp":1569469983,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select My","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select My","legacy_id":"629610","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-18 14:18:41.867"}},{"index":24,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-2.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":494,"hash":"e6dd2f21d90b986ce0c599369793957b","timestamp":1569469983,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Security","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Security","legacy_id":"629611","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-18 14:19:17.683"}},{"index":25,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-4.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":439,"hash":"b4c96c861cb249b436d2174f751e4e8b","timestamp":1569469983,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Family","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Family","legacy_id":"629612","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-18 14:19:52.657"}},{"index":26,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-5.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":545,"hash":"d62a8646a917cc1b20bdfb91dee2f7b2","timestamp":1569469983,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Dark","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Dark","legacy_id":"629613","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-18 14:20:25.207"}},{"index":27,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-6.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":400,"hash":"d34ccfe13f447c018998aca6e6b259ca","timestamp":1569469983,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Info","caption":"","alt_text":"Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select Info","legacy_id":"629614","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-04-18 14:21:08.000"}},{"index":28,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-19.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":469,"hash":"f0f154d98caa3a0f7312b6c18191dfc9","timestamp":1575681034,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Freeze","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Freeze","legacy_id":"663118","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-25 12:29:46.370"}},{"index":29,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-20.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":469,"hash":"1b4f18fbe3d20f9619ad58b09e5a2237","timestamp":1575681034,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Dark","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Dark","legacy_id":"663119","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"small","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-25 12:30:22.710"}},{"index":30,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-21.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":469,"hash":"bfe345e035f677813a201ee6909661ae","timestamp":1575681034,"metadata":{"hero":false,"logo":false,"title":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Info","caption":"","alt_text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Info","legacy_id":"663120","thumbnail":false,"description":"","legacy_size":"large","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":null,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-25 12:31:03.863"}},{"index":31,"path":"reviews\/0189ybTuRdBkcwgDBqyuQg9-7.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":810,"height":456,"hash":"4eb3a408d1c30040cf1e07c373be4f84","timestamp":1574731279,"metadata":{"hero":true,"logo":true,"title":"NortonLifeLock Logo","caption":"NortonLifeLock Logo","alt_text":"NortonLifeLock Logo","legacy_id":"661392","thumbnail":true,"description":"","legacy_size":"large","photo_credit":null,"hero_position":1,"load_image_bits":false,"legacy_updated_at":"2019-11-18 10:39:16.557"}}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Includes LifeLock identity theft mitigation and no-limits VPN.\nExcellent security protection.\nSupports Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.\nVirus protection promise.","cons":"Security protection limited on iOS devices.\nNo parental control or backup for macOS.\nCannot actually prevent identity theft.","bottom_line":"In addition to providing thorough cross-platform security, Norton 360 with LifeLock Select aims to help you recover from the crippling effects of identity theft.","best_for":"Best for Privacy Enthusiasts","first_published_at":"2015-10-27T14:54:37.000000Z","published_at":"2019-11-26T16:06:00.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-10-02T16:04:27.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2015-07-29T14:36:34.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-10-02T16:06:47.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":10607,"rank":6,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":2728,"legacy_id":325541,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf","status":"Published","product_uuid":"06kh6JwYeb35ATVhrrQ0kaS","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"Kaspersky Internet Security","slug":"kaspersky-internet-security","deck":"This sweet suite protects all your PCs, Macs, phones, and tablets","is_editors_choice":true,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"4.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":4119,"body":"Editors' Note: We are aware of the allegations of Kaspersky's inappropriate ties to the Russian government. Until we see some actual proof of these allegations, we will <a href=\"\/opinions\/should-you-believe-the-rumors-about-kaspersky-lab\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"17640\">treat them as unproven<\/a>, and continue to recommend Kaspersky's security products as long as their performance continues to merit our endorsement. <\/span><\/em>Antivirus protection for all your computers is a must, especially with ransomware on the rise, but antivirus isn't all you need. A full-scale <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> offers protection on many other levels. Kaspersky Internet Security takes an award-winning antivirus and adds firewall, spam filtering, parental control, a VPN, and more. And all these security components do their jobs well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis suite lists at $79.99 per year for three licenses or $89.99 for five licenses. First-time users can often get a significant discount. You can use your licenses to protect Windows, macOS, or Android devices. That same $89.99 price gets you unlimited cross-platform licenses for <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6891\">McAfee Internet Security<\/a>. Symantec Norton 360 Deluxe costs $99.99 per year for five licenses, but that also includes five no-limits VPN licenses. With Kaspersky, you pay $4.99 per month to remove the VPN's limitations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe program's spacious main window features a big status banner across the top. If there's a configuration problem it offers a link to set things right; if not, it may still have some recommendations. There are six big button panels labeled Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Parental Control, and My Kaspersky. Below these is a button to bring up a menu of more tools, and a gear icon at bottom left to open Settings. I had trouble finding desired settings a few times, because the Protection page features 15 distinct components, in no order that I could determine. I'd like to see a Search box for settings, like you get with Norton.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Main' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 543'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-1.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Main' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-1.fit_lim.size_740x543.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Features Shared With Free Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThis suite overlaps most security features found in <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2282\">Kaspersky Security Cloud Free<\/a>, though the free product models itself on Kaspersky Security Cloud, not on this suite or on the commercial Kaspersky Anti-Virus. I'll summarize the security features shared with Kaspersky Free; you can read that review for full details.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-9.v_1569469933.png', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Lab Results Chart', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-10.v_1569469933.png', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Malware Protection Chart', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-11.v_1569469933.png', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll four of the independent antivirus testing labs I follow include Kaspersky in their regular reports. In the latest set of reports, Kaspersky earned the maximum possible score in every test but one. <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7468\">Bitdefender Internet Security<\/a><\/span> managed the same feat. Both top the list, with 9.9 of 10 possible aggregate lab points.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn the past, Kaspersky reserved the System Watcher behavioral detection component for paid products, but with the 2019 edition that feature has made it into the free antivirus. I tested this feature and found that it caught all my encrypting ransomware samples even with the regular real-time protection turned off. A simple screen-locker ransomware slipped past System Watcher, but I broke its hold using Kaspersky's dedicated lock-breaker keystroke (Ctrl+Shift+Alt+F4 by default).<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky didn't fare quite as well in my hands-on <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"198\">malware protection<\/a> test, scoring 8.7 of 10 possible points. However, when my results don't jibe with the labs, I defer to the work of the dozens of dedicated researchers in the labs. Webroot detected 100 percent of these samples and scored 9.7 points. In a rare winning position, Windows Defender topped Webroot, earning 9.8 points.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTested with my previous sample set, Norton, <a href=\"\/reviews\/g-data-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1837\">G Data Internet Security<\/a>, and Sophos all detected 97 percent. They scored 9.7, 9.5, and 9.3 points respectively.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen I challenged Kaspersky to protect against malware downloads from a hundred recently discovered malware-hosting URLs, it either blocked access to the URL or eliminated the download 89 percent of the time. That's good, but <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1496\">Trend Micro Internet Security<\/a> and F-Secure managed 99 percent protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky's Web Anti-Virus component proved more adept at detecting phishing frauds than at flagging malware-hosting URLs. It managed 100 percent detection in my hands-on antiphishing test, tying with McAee for the top score. Bitdefender wasn't far behind, with 99 percent detection. It's worth noting that the macOS equivalents of these three products scored precisely the same.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469933.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469933.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAll of Kaspersky's security products come with a free, bandwidth-limited edition of the Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN. Powered by AnchorFree Hotspot Shield Elite, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\">VPN<\/a> lets you use 200MB of bandwidth per day on each device. Paying an extra $4.99 per month lifts the banewidth cap and lets you specify the country for your VPN server. Bitdefender offers a very similar deal, also powered by AnchorFree. Other bonus features include an on-screen keyboard to foil keyloggers and a markup system to flag dangerous links in search results.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nClicking More Tools brings up pages of additional tools, many of which are not available to users of the free edition. Among the tools that don't require a premium purchase are a file shredder, a rescue disk, and several tools designed to clean and optimize your PC.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Features Shared With Premium Antivirus<\/h2>\r\n\r\nOne big plus to paying for <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-anti-virus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8919\">Kaspersky Anti-Virus<\/a> is that you get full-scale tech support, via phone or live chat. Users of the free edition must rely on FAQs and forums.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nHackers find security holes and security companies patch those holes. If you fail to apply the patches, you can have big trouble. The Vulnerability Scan reports on any missing patches for Windows and popular applications. It also reports on configuration settings that are bad for security, with an option to fix those automatically.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469933.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469933.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Safe Money<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you navigate to a banking site or other sensitive website, Kaspersky offers to open that site in the Safe Money protected browser. By default, once you've accepted that offer, it always opens that site in the protected browser. Bitdefender's Safepay feature works in much the same way.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA green border around the browser, along with a semi-transparent overlay notice, reminds you that you're in this special, protected mode, in a browser that's isolated from other processes. It even foils screen-scraping spy programs. You can open the notification area icon's menu and choose from a list of sites you've visited with Safe Money, to quickly revisit any of them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Firewall and Application Control<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe earliest personal firewalls developed a reputation for bombarding the user with incomprehensible queries. Brekekekex.exe wants to connect to IP address 200.199.198.197 using port 8080—allow, or block? Most users lack the knowledge to answer that question with confidence. Some users always click Allow. Others always click Block, until they break something, at which point they switch to Allow. Fear not, Kaspersky handles application control itself, without popping up confusing queries.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nUsing data from the Kaspersky Security Network database, the application control system flags each application as Trusted, Low Restricted, High Restricted, or Untrusted. Untrusted apps simply don't get to run. Others that aren't in the Trusted category can run, but with limited access to sensitive system areas.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Firewall' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 708 507'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-4.fit_lim.size_708x507.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Firewall' width='708' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-4.fit_lim.size_708x507.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIt's not uncommon for application installers to bundle additional products, items you didn't request. As part of its job, Application Manager automatically clears checkboxes offering additional software and suppresses application steps that include ads or bundled items. It works something like the Bundle Protection feature in <a href=\"\/reviews\/reason-core-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"973\">Reason Core Security<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOf course, a firewall also must protect your system against attack from the internet. To check that feature, I hit the test system with 30 exploits generated by the CORE Impact penetration tool. Kaspersky detected and blocked 44 percent of the exploits. That's precisely the same as Bitdefender's recent score, though Kaspersky identified more of them using their official exploit tracking number. Even the missed exploits didn't breach security, since the test system has all security patches, but it's good to see that Kaspersky is on the alert for such attacks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe exploit detection scores by Kaspersky and Bitdefender beat most competitors, but <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1662\">Symantec Norton Security Deluxe<\/a> spotted and blocked 85 percent of the exploits, while G Data and ESET caught 68 and 55 percent respectively. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYour security protection is worthless if a malicious program or script can turn it off. Kaspersky's self-defense proved effective when I attacked it using potential malware code techniques. There's nothing significant exposed in the Registry. I couldn't just set Security Enabled to False. My attempts to kill its two core processes ended in Access Denied, as did my attempts to manipulate its essential Windows service. Of course, a malicious program couldn't even try these attacks without getting past every other layer of protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhile not precisely part of firewall protection, the Network Monitor component gives tech-savvy users insight into just what applications are using bandwidth. A live graph charts overall inbound and outbound traffic, and a list of actively connected programs breaks down that usage, showing who's using what.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Trusted Applications Mode<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYou will probably find that Kaspersky puts all or most of your active applications in the Trusted category. Trusted Applications mode kicks the concept up a notch by denying execution to any process that it can't verify as trusted. To start, it scans all your files and identifies the trusted ones. After it's done, it doesn't allow any untrusted programs to run. This mode is especially useful on a computer that doesn't see a lot of new software installations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis mode's whitelist-based functionality is similar in some ways to that of <a href=\"\/reviews\/voodoosoft-voodooshield\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"549\">VoodooSoft VoodooShield<\/a>. The main difference with VoodooShield is it applies its rules only when the computer is at risk, such as when it's connected to the internet.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky does warn that the initial scan can take a long time, and indeed, on my test system it ran for nearly two hours. When it finishes, pay attention! If it finds unknown system files, carefully review what it found. In my case, it found an Intel driver, one of my hand-coded utilities, and a sketchy-looking .DAT file.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's one more important step, and that's reviewing all the unknown files that Trusted Applications mode will block. On my test system, the list of untrusted files included all my hand-coded testing and evaluation utilities, which makes perfect sense. Be sure to peruse this list carefully and unblock any important programs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith Trusted Applications mode active, it should be impossible for malware to run on your system, even malware so new that no antivirus researcher in the world has seen it. It may also block new programs that you're attempting to install. Don't worry; the blocking notification includes a link that lets you mark an unknown program as trusted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Optional Spam Filter<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf you use a web-based email system like Yahoo or Gmail, you probably don't see a lot of spam, because it gets filtered out by the provider. Likewise, if your email comes through your workplace most spam gets filtered out at the mail server. Kaspersky's spam filtering is turned off by default, but you can turn it on by clicking the Settings gear, clicking Protection at left, and scrolling down to Anti-Spam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky checks email coming from both POP3 and IMAP accounts, marking up spam and possible spam by modifying the subject line. Its filter has three modes, Recommended, High, and Low. As you might expect, setting it to High blocks more spam but might also discard valid mail. Changing the setting to Low goes the other way, possibly allowing more spam but avoiding the possibility that you'll lose an important message to the spam filter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThat's it for basic settings. If you dare to open the Advanced Settings page, there are a few more options, but not the overwhelming number of pages that come with spam filtering in <a href=\"\/reviews\/check-point-zonealarm-extreme-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11240\">Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security<\/a>. You can change the subject line label it uses to flag spam. You can configure a list of blocked phrases or obscene words, meaning any message containing them should be considered spam. Finally, you can manage lists of allowed and blocked senders. For most users, the default settings should be fine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Parental Control<\/h2>\r\n\r\nLike spam filtering, <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"65\">parental control<\/a> is a feature that many people don't need. Kaspersky previously offered a somewhat dated but full-featured parental control system in this suite. It had content filtering, time scheduling, personal data protection, and even game control based on ESRB ratings. With the 2020 product line, Kaspersky Safe Kids takes over the parental control job.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Parental' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 616'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-5.fit_lim.size_740x616.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Parental' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-5.fit_lim.size_740x616.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNote, though, that what you get is the free, feature-limited version of Safe Kids. As with <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2282\">Kaspersky Security Cloud Free<\/a>, a shield icon identifies features that require a premium upgrade. You get a content filter that lets you either block access to specified categories or display a warning before the child visits a matching site. Likewise, you can set a daily limit on device usage and either warn when time's up or block further usage. (Setting a weekly schedule for usage is a premium feature). Finally, you can ban or time-limit specific apps.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPremium features include the ability to locate the child's device, get a geofencing notification when the child enters or leaves a location, monitor social network activity, get a warning if the battery is low on the child's device, and get real-time alerts on risky activity. Do read our review of <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2163\">Kaspersky Safe Kids<\/a> if you need this feature. You may decide that an extra $14.99 per year for unlimited kids and unlimited devices is a bargain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe macOS equivalent of this product, <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4031\">Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac<\/a>, also gets the free version of Safe Kids. Only at the top tier, with Kaspersky Total Security or Kaspersky Security Cloud, do you get premium features built in. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Webcam and Privacy Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nHave you ever looked up a product online and then found ads for that product infesting the websites you visit? Creepy, right? Kaspersky's Private Browsing feature can help, blocking ad agencies, web analytics, and other trackers, but by default it just watches and reports tracking attempts. If you want it to take action, click Privacy Protection and check the option to block data collection. By default, Kaspersky exempts websites belonging to itself and its partners, but you can put them on the chopping block, too. Just click the Private Browsing link to bring up settings. It also refrains from blocking ads when doing so might disable the website.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Kaspersky toolbar icon in your browser displays the number of trackers blocked on the current page. You can click for a breakdown of the tracking types, and dig in further to see the exact trackers. A related feature, Anti-Banner, suppresses banner ads from the sites you visit. Remember, however, that many of your favorite sites rely on ad revenue to bring you the pages you like. Use Anti-Banner responsibly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Webcam' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 400'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-6.fit_lim.size_740x400.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Webcam' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-6.fit_lim.size_740x400.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor a completely different take on privacy, Kaspersky offers <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"294\">spyware protection<\/a> in the form of a webcam control tool. If you set it to deny access, it warns you any time an untrusted process attempts to access the webcam. Were you setting up a video conference? No problem. You can add the conferencing program to the trusted list. But if the warning comes without any relation to what you're doing, thank Kaspersky for blocking some creep from peeking through your webcam. You can also set it to block webcam access for all processes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen I launched Skype, Kaspersky placed a floating notification at the top of the screen letting me know that it allowed webcam access. From that notification I could pull down a menu to hide the notification, block access, or open the corresponding settings page. When I tweaked the settings to block all access, Skype couldn't find the camera, and Kaspersky slid in a transient notification at bottom right indicating that it blocked an attempt to use the webcam. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Software Updater<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe vulnerability scan that comes with Kaspersky Anti-Virus notifies you of missing security patches, but it doesn't do anything beyond pointing out the problem. In the suite, you get the Software Updater, which handles the whole process for you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou don't even have to launch the updater. It runs automatically in the background, and it notifies you if it discovers any available updates. Just review its findings, click Update All, and let it do the work. If the update doesn't require acceptance of a license agreement, it can handle the entire update process automatically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKeeping your operating system and applications updated with all security patches is another way to defend against exploit attacks. <a href=\"\/reviews\/avast-premier-2017\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1608\">Avast Premier<\/a> and Avira Total Security Suite also offer automatic patching, but these two are the top of their respective product lines, while Kaspersky Internet Security is just the entry-level Kaspersky suite, with Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Security Cloud above it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>PC Cleaner<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe name PC Cleaner might suggest that this is a component designed to clean up junk files, or to remove traces of your computer activities. Both of those are common bonus features in security suites. In fact, components shared with the antivirus handle both those tasks. The PC Cleaner's purpose is completely different.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis scan looks for programs that aren't malware, and aren't even in the low-risk potentially unwanted program category. It aims to find programs that you might want to remove, for many reasons. These include nonstandard installations, programs you rarely use, and programs that may be adware.