Surfshark Antivirus Review 2024
Surfshark is well-known in the industry as one of the best VPN providers. Their VPN is awesome for boosting privacy and offers one of the lowest prices among competitors. But Surfshark has more up its sleeve than just a VPN. Today, we will be reviewing another of their industry-leading products — Antivirus. It comes in a bundle called Surfshark One, with Surfshark VPN, Search, Alert, and other products included for all-around online protection.
A good antivirus is among the best tools to protect your devices from viruses and malware. The app is programmed to identify viruses and other types of malware and then delete them. It defends your device against a wide range of malicious software designed to steal data, invade privacy, or disrupt systems.
After many advancements over the years, antivirus programs now not only scrutinize code for suspicious elements but also monitor files for risky behaviors in real time. This proactive approach lets antivirus protection catch viruses, trojans, or worms before they can harm your system and also scans for existing infections using a large threat database.
Antiviruses have been around for a while, and with so many choices, it’s hard to know which one is the best for you. But today, we will look into Surfshark Antivirus and its features and help you decide if it is the right choice for protecting your devices.
For Readers In A Hurry, Here Is A Quick Take:
If you want to secure your devices and are looking for an antivirus, Surfshark Antivirus is a solid choice. It offers several useful features, such as webcam protection, customizable scans, a ransomware shield, and more. It comes as a part of Surfshark One security bundle, including an industry-leading VPN, data breach detector Alert, organic search engine Search, and more. And the best part is the price, with the best option starting at 3.07$ monthly. Now, with the special Black Friday offer, you have a chance to save 83% + get up to 5 months for free when buying the annual subscription.
Although it lacks a firewall, parental controls, and password manager is not included in the bundle, it remains a great choice for protecting your devices and data.
PROS
Affordable price
Customizable scans
Protection from the newest viruses and malware
Webcam protection
No impact on CPU or RAM performance
CONS
No firewall
No parental controls
No password manager
Pricing
Antivirus is included in the Surfshark One bundle, so for this price, you get several products: VPN, Antivirus, organic search engine Search, and data breach detector Alert. You also get Alternative ID, Surfshark's newest product that generates an alternative email address to protect your real data.
Surfshark One plan starts at $17.69 per month; however, longer plans are a much better deal. Here's why: the yearly plan is $3.07 monthly and is the most affordable! Even better — Surfshark currently has a Black Friday sale, so by subscribing now, you save 83% + get up to 5 free months added to your subscription.
So, if you choose the 2-year plan, you can get Antivirus, VPN, and other products and features at the lowest price possible. If you don't find Surfshark suitable, there’s always a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can select the longer plan with no worries.
Lightweight software
Surfshark names its Antivirus as “lightweight” software. This means Antivirus will not hog your CPU and RAM or affect your computer’s performance. Your device won’t slow down even when performing in-depth scans.
Server Network
Surfshark Antivirus features
Scans
Surfshark Antivirus provides continuous real-time protection by actively monitoring your device for potential threats. Antivirus scans apps and files during downloads, installs, and usage for top-level protection. Surfshark updates its database every 3 hours so the new malware doesn’t slip by unnoticed.
There are several types of scans you can perform: a quick, full, scheduled, and drag-and-drop item scan. You can order an immediate in-depth scan to check for any malware or schedule it to the minute for whenever is more convenient for you. The choice is yours! This is a nice addition for those who like to have their devices regularly checked for any threats and prefer an automatic scheduled scan.
Another neat addition is the ability to exclude files from the scan, making Surfshark Antivirus a really customizable option. You can also drag and drop specific files to be checked, selecting one or more files at a time.
Surfshark Cloud Protect
Another strong feature of Antivirus is Surfshark Cloud Protect. It protects you against the newest threats created in the past couple of hours.
How does it work? Surfshark Cloud Protect system analyzes unknown files to prevent zero-day attacks on your device and camera. When a new threat is found, all Surfshark Antivirus users receive a security update. If the threat remains unidentifiable, it is then compared to known virus patterns, and if there’s a match, a new threat entry is added to the threat list, benefiting all antivirus software users.
This feature is on by default on the Antivirus app, so you are protected from the get-go.
Webcam protection
Surfshark Antivirus also has a Webcam protection feature. Similarly to any app on your devices, your camera is susceptible to hacking. If hackers gain access to your webcam, they can monitor you and collect sensitive information. That’s why protecting your webcam is a must.
How does webcam protection help secure your computer? Webcam security software monitors applications' attempts to access your camera and efficiently blocks unauthorized access. Certain antivirus programs conduct routine scans of apps to assess their trustworthiness, while others prompt you to designate which apps can access your camera and keep an eye on the rest. Surfshark offers a convenient mix of the two, allowing you to choose the method that suits your preferences.
Ransomware shield
The most recent enhancement to Surfshark's Antivirus is the Ransomware Shield. This feature safeguards your device against harmful attacks that aim to encrypt your files and demand payment for decryption. The Ransomware Shield operates by actively monitoring the specific folders that applications attempt to access when interacting with your files.