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMy test scan didn't take long. It reported that I rarely use Firefox, which is true in a way. I use it in testing, but revert the virtual machine back to a safe state afterward, eliminating any evidence that I used it. Kaspersky gave me the option to uninstall Firefox or to hide it in the report. This feature also lets you report an annoying application to Kaspersky by pointing it out with a crosshair-shaped cursor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Kaspersky's Mac Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIn a cross-platform security service, it's very common for Mac users to get the short end of the stick. Installed on Windows, such a product manifests as a security suite exploding with features; installed on a Mac, it's a basic antivirus. It's refreshing to see that Kaspersky doesn't follow this trend. <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4031\">Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac<\/a> offers a full suite of protective features but (as a standalone) costs no more than most Mac antivirus products. Please read my review for a full report on my findings; the digest that follows sums them up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTwo of the independent antivirus labs that I follow test Mac antivirus as well as Windows, and both put Kaspersky through testing. Like Bitdefender, Kaspersky detected 100 percent of the Mac malware that researchers at AV-Comparatives hit it with. Both also earned the top score in a test using Windows malware. Bitdefender, Norton, Trend Micro, and Vipre earned the best possible score with AV-Test Institute, while Kaspersky came close, missing by one-half point.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security macOS' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 538'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-7.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security macOS' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-7.fit_lim.size_740x538.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPhishing sites, those frauds that try to steal your secure login credentials, aren't specific to any platform, but protection against phishing can differ on different operating systems. In past years, Kaspersky has scored lower on the Mac than on Windows. This time around, it managed 100 percent detection on both platforms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSafe Money exists on the Mac, but it's different. Rather than actively protecting the browser, it verifies that you're visiting a legitimate financial website, not a clever fraud. Parental control uses the same free-level installation of Kaspersky Safe Kids.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebcam protection on the Mac is a simple on\/off switch, without the system of trusted applications that always get access. It can block browser tracking, though it doesn't display the number of trackers for the current site. Other features include a network attack blocker, search results markup, and an on-screen keyboard. You can also install Kaspersky Secure Connect and <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11075\">Kaspersky Password Manager<\/a>. This is a full security suite, not just a simple Mac antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Kaspersky's Android Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAnybody can download and use the free edition of Kaspersky Mobile Security. It's also part of Kaspersky Security Cloud Free. By logging in to My Kaspersky and adding the device to your license, you get the full set of features. The main window reflects your security status; when all's well it shows a big green shield. You can select other features from an expandable panel of icons. A left-rail menu offers another way to access features.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nImmediately after installation, it runs an update and a scan. Even after that first scan, the app's main window remains yellow, meaning you've got work to do. Once you actively turn on internet protection, you reach serene green status. In addition to this on-demand scan, Kaspersky offers real-time protection, checking all new apps and processes. A recommendations page walks you through setup choices, including enabling anti-theft and setting up privacy protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPrevious versions of this app included a feature called Privacy Protection, which maintained a list of private contacts that don't show up in your address book or history. This feature had its problems, not the least of which is incompatibility with Android 4.4 or newer. Privacy Protection is no longer a part of the Android app. Text Anti-Phishing had the same compatibility problems, and has also been removed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Android device I use for testing isn't provisioned for cellular calling, so I couldn't test the Call Filter. This feature promises to block calls from any numbers on a user-defined blacklist. It can optionally prompt you after each all from an unknown number, asking whether to blacklist that number. Blocked callers just get a busy signal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Android' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-8.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469933.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-8.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Kaspersky Internet Security Android' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-8.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469933.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-8.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky's anti-theft features include the expected remote locate, lock, and wipe, as well as the ability to sound a noisy alarm (handy when you can't remember where you left the device). The implementation is a bit different from that of Bitdefender and most others. You can't just locate the device willy-nilly. A single action in My Kaspersky online both locks the device and reports its location. On the plus side, this means that even if your My Kaspersky account is compromised, the hacker can't track your location without your knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLikewise, if you want to get mug shots of the person who's using your device, you must also lock it. Whether you're just locking the device or requesting mug shots, you can include a message. And if someone swaps out the SIM, Kaspersky sends you the new number.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nKaspersky also lets you put selected apps behind a PIN or fingerprint lock. Even if someone picks up your phone or tablet while it's unlocked, this could prevent access to your email, or social media. The similar feature in Bitdefender goes farther than the simple lock, with options like automatically unlocking when on trusted networks, and allowing a brief hiatus before requiring the lock code again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Small Performance Hit<\/h2>\r\n\r\nSecurity companies know that if their products visibly impact performance, users will turn them off, or jump ship to a different brand. Few modern security suites slow down PCs, but I still run some simple tests to measure each product's impact.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLoading up all a suite's set of security components at startup could slow down the boot process, lengthening the wait until the computer is ready to use. My boot-time measurement script checks CPU usage once per second, deeming the system to be ready after 10 consecutive seconds with CPU usage under five percent. Subtracting the start of the boot process (as reported by Windows) yields the boot time. I average multiple runs with no security installed and compare the result with the average after installing the suite. Kaspersky added 31 percent to the boot time, a matter of 20 seconds or so. It's a bigger hit than I saw last time I tested this product, but you still probably won't notice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-12.v_1569469933.png', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Performance Chart', 'Kaspersky Internet Security Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's a possibility that your suite's real-time antivirus monitoring could put a drag on everyday file manipulation activities. I use a script that moves and copies a large and eclectic collection of files between drives, averaging multiple runs before and after installing the suite. This script took just 14 percent longer with Kaspersky active. Another script that zips and unzips the same file collection repeatedly took 7 percent longer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWith an average impact of 17 percent, Kaspersky still has a light touch, though it scored below Bitdefender this time around. Note, though, that ESET, G Data, and <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"46\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus<\/a><\/span> exhibited no impact in any of the three tests.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>A Feature-Rich Suite<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe point of installing a security suite is to get all necessary security features working together in a single, integrated package. Kaspersky Internet Security is an excellent example, with a feature collection well beyond what you get in most suites. It could even qualify as a cross-platform suite, given its support for macOS and Android, but Kaspersky Security Cloud is a better fit for that category.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBitdefender Internet Security, like Kaspersky, routinely gets perfect or near-perfect scores from the testing labs. Also like Kaspersky, it offers features way beyond the basics. We've named these two Editors' Choice for entry-level security suite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n4.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Parental Control: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/><\/b><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Going without antivirus protection is just asking for trouble. You could pick up a nasty virus, have your bank accounts hacked by a trojan, or find your important documents locked by ransomware. Setting up antivirus protection is a must, but you don\u2019t have to stop there. A full-scale ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":null}}]},{"text":" offers protection on many other levels. Kaspersky Internet Security takes an award-winning antivirus and adds firewall, spam filtering, parental control, a VPN, and more. Furthermore, all these security components do their jobs well.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite lists at $79.99 per year for three licenses or $89.99 for five licenses. First-time users can often get a significant discount. You can use your licenses to protect Windows, macOS, or Android devices. Norton 360 Deluxe costs $99.99 per year for five cross-platform licenses, but that also includes five no-limits VPN licenses. With Kaspersky, you pay $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year to remove the VPN's limitations.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At $119.99 per year, ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" looks quite expensive by comparison. However, that subscription lets you install McAfee security on every Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows device in your household.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's spacious main window features a big status banner across the top. If there's a configuration problem it offers a link to set things right; if not, it may still have some recommendations. There are six big button panels labeled Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Protection for kids, and My Kaspersky. Below these is a button to bring up a menu of more tools, and a gear icon at bottom left to open Settings.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-29.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Main Window","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Features Shared With Free Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite overlaps most security features found in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Security Cloud Free","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud-free","target":null}}]},{"text":", though the free product models itself on Kaspersky Security Cloud, not on this suite or on the commercial Kaspersky Anti-Virus. I'll summarize the security features shared with Kaspersky Free here. Please read that review for full details.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-38.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Lab Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All four of the independent antivirus testing labs I follow include Kaspersky in their regular reports. In the latest set of reports, Kaspersky earned perfect or near-perfect scores in every test. My aggregate score algorithm gives Kaspersky an overall lab rating of 9.7, with 10 being the maximum possible. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" did even better, with 9.9 points, though only three of the four labs included it in their latest reports.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The System Watcher behavioral detection component aims to catch malware, including ransomware, that gets past other protective layers. For testing, I turned off the regular antivirus protection and hit the test system with a dozen real-world ransomware samples. System Watcher only missed one, a simple screen-locker ransomware, and that sample caved to Kaspersky\u2019s dedicated lock-breaker keystroke.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky took 9.3 of 10 possible points in my hands-on ","type":"text"},{"text":"malware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" test, a score that\u2019s good, but not great. However, when my results don't jibe with the labs, I defer to the work of the dozens of dedicated researchers in the labs. Webroot detected 100 percent of these samples and scored a perfect 10 points.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-39.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Malware Protection Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"G Data Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/g-data-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" took second place among products tested with my current malware collection, earning 9.8 points. Tested with my previous malware collection, Malwarebytes, Sophos, and Windows Defender also took 9.8 points.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When I challenged Kaspersky to protect against malware downloads from a hundred recently discovered malware-hosting URLs, it either blocked access to the URL or eliminated the download 81 percent of the time. That\u2019s a so-so score; it did better last time around. In their own latest tests, McAfee, Sophos, and Vipre all managed 100 percent protection, while Bitdefender, ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", and several others managed 99 percent protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-40.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In my last review, Kaspersky's Web Anti-Virus component proved adept at detecting phishing frauds. It managed 100 percent detection in my hands-on antiphishing test, and the macOS product matched that score. This time around, the score was markedly lower, with different detections by the Windows and macOS products. That was enough of an anomaly that I ran the test again, yielding a better score for Windows, 96 percent detection. Trend Micro scored 100 percent in its last phishing test, and a half-dozen others did better than Kaspersky.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"All of Kaspersky's security products come with a free, bandwidth-limited edition of the ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-secure-connection-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". You can use 200MB of bandwidth per day on each device, or 300MB if you\u2019re logged in to My Kaspersky. At the free level, you don\u2019t get to choose the server location\u2014the VPN make that choice for you.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender\u2019s products offer a limited VPN that\u2019s extremely similar. And no wonder, as both are powered by ","type":"text"},{"text":"Hotspot Shield","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/anchorfree-hotspot-shield-vpn","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", our current winner for fastest VPN. If you want to lift the bandwidth cap and take control of which VPN server you use, you must pay Kaspersky an extra $4.99 per month.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Other bonus features include an on-screen keyboard to foil keyloggers and a markup system to flag dangerous links in search results. Clicking More Tools brings up pages of additional tools, many of which are not available to users of the free edition. Among the tools that don't require a premium purchase are a file shredder, a rescue disk, a simple vulnerability scan, and several tools designed to clean and optimize your PC.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Anti-Virus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-anti-virus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" also overlaps the free edition\u2019s features. The big plus to paying for it is that you get full-scale tech support, via phone or live chat. Users of the free edition must rely on FAQs and forums. If you ever run into trouble, that live chat support can be a lifesaver.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test Security Software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Safe Money","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky\u2019s free utility marks quite a few features with a shield icon, indicating that these are reserved for paying customers. Among these is Safe Money. When you navigate to a banking site or other sensitive website, Kaspersky offers to open that site in the Safe Money protected browser. By default, once you've accepted that offer, it always opens that site in the protected browser. Bitdefender's Safepay feature works in much the same way.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A green border around the browser, along with a semi-transparent overlay notice, reminds you that you're in this special, protected mode, in a browser that's isolated from other processes. It even foils screen-scraping spy programs. You can open the notification area icon's menu and choose from a list of sites you've visited with Safe Money, to quickly revisit any of them.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Firewall and Application Control","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The earliest personal firewalls developed (and deserved) a reputation for bombarding the user with incomprehensible queries. \u201cNatashaFatale.exe wants to connect to IP address 2606:4700::6811:6563 using port 8080. Allow \/ Block? Once \/ Always?\u201d Most users lack the knowledge to answer that question with confidence. Some users always click Allow. Others always click Block, until doing so causes a problem, at which point they switch to Allow. Kaspersky cuts the uninformed user out of that interaction, handling application control internally.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Using data from the Kaspersky Security Network database, the application control system flags each application as Trusted, Low Restricted, High Restricted, or Untrusted. Untrusted apps simply don't get to run. Others that aren't in the Trusted category can run, but with limited access to sensitive system areas.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-30.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Firewall App Rules","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"It's not uncommon for application installers to bundle additional products, items you didn't request. As part of its job, Application Manager automatically clears checkboxes offering additional software and suppresses installation steps that include ads or bundled items. It works something like the Bundle Protection feature in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Reason Core Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/reason-core-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Of course, a firewall also must protect your system against attack from the internet. To check that feature, I hit the test system with about 30 exploits generated by the CORE Impact penetration tool. Kaspersky detected and blocked 84 percent of the exploits, identifying about a quarter of those using the official CVE tracking number. Even the missed exploits didn't breach security, since the test system has all security patches, but it's good to see that Kaspersky is on the alert for such attacks.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-31.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Exploit Blocked","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In its own recent test, Bitdefender detected 74 percent of the exploits, which is still better than almost all competitors. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" routinely scores in the mid-80s, but Kaspersky seems to be catching up. I did observe that in every case the Web Anti-Virus component took credit for the catch, not the Network Attack Blocker.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Your security protection is worthless if a malicious program or script can turn it off. Kaspersky's self-defense proved effective when I attacked it using potential malware code techniques. There's nothing significant exposed in the Registry. I couldn't just set Security Enabled to False. I couldn\u2019t kill its two core processes, nor the two Safe Kids processes. I did succeed in terminating the VPN, but it came right back.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Digging into Kaspersky\u2019s essential Windows services, I managed to disable the password manager and VPN. However, trying to do the same to the antivirus and other protective services just got an Access Denied message. Of course, a malicious program couldn't even try these attacks without getting past every other layer of protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"While not precisely part of firewall protection, the Network Monitor component gives tech-savvy users insight into just what applications are using bandwidth. A live graph charts overall inbound and outbound traffic, and a list of actively connected programs breaks down that usage, showing who's using what. If you turn it on and find it baffling, don\u2019t worry. You can safely ignore it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Some Features Removed","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky\u2019s security products have been around for many, many years. Over the years they accrete new security features. And from time to time, Kaspersky removes dated and little-used technologies.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"One such is Trusted Application Mode, which used to show up in the Manage Applications page of Tools. I mentioned that Kaspersky flags applications by trust level and puts limits on those that are anything but fully trusted. In Trusted Applications Mode, any app with a less-than-perfect trust level can\u2019t run at all. This whitelist-based protection is similar in some ways to that of ","type":"text"},{"text":"VoodooSoft VoodooShield","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/voodoosoft-voodooshield","target":null}}]},{"text":". The main difference with VoodooShield is it applies its rules only when the computer is at risk, such as when it's connected to the internet.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The thing is, enabling Trusted Application Mode was complicated. It involved an hours-long scan and analysis, followed by the user\u2019s careful review of its findings. With this mode active, it should be impossible for malware to run on your system, even brand-new zero-day attacks. But it could also block perfectly valid programs. And probably not one consumer in a thousand actually used it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A few other features also departed with the release of the current product line. The IM Anti-Virus scanned all files arriving via instant messaging, but the proliferation of IM types made upkeep difficult. In any case, the regular real-time protection system would catch a malicious file before it could do any harm. And the backup system in Kaspersky\u2019s top-level suites no longer invites users to store backups on their personal FTP servers.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender performed a similar purge in its latest product line. Few consumers made use of the elaborate system for timing startup programs and adjusting when they\u2019d start, so the developers simply removed it. The Disk Cleanup component, which simply listed huge files that you might want to delete, is also gone. And Bitdefender no longer offers its extra-cost AI-based Premium Parental Control.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Optional Spam Filter","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you use a web-based email system like Yahoo or Gmail, you probably don't see a lot of spam, because it gets filtered out by the provider. Likewise, if your email comes through your workplace most spam gets filtered out at the mail server. Kaspersky's spam filtering is turned off by default, but you can turn it on by clicking the Settings gear, clicking Protection at left, and scrolling down to Anti-Spam.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-32.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Spam Settings","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky checks email coming from both POP3 and IMAP accounts, marking up spam and possible spam by modifying the subject line. Its filter has three modes, Recommended, High, and Low. As you might expect, setting it to High blocks more spam but might also discard valid mail. Changing the setting to Low goes the other way, possibly allowing more spam but avoiding the possibility that you'll lose an important message to the spam filter.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That's it for basic settings. Advanced Settings come with a warning that they\u2019re meant only for advanced users. If you dare to open them, you get a few more options, but not the overwhelming number of pages that come with spam filtering in ","type":"text"},{"text":"Check Point ZoneAlarm Extreme Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/check-point-zonealarm-extreme-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". You can change the subject line label it uses to flag spam. You can configure a list of blocked phrases or obscene words, meaning any message containing them should be considered spam. Finally, you can manage lists of allowed and blocked senders. For most users, the default settings should be fine.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Parental Control","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like spam filtering, ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" is a feature that many people don't need. In years past, Kaspersky offered a somewhat dated but full-featured parental control system in this suite. It had content filtering, time scheduling, personal data protection, and even game control based on ESRB ratings. More recently, Kaspersky Safe Kids takes over the parental control job.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-33.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Parental Categories","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"What you get, though, is the free, feature-limited version of Safe Kids. Don\u2019t dismiss it too quickly; this free edition does more than the limited parental control found in some suites.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As with Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, a shield icon identifies features that require a premium upgrade. You get a content filter that lets you either block access to specified categories or display a warning before the child visits a matching site. Likewise, you can set a daily limit on device usage and either warn when time's up or block further usage. (Setting a weekly schedule for usage is a premium feature). Finally, you can ban or time-limit specific apps.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In testing, we discovered that the content filter needs help from its browser extension to handle HTTPS sites. A porn site that uses an HTTPS connection will slip right through an off-brand browser, as will a secure anonymizing proxy. Connecting through such a proxy cuts the content filter out of the loop, defeating parental control. If this becomes a problem, you can use application control to disable the off-brand browser.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Premium features include the ability to locate the child's device, get a geofencing notification when the child enters or leaves a location, monitor social network activity, get a warning if the battery is low on the child's device, and get real-time alerts on risky activity. You also need to upgrade if you want to see detailed reports on the child\u2019s online activity. Do read our review of ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Safe Kids","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-safe-kids","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" if these features sound interesting. You may decide that an extra $14.99 per year for unlimited kids and unlimited devices is a bargain.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The macOS equivalent of this product also gets the free version of Safe Kids. Only at the top tier, with Kaspersky Total Security or Kaspersky Security Cloud, do you get premium features built in.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Webcam and Privacy Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Have you ever looked up a product online and then found the websites you visit crawling with ads for that product? Creepy, right? Kaspersky's Private Browsing feature can help by blocking ad agencies, web analytics, and other trackers, but by default it just watches and reports tracking attempts. If you want it to do more than just watch, click Privacy Protection and check the option to block data collection. By default, Kaspersky exempts websites belonging to itself and its partners, but you can put them on the chopping block, too. Just click the Private Browsing link to bring up settings. It also refrains from blocking ads when doing so might disable the website.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Kaspersky toolbar icon in your browser displays the number of trackers blocked on the current page. You can click for a breakdown of the tracking types, and dig in further to see the exact trackers. A related feature, Anti-Banner, suppresses banner ads from the sites you visit. Remember, however, that many of your favorite sites rely on ad revenue to bring you the pages you like. Use Anti-Banner responsibly.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-34.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Webcam","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For a different take on privacy, Kaspersky offers ","type":"text"},{"text":"spyware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" in the form of a webcam control tool. If you set it to deny access, it warns you any time an untrusted process attempts to access the webcam. Were you setting up a video conference? No problem. You can add the conferencing program to the trusted list. But if the warning comes without any relation to what you're doing, thank Kaspersky for blocking some creep from peeking through your webcam. You can also set it to block webcam access for all processes.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When I launched Skype, Kaspersky placed a floating notification at the top of the screen letting me know that it allowed webcam access. From that notification I could pull down a menu to hide the notification, block access, or open the corresponding settings page. When I tweaked the settings to block all access, Skype couldn't find the camera, and Kaspersky slid in a transient notification at bottom right indicating that it blocked an attempt to use the webcam.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender offers a very similar feature, with the additional fillip that it separately protects against misuse of your microphone as a listening device.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Software Updater","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The vulnerability scan that comes with Kaspersky Anti-Virus notifies you of missing security patches, but it doesn't do anything beyond pointing out problems. In the suite, you get the Software Updater, which handles the whole process for you.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You don't even have to launch the updater. It runs automatically in the background, and it notifies you if it discovers any available updates. Just review its findings, click Update All, and let it do the work. If the update doesn't require acceptance of a license agreement, it can handle the entire update process automatically. In testing this time around, I didn\u2019t even see the updater, as it did its work in the background.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Keeping your operating system and applications updated with all security patches is another way to defend against exploit attacks. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Avast Premium Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avast-premium-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and Avira Total Security Suite also offer automatic patching, but these two are the top of their respective product lines, while Kaspersky Internet Security is just the entry-level Kaspersky suite, with Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Security Cloud above it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"PC Cleaner","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The name PC Cleaner might suggest that this is a component designed to ","type":"text"},{"text":"clean up junk files","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-tune-up-utilities","target":null}}]},{"text":", or to remove traces of your computer activities. Both of those are common bonus features in security suites. In fact, components shared with the antivirus handle both those tasks. The PC Cleaner's purpose is completely different.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This scan looks for programs that aren't malware, and aren't even in the low-risk potentially unwanted program category. It aims to find programs that you might want to remove, for many reasons. These include nonstandard installations, programs you rarely use, and programs that may be adware. Like the software updater, this scan ran in the background and reported no problems.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If it does flag a potentially unwanted program, you can uninstall it, or grant it a reprieve by removing it from the results list. You can also report an annoying program to Kaspersky by pointing it out with a crosshair-shaped cursor.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-35.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Cleanup Tools","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the same page as PC Cleaner you\u2019ll find Privacy Cleaner, Browser Configuration, and Microsoft Windows Troubleshooting. I discuss these three in detail in my review of Kaspersky Security Cloud Free. Briefly, they don\u2019t do a lot, and might be better combined into a single multi-faceted scan.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's Mac Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security is a cross-platform security service, with support for Windows, macOS, and Android. In such a service, it's common for Mac users to get the short end of the stick. Where Windows users get a glorious cornucopia of security suite features, Mac enthusiasts just receive a basic antivirus. It's refreshing to see that Kaspersky doesn't follow this trend. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" offers a full suite of protective features but (as a standalone) costs no more than most Mac antivirus products. Please read my review for a full report on my findings; the digest that follows sums them up.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Two of the independent antivirus labs that I follow test Mac antivirus as well as Windows, and both put Kaspersky through testing. Like Bitdefender, Kaspersky detected 100 percent of the Mac malware that researchers at AV-Comparatives hit it with. Both also earned the top score in a test using Windows malware. Along with Bitdefender, Norton, and several others, Kaspersky earned the best possible score from AV-Test Institute.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-36.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security macOS","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Phishing sites, those frauds that try to steal your secure login credentials, aren't specific to any platform, but protection against phishing can differ on different operating systems. Last year, Kaspersky managed 100 percent detection on both macOS and Windows. This time around, the Mac edition came in quite a bit lower.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Safe Money exists on the Mac, but it's different. Rather than actively protecting the browser, it verifies that you're visiting a legitimate financial website, not a clever fraud. Parental control uses the same free-level installation of Kaspersky Safe Kids.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webcam protection on the Mac is a simple on\/off switch, without the system of trusted applications that always get access. It can block browser tracking, though it doesn't display the number of trackers for the current site. Other features include a network attack blocker, search results markup, and an on-screen keyboard. You can also install Kaspersky Secure Connect and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Password Manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-password-manager","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". This is a full security suite, not just a simple Mac antivirus.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's Android Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Your desktop PCs need protection, but you should also install ","type":"text"},{"text":"antivirus on your Android","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-android-antivirus-apps","target":null}}]},{"text":" devices. Android devices are everywhere, and the operating system doesn't have the level of security that's baked into Apple's mobile devices, so it's a prime target for malware coders.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Anybody can download and use the free edition of Kaspersky Mobile Security. It's also part of Kaspersky Security Cloud Free, managed by the Kaspersky Security Cloud mobile app. By logging in to My Kaspersky and adding the device to your license, you get the full set of features. The main window reflects your security status; when all's well it shows a big green shield. You can select other features from an expandable panel of icons. A left-rail menu offers another way to access features.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Immediately after installation, it runs an update and a scan. Even after that first scan, the app's main window remains yellow, meaning you've got work to do. Once you actively turn on internet protection, you reach serene green status. In addition to this on-demand scan, Kaspersky offers real-time protection, checking all new apps and processes. A recommendations page walks you through setup choices, including enabling anti-theft and setting up privacy protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Android device I use for testing isn't provisioned for cellular calling, so I couldn't test the Call Filter. This feature promises to block calls from any numbers on a user-defined blacklist. It can optionally prompt you after each all from an unknown number, asking whether to blacklist that number. Blocked callers just get a busy signal. I couldn\u2019t test Text Anti-Phishing for the same reason.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-37.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Anti-Theft","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky's anti-theft features include the expected remote locate, lock, and wipe, as well as the ability to sound a noisy alarm (handy when you can't remember where you left the device). The implementation is a bit different from that of Bitdefender and most others. You can't just locate the device willy-nilly. A single action in My Kaspersky online both locks the device and reports its location. On the plus side, this means that even if your My Kaspersky account is compromised, the hacker can't track your location without your knowledge.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Likewise, if you want to get mug shots of the person who's using your device, you must also lock it. Whether you're just locking the device or requesting mug shots, you can include a message. And if someone swaps out the SIM, Kaspersky sends you the new number.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Kaspersky also lets you put selected apps behind a PIN or fingerprint lock. Even if someone picks up your phone or tablet while it's unlocked, this could prevent access to your email, or social media. The similar feature in Bitdefender goes farther than the simple lock, with options like automatically unlocking when on trusted networks, and allowing a brief hiatus before requiring the lock code again.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Small Performance Hit","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If users think a security suite slows down system performance, even if it really doesn\u2019t, they\u2019re likely to shut it down. Security companies know that, and few modern security suites slow performance enough that you\u2019d notice, but I still run some simple tests to check each product\u2019s impact.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Loading up all a suite's set of security components at startup could slow down the boot process, lengthening the wait until the computer is ready to use. My boot-time measurement script checks CPU usage once per second, deeming the system to be ready after 10 consecutive seconds with CPU usage under five percent. Subtracting the start of the boot process (as reported by Windows) yields the boot time. I average multiple runs with no security installed and compare the result with the average after installing the suite. Kaspersky added 43 percent to the boot time, which sounds bad until you learn that this represents less than 10 seconds. It\u2019s a bigger hit percentage-wise than the last time I tested this product, but actually less time added.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-41.png","altText":"Kaspersky Internet Security Performance Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There's a possibility that your suite's real-time antivirus monitoring could put a drag on everyday file manipulation activities. I use a script that moves and copies a large and eclectic collection of files between drives, averaging multiple runs before and after installing the suite. This script took just 31 percent longer with Kaspersky active. Another script that zips and unzips the same file collection repeatedly took 6 percent longer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"With an average impact of 27 percent, Kaspersky is in the bottom half. Even so, I didn\u2019t notice any apparent slowdown. Note, though, that ESET, K7, and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" exhibited no impact in any of the three tests.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"A Feature-Rich Suite","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"By installing a security suite rather than a collection of individual security programs, you ensure a smooth, integrated experience. Kaspersky Internet Security is an excellent example, with a feature collection well beyond what you get in most suites. It could even qualify as a cross-platform suite, given its support for macOS and Android, but Kaspersky Security Cloud is a better fit for that category.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security, like Kaspersky, routinely gets perfect or near-perfect scores from the testing labs. Also like Kaspersky, it offers features way beyond the basics. We've designated these two our Editors' Choice products for entry-level security suites.","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":42,"images":[{"index":28,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-28.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":482,"hash":"47fe42cc68b36b9211e5263a6ae52de7","timestamp":1598561686,"metadata":[]},{"index":29,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-29.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"da78546125a615a49e6f34deb3c4fe54","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":30,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-30.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":656,"height":663,"hash":"760cf3000de5b94e7c1fd8cfd16e72f2","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":31,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-31.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":747,"height":523,"hash":"d5d6899c279f9b28006614ee465d8296","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":32,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-32.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"4677de23ba90835dc03ff707486eaf5b","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":33,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-33.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1124,"height":628,"hash":"6e0ec071ba8639308ee29c9bb4e377db","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":34,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-34.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":825,"hash":"50bccb6d42fe5c5e80acdadd4d71fc31","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":35,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-35.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":772,"height":566,"hash":"155513fccbf5e03413620948a0ad5dfe","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":36,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-36.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":740,"height":538,"hash":"5d68e10301cd5c3793c7adaa1c03996e","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":37,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-37.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":947,"height":556,"hash":"c52d6ae75404654df7605c40d93f8548","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":38,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-38.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":574,"height":746,"hash":"8fbf49500c7f36a20a8e17c9bec3ec90","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":39,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-39.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":677,"height":714,"hash":"2e51479914e37634af4d794b8a076709","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":40,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-40.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":696,"height":626,"hash":"4f665d396c178697837c33b7d23e3f04","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]},{"index":41,"path":"reviews\/05pOe0tmrCRe5bdkXTnGXCf-41.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":664,"height":462,"hash":"7d801708dac2cb08a5f969787b55c786","timestamp":1598563282,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Top-notch scores from four labs\nFirewall with powerful application control\nProtection for macOS and Android devices\nExcellent exploit detection\nWebcam protection\nMany bonus features","cons":"Antiphishing score dropped since last test\nSome impact on performance","bottom_line":"Kaspersky Internet Security gets top scores from the antivirus testing labs. It comes with everything you'd expect in a suite, along with plenty of extras, and its components are consistently effective.","best_for":"Best for Excellent Lab Test Scores","first_published_at":"2014-07-23T09:49:58.000000Z","published_at":"2020-08-28T14:32:47.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-08-28T14:32:27.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-07-16T15:31:49.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-28T14:32:47.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":2728,"rank":7,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":1496,"legacy_id":327623,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1","status":"Published","product_uuid":"03kxEoEJjMg1sAzp0FeGssO","spec_sheet_uuid":null,"title":"Trend Micro Internet Security","slug":"trend-micro-internet-security","deck":"This isn't the Trend Micro Suite we recommend","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"3.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":3907,"body":"Many security companies offer protection at three levels: a standalone antivirus; a feature-enhanced <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a>; and a top-tier mega-suite with even more goodies. Keeping the features in balance at the various levels is important. A company that gives away plentiful extras in the basic antivirus must be prepared to offer even more at the suite level. Trend Micro Internet Security pours on plenty of additional features, but they're not all effective. That and some licensing limitations weigh it down. If you want a Trend Micro suite, you're better off with the top-tier Trend Micro Maximum Security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro Internet Security lists at $79.95 per year for three licenses, roughly the same as <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7468\">Bitdefender Internet Security<\/a> and Kaspersky. However, Trend Micro lacks the pricing flexibility exhibited by most competitors. If you want more than three licenses, you must upgrade to Trend Micro Maximum Security, which comes in five- and ten-license subscriptions for $89.95 and $99.95 respectively. Bitdefender's $79.99 for three licenses goes up to $84.99 for five and $89.99 for ten—that ten-pack is quite a deal. With Kaspersky, $89.99 gets you five licenses. For about the same price, you can install McAfee protection on every device in your household, including devices running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIt's worth noting that Norton is likewise not so flexible. A $149.99 subscription for <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10607\">Symantec Norton 360 with LifeLock Select<\/a><\/span> gets you five security licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, 100GB of storage for backups, and basic levels of monetary remediation from LifeLock. Two additional tiers each raise the price by $100 and give you more of everything. There's no option to, say, just get additional security licenses.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nA big, round Scan button dominates the center of Trend Micro's unusual main window, while four icons across the top represent four security areas: Device, Privacy, Data, and Family. Pointing at one of those icons lights it up; clicking brings up a page of relevant features. Except for the product name at top left, the main window looks just like Trend Micro's basic antivirus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Main' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 600 525'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-23.fit_lim.size_600x525.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-23.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Main' width='600' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-23.fit_lim.size_600x525.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-23.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Antivirus Abilities<\/h2>\r\n\r\nTo understand the core features of this suite, you should start by reading my review of <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-antivirus-plus-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3078\">Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security<\/a>. I'll summarize my findings here in case you don't have time to read the antivirus review.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-29.v_1569632343.png', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Lab Results Chart', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-30.v_1569632343.png', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Malware Protection Chart', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-31.v_1569632343.png', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro takes mixed scores from the independent testing labs that I follow, all four of which include it in testing. Like <a href=\"\/reviews\/f-secure-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6957\">F-Secure Internet Security<\/a>, Microsoft, and several others, it earned 17.5 of 18 possible points from AV-Test Institute. It has previously received AAA certification (the best of five levels) from SE Labs, but in the latest report it dropped two grades to A. In three tests by AV-Comparatives, Trend Micro took two Advanced ratings and one just-passing Standard. And, like Avast and McAfee, it failed both tests from MRG-Effitas. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro's aggregate lab score, based on results from all four labs that I follow, is 8.0 points, down from 9.2 at its previous review. That's the lowest score among products tested by all four. <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2728\">Kaspersky Internet Security<\/a>, also tested by four labs, scored 9.9 points. Bitdefender also managed 9.9, based on results from three labs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nIn contrast to its mostly good scores from the independent labs, Trend Micro took a very poor score in my own hands-on <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"198\">malware protection<\/a> test. With 7.7 of 10 possible points, it's near the bottom. It's worth noting that Bitdefender scored just as poorly against this set of samples. The difference lies in Bitdefender's stellar lab scores, which outweigh that poor showing in my hands-on test.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTested with the same set of samples, Windows Defender scored an impressive 9.8 points. <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"46\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus<\/a><\/span> came close, with 9.7 points.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\nChallenged to protect a test system against malware-hosting URLs collected in the last couple days, Trend Micro redeemed its poor malware protection score. Like F-Secure, it scored 99 percent protection. In almost every case, Trend Micro kept the browser from even coming near the dangerous page. <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a> currently owns this test, with a perfect 100 percent, but Trend Micro's 99 percent is admirable. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro also did a bang-up job detecting phishing sites—fraudulent websites that try to dupe visitors into giving away their passwords. It managed 100 percent detection, a score matched only by Kaspersky. McAfee and Bitdefender are close behind, with 99 percent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nPhishing is platform-agnostic—you can foolishly enter your password on any platform that has a browser. Phishing protection, however, can vary. In my current round of testing, though, <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-antivirus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1807\">Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac<\/a> scored exactly the same as the Windows edition. Kaspersky and Bitdefender also scored precisely the same on the two platforms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Other Shared Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nRansomware is a growing threat, and Trend Micro offers multiple layers of <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"76\">ransomware protection<\/a>. The Folder Shield component prevents unauthorized programs from making any changes in protected folders and on USB drives. A behavior monitor looks for suggestions of ransomware activity in programs that made it past the real-time antivirus. And just in case a ransomware attack does some damage before the behavior monitor terminates it, Trend Micro maintains a secure backup of files residing in the protected folders. When I launched a group of ransomware samples that I tweaked by hand to avoid simple signature-based detection, Trend Micro caught them all based on their behavior.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Pay Guard component launches a hardened version of your default browser, to protect your online financial transactions. Much like the similar feature in Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and others, it isolates the browser from all meddling by other processes. The first few times you visit a known financial site, Trend Micro prompts you to turn Pay Guard on. It doesn't automatically offer protection every time, the way most similar features do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469925.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469925.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nLike the gaming mode found in many suites, this product's Mute Mode suppresses security notifications and other interruptions, but it does more to smooth your gaming experience. It now engages automatically when you go full screen. You can set it to suppress Windows Update notifications, and even configure it to automatically kill specified programs you when you turn it on. Mute Mode ends automatically after two hours, or a user-specified timeout, or when you manually disable it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Trend Micro Toolbar browser extension marks up links in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. All links on social media sites, webmail sites, and search results pages get a green, yellow, or red highlight, for safe, iffy, or dangerous. It can also rate any link on any page when you hover over it with the mouse.