Surfshark One
Antivirus can only be purchased as part of the Surfshark One bundle, so it’s necessary to review the other products you get when buying it.
Surfshark One is a good option if you’re looking for an all-around security bundle — it includes several useful cybersecurity tools, such as a VPN or a data breach detector. However, it doesn’t include a password manager. content and libraries, it's more convenient for users to access a VPN on one platform rather than waiting for a release (which may never happen) or paying for multiple subscriptions. A survey found that 50% of VPN users primarily use them for streaming purposes.
VPN
Surfshark is one of the fastest-growing VPNs on the market. It has servers in 100 countries, fast speeds, supports torrenting, can easily access geo-restricted content on streaming giants like Netflix, and offers loads of useful features. You get all that at one of the lowest prices in the market: $3.07 monthly.
Surfshark follows a strict no-logs policy and has a beautiful "Zero" figure on its warrant canary. It is a light VPN with excellent support and a smooth interface. It even offers unlimited simultaneous connections. To learn more, check out our in-depth review of Surfshark VPN here.
Alert
Surfshark Alert is a security solution designed to instantly inform you if your sensitive information falls into the wrong hands.
It actively monitors data breaches online and promptly notifies you if your credentials appear in a breach. This way, you can take immediate action to secure your online accounts.
You can monitor your email addresses, credit cards, and even IDs.
Search
Search is an organic search engine with no ads or trackers. It is a private search tool that keeps no logs of what you search for, so your search results are not affected by your browsing history. You also only get search results following your specific query.
Search is a good solution for those of you who are concerned about your privacy and want to keep your online activity as anonymous as possible.
Alternative ID
Alternative ID creates a completely new online identity for you, together with an alternative email address. This means you can sign up to websites with your alternative email without giving your real data away. It also keeps your data away from data brokers’ reach and hidden from strangers online. Although the current version is BETA, the full version is in the works, with more features to come.
Privacy Friendly Jurisdiction
Surfshark was founded in 2018 in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with no data retention laws or privacy-infringing legislation. In 2021, the company changed its jurisdiction to the Netherlands, a move that raised some concerns.
The Netherlands is not a country that values privacy as much as the British Virgin Islands, primarily because it is a member of the 14 Eyes alliance, which includes countries that track their users in the name of protecting their nation’s interests. The USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, and other nations are included in the 14 Eyes.
Surfshark claims to not have been bound by any laws on data retention in the country. While this may be true, one can't help but wonder why the company would leave a privacy-friendly jurisdiction in the first place. Even after claiming to have strict no-logs, operating under 14 eyes is not supposed to be good.
Surfshark claims they can legally maintain a no-logs policy, but they won't be of much help to authorities. However, Surfshark should address user concerns regarding these jurisdictional issues. The Netherlands may not have any data retention laws, but still, these countries keep trying to watch their citizens and companies.
Merger with NordVPN
Surfshark was formed under Surfshark Ltd. initially. In 2021, Surfshark merged with Nord Security. Some believed it to be an acquisition, but Nord Security and Surfshark claimed it was a merger. A new company, Cyberspace, was created after this merger. Surfshark also stated to its users that they won’t share their infrastructure or server network with Nord Security or vice versa.
Customer Support
Customer support is a very important aspect of tech products, as no matter how many features and excellent services they provide, some help may always be necessary.
Surfshark’s customer support is available 24/7 through live chat and email, with friendly and knowledgeable agents ready to assist with any issues or concerns. The company also provides a comprehensive knowledge base on its website, featuring helpful articles, tutorials, and frequently asked questions that cover a wide range of topics.
Conclusion
If you want to secure your devices from malware and viruses and also have the freedom to customize your antivirus experience, Surfshark Antivirus is a great choice. With scheduled scans, you can reap its benefits without any inconvenience. And let’s not forget the additional benefits of webcam and ransomware protection!
Surfshark Antivirus is also part of an all-around security bundle, so you get a full toolkit to keep your online adventures safe. You can encrypt your connection and hide your IP address with a VPN, get informed of data breaches with Alert, enjoy an organic search engine with no ads and trackers, and protect your real email using Alternative ID. All these tools together will cost you less than a cup of coffee! And now, with the special Black Friday offer, you can save 85% + get up to 5 months of Surfshark for free.
So take advantage of this deal and secure your devices today with Surfshark One.
How to install and use Surfshark Antivirus
Surfshark Antivirus is available as part of the Surfshark One and runs on the same app as the VPN. To install Surfshark:
-For Windows and macOS: Visit the Surfshark website, choose your subscription plan, create an account, and download the application for your operating system. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
-For Android: Visit the Google Play Store, search for Surfshark VPN, and install the app. Sign in with your logins after the installation is complete.
-For iOS: Visit the Apple App Store, search for Surfshark VPN, and install the app. Sign in with your logins after the installation is complete.
Here’s how to use Antivirus:
Get Surfshark One;
Open your Surfshark app;
Go to the Antivirus tab;
Follow the instructions there.