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro relies on Windows Firewall to take care of basic network protection. It doesn't provide the program control system that augments the firewall in many competing products. However, its firewall booster attempts to prevent botnet attacks and other network threats, and warn if you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot. There's also a spam filter, but since it strictly and only works with Microsoft Outlook, its application is limited.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nNew in this edition, Fraud Buster analyzes your webmail to filter out scams and frauds. It works with Gmail or Outlook webmail accessed using Chrome or Firefox. Be aware that to do so, it sends all your mail to Trend Micro for analysis. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469925.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469925.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Protect More Devices, Macs Included<\/h2>\r\n\r\nA little while after installation, the suite pops up a reminder that you can protect more devices using your available licenses. Of course, you don't have to wait for an invitation. You can click Protect Another Device on the main window to proactively extend protection to another PC or Mac. Do remember that you get three licenses, no more. If you want a five- or ten-license subscription, you must upgrade to <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7583\">Trend Micro Maximum Security<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro Antivirus for Mac doesn't include all the features in this suite, though it goes beyond mere antivirus basics. If you have licenses left over, go ahead and use them. Just be aware that you get more bang for your buck when you install this suite on Windows.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Mac' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 720 482'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-24.fit_lim.size_720x482.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-24.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Mac' width='720' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-24.fit_lim.size_720x482.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-24.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFolder Shield on the Mac works just as it does on the PC, though other ransomware layers aren't present. Fraud Buster likewise works the same, as does markup of links in search results. Other bonus features exhibit some limitations. Parental control consists solely of content filtering, though it does now handle HTTPS sites. And the webcam privacy monitor proved so limited as to be nearly useless. You can read my review for a full analysis of the Mac product.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>System Optimization<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhen you click the Device icon to open the Device page, you'll find something that wasn't present in the antivirus. The PC Health Checkup aims to optimize system performance, in several ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn my virtual machine test system, the checkup ran quickly but didn't find much to improve. It reported no startup programs slowing the boot process, no junk files wasting space, and no personal data exposed in browser files and such. The only thing it came up with was a warning about insecure Internet Explorer settings. Running the checkup on a physical test system, I got identical results. It turns out that the optimizer doesn't worry about junk files unless they take up enough space that whisking them away would make a noticeable difference.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAfter you let the optimizer make any necessary performance enhancements, it offers to find duplicate files and make optional improvements. There's no big benefit to cleaning up small dupes; by default, Trend Micro only looks at files at least 1MB in size. You can tweak that size higher, but not lower. I created a pair of identical text files just short of 4MB in size and launched the scan, which found nothing to report. My contact explained that the duplicate finder works only with specific file types, and that gigantic text files are uncommon enough they're not included. Repeating the test with RTF files I found it worked just fine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Health' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 550'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-25.fit_lim.size_740x550.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-25.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Health' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-25.fit_lim.size_740x550.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-25.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can also actively clean up privacy data in four categories, Web Browsers, Instant Messengers, Microsoft Office & Windows, and Media Players. I let it clean privacy data from Edge, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. It finished in a flash, without any indication of exactly what it cleaned. Cleaning up Windows likewise finished in a flash. I dug into the security report, but it didn't include any details beyond \"Cleaned.\" I'm left not knowing just what this process accomplished.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis kind of junk and privacy cleanup is a common suite feature. Finding duplicate files is less common, though TotalAV and <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-prime\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6652\">Avira Prime<\/a> include it. But all the competing products I've seen give you a clearer idea of what they're doing than Trend Micro. Some go so far as to list all the changed they intend to make, while others report what they did ex post facto. The Trend Micro scanner needs to toot its own horn more, so users will appreciate it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Social Media Privacy Scanner<\/h2>\r\n\r\nLike Trend Micro's Mac antivirus, this suite includes a social media privacy scanner, invoked from the main app's Privacy page or from the browser toolbar's menu. You log in to your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to get a report on any privacy-related configuration problems. It used to check Google+, before that network's demise.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn Windows, it also checks privacy settings in popular browsers. Note that this is distinct from Social Networking Protection found in the antivirus. That feature marks up links in an eclectic collection of social sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Mixi, MySpace, Pinterest, Twitter, and Weibo.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI signed into each of the three networks, with mixed results. It reported no problems on LinkedIn or Facebook as soon as I logged in. However, even after I logged in to Twitter twice, it still displayed the prompt, \"Sign in to check your privacy.\" I switched from Internet Explorer to Edge but found the privacy check absent. With Chrome I found the sweet spot; the scanner worked for all three networks.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Social' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 512'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-26.fit_lim.size_740x512.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-26.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Social' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-26.fit_lim.size_740x512.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-26.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe advice it offered for Twitter was strange, though. Like most Twitterati, I broadcast my posts to the world, typically to announce a new review or article. Trend Micro advised that I make my tweets private, which would defeat that purpose. Likewise, I'm happy for people to find my Twitter account based on my email address, but the scanner advised I disable that ability.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe scanner also checks privacy settings in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, with no need to log in. It advised turning on phishing protection in all three browsers, which would normally be smart. I have that feature turned off for testing purposes. For Chrome and Firefox, it advised sending a Do Not Track header with each web request. Doing so doesn't hurt, but sites can ignore that header, so it may not help. In general, the scan seems helpful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Parental Control in Decline<\/h2>\r\n\r\nFor parents who want some control over and insight into their children's online activities, Trend Micro offers a simple parental control system. It lets parents set a schedule for online time, prevent access to inappropriate websites, and impose time limits on specific programs, and it offers detailed reports on each child's activities. In testing, though, it performed worse than in my last review.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs soon as you enable parental controls, you must define a password to protect the suite's settings. That makes sense; you don't want the kids just turning protection off. With that task complete, a wizard walks you through setting up this feature. You can configure it separately for each Windows user account or apply one configuration globally. If you choose the former, the wizard lists all user accounts and lets you identify those belonging to the kids. You can also set a nickname and photo for each child.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFirst up is the content filter. Trend Micro can block access to sites matching more than 30 categories, arranged in four groups. When you select an age range, it automatically configures an appropriate collection of blocked categories. Naturally you can customize if you wish. Cautious parents can choose to block any site that Trend Micro hasn't yet analyzed. There's also an option to filter out inappropriate images; more about that shortly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMoving on, you define limits on when and for how long the kids can go online. By default, you define allowed and blocked times by dragging with the mouse on a grid of days and hours. If that seems complex, you can switch to a simple schedule for weekdays and one for weekends. You can also set a daily limit for online time, separately for weekdays and weekends.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThere are times when you want the kids using their computers, say, for homework, but need to keep them focused. The Program Controls feature lets you limit or schedule access to games and other distractions. When you add a program to the list, it starts off totally blocked. Using a week\/hour grid you can set times to allow access.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nFor a quick check, I configured the parental control system to block access all day and logged in to an as-if child's account. Surprisingly, I had no trouble visiting Google and quite a few other sites, in a variety of browsers. For a few sites, it displayed the warning \"No Web Surfing Allowed.\" After a little analysis, I realized that the access schedule affected only non-secure HTTP pages, and had no effect on HTTPS pages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBy the same token, the content filter blocked only HTTP pages. Any inappropriate HTTPS page was unaffected. As a sanity check, I visited the HTTP and HTTPS versions of the popular <a href=\"\/reviews\/hide-my-ass-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5377\">Hide My Ass VPN<\/a>. Trend Micro blocked the insecure version, citing the category Proxy Avoidance. But it did nothing about the secure version. That means a smart kid could completely elude content filtering using a secure anonymizing proxy. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nDuring my last test, I found something similar—HTTPS filtering worked with some browsers, but not others. However, this time around HTTPS filtering failed in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Opera<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Parent' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 670 495'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-27.fit_lim.size_670x495.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-27.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Parent' width='670' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-27.fit_lim.size_670x495.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-27.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThis content filter also isn't as flexible as what you get in Bitdefender and Kaspersky. With these two products, the filter parses each page's content, so they can, for example, allow access to a short-story website while blocking erotica. In testing, Trend Micro simply blocked the whole site, or allowed everything, including some truly raunchy stories.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI mentioned earlier that the parental control system offers to filter out inappropriate images. As in the past, this feature didn't prove effective. When I searched Google for images of unclothed girls, the images appeared briefly before Trend Micro covered them up, and it didn't cover every single image. I found that clicking on a missed image brought up the preview, and from the preview I could arrow left and right to see all the blocked pictures. In addition, this feature only works in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, not in Edge, Opera, or any other browser.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe one feature that did seem to work well was program control. I set it to block Firefox and then switched to the child account. Trying to launch Firefox triggered a Program Access Blocked notification. Launching a renamed copy of the program didn't fool the system; it still blocked access.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBack in the grownup user account, I checked out the parental control report. It summarized the blocked pages by category and it also offered a detailed list, with date\/time stamp and the user account involved. Naturally none of the HTTPS sites showed up in that report.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro's parental control has been poor and porous for some time. Typically, I expect such a feature to eventually get a makeover. In this case, it's the opposite. As far as I can tell, the current edition is significantly less effective than when I last looked it over.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Bonus Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nClicking the icons across the top of this suite's main window takes you to four secondary pages: Device, Privacy, Data, and Family. Family is the parental control system, of course. The other three pages add features not found in the standalone antivirus. I've already mentioned the PC Health Checkup on the Device page and the Privacy Scanner on the Privacy page, but these aren't the only bonus features.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nOn the Privacy page, you can enable Data Theft Prevention, which protects your personal data from being exfiltrated by <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"294\">spyware<\/a> or revealed accidentally by your kids. Enabling this feature requires you to protect your settings with a password, if you haven't already done so for parental control.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nInitially, the configuration page offers to save a credit card, advising you to use any seven consecutive digits rather than typing the whole thing. You can add any number of data items, which Trend Micro calls categories. For security, Trend Micro stores the data you enter in encrypted form and never displays it. You can't even edit an existing item—to make a change you need to create a new data item and delete the old one. Settings are global, not per-user, so with this feature configured correctly your kids can't give away too much information in IM, email, or web forms. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAny data-stealing Trojan will hit the wall if it tries to send your private data to its secret headquarters. Or will it? A quick test revealed that, like parental control, this feature doesn't work on secure websites. Email and IM sites tend to be secured, and there's nothing to stop a Trojan from using a secure connection. Lack of handling for secure sites renders this feature ineffective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Data' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 710 468'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-28.fit_lim.size_710x468.v_1569632343.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-28.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Trend Micro Internet Security Data' width='710' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-28.fit_lim.size_710x468.v_1569632343.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-28.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMany security suites offer some form of <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-encryption-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"343\">encryption<\/a> to protect your sensitive files. And many of those fail to provide a means for securely deleting the plaintext originals of those files. Trend Micro flips that model on its head, offering secure deletion without encryption in this suite. Upgrading to Maximum Security gets you the encryption system to go with secure deletion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Secure Erase feature, found on the Data page, enables a right-click option to overwrite files and folders before deletion, thereby foiling attempts at forensic recovery. You can configure it to use a one-pass Quick Erase, which should foil almost any recovery attempt, or a seven-pass Permanent Erase that's completely irreversible. Unless you're the subject of a congressional investigation, the lengthy Permanent Erase is probably overkill.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Data page also boasts a button that launches a free trial of <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3517\">Trend Micro Password Manager<\/a>, something you can get without even installing this suite. Note, though, that the best password managers, even the free ones, are vastly more effective than this very basic utility.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Impact on Boot Time<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf users perceive that security is costing them performance, they're likely to turn off said security. Fortunately, most modern security suites are designed to avoid gobbling resources or putting a drag on ordinary use of the computer. In two of my hands-on performance tests, Trend Micro proved to have a light touch.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMy boot-time test measures the time from the beginning of the boot process until 10 seconds have passed with no more than five percent CPU usage. Averaging multiple runs before and after installing Trend Micro, I found that the boot time more than doubled. I observed an even bigger increase in my recent review of McAfee Total Protection.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nScrolling back through pages and pages of test results, I noticed that the baseline boot time has been getting steadily shorter. I assume this is due to enhancements arriving through Windows Update. Baseline times currently hover around 25-30 seconds, half what they were six months ago. The \"slow\" boot time with Trend Micro installed was just a hair over 60 seconds. Given that most of us reboot only when forced, this stat isn't as worrisome as it seemed at first.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-32.v_1569632343.png', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Performance Chart', 'Trend Micro Internet Security Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou probably reboot once a day, at most, but you're working with files all day. To check whether the watchful eye of real-time antivirus protection puts a drag on file operations, I use a script that moves and copies a large collection of files between drives. Another script zips and unzips that same file collection repeatedly. As with the boot time test, I average multiple runs with and without the suite to see the impact on performance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe file move and copy test took just 4 percent longer with Trend Micro installed, and the zip and unzip test ran 6 percent longer. That's not a lot; you're not likely to notice any drag in your day-to-day activities. However, several other products have demonstrated no drag at all in all three tests, among them <a href=\"\/reviews\/eset-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4614\">ESET Internet Security<\/a>, G Data, and Webroot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Choose the Upgrade<\/h2>\r\n\r\nTrend Micro Internet Security earned both good and bad scores in independent lab tests. It also aced our hands-on phishing protection and malicious URL blocking tests, but scored poorly in our hands-on malware protection test. Some of its many security components aren't effective, most notably the parental control system. You get just three licenses to protect your Macs or PCs. Anyone considering this suite should pay just a little more for the fully cross-platform Trend Micro Maximum Security.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nBitdefender Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security also offer a wide variety of security features, and all their components work well. Both include intelligent firewall protection and effective parental control, and both get excellent scores from the labs. These two are our Editors' Choice picks for entry-level security suite.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: n\/a Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n3.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/> Parental Control: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n1.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" aria-hidden=\"true\" alt=\"unknown image\" \/><\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>\r\n\r\n<style><\/style>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Many security companies offer protection at three levels: a standalone antivirus; a feature-enhanced ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":"; and a top-tier mega-suite that\u2019s maxed out on features. Keeping the feature collections in balance at the various levels is important. A company that pours tons of extras into the basic antivirus must offer even more at the suite level. Trend Micro Internet Security adds on plenty of features beyond what you get with the standalone antivirus, but they're not all effective. That and some licensing limitations weigh it down. If you want a Trend Micro suite, you're better off with the top-tier Trend Micro Maximum Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"How Much Does Trend Micro Internet Security Cost?","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro Internet Security lists at $79.95 per year for three licenses, roughly the same as ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and Kaspersky. However, Trend Micro lacks the pricing flexibility exhibited by most competitors. If you want more than three licenses, you must upgrade to Trend Micro Maximum Security, which costs $89.95 for five licenses. Note that the previously available 10-license subscription for Maximum Security is gone, replaced by Trend Micro Premium Security, at $139.95 for 10 licenses.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender's $79.99 for three licenses goes up to $84.99 for five and $99.99 for ten\u2014that ten-pack is quite a deal. With Kaspersky, $89.99 gets you five licenses; with some digging, you\u2019ll find a ten-pack listed at $139.99. That same $139.99 per year lets you install ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" on every device in your household, including devices running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"It's worth noting that Norton, like Trend Micro, is also not so flexible. A $149.99 subscription for ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 with LifeLock Select","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" gets you five security licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, 100GB of storage for backups, and basic levels of monetary remediation from LifeLock. Two additional tiers each raise the price by $100 and give you more of everything, up to unlimited licenses and 500GB of storage. There's no option to, say, just get additional security licenses.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A big, round Scan button dominates the center of Trend Micro's unusual main window, while four icons across the top represent four security areas: Device, Privacy, Data, and Family. Pointing at one of those icons lights it up; clicking brings up a page of relevant features. Except for the product name at top left, the main window looks just like Trend Micro's basic antivirus.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-44.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Main Window","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Antivirus Abilities","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"To understand the core features of this suite, you should start by reading my review of ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-antivirus-plus-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". I'll summarize my findings here in case you don't have time to read the antivirus review.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-50.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Lab Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro takes mixed scores from the independent testing labs that I follow, all four of which include it in testing. Like Bitdefender, Vipre, and several others, it earned 17.5 of 18 possible points from AV-Test Institute, a score good enough to get it named a Top Product. In the latest test report from SE Labs, Trend Micro, along with almost all tested products, received AAA certification (the best of five levels). In three tests by AV-Comparatives, Trend Micro took two Advanced ratings and one just-passing Standard. And, like McAfee, it failed both tests from MRG-Effitas.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro's aggregate lab score, based on results from all four labs that I follow, is 8.5 points, down from 9.2 at its previous review. That's the lowest score among products tested by all four labs. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Kaspersky Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/kaspersky-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and Norton, also tested by four labs, scored 9.7 points. Bitdefender managed 9.8, but that was based on results from just three labs.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro took a very poor score in our own hands-on ","type":"text"},{"text":"malware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" test. With 7.8 of 10 possible points, it's near the bottom. It's worth noting that Bitdefender scored second lowest against this set of samples. The difference lies in Bitdefender's stellar lab scores, which outweigh that poor showing in my hands-on test.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-51.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Malware Protection Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Tested with the same set of samples, G Data scored an impressive 9.8 points. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" topped the list, with a perfect 10 points.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Challenged to protect a test system against malware-hosting URLs collected in the last couple days, Trend Micro scored a quite decent 94 percent. In almost every detected case, Trend Micro kept the browser from even coming near the dangerous page. McAfee, Sophos, and Vipre aced this test with 100 percent detection, while ","type":"text"},{"text":"F-Secure Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/f-secure-internet-security","target":null}}]},{"text":" and several others managed 99 percent.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro also did a good job detecting phishing sites\u2014fraudulent websites that try to dupe visitors into giving away their passwords. It managed 96 percent detection, better than most competing products. Even so, Bitdefender, McAfee, and Norton all detected 99 percent of the samples we threw at them.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-52.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Phishing Protection Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Phishing is platform-agnostic\u2014you can foolishly give away your login credentials on any platform that has a browser. Phishing protection, however, can vary. In our current round of testing, though, ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-antivirus-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" scored exactly the same as the Windows edition. Kaspersky and Bitdefender also scored precisely the same on the two platforms.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Other Shared Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Ransomware is a growing threat, and Trend Micro offers multiple layers of ","type":"text"},{"text":"ransomware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". The Folder Shield component prevents unauthorized programs from making changes in protected folders and on USB drives. A behavior monitor looks for suggestions of ransomware activity in programs that made it past the real-time antivirus. And just in case a ransomware attack does some damage before the behavior monitor terminates it, Trend Micro maintains a secure backup of files residing in the protected folders. When we launched a group of ransomware samples that were tweaked by hand to avoid simple signature-based detection, Trend Micro caught them all based on their behavior, identifying half as ransomware and half as merely suspicious.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Pay Guard component launches a hardened version of your default browser, to protect your online financial transactions. Much like the similar feature in Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and others, it isolates the browser from all meddling by other processes. Pay Guard aims to automatically offer protection when you visit a financial site; if it misses one, you can invoke it with a click.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like the gaming mode found in many suites, this product's Mute Mode suppresses security notifications and other interruptions automatically when you go full screen, but it does more to smooth your gaming experience. You can set it to suppress Windows Update notifications, and even configure it to automatically kill specified programs when you turn it on. Mute Mode ends automatically after two hours, or a user-specified timeout, or when you manually disable it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Trend Micro Toolbar browser extension marks up links in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge. All links on social media sites, webmail sites, and search results pages get a green, yellow, or red highlight, for safe, iffy, or dangerous. It can optionally rate any link on any page when you hover over it with the mouse.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro relies on Windows Firewall to take care of basic network protection. It doesn't provide the program control system that augments the firewall in many competing products. However, its firewall booster attempts to prevent botnet attacks and other network threats, and warn if you connect to an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot. There's also a spam filter, but since it works strictly with Microsoft Outlook, its usefulness is limited.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Fraud Buster analyzes your webmail to filter out scams and frauds. It works specifically with Gmail or Outlook webmail when they\u2019re accessed using Chrome or Firefox. Be aware that to do so, it sends all your mail to Trend Micro for analysis.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test Security Software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Protect More Devices, Macs Included","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"A little while after installation, the suite pops up a reminder that you can protect more devices using your available licenses. Of course, you don't have to wait for an invitation. You can click Protect Another Device on the main window to proactively extend protection to another PC or Mac. Do remember that you get three licenses, no more. If you want a five- or ten-license subscription, you must upgrade to ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Maximum Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-maximum-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":".","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro Antivirus for Mac doesn't include all the features in this suite, though it goes beyond mere antivirus basics. If you have licenses left over, go ahead and use them. Just be aware that you get more bang for your buck when you install this suite on Windows.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-45.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Mac Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Folder Shield on the Mac works just as it does on the PC, though other ransomware layers aren't present. Fraud Buster likewise works the same, as does markup of links in search results. Other bonus features exhibit some limitations. Parental control consists solely of content filtering, though it does now handle HTTPS sites. And the webcam privacy monitor proved so limited as to be nearly useless. You can read my review for a full analysis of the Mac product.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"System Optimization","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you click the Device icon to open the Device page, you'll find something that wasn't present in the antivirus. The PC Health Checkup aims to optimize system performance, in several ways.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On a virtual machine test system, the checkup ran quickly but found nothing to improve. It reported no security vulnerabilities, no startup programs slowing the boot process, no junk files wasting space, and no personal data exposed in browser files and such. It turns out that the optimizer doesn't worry about junk files unless they take up enough space that whisking them away would make a noticeable difference.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"After you let the optimizer make any necessary performance enhancements, it offers to find duplicate files and make optional improvements. There's no big benefit to cleaning up small dupes; by default, Trend Micro only looks at files at least 1MB in size. You can tweak that size higher, but not lower. I created a trio of identical RTF files nearly 8MB in size and launched the scan, which quickly found the dupes and helped delete all but one.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-46.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security PC Health Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can also actively clean up privacy data in four categories, Web Browsers, Instant Messengers, Microsoft Office & Windows, and Media Players.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I let it clean privacy data from Chrome, Edge, and Internet Explorer. It finished in a flash, without any indication of exactly what it cleaned. Cleaning up Windows likewise finished in a flash. As for Instant Messengers and Media Players, it reported no privacy risks present. The security report didn't include any details beyond \"Cleaned.\" I\u2019m left not knowing just what this process accomplished.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This kind of junk and privacy cleanup is a common suite feature. Finding duplicate files is less common, though TotalAV and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Avira Prime","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avira-prime","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" include it. But all the competing products give you a clearer idea of what their cleanup systems do than Trend Micro. Some go so far as to list all the changed they intend to make, while others report what they did ex post facto. With Trend Micro, users have no idea what it did or didn\u2019t do.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Social Media Privacy Scanner","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like Trend Micro's Mac antivirus, this suite includes a social media privacy scanner, invoked from the main app's Privacy page or from the browser toolbar's menu. You log in to your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to get a report on any privacy-related configuration problems.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Note that this feature is completely distinct from the Social Networking Protection markup system. That system extends Trend Micro\u2019s markup of safe, dangerous, and iffy links to \u201cpopular\u201d social networks: Facebook, LinkedIn, Mixi, MySpace, Pinterest, Twitter, and Weibo. I remain puzzled at the inclusion of Mixi and MySpace and exclusion of Instagram and WeChat. But that\u2019s a different feature.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I opened the privacy scanner simultaneously in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Notably, in Internet Explorer it only listed Facebook, not LinkedIn or Twitter, and choosing Facebook got a message about needing to \u201cmake a few improvements to keep up with recent changes.\u201d Per my McAfee contact, this is a known problem. He pointed out that Facebook itself doesn\u2019t recommend using Internet Explorer, and that Twitter and LinkedIn officially don\u2019t support it.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-47.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Social Media Privacy Scanner","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The scanner worked fine in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. As expected, it reported no concerns for my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts. As for Twitter, it gave some advice that I found strange. I broadcast my posts to the world, typically to announce a new review or article. Trend Micro advised that I make my tweets private, which would defeat that purpose. Likewise, I'm happy for people to find my Twitter account based on my email address, but the scanner advised I disable that ability.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The scanner also checks privacy settings in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, with no need to log in. It advised turning on phishing protection in all three browsers, which would normally be smart. We keep that feature turned off for testing purposes. For Chrome and Firefox, it advised sending a Do Not Track header with each web request. Doing so doesn't hurt, but sites can ignore that header, so it may not help.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Parental Control Remains Ineffective","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For parents who want some control over and insight into their children's online activities, Trend Micro offers a simple ","type":"text"},{"text":"parental control","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-parental-control-software","target":null}}]},{"text":" system. It lets parents set a schedule for online time, prevent access to inappropriate websites, and impose time limits on specific programs. It also offers detailed reports on each child's activities. But its most important elements just don\u2019t do the job.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As soon as you enable parental controls, you must define a password to protect the suite's settings. That makes sense; you don't want the kids just turning protection off. With that task complete, a wizard walks you through setting up this feature. You can configure it separately for each Windows user account or apply one configuration globally. If you choose the former, the wizard lists all user accounts and lets you identify those belonging to the kids. You can also set a nickname and photo for each child.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"First up is the content filter. Trend Micro can block access to sites matching more than 30 categories, arranged in four groups. When you select an age range, it automatically configures an appropriate collection of blocked categories. Naturally, you can customize if you wish. Cautious parents can choose to block any site that Trend Micro hasn't yet analyzed, and to block finding inappropriate sites via search. There's also an option to filter out inappropriate images; more about that shortly.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Moving on, you define limits on when and for how long the kids can go online. By default, you define allowed and blocked times by dragging with the mouse on a grid of days and hours. If that seems complex, you can switch to a simple schedule for weekdays and one for weekends. You can also set a daily limit for online time, separately for weekdays and weekends.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There are times when you want the kids using their computers, say, for homework, but need to keep them focused. The Program Controls feature lets you limit or schedule access to games and other distractions. When you add a program to the list, it starts off totally blocked. Using a week\/hour grid you can set times to allow access.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For a quick check, I configured the parental control system to block access all day and logged in to an as-if child's account. No matter what site I tried, I got a message \u201cNo Web Surfing Allowed.\u201d That\u2019s a big improvement over my last test, when the access blocking failed for all secure HTTPS pages.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When I last tested this system, something was just broken. The content filter blocked only HTTP pages, not secure HTTPS pages. That\u2019s mostly fixed in the current version, provided your child uses a supported browser. Filtering HTTPS pages didn\u2019t work in my hand-coded browser\u2014they slipped right through. More concerning is the fact that the content filter also did nothing about secure porn pages in Opera.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In browsers that have a Trend Micro extension installed, any blocked page, secure or otherwise, gets replaced by a warning page. In browsers that don\u2019t have an extension but do allow filtering, HTTPS pages don\u2019t load and a pop-up explains why. And, as noted, in some browsers HTTPS pages just slip right through.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-48.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Parental Content Filter","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This content filter also isn't as flexible as what you get in more advanced systems like what Bitdefender and Kaspersky offer. With these two products, the filter parses each page's content, so they can, for example, allow access to a short-story website while blocking erotica. In testing, Trend Micro simply blocked the whole site, or allowed everything, including some truly raunchy stories.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I mentioned earlier that the parental control system offers to filter out inappropriate images. Year after year I keep pointing out that this feature is not effective. When I searched Google for images of unclothed girls, the images appeared briefly before Trend Micro covered them up, and it didn't cover every single image. I found that clicking on a missed image brought up the preview, and from the preview I could arrow left and right to see all the blocked pictures. In addition, this feature only works in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, not in Edge, Opera, or any other browser. Don\u2019t believe the claims; this feature is useless.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The one feature that did seem to work well was program control. I set it to block Chrome and then switched to the child account. Trying to launch Chrome triggered a Program Access Blocked notification. Launching a renamed copy of the program didn't fool the system; it still blocked access.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Back in the grownup user account, I checked out the parental control report. It summarized the blocked pages by category and it also offered a full list, with date\/time stamp but without specifying the user account involved. HTTPS sites that were blocked showed up in that report, but naturally any missed secure sites didn\u2019t.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There\u2019s one more problem with this system, a problem that might initially seem to be a feature. In a browser with Trend Micro\u2019s extension installed, the content filter marks up results, green for fine, red for blocked, grey for unknown. So, your randy teen need only search for \u201cnude girls\u201d or something inappropriate and stick with the results marked in grey. I had no trouble reaching naughty sites using this simple technique.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro's parental control has been poor and porous for years. Typically, I expect such a feature to eventually get a makeover, but that\u2019s not happening here. The best I can say is that the new, big problems of the previous edition seem to have been fixed, bringing this component back up to poor from utterly dismal.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Bonus Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Clicking the icons across the top of this suite's main window takes you to four secondary pages: Device, Privacy, Data, and Family. Family is the parental control system, of course. The other three pages add features not found in the standalone antivirus. I've already mentioned the PC Health Checkup on the Device page and the Privacy Scanner on the Privacy page, but these aren't the only bonus features.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"On the Privacy page, you can enable Data Theft Prevention, which protects your personal data from being exfiltrated by ","type":"text"},{"text":"spyware","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-spyware-protection-security-software","target":null}}]},{"text":" or revealed accidentally by your kids. Enabling this feature requires that you protect your settings with a password, if you haven't already done so for parental control.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Initially, the configuration page offers to save a credit card, advising you to use any seven consecutive digits rather than typing the whole thing. You can add any number of data items, which Trend Micro calls categories. For security, Trend Micro stores the data you enter in encrypted form and never displays it. You can't even edit an existing item\u2014to make a change you need to create a new data item and delete the old one. Settings are global, not per-user, so with this feature configured correctly your kids can't give away too much information in IM, email, or web forms. So far, so good!","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Last time I checked, this feature had a serious Achilles heel, in that it didn\u2019t work on secure websites. The email and messaging sites your kids might use to reveal too much information almost certainly connect using HTTPS, and there\u2019s nothing to stop a data-stealing Trojan from using a secure connection for exfiltration, so this feature was basically useless.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I\u2019m pleased to say that this time around, Trend Micro is tracking data sent via all websites, not just insecure HTTP ones. When I typed secret data into several popular secure search engines, the Data Theft Protection module kicked in before I even clicked to perform the search.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-49.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Data Theft Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Many security suites offer some form of ","type":"text"},{"text":"encryption","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-encryption-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" to protect your sensitive files. And many of those fail to provide a means for securely deleting the plaintext originals of those files. Trend Micro flips that model on its head, offering secure deletion without encryption in this suite. Upgrading to Maximum Security gets you the encryption system to go with secure deletion.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Secure Erase feature, found on the Data page, enables a right-click option to overwrite files and folders before deletion, thereby foiling attempts at forensic recovery. You can configure it to use a one-pass Quick Erase, which should foil almost any recovery attempt, or a seven-pass Permanent Erase that's completely irreversible. Unless you're the subject of a congressional investigation, the lengthy Permanent Erase is probably overkill.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The Data page also boasts a button that launches a free trial of ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Password Manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-password-manager","target":null}}]},{"text":", something you can get without even installing this suite. Note, though, that the best password managers, even the free ones, are vastly more effective than this basic utility.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Small Impact on Performance","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If users perceive that security is costing them performance, they're likely to turn off said security. Fortunately, most modern security suites are designed to avoid gobbling resources or putting a drag on ordinary use of the computer. In my hands-on performance tests, Trend Micro proved to have a light touch.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I should note that this is the first set of measurements using a new PC testbed. The old one gave up the ghost after years of service. The results seem to jibe with what I was seeing before, even though it\u2019s a different test computer.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"My boot-time test measures the time from the beginning of the boot process until 10 seconds have passed with no more than five percent CPU usage. Averaging multiple runs before and after installing Trend Micro, I found that the boot time increased by 24 percent. That\u2019s not much, especially considering that most of us reboot only when forced to by Windows Update or other circumstance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-53.png","altText":"Trend Micro Internet Security Performance Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You probably reboot once a day, at most, but you're working with files all day. To check whether the watchful eye of real-time antivirus protection puts a drag on file operations, I use a script that moves and copies a large collection of files between drives. Another script zips and unzips that same file collection repeatedly. As with the boot time test, I average multiple runs with and without the suite to see the impact on performance.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The file move and copy test took just 8 percent longer with Trend Micro installed, and the zip and unzip test ran 13 percent longer. That's not a lot; you're not likely to notice any drag in your day-to-day activities. However, several other products have demonstrated no drag at all in all three tests, among them ","type":"text"},{"text":"ESET Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/eset-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", K7, and Webroot.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Choose the Upgrade Instead","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Trend Micro Internet Security earned both excellent and poor scores in independent lab tests. It also aced our hands-on phishing protection and malicious URL blocking tests, but earned a low score in our hands-on malware protection test. Some of its many security components aren't effective, most notably the parental control system. You get just three licenses to protect your Macs or PCs. Anyone considering this suite should pay a little more for the fully cross-platform Trend Micro Maximum Security.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security and Kaspersky Internet Security also offer a wide variety of security features, and all their components work well. Both include intelligent firewall protection and effective parental control, and both get excellent scores from the labs. These two are our Editors' Choice picks for entry-level security suites.","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":54,"images":[{"index":43,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-43.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1200,"height":412,"hash":"4a562ea8dea1f8a35610c2c73c6ead3d","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":44,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-44.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":620,"height":553,"hash":"97cef35b0f118de52d343ecf496ce892","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":45,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-45.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":720,"height":482,"hash":"252bc823f34878eb54416ac87e2feb3a","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":46,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-46.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":760,"height":578,"hash":"58065ce75dc9b7cdc8d2d4a400c85552","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":47,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-47.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1032,"height":613,"hash":"fe40f556e9bfc4874ba15cf45dd4a730","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":48,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-48.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":690,"height":523,"hash":"589a54b1d37213c9cbd5a23d3117f369","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":49,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-49.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":826,"height":539,"hash":"9193e4771e522c57b04045125f387c5b","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":50,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-50.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":574,"height":746,"hash":"1051d5ae93e8364555a48d69e0e2a6cf","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":51,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-51.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":677,"height":714,"hash":"8fc4cd44140cdb2f6efa489bad3ca0b5","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":52,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-52.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":696,"height":626,"hash":"d1efe5eedf713680a70263cb74843ece","timestamp":1601499922,"metadata":[]},{"index":53,"path":"reviews\/06v3xLtVCaO7tbImeESo8F1-53.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":855,"height":588,"hash":"930360defabfb48d2fae42c877391850","timestamp":1601997316,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Very good scores in our antiphishing and malicious URL blocking tests\nHardened browser for online banking\nPC optimizer\nSocial media privacy scanner\nMany useful bonus features","cons":"Parental control ineffective\nPoor score in hands-on malware protection test\nSome poor scores in antivirus lab tests\nLimited licensing choices\nNo firewall","bottom_line":"Trend Micro Internet Security adds some components to the already rich feature set of Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security, but its big brother Trend Micro Maximum Security is a better choice.","best_for":"Best for Brand Enthusiasts","first_published_at":"2014-09-23T10:44:22.000000Z","published_at":"2020-10-06T20:49:05.000000Z","last_published_at":"2020-10-06T17:52:02.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-09-19T19:38:55.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-10-06T20:49:05.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":1496,"rank":8,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":46,"legacy_id":328474,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY","status":"Published","product_uuid":"06KI00JDtvEMCZdPGl6U1R3","spec_sheet_uuid":"05IVamPbpvQw75NsukGxJJJ","title":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus","slug":"webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-plus","deck":"Excellent antivirus protection but very little more","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"3.0","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":3045,"body":"Just what makes up a <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a>? The most common model brings together antivirus, firewall, spam filtering, and parental control, among other modules, but there are plenty of variations. Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus starts with Webroot's Editors' Choice-winning antivirus and adds powerful Android protection and a tepid password manager.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAt $59.99 per year for three licenses, Webroot costs less than most competing suites. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and <a href=\"\/reviews\/trend-micro-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1496\">Trend Micro Internet Security<\/a> cost $20 more for three licenses. If you want five Webroot licenses, you pay $69.99 per year, still less than the three-license price of the other suites I mentioned. Five Norton licenses will run you $89.99 per year. For the same price as Norton, you can install McAfee on all devices in your household, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\nYou can use your Webroot licenses to install protection on devices running Windows, macOS, or Android. On a Mac, you get <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6491\">Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac)<\/a>, plus Webroot's password manager. The Android security app costs $14.99 per year as a standalone, so your Webroot licenses are more valuable on a PC or Mac. You manage your installations or extend protection to a new device by logging in to your Webroot account online.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe suite's main window is identical to that of the standalone antivirus. There isn't even a different window title; both just say \"Webroot SecureAnywhere.\" You won't see any difference until you click the Password Manager button. If you've installed the suite, you see two buttons, Start Now and Learn More. In the antivirus, you just see Learn More. If you click Learn More in the antivirus, the \"more\" you learn is that to get password management you need to buy the suite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Windows Antivirus' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 518'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-1.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Windows Antivirus' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-1.fit_lim.size_740x518.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared Malware Protection<\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe antivirus protection of this suite comes from <a href=\"\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8502\">Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus<\/a>. Please read my review of the basic antivirus for full details of my findings. I'll briefly run through my results here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-9.v_1569469916.png', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Lab Results Chart', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-10.v_1569469916.png', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Malware Protection Chart', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-11.v_1569469916.png', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot relies mainly on behavior-based detection to classify programs as safe or malicious. It journals all actions by unknown processes and reports the behavior pattern to its cloud database. If it can't reach the cloud, it journals actions by all-new processes. A thumbs-down from the cloud tells the local agent to wipe out the process and reverse everything it did. This system can even <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"76\">reverse a ransomware attack<\/a>, provided the ransomware doesn't encrypt so many files it overloads the journaling system.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot wiped out all my real-world ransomware samples, but, using a ransomware simulator I wrote myself, I verified its ability to reverse unwanted file encryption. Experimenting with hand-modified ransomware, I did come up with one that got past Webroot, using an advanced technique called process hollowing. My company contacts tell me that Webroot has a defense against process hollowing in the works. Note, too, that if the bad guys are going after you, personally, using never-before-seen hand-modified malware, they're probably going to succeed regardless of your security protection.<\/p>\r\n\r\nMany tests by the big independent labs like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.av-test.org\/en\" target=\"_blank\">AV-Test Institute<\/a> and AV-Comparatives assume that if the antivirus is going to recognize and wipe out malware, it will do so right away. Webroot's journal-and-rollback system doesn't jibe with those tests. However, it did score well in both the tough tests by MRG-Effitas. It also received certification from SE Labs, though not at the highest level.<\/p>\r\n\r\nMy lab results aggregation algorithm assigns Webroot 7.7 of 10 possible points, which is low, but understandable. Bitdefender, tested by three labs but skipped in the latest results from <a href=\"https:\/\/selabs.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\">SE Labs<\/a>, tops the list with 10 points. All four labs evaluated Kaspersky, and its aggregate score of 9.9 points is excellent.<\/p>\r\n\r\nMy own hands-on <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"198\">malware protection<\/a>test isn't all that different from what the labs do, but I have the luxury of letting it take as long as necessary. Launching just one of my samples triggered a warning by Webroot and caused it to run a speedy full scan, which caught more of the samples. It automatically scanned again to be sure it didn't leave behind any malware. After the second scan, it had eliminated every malware sample while leaving valid programs in the same folder untouched. With a perfect 10 of 10 possible points, Webroot holds the top score in this test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469916.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469916.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot's detection system aims to defend against the very newest malware, so doing well against my months-old samples was no big surprise. For a measure of how well it handles current, prevalent malware, I start with a feed of malware-hosting URLs supplied by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mrg-effitas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">MRG-Effitas<\/a>. Typically, these URLs are no more than a day or two old. In testing, Webroot blocked access to 51 percent of the URLs and iced another 29 percent at download, meaning it missed 20 percent. My contact at the company noted that Webroot doesn't bring its full scanning power to bear on downloads until they try to execute. Allowing Webroot to make a more thorough scan cut that 20 percent down to 3 percent, but that scan is outside the scope of this test, so the score doesn't change.<\/p>\r\n\r\nNorton and Bitdefender missed just 1 percent in the malicious URL blocking test. <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6891\">McAfee Internet Security<\/a><\/span> caught all but 3 percent, without the additional scan that Webroot needed to reach that same 3 percent.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's no active malware involved in creating a phishing website. Rather, the fraudsters who create them hope that there really is a sucker born every minute, someone who'll log into a fake bank site, shopping site, even dating site. Because these fakes come and go quickly, I test with the very newest ones. Webroot caught 97 percent of the verified frauds, a step up from its previous test results. It joins a group of eight products that scored within a few percent of perfection, with <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7822\">Kaspersky Total Security<\/a><\/span> and McAfee scoring 100 percent.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Other Shared Features<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWhere many security companies reserve firewall protection as a security suite feature, Webroot offers it in the basic antivirus. The firewall component doesn't attempt protection against outside attack; it leaves that task to the capable built-in Windows Firewall. Webroot monitors network activity by unknown programs and prevents them from misusing that connection, something Windows Firewall doesn't do. If the antivirus component detects malware on the system, the firewall clamps down, preventing all network access by untrusted programs. In testing, I couldn't find any way that a malware coder could disable Webroot's protection.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you're not a security expert, you won't use most of the other shared features. However, they can be helpful if a tech support agent must remotely control your machine for manual malware cleanup. There are tools to repair collateral damage after a malware attack, quickly reboot into Safe Mode, and manually repair malware damage. An active process list shows which processes are trusted and which ones Webroot is monitoring. Finally, the SafeStart Sandbox lets experts launch a suspect program under limitations that prevent it doing damage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Related Story' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 35 26'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469916.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-3.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Related Story' width='35' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-3.fit_lim.size_35x26.v_1569469916.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-3.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"749\">See How We Test Security Software<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Simple Password Manager<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIf you're a long-time LastPass user, you may recognize Webroot's password manager, as it's a licensed and re-branded version of a previous iteration of LastPass. That does mean that it lacks the latest features of <a href=\"\/reviews\/lastpass-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4569\">LastPass Premium<\/a> such as password inheritance, shared password folders, and automated password changing.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot doesn't even include every feature from the version of LastPass on which it's based. It doesn't attempt application password management or password sharing, for example, though two-factor authentication is now within its scope. You can't create secure notes, nor can you define multiple identities within the program. It doesn't offer the impressive Security Challenge report that helps LastPass users <a href=\"\/how-to\/12345-is-really-bad-your-ultimate-guide-to-password-security\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"4781\">improve their password security<\/a>, either.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot installed without issue in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. That is a welcome improvement, given the problems I had with browser extensions during my last review. However, once I started using it, I ran into problems with Internet Explorer. Under Chrome and Firefox, Webroot correctly captured logins and offered to fill saved credentials. The IE installation, however, didn't capture any logins, and only filled saved credentials if I drilled down into the menu and chose AutoFill. My Webroot contact explained that a change in IE requires turning on AutoFill, but I haven't encountered this limitation with other password managers, including LastPass.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Passwords' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 337'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-4.fit_lim.size_740x337.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Passwords' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-4.fit_lim.size_740x337.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen it's working properly, the password manager captures credentials as you log in and replays them when you revisit a site. You can name saved entries and put them in folders at capture time, or organize them later. If you like, you can create a tree of folders and subfolders. When you click the browser toolbar button, these become a set of menus and submenus holding your saved sites. Select one and Webroot both navigates to the site and logs you in.<\/p>\r\n\r\nEven under Chrome and Firefox, Webroot didn't capture every login. It missed the two-page logins used by Gmail and EventBrite, for example. And it failed to capture my login to OpenTable. Of course, it's possible to create an entry by hand, but a password manager desperately needs to be convenient.<\/p>\r\n\r\nYou reach Webroot's equivalent to the LastPass Vault by logging in to your Webroot account online. The login process is a bit more complex than simply entering a password, though it's not precisely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/how-to\/two-factor-authentication-who-has-it-and-how-to-set-it-up\">two-factor authentication<\/a>. In addition to the password, you define a six-character PIN. Once you've entered the password, the site asks for two specific characters out of that PIN, a different pair each time, to foil any possible key-logging attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebsites that use a non-standard login form are becoming less and less common, but those that still exist can baffle some password managers. Like <a href=\"\/reviews\/sticky-password-premium\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5649\">Sticky Password Premium<\/a> and a few others, Webroot handles these sites by letting you manually capture data from all fields of the form. Just fill in your username, password, and any other required information. Then click the browser toolbar button and choose Tools, then select Save All Entered Data.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot's powerful password generator lets you <a href=\"\/how-to\/how-to-use-a-random-password-generator\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"30638\">create a random, unique password<\/a> when signing up for a new site or updating a weak or duplicate password. However, Webroot defaults to generating 12-character passwords using just letters and numbers. I strongly advise checking the box to add special characters to the mix and raising the length to at least 16 characters. MyKi defaults to 30-character passwords, and F-Secure Key uses 32 characters. Why not go long? You don't have to remember them!<\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can import passwords from two dozen competing products, among them <a href=\"\/reviews\/dashlane\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11375\">Dashlane <\/a>, Sticky Password, and RoboForm, or import a generic CSV file. That list of two dozen products does include quite a few that I've never heard of.<\/p>\r\n\r\nLike many password managers, Webroot can fill Web forms with your saved information. You can create multiple profiles, each containing personal data, contact data, one credit card, one bank account, and any custom fields that you need. You can also add any number of credit cards separately. When Webroot detects a fillable form, it offers a menu that lets you choose a profile to fill the form, or choose a profile and a credit card. In testing, I found that it did a better job than most filling complicated forms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Personal Data' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 558'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-5.fit_lim.size_740x558.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Personal Data' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-5.fit_lim.size_740x558.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nHere's the thing. The password manager you get with Webroot doesn't even have all the features of the free edition of <a href=\"\/reviews\/lastpass\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"9475\">LastPass <\/a>. Among the free LastPass features you don't get are: secure notes; secure sharing of saved credentials; ability to define an inheritor for your passwords; an actionable report on the security of all your passwords; automated password changing; and two-factor authentication that goes beyond Google Authenticator. The password manager component doesn't add significant value to this suite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Support for Mobile Devices<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAnyone can use Webroot's free, feature-limited mobile security product for Android, but your suite subscription lets you upgrade to the paid edition, Webroot SecureAnywhere Mobile Premier. This is a full-scale mobile security tool, with antivirus, antitheft, app analysis, and more.<\/p>\r\n\r\nYou start by installing the free Webroot security app from the Play store. During installation, you get an opportunity to activate premium features using your registration code; you can also upgrade by entering the code later. As with most such utilities, you must activate Device Administrator privileges, usage tracking, and more. The app walks you through installation and configuration of numerous security components.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe antivirus component requests a full scan at installation and automatically runs a full scan every week. That full scan is quick, so you may want to schedule it more often than weekly. Of course, you can manually request a full scan any time. Webroot's real-time shields scan new apps, files you download, and apps you launch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Android' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-6.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Android' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-6.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nYou manage antitheft features through the online console. If you've mislaid your device around the house, you can log in and select Scream. Be warned, it doesn't make a beep or a siren; it literally screams. It's not the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_scream\" target=\"_blank\">Wilhelm Scream<\/a>, but it's alarming.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIf you lost the device, or someone stole it, you can lock it remotely, with an optional custom message. You can query its location, which also locks it. And if all else fails, you can remotely wipe it with a factory reset. If your device doesn't have some kind of Lock screen protection enabled, Webroot prompts you to define a temporary PIN of four to 16 digits. If you recover the device, you'll have to enter that PIN to unlock it.<\/p>\r\n\r\nI did notice one oddity in testing. The map inset on the anti-theft page displayed the message, \"This page can't load Google Maps correctly.\" After I clicked away the warning, the message \"For development purposes only\" appeared on the map. My Webroot contact confirmed that this is a known problem, caused by a Google API update, and that the company is working with Google to resolve it. He pointed out that the locate function works fine despite the odd messaging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Antitheft' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 509'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-7.fit_lim.size_740x509.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-7.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Antitheft' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-7.fit_lim.size_740x509.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-7.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nI tested the Android app on a <a href=\"\/reviews\/motorola-moto-g5-plus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7671\">Motorola Moto G5 Plus<\/a>. This device isn't provisioned for cellular communication, so I couldn't test the SIM card lock, which locks down the device if a thief changes out the SIM card. Likewise, I couldn't test call and text blocking. This last feature goes beyond just blocking numbers you define as unwanted. It can also block all calls from numbers not in your contacts, and block texts that contain dangerous links.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe useful App Inspector flags apps that can access your messages, cost you money, access sensitive information, or track your location. Initially it just shows how many apps match each category. Tapping a category gets a full list, and tapping any app takes you to the Android uninstall page for that app. There's also a battery monitor to identify battery-hog apps, as well as a seriously geeky network monitor.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAs during my last review, the battery monitor didn't display the expected list of apps and their battery usage, and the real-time usage monitor wasn't available. My Webroot contact explained that in Android versions starting with Lollipop (released in 2014), Google \"removed our ability to provide real-time stats.\" That does mean that hardly any Android users get the benefit of this feature.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you use the SecureWeb browser, you get the same kind of protection against malware-hosting URLs and phishing sites that the browser extensions offer under Windows. It's also your route to accessing the password manager. Note that even when you've logged in with your master password, password management isn't quite as automatic as the Windows version. To start, it doesn't capture logins, just plays them back. You must navigate to a secure site, choose Vault from SecurWeb's menu, and then choose AutoFill. You fill forms in much the same way.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWhen you access the Vault itself on Android, you just get an alphabetical list of saved sites, without any categories. You can tap an item to visit the site (after which you'll use AutoFill as above) or view the site details. But there's no ability to edit the items the way you can in Windows. LastPass on Android has virtually all the same features as LastPass on a PC, including the ability to create and edit new logins, securely share passwords, and leave your passwords to an inheritor in the event of your demise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus iOS' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 555'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-8.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469916.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-8.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus iOS' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-8.fit_lim.size_740x555.v_1569469916.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-8.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nWebroot does support iOS as well, in a minor fashion. Specifically, you can install the free SecureWeb app on your iOS devices for protection against bad sites and access to Webroot's password manager. An iOS installation doesn't use up any of your precious licenses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Zero Performance Impact<\/h2>\r\n\r\nFrom the start, Webroot has been famous for its tiny size and low resource usage. The main application is less than 4MB in size. Webroot uses just two processes and one Windows service, while some popular antivirus products need a dozen or more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-12.v_1569469916.png', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Performance Chart', 'Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nMy simple hands-on tests measure changes in the time required to boot the system, to move and copy a large collection of files between drives, and to zip and unzip that same collection repeatedly. I average multiple runs before and after installing the suites, and report the difference.<\/p>\r\n\r\nLike <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"7468\">Bitdefender Internet Security<\/a> and adaware antivirus total, Webroot didn't slow down any of my tests. In fact, the average time for all three came in slightly faster than before I installed Webroot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Not Enough Plus<\/h2>\r\n\r\nWebroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus includes the same unusual antivirus protection that made Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus an Editors' Choice in the antivirus category. However, you don't get much benefit by upgrading to this suite. While the password manager component uses code licenses from LastPass, it doesn't even have all the features of the free, basic LastPass. It does let you install protection on your Android devices, but that protection is available separately for $14.99. If you need antivirus and password management, you'd do better to install Webroot's antivirus and the free version of LastPass.<\/p>\r\n\r\nFor a powerful security suite, one offering all the expected features, you'll be better off with Bitdefender Internet Security or Kaspersky Internet Security. These Editors' Choice suites cost more than Webroot, but they also give you a lot more, and the independent testing labs consistently give their antivirus protection perfect or near-perfect ratings.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSub-Ratings:<\/b><\/span> Note: These sub-ratings contribute to a product's overall star rating, as do other factors, including ease of use in real-world testing, bonus features, and overall integration of features.<\/em> Firewall: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n35.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Antivirus: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Performance: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n5.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Privacy: <img src=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/img\/red_n45.png\" height=\"11\" width=\"55\" border=\"0\" \/> Parental Control: n\/a<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Just what ingredients go into making a ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suite","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":"? In the past, one common recipe started with antivirus, firewall, spam filter, and parental control system. However, many modern suites omit the less-needed spam filter and parental control, and there are plenty of other variations. Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus starts with Webroot's Editors' Choice-winning antivirus and adds a third-party password manager and a mobile app that\u2019s a shadow of its former self. It\u2019s not an impressive upgrade to the antivirus.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"How Much Does Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Cost?","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"At $59.99 per year for three licenses, Webroot costs less than most competing suites. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Trend Micro Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/trend-micro-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" cost $20 more for three licenses. If you want five Webroot licenses, you pay $69.99 per year, still less than the three-license price of the other suites I mentioned. Five Norton licenses will run you $104.99 per year, but that gets you five cross-platform suite licenses, five no-limits VPN licenses, and 50GB of storage for your (Windows) online backups. McAfee costs still more, $159.99 per year, but that subscription lets you install McAfee\u2019s top protection on all devices in your household, whether they run Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You can use your Webroot licenses to install protection on devices running Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. On a Mac, you get ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus for Mac","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", plus Webroot's password manager. You manage your Windows and macOS installations or extend protection to a new device by logging in to your Webroot account online. As for the mobile editions, they don\u2019t have a presence in the online console, but my Webroot contact confirms that they do count against your total licenses. Given how little the mobile apps do, you should only use them if you\u2019re sure you won\u2019t need any more licenses for macOS or Windows.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the online console, you can check the status of all your Windows and macOS installations and view details of recent scans. You can even launch a scan remotely, handy if you\u2019re managing protection for relatives with minimal tech expertise. Other remote commands let you shut down or restart the remote computer or recover (and reuse) the license from a PC you\u2019re no longer using.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You use the same minuscule installer as for the standalone antivirus\u2014just what gets installed depends on the license key you enter. The suite's main window is identical to that of the standalone antivirus. There isn't even a different window title; both just say \"Webroot SecureAnywhere.\" You won't see any difference until you click the Password Manager button. If you've installed the suite, you see two buttons, Start Now and Learn More. In the antivirus, you just see Learn More. If you click Learn More in the antivirus, the \"more\" you learn is that to get password management you need to buy the suite.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-27.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Windows Antivirus","caption":null}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared Windows Protection","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite\u2019s antivirus protection for Windows PCs comes from ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":". Please read my review of the basic antivirus for full details of my findings. I'll briefly run through my results here.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot relies mainly on behavior-based detection to classify programs as safe or malicious. It journals all actions by unknown processes and reports the behavior pattern to its cloud database. A thumbs-down from the cloud tells the local agent to wipe out the process and reverse everything it did. This system can even ","type":"text"},{"text":"reverse a ransomware attack","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection","target":null}}]},{"text":", in many cases.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Testing ransomware protection was tough, because Webroot wiped out all my real-world ransomware samples. I had to create a set of never-before-seen samples by modifying my existing set. I renamed each file, changed the file size by appending nulls, and tweaked a few collections of non-executable bytes. Some of the modified samples just didn\u2019t do anything, perhaps because they detected Webroot\u2019s presence. Others worked as designed, encrypting important documents and leaving ransom notes. When I triggered Webroot\u2019s rollback system, it recovered the unencrypted original files in several cases, though it did leave behind the encrypted copies. However, a couple of the cleverer ransomware attackers managed to encrypt files without being caught by Webroot at all. Note, though, that if the bad guys are going after you, personally, using never-before-seen hand-modified malware, they're probably going to succeed regardless of your security protection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Many tests by the big independent labs like ","type":"text"},{"text":"AV-Test Institute","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"http:\/\/www.av-test.org\/en","target":null}}]},{"text":" and AV-Comparatives assume that if the antivirus is going to recognize and wipe out malware, it will do so right away. Webroot's journal-and-rollback system doesn't jibe with those tests. In the past, Webroot has scored well with MRG-Effitas in a test that gives products 24 hours to remediate any malware activity, but Webroot hasn\u2019t appeared in this lab\u2019s reports for a few years. In fact, at present we don\u2019t have any current lab reports to verify how well Webroot works.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"infogram_embed","attrs":{"id":"cf851180-f21f-4051-aa80-02f752f734a6","url":"https:\/\/infogram.com\/1pe65wem7rxz29fm2kw1y765vghlk55w3e1","embed_id":"_\/JRjN7wwnI176jv1W4316","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/infogram-thumbs-1024.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/cf851180-f21f-4051-aa80-02f752f734a6.jpg"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"My own hands-on ","type":"text"},{"text":"malware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" test isn\u2019t so different from some tests from the big labs. Some antivirus products scan files on any access; these products wipe out some portion of my malware collection the moment I open the folder. Others, like Webroot, don\u2019t scan until just before an app tries to execute. If Webroot detects malware, it immediately launches a full scan to make sure the system is clean. In testing, this scan often found other samples, thereby triggering yet another scan in a kind of chain reaction. Fortunately, a full scan finishes in less than 10 minutes.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot detected 99% of my samples and scored 9.8 of 10 possible points, an impressive showing. Tested with this same collection of samples, McAfee and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Malwarebytes Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/malwarebytes-premium","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" both detected 100% of them. Malwarebytes scored a perfect 10 and McAfee came in at 9.9, but no other products scored higher than Webroot.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"infogram_embed","attrs":{"id":"d4925231-e8a4-4049-b9bc-26a4a0b252ce","url":"https:\/\/infogram.com\/1pyg60xq67ydjrf3wdeqxd05jjiy31dvn5z","embed_id":"_\/AD5SBXGd7RE5SEGv4aWQ","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/infogram-thumbs-1024.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/d4925231-e8a4-4049-b9bc-26a4a0b252ce.jpg"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Collecting and curating a set of malware samples takes weeks, so I don\u2019t change the static malware collection often. For a measure of how well Webroot handles current, prevalent malware, I start with a feed of malware-hosting URLs supplied by ","type":"text"},{"text":"MRG-Effitas","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"http:\/\/www.mrg-effitas.com\/","target":null}}]},{"text":". Typically, these URLs are no more than a day or two old. In testing, Webroot blocked access to 86% of the malware-hosting URLs and quarantined another 10% of the malware payloads, for a total of 96% protection. That\u2019s quite good, but ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" managed 100% protection in its own latest test, while Bitdefender, F-Secure, and several others scored 99%.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"There's no active malware required for creating a phishing website. Rather, the fraudsters who create these imitation web pages hope that there really is a sucker born every minute, someone who'll log into a fake bank site, shopping site, even dating site. Because these fakes come and go quickly, I test with the very newest ones. Webroot caught 99% of the verified frauds, a step up from its previous test results. Bitdefender and Norton also detected 99%, while ","type":"text"},{"text":"F-Secure Safe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/f-secure-safe","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and McAfee topped out at 100% detection. It\u2019s worth noting that Webroot\u2019s own macOS edition, tested simultaneously with the Windows product, also managed 100% detection.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"infogram_embed","attrs":{"id":"4bfc58df-a6b7-45d7-adcf-734c9cfb2e08","url":"https:\/\/infogram.com\/1prv31gdpwyvwghgv1lne1m3rmsmxgm50ve","embed_id":"_\/qbqMqvnsz6A94CshP1xq","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/infogram-thumbs-1024.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/4bfc58df-a6b7-45d7-adcf-734c9cfb2e08.jpg"}},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Other Shared Features","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Where many security companies reserve firewall protection as a security suite feature, Webroot offers it in the basic antivirus. The firewall component doesn't attempt protection against outside attack; it leaves that task to the capable built-in Windows Firewall. Webroot monitors network activity by unknown programs and prevents them from misusing that connection, something Windows Firewall doesn't do. If the antivirus component detects malware on the system, the firewall clamps down, preventing all network access by untrusted programs.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In testing, though, I found that the firewall\u2019s program control didn\u2019t take any visible action, even at higher levels of control. My Webroot contact confirmed that due to a problem with a recent update the firewall component is not working at present.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"If you're not a security expert, you won't use most of the other shared features. However, they can be helpful if a tech support agent must remotely control your machine for manual malware cleanup. There are tools to repair collateral damage after a malware attack, quickly reboot into Safe Mode, and manually repair malware damage. An active process list shows which processes are trusted and which ones Webroot is monitoring. Finally, the SafeStart Sandbox lets experts launch a suspect program under limitations that prevent it doing damage.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Protection for Your Macs","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As with the standalone antivirus, you can also use your licenses to install protection on your macOS devices. What you get is exactly the same as ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (for Mac)","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-antivirus-for-mac","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":", plus support for your LastPass subscription.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-28.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus macOS Protection","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The macOS edition doesn\u2019t have all the high-end expert features found in the Windows product, but those features are too techie for many users in any case. We don\u2019t have any reports from the independent labs to verify Webroot\u2019s protective capabilities under macOS. However, it achieved a perfect score in our hands-on phishing protection test. We ran into some temporary glitches testing its ability to scan and detect Windows malware, but when we got past the problems it scored higher than all the other macOS antivirus tools we\u2019ve tested.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"We did encounter a few other oddities. The configuration setting to select a quick scan doesn\u2019t work at present, so only the full scan was available. Fortunately, that scan averaged less than 10 minutes to complete. The text for some settings checkboxes didn\u2019t display at all unless the box was checked. To see it, you had to blindly check the box, and doing so diminished security in every case. On the plus side, Webroot offers useful system analysis and optimization tools.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"See How We Test Security Software","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"},{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/news\/how-we-test-antivirus-and-security-software","target":"_parent"}}]}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Third-Party Password Manager","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"When you click Start Now in the main window\u2019s ","type":"text"},{"text":"password manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-password-managers","target":null}}]},{"text":" panel, it sends you to the online console to log in. The console\u2019s home page consists of four panels, PC Security, Mobile Security, Backup & Sync, and Password Manager Powered by LastPass. For users of the standalone antivirus, only the PC Security panel is functional. Upgrading to this suite enables the password manager and mobile security panels.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The first time you click to Manage Passwords you see a welcome screen that states, \u201cLastPass has partnered with Webroot to offer you LastPass Premium as part of your Webroot package.\u201d This is a contrast to the behavior when I last reviewed Webroot. At that time, the password manager licensed from LastPass was an older version, without all the expected features. My contact at LastPass confirmed that they moved all Webroot users away from that old version a couple years ago.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-29.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Passwords","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"That being the case, I\u2019ll refer you to our standalone review of ","type":"text"},{"text":"LastPass Premium","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/lastpass","target":null}}]},{"text":" for a full run-down on the password manager component. Briefly, it\u2019s a four-star Editors\u2019 Choice in the password manager field. Besides the expected password manager features, it includes secure sharing, password inheritance, and a powerful scoring tool to help you fix weak and duplicate passwords. It also supports a broad range of two-factor authentication options, ranging from a low-tech paper verification grid to Yubikey authentication (though it doesn\u2019t yet support the Universal Two-Factor ","type":"text"},{"text":"FIDO 2 standard","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.yubico.com\/blog\/otp-vs-u2f-strong-to-stronger\/","target":null}}]},{"text":".) As a standalone, LastPass costs $36 per year, so getting it as part of your Webroot subscription is a good deal.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Diminished Android Support","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Mobile security, along with password management, is what distinguishes this suite from Webroot\u2019s standalone antivirus. However, the mobile security that\u2019s currently available is much diminished from what it used to be. Worse, the obsolete Android version is not only still present in the Play Store, it comes up as the first choice when you search for Webroot.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-30.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Console","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"I knew something was different when I looked at the online console. In previous editions, the Mobile Security panel paralleled the PC Security panel, with a summary of protected devices and a link to a full page for managing security of your Android phones and tablets. That Mobile Security page is no longer present, and the Mobile Security panel advises users to configure Google\u2019s Find My Device, because Lost Device Protection has been removed.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Initially, I installed the obsolete app, titled Webroot Mobile Security & Antivirus. It looked right, with the familiar green background, but there were clearly some problems. This app explained in elaborate detail how to enable Lost Device Protection, a feature that the console clearly stated is no longer present. Other features didn\u2019t work correctly, and the Settings page came up blank. After spending a few hours noting all the problems and querying my Webroot contact, I realized that I had the wrong app.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-31.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Android Edition","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The current app, Webroot Mobile Security, lacks most of the old app\u2019s features. Lost Device Protection is gone, as noted. App Protection used to analyze your apps, helping you identify any with problematic permissions. The Battery Monitor aimed to highlight apps putting an undue load on your battery, and the Network Monitor tracked which apps were sucking up the most bandwidth. There was also a separate SecureWeb app, which incorporated Webroot\u2019s protection against dangerous and fraudulent websites. Gone. All gone.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"The app that remains totally incorporates SecureWeb\u2014in fact, it looks like a browser. At the bottom you find a button to launch an antivirus scan. If the app you just downloaded turns out to be malware, Webroot throws it in quarantine jail. If you try to visit a phishing site or a dangerous site, Webroot shows a warning page instead. It can extend that protection to Chrome as well, if you enable that feature. And that\u2019s all.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-32.png","altText":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus iOS","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot does offer an ","type":"text"},{"text":"iOS app","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-iphone-apps","target":null}}]},{"text":", but it does even less than the ","type":"text"},{"text":"Android app","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/best-android-apps","target":null}}]},{"text":". It\u2019s more of a browser than a true security app. It does the same things the reduced-scale Android app does, minus antivirus scanning. The website touts its tabbed browsing, but what I saw wasn\u2019t appreciably different from Safari.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Zero Performance Impact","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"From the start, Webroot has been famous for its tiny size and low resource usage. The main application is less than 6MB in size. Webroot uses just two processes and one Windows service, while some popular antivirus products need a dozen or more. The addition of LastPass to the mix doesn\u2019t change things appreciably.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"infogram_embed","attrs":{"id":"0b50de69-a55a-43ce-ba27-c33856375624","url":"https:\/\/infogram.com\/1px1gxpl19d0gkbqmpjegv661eanp2vd27z","embed_id":"_\/IVYyi8tpOpuclLbnaXUW","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/infogram-thumbs-1024.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com\/0b50de69-a55a-43ce-ba27-c33856375624.jpg"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"My simple hands-on tests measure changes in the time required to boot the system, to move and copy a large collection of files between drives, and to zip and unzip that same collection repeatedly. I average multiple runs before and after installing the suites, and report the difference.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Like ","type":"text"},{"text":"ESET Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/eset-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" and K7, Webroot didn't slow down any of my tests. In fact, the average time for all three came in slightly faster than before I installed Webroot. But really, this result shouldn\u2019t be surprising. There\u2019s hardly anything to this suite, just the tiny antivirus, after all.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Not Enough Plus","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus includes the same unusual antivirus protection that made Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus an Editors' Choice winner in the antivirus category. However, upgrading to the suite doesn\u2019t get you a lot. Yes, you now get the full LastPass Premium experience. However, the Android mobile security app is a mere shadow of its former self and the iOS app does even less. Since these two items are the entirety of what distinguishes this suite, you might as well stick with Webroot\u2019s antivirus, the best part of this suite, and add a top ","type":"text"},{"text":"free password manager","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-free-password-managers","target":null}}]},{"text":" if needed.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"For a powerful security suite, one offering all the expected features, you'll be better off with ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-internet-security","target":"_parent"}}]},{"text":" or Kaspersky Internet Security. These Editors' Choice-winning suites cost more than Webroot, but they also give you ","type":"text"},{"text":"a lot ","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"italic"}]},{"text":"more, and the independent testing labs consistently rate their antivirus protection as or near-perfect.","type":"text"}]}]},"images":{"autoincrement":33,"images":[{"index":26,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-26.jpg","extension":"jpg","animated":false,"width":1280,"height":720,"hash":"ab5e93fb9daa4feec95beaeacb733217","timestamp":1619113926,"metadata":[]},{"index":27,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-27.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":560,"hash":"d2ed054af541447d02a6c1c745533f85","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]},{"index":28,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-28.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":800,"height":582,"hash":"deaeef476cb2f38b8ec00a19f699aa8e","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]},{"index":29,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-29.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1126,"height":687,"hash":"c5c5815ec00ea38500ebf5ec8cfe12b3","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]},{"index":30,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-30.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":1270,"height":645,"hash":"73d9f8b1d7593d8b4f34efa2c5026dee","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]},{"index":31,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-31.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":3264,"height":2288,"hash":"fa300450cd5d9b607c97e9408b1fe578","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]},{"index":32,"path":"reviews\/00JjHZRclr3JRG8sDX2NeVY-32.png","extension":"png","animated":false,"width":2048,"height":1536,"hash":"87e71086d4f7fc52fbf10f3408a02c88","timestamp":1619117750,"metadata":[]}],"metadata":[]},"pros":"Excellent antivirus protection\nCan reverse some ransomware attacks\nLight on system resources in testing\nFast scan in testing\nBundles LastPass Premium","cons":"Firewall not working at present\nDiminished Android security\nMinimal iOS security\nNo independent lab test results","bottom_line":"On top of excellent antivirus protection, Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus adds a third-party password manager and very limited mobile security.","best_for":"Brand Enthusiasts","first_published_at":"2014-10-15T14:29:17.000000Z","published_at":"2021-04-27T12:49:27.000000Z","last_published_at":"2021-04-26T18:19:13.000000Z","scheduled_at":null,"created_at":"2014-10-15T13:30:59.000000Z","updated_at":"2021-04-27T12:49:27.000000Z","pivot":{"review_id":7822,"related_review_id":46,"rank":9,"created_at":"2020-03-20T04:45:23.000000Z","updated_at":"2020-08-31T18:04:06.000000Z"}},{"id":6652,"legacy_id":363986,"luna_user_id":null,"uuid":"06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L","status":"Published","product_uuid":"05X2oip8jvNqaA7i9ZQheeq","spec_sheet_uuid":null,"title":"Avira Prime","slug":"avira-prime","deck":"Every current and future Avira product in one security suite","is_editors_choice":false,"is_preview":false,"show_specs":true,"show_toc":true,"score":"3.5","people_involved":null,"hours_spent":null,"hours_researched":null,"word_count":3141,"body":"Picture two theme park passes. One gives you full park access and lets you ride all the rides as many times as you want. The other gets you on a few rides, but mostly just lets you watch the rides go by. I know which one I'd pick! In the <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-security-suites\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"203\">security suite<\/a> realm, Avira Prime is the all-access pass version. It gives you unlimited access to the paid edition of every Avira product, both existing ones and future additions, including Avira's premium mobile products.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAs for the limited theme-park pass, well, that's <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-free-security-suite\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2804\">Avira Free Security Suite<\/a>. That product is very little different from Avira's free antivirus, except that where the antivirus makes a multitude of ancillary programs available as optional downloads, the suite downloads and installs them all for you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\nYou pay $99.99 for an Avira Prime license, which gives you five licenses to install Avira products on your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Norton Security Deluxe also gives you five licenses, but for $10 less. For $10 more than Avira's price, <a href=\"\/reviews\/norton-360-with-lifelock-select\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"10607\">Symantec Norton Security Premium<\/a> protects 10 devices; it also gives you 25GB of online storage for your backups. Kaspersky Security Cloud seems expensive at $149.99 per year, but that gets you protection for 20 devices. Still not enough? For the same price as Avira Prime, McAfee Total Protection offers unlimited licenses to protect every device in your household.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAvira does have an offer that beats Kaspersky, at least in terms of the per-license price. If you want more than five licenses, no problem. You can get a 25-license subscription for $129.99. That's not quite the unlimited licenses you get from <a href=\"\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2076\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a>, but it's a rare household that needs protection for more than 25 devices.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThese price-comparison comments wouldn't be complete without a mention of the fact that Avira isn't what you'd call a full-featured suite. It doesn't offer a firewall, spam filtering, parental control, or backup, among other features found in the competing suites. And while its core antivirus component is good, it isn't up there with the best.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Avira Prime Control Console' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 720 560'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-1.fit_lim.size_720x560.v_1569469957.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-1.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Avira Prime Control Console' width='720' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-1.fit_lim.size_720x560.v_1569469957.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-1.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe ringmaster of this suite is the Avira Connect launcher that should be familiar to any Avira user. This tool gives you quick access to all the components collected in this suite, along with a link to manage all your Avira-equipped devices. Any new Avira products should show up in the launcher automatically, with no effort on your part.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Free for All<\/h2>\r\n\r\nNaturally Avira Prime manages all the totally free Avira products that come with the free suite. These include the <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-home-guard\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1208\">Avira Home Guard<\/a> network security scanner, and also Avira Privacy Pal, an app that checks 200 Windows settings and configures them for maximum security. The free Browser Safety extension installs in Chrome and Firefox to steer the browser away from dangerous and fraudulent sites, mark dangerous links in search results, and actively balks tracking ads and other attempts to track your surfing behavior. There's also a Safe Shopping extension that helps you find better deals when you're shopping online.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThese components also tag along with the free <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-antivirus\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1839\">Avira Antivirus<\/a>; the biggest difference between the antivirus and free suite is that the suite installs all available tools while the antivirus installs them only on request. Interestingly, with Avira Prime you're back to manually installing these free goodies. Do take the time to install them—they all have their uses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Shared With Antivirus Pro<\/h2>\r\n\r\nUpgrading from the free antivirus to <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-antivirus-pro\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6524\">Avira Antivirus Pro<\/a><\/span> doesn't change things a lot. You can read my review of that product for the down and dirty; I'll summarize here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-7.v_1569469957.png', 'Avira Prime Lab Results Chart', 'Avira Prime Lab Results Chart', '');\">Lab Test Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-8.v_1569469957.png', 'Avira Prime Malware Protection Chart', 'Avira Prime Malware Protection Chart', '');\">Malware Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-9.v_1569469957.png', 'Avira Prime Phishing Protection Results Chart', 'Avira Prime Phishing Protection Results Chart', '');\">Phishing Protection Results Chart<\/a> <a href=\"#\" onclick=\"return popImage('\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-10.v_1569469957.png', 'Avira Prime Performance Chart', 'Avira Prime Performance Chart', '');\">Performance Results Chart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe antivirus labs that I follow (MRG-Effitas, SE Labs, AV-Comparatives, and AV-Test) all include Avira, and they give it scores ranging from good to great. Its aggregate lab score of 9.4 points matches that of AVG and Avast. <a href=\"\/reviews\/kaspersky-security-cloud\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1105\">Kaspersky Security Cloud<\/a><\/span> tops the lab charts, with a perfect 10 points.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAvira earned decent scores in our hands-on malware protection tests, though not as good as in the lab tests. It scored 8.6 of 10 possible points in the local malware protection test, a good bit lower than the top score of 9.3 points shared by Cylance, <a href=\"\/reviews\/f-secure-safe\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5896\">F-Secure Safe<\/a>, McAfee, and Norton.<\/p>\r\n\r\nChallenged with a collection of 100 very current malware-hosting URLs, Avira blocked 96 percent, evenly split between preventing browser access to the site and eliminating malware on download. Few products have done better, though <a href=\"\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"4338\">Bitdefender Total Security<\/a> and Norton managed 99 percent.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAvira didn't do as well protecting against phishing sites, fraudulent sites that mimic banks and other sensitive websites to steal your login credentials. Its detection rate of 66 percent came in below the protection built into Chrome and Firefox. In this test, Kaspersky and McAfee both achieved 100 percent protection.<\/p>\r\n\r\nBrowser Safety in the free antivirus works only with Chrome and Firefox. The for-pay Pro edition adds a browser-independent Web Protection component. However, in testing this component proved significantly less effective than the Browser Safety extension.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Pro edition adds a layer of <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-ransomware-protection\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"76\">ransomware protection<\/a>, behavior-based detection aimed at shooting down any ransomware that gets past the basic real-time protection. There's no way to turn off real-time protection without also turning off the ransomware layer, and real-time protection eliminated all my ransomware samples. Thus, I couldn't separately test this feature.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\n\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/securitywatch.pcmag.com\/\"><img alt='SecurityWatch' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 95 85'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469957.jpg\"}' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-2.jpg'><noscript inline-template><img alt='SecurityWatch' width='95' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-2.fit_lim.size_95x85.v_1569469957.jpg' align=\"left\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-2.jpg'><\/noscript><\/span><\/A>\n\n<\/p>\r\n\r\nMail Protection, a Pro-only feature, checks incoming and outgoing email for malware. Device Protection lets administrators limit the use of potentially infected removable drives. That's about it for the benefits of upgrading to the Pro-level antivirus. In my review, I concluded that you might as well stick with the free edition.<\/p>\r\n\r\nUnlike many security suite products, the basic <a href=\"\/reviews\/avast-internet-security\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"3256\">Avast Internet Security<\/a> suite doesn't add any features not present in the antivirus. Rather, it upgrades the Password Manager and Software Updater components to the for-pay Pro level. Given that each of these would cost $32.44 per year as a standalone, it's a bargain, but only if you were willing to pay to get those features. In my performance tests, it didn't affect real-time file manipulation, but put a significant drag on boot time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Password Manager Pro<\/h2>\r\n\r\nMany commercial <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-password-managers\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"168\">password manager<\/a> tools offer a free edition, but under stringent limitations. Some put a cap on the number of passwords you can save. Others, including Dashlane and Sticky Password, only allow free usage if you forego syncing between devices.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThere's no such limitation with <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"11438\">Avira Password Manager<\/a>. You can store as many passwords as you like in the free edition, and take advantage of almost all available features, including two-factor authentication.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe big plus with Password Manager Pro (which sells as a standalone product for $32.44) is its security status report. This report lists weak passwords, passwords you've reused, and passwords for websites that fail to implement HTTPS security. There's also a page of possibly breached passwords, instances where your email addresses or usernames show up as accounts on known breached sites.<\/p>\r\n\r\nBy referring to this report, you can manually go fix problem credentials, upgrading them to strong, unique passwords that Avira remembers for you. It's not the fully automated password change feature found in Dashlane, LastPass, <a href=\"\/reviews\/symantec-norton-password-manager\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1172\">Symantec Norton Password Manager<\/a>, and a few others, but it does point you in the right direction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Software Updater Pro<\/h2>\r\n\r\nIt's a given that malware coders are constantly picking away at popular programs and operating systems, looking for security flaws. When they find a vulnerability, they exploit it right away to penetrate as many devices as possible. The security company likewise leaps in to fix the flaw and push out a patch. If you fail to install that patch, you're leaving the door open to malware attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\nSoftware Updater Pro runs in the background (or on demand) to identify missing security patches for the operating system and for popular programs. It does its best to automate the process of applying these patches. In testing I found that it did occasionally need to reboot the system to finish its work, but it made the process as painless as possible. The free edition locates missing patches, but leaves the job of applying them to you.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIn a similar fashion, Avast offers a vulnerability scanner in its entire product line, starting with the free antivirus. Upgrading to <a href=\"\/reviews\/avast-premier-2017\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"1608\">Avast Premier<\/a> gets you automatic updates, just as with Avira.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>System Speedup Pro<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYou get the Pro-level versions of Password Manager and Software Updater with Avira's basic suite, but the System Speedup tool remains at the free level. That means it gives you an overview of system performance, but it won't actually optimize the system without an upgrade.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWith Avira Prime you get <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-system-speedup\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"5588\">Avira System Speedup<\/a> Pro, the fully functional system optimizer. Set it to optimize after a scan and it will locate junk files, useless Registry items, and exposed private data, then help you improve both performance and safety. Seeing the Disk, Performance, and Privacy meters all rise to 100 percent optimization is an encouraging sight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Avira Prime System Speedup' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 589'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-3.fit_lim.size_740x589.v_1569469957.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-3.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Avira Prime System Speedup' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-3.fit_lim.size_740x589.v_1569469957.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-3.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAmong this component's many other abilities are: boot time optimization; management of power modes; elimination of zero-byte and duplicate files; secure deletion of files or entire drives; file encryption; Registry and system status backup; and more. Please read our review of the standalone product for full details. This is a comprehensive system speedup tool!<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Avira Phantom VPN<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYour antivirus or security suite works hard to protect your data, your devices, and your privacy, but its protective skills only apply to local activity. Once your data heads out into the wilds of the internet, it's vulnerable to sniffing, stealing, and spoofing; a clever hacker could even modify the contents of your communication. That's why you need a virtual private network, or <a href=\"\/picks\/the-best-vpn-services\" data-link-type=\"roundup\" data-link-id=\"315\">VPN<\/a>. The VPN encrypts your network traffic and routes it through the VPN company's servers. This both protects your communication and hides your actual IP address from the sites you visit.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWith all of the Avira product line, you get a free-level bandwidth-limited version of <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-phantom-vpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"8727\">Avira Phantom VPN<\/a>. Upgrading to Prime gets you the full version of this product, which would go for $10 per month as a standalone. You can also pay $78 per year, but either way, getting it as part of Prime is quite a bargain! Please read our review of Phantom VPN to learn all about this product; I'll run down the details here.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Avira Prime VPN Pro' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 344'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-4.fit_lim.size_740x344.v_1569469957.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-4.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Avira Prime VPN Pro' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-4.fit_lim.size_740x344.v_1569469957.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-4.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nMost VPN products set a limit on the number of simultaneously connected devices, with five being the most common cap. Even as a standalone, Avira doesn't limit your connections. The company maintains 40 servers across 20 different countries. That's on the low side. We've seen several competitors that maintain three thousand servers or more. <a href=\"\/reviews\/nordvpn\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"2777\">NordVPN<\/a>, in particular, boasts 5,100 servers in 62 countries. The more servers available, the less likely you'll be contending with others for your slice of the connectivity pie. And the more locations available, the better the chance you'll find a nearby server.<\/p>\r\n\r\nBy default, Phantom VPN connects you using the nearest available server, When you click to make your own choice of location, it shows you the server latency for each item (a quick measure of server speed). Once you select a server, Phantom VPN connects and starts protecting your traffic.<\/p>\r\n\r\nUnlike some competing services, Phantom VPN doesn't forbid BitTorrent or P2P file sharing. Its Kill Switch feature cuts internet access on interruption of the VPN connection, to prevent accidental transmission of unprotected data. It also aims to prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/encyclopedia\/term\/dns-poisoning\" target=\"_blank\">DNS spoofing<\/a> attacks that could potentially redirect your connection to a fraudulent site.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIn our hands-on testing, Avira put more of a drag on the connection than most competitors. Note, though, that such tests reflect system status at a point in time; your mileage may vary. We don't advise using speed as the main criterion for selecting a VPN.<\/p>\r\n\r\nWhile Avira's offering isn't our top choice in the VPN realm, it gets the job done. Receiving this as part of your Avira Prime subscription is a hefty benefit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Identity Scanner Pro<\/h2>\r\n\r\nI encountered the Identity Scanner feature at every level of the Avira product line, starting with the free antivirus. Engaging it takes you to a web page that offers to check whether your personal data has been stolen. Enter your email, click through an annoying image-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/encyclopedia\/term\/captcha\" target=\"_blank\">CAPTCHA<\/a>, and find out whether you've been compromised. However, I found that clicking the scan button simply took me back to the initial data entry page.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe same thing happened even when I thought I invoked Avira Prime's Identity Scanner Pro. A closer look revealed the notice, \"You already have an Identity Scanner license? Log in here.\" Apparently just clicking the feature in Avira Connect didn't get me logged in. When I manually logged in with my Avira credentials, a whole world opened up!<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Avira Prime Identity Scan' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 463'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-5.fit_lim.size_740x463.v_1569469957.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-5.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Avira Prime Identity Scan' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-5.fit_lim.size_740x463.v_1569469957.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-5.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nThe first step with Identity Scanner is to enter your name, email, and birthdate. Tread carefully when entering the birthdate. Avira asks for the format DD.MM.YYYY, rather than the more common MM\/DD\/YYYY. Even if you get the periods right, you could easily enter the wrong date if your birthday falls in the first 12 days of the month.<\/p>\r\n\r\nOnce you've entered that basic data, Identity Scanner runs a quick check. No alerts? Good! But you now get a chance to fully flesh out the data that the scanner tracks. For starters, on the Finance and Payment data page you can enter any number of credit cards, bank accounts, or IBANs (International Bank Account Numbers). Avira is smart enough to figure out the credit card type based on the number you enter.<\/p>\r\n\r\nYou can also enter personal details such as additional email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and usernames that you prefer. And you round out the collection with your passport, driver's license, and state-issued ID.<\/p>\r\n\r\nIs it safe to give all this information to Avira? Clicking the Data Protection link takes you to a page that explains exactly what the company does with your data, and how it protects the data it stores. Avira necessarily complies with Europe's <a href=\"\/news\/gdpr-begins-today-what-you-need-to-know\" data-link-type=\"article\" data-link-id=\"4773\">General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) <\/a>, which should mean your data is locked up tight. Perhaps the biggest feature of GDPR is the right to erasure. If you want Avira to erase all the data you've supplied, the company must comply.<\/p>\r\n\r\nTo test the service, I entered email addresses, current and past snail mail addresses, phone numbers, and my driver's license. Avira correctly found several breaches that had exposed one email address in the past (I had long since updated the password). It also flagged a pair of old addresses, but the site it claimed contained those addresses no longer exists. That's all it found, for which I'm grateful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Avira Prime on macOS<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYou can use your Avira Prime subscription to install the Pro edition of <a href=\"\/reviews\/avira-free-antivirus-for-mac\" data-link-type=\"review\" data-link-id=\"6806\">Avira Free Antivirus for Mac<\/a>. This is a good macOS antivirus, but not the very best. See my review for a rundown of its abilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\nGoing Pro gets you scanning of email and USB devices, full-scale phone-based support, and a collection of more nebulous benefits. If you didn't opt for the 25-device subscription, you should probably stick with the free edition rather than using up one of your licenses.<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe Phantom VPN component has a counterpart in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-mac-antivirus-protection\">macOS antivirus<\/a>, and since Password Manager Pro installs as a browser extension, it's just as happy on macOS as on any other platform. Likewise, Identity Scanner Pro works online, without regard for just how you've logged in.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Avira for Mobile<\/h2>\r\n\r\nAvira offers a mobile Phantom VPN Pro app for both Android and iOS, and, as noted, there's no limit on the number of devices you can connect simultaneously. As with macOS, you can log into Identity Scanner online. And there's a Password Manager app for both Android and iOS.<\/p>\r\n\r\nAvira Mobile Security for iOS is free, for those who don't mind ads. Upgrading to Pro cuts the ads. Oddly, Avira wanted to charge me for the upgrade even though I logged in with the account associated with Avira Prime. I just continued in ad-supported mode. Mobile Security includes lost device location, a simple search for breaches exposing your email addresses, and block unwanted calls. It can back up your contacts, analyze your device's usage of memory and storage, and install as a content filter for Safari. The banner ads across the bottom of the screen didn't bother me; I'd suggest sticking with the free edition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<img alt='Avira Prime Android' src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' viewBox='0 0 740 437'%3E%3Crect fill='%23f7f7f7' \/%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" v-image-loader='{ imageSrc: \"\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-6.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469957.png\"}' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-6.png'><noscript inline-template><img alt='Avira Prime Android' width='740' src='\/imagery\/reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-6.fit_lim.size_740x437.v_1569469957.png' align=\"center\" data-image-path='reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-6.png'><\/noscript><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\nAs is common, there's a lot more protection for Android than for iOS, anchored by Avira Antivirus Security. As with the iOS edition, going Pro eliminates ads, but on Android several important features are Pro-only.<\/p>\r\n\r\nEven free users get the basic antivirus and antitheft features, as well as the Privacy Advisor. This last feature checks your installed apps and flags any whose permissions could compromise your privacy. Call Blocking is also available for free.<\/p>\r\n\r\nCamera Protection, Microphone Protection, and Web Protection all require a Pro subscription, as does the new App Lock feature. The first two let you limit use of the camera and microphone to known and trusted apps, thereby preventing snooping by untrusted apps. When you enable Web protection, Avira can steer you away from dangerous and fraudulent websites, just as it does on Windows. And App Lock lets you lock sensitive apps behind a pattern code.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-android-antivirus-apps\">Android antivirus<\/a> users can also get the full use of Avira Optimizer Pro, a tool to keep your Android device's memory and storage clear. Battery Boost lets you choose an appropriate profile to extend battery life. You can clear caches to retrieve storage space, uninstall apps you don't need, clear private data stored by various apps, and return memory allocated by apps. One unusual feature lets you lock your device by putting it in your pocket, waving over the screen, or setting it face down.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Avira at Its Best<\/h2>\r\n\r\nYou could get dizzy trying to account for all the different Avira products available. There are tons of free tools, and tons more that start out free but require purchase for full functionality. And there are multiple collections of components, free, commercial, or both. Out of all these, Avira Prime is the unquestioned champion. For one price, a rather reasonable price, you get access to every free and commercial Avira product, including any new products that come out. If you're determined to buy an Avira security tool, make it Avira Prime.<\/p>\r\n\r\nOn the other hand, even with every Avira product installed you don't truly have a full security suite. Symantec Norton Security Premium and Kaspersky Security Cloud include firewall, parental control, and password management. Kaspersky adds a check for compromised email accounts and a hard drive health monitor. With Norton you get 25GB of storage for your online backup data, a powerful intrusion protection system, and (for those who need it) a spam filter. Both offer a full protection suite on macOS, plus effective mobile apps. These two are our Editors' Choice products for cross-platform multi-device security suite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<iframe width=\"300\" height=\"150\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/mashable.com\/videos\/blueprint:360Oeq1GlV\/embed\/?player=pcmag&mute=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>","body_content_blocks":{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Here, take this theme-park pass! It gets you on a few rides, but mostly you just watch the rides go by. Or, wait, would you rather have this other pass? It lets you ride all the rides as many times as you want\u2014even rides that haven't been built yet. Yes, it\u2019s an easy choice. In the arena of Avira\u2019s ","type":"text"},{"text":"security suites","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-security-suites"}}]},{"text":", Avira Prime, reviewed here, is the all-access pass. A subscription gets you the full-featured Pro edition of every Avira product, including existing products, future products, and mobile products. If you\u2019re intent on Avira, this is the suite to get.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"As for the limited theme-park pass, well, that's ","type":"text"},{"text":"Avira Internet Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avira-internet-security-suite"}}]},{"text":". Naturally it includes everything found in Avira Free Security, but a great many features remain locked, including all the features related to performance improvements.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"You pay $99.99 for an Avira Prime license, which gives you five licenses to install Avira products on your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Norton 360 Deluxe","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/norton-360-deluxe"}}]},{"text":" also gives you five cross-platform licenses for that price, along with 50GB of hosted storage for your online backups. Kaspersky Security Cloud seems expensive at $149.99 per year, but that gets you protection for 20 devices. Still not enough coverage? For the same price as Avira Prime, McAfee Total Protection offers unlimited licenses to protect every device in your household.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"mashable_video","attrs":{"id":"360Oeq1GlV"}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Avira does have an offer that beats Kaspersky, at least in terms of the per-license price. If you want more than five licenses, no problem. You can get a 25-license subscription for $129.99. That's not quite the unlimited licenses you get from ","type":"text"},{"text":"McAfee Total Protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/mcafee-total-protection"}}]},{"text":", but it's a rare household that needs protection for more than 25 devices.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"These price-comparison comments wouldn't be complete without a mention of the fact that Avira isn't what you'd call a full-featured suite. It doesn't offer a firewall, spam filtering, parental control, or backup, among other features found in the competing suites. And while its core antivirus component is good, it isn't up there with the best.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-24.png","altText":"Avira Prime Main Window","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"While Avira hasn\u2019t canceled its free and paid standalone antivirus products, the company is strongly emphasizing its several security suite offerings. These have all gotten a thorough user interface makeover, with much better integration of the various features. At a glance, Avira Prime\u2019s main window looks just like that of Avira Free Security, with a dark grey theme and three big icons showing status for Security, Privacy, and Performance. Oddly, these icons aren\u2019t clickable. To drill into more detail in these three areas you must click the corresponding icon in the left-rail menu.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"text":"Shared With Free Security","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"This suite\u2019s basic antivirus protection is the same as what you get with the free suite, plus a few Pro-level additions I\u2019ll discuss below. For a full understanding of this suite\u2019s abilities, I advise you to first read my review of ","type":"text"},{"text":"Avira Free Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/avira-free-security-suite"}}]},{"text":". If you\u2019re in a hurry, you can just read my summary here.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Tested by independent labs, Avira gets excellent scores. Of the four labs I follow, Avira appears in results from all four. Its aggregate lab score is 9.8 out of 10 possible, better than any other product tested by all four labs. ","type":"text"},{"text":"Bitdefender Total Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/bitdefender-total-security"}}]},{"text":", tested by three labs, took 9.9 points, while Sophos, with perfect scores but from just two labs, got 10.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-25.png","altText":"Avira Prime Lab Results Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"In my own hands-on ","type":"text"},{"text":"malware protection","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/picks\/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software"}}]},{"text":" testing, Avira didn\u2019t score nearly as well. Its score, 8.8 of 10 possible points, is middling at best. Bitdefender, too, fared poorly in my hands-on test while earning top scores from the independent labs. When that happens, I give more weight to the results from the labs. It\u2019s worth noting that ","type":"text"},{"text":"Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/webroot-secureanywhere-internet-security-complete"}}]},{"text":" managed a perfect 10 points against this same collection of malware.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Avira\u2019s Browser Safety component installs as an extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera, with the aim of keeping the browser away from dangerous or fraudulent websites. Tested with a hundred recently discovered malware-hosting URLs, Avira protected against 81 percent of them. Note that I give equal credit for diverting the browser from the URL and for eliminating the malware payload after download. This score, too, is middling at best. McAfee, Sophos, and ","type":"text"},{"text":"Vipre Advanced Security","type":"text","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcmag.com\/reviews\/vipre-advanced-security"}}]},{"text":" all blocked 100 percent in their latest tests.","type":"text"}]},{"type":"eloquent_imagery_image","attrs":{"path":"reviews\/06ZjQw4TjpyLrTOPkVM8e8L-26.png","altText":"Avira Prime Malware Protection Chart","caption":null}},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"text":"Coding a malicious program that can get past antivirus is hard. Fooling unsuspecting netizens into giving away their credentials for secure websites is not. Fraudsters set up phishing sites, sites that masquerade as, for example, PayPal, or a bank, and disseminate links to the fake site. Every user who logs in is a user whose account has been pwned by the fraudsters. I test phishing protection using the very latest reported frauds. In a test usin

Kaspersky Total Security Review

The Bottom Line

Pros

Cons

Kaspersky Total Security Specs

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Avira Prime

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Shared Features

Kaspersky Safe Kids

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Backup and Restore

Data Encryption and Other Tools

Excellent but Expensive

Kaspersky Total Security

Pros

Cons

The Bottom Line

VPN	Limited
Firewall	Yes
Antispam	Yes
Parental Control	Yes
Backup	Yes
Tune-Up	Yes