10-second breakdown:
Thanks to a powerful, unconventional malware detection system and a light footprint on your system resources Webroot SecureAnywhere easily wins the number 1 pick for the best antivirus program.
The good:
This antivirus has a lot of power, but won’t wreck your resources and give your device a bunch of lag. It’s not uncommon in this market to have to sacrifice certain malware features in order to have a fast running computer, but Webroot has done a fantastic job of giving you the protection and leaving your resources by and large in tact.
Every user gets 25GB of online storage, a pretty neat bonus considering many other programs don’t offer half of the features you get with this antiviral solution.
System optimization features are another added bonus. Things like their password manager and system clean-up tool are a nice touch on an already awesome product.
The bad:
It’s not a “name brand” which may be a problem for some people, but it’s our favorite.
There are no parental controls so internet users with children may have to go with another choice.
How it works:
Thanks to a powerful, unconventional malware detection system and a light footprint on your system resources Webroot SecureAnywhere easily wins the number 1 pick for the best antivirus program.
Most computer security suites work in a similar manner. The program sweeps your system, checks all of your files against a list of bad programs and sounds an alarm if it comes up with a potential match. While there’s nothing wrong with that, Webroot wasn’t content with the status quo and reinvented a better wheel.
The difference between your average Joe security and Webroot is their cloud-based approach. Instead of a local database stored on your computer that can get corrupted or has to get updated fairly often, Webroot keeps an enormous server database of all currently known programs – both good and bad.
All of your programs are checked against the cloud database, if it’s harmless it’s left alone but if it’s a threat Webroot will clean up all traces of it. Things get interesting when Webroot can’t identify a program. It sends a detailed report about the new unknown software back to HQ and keeps a close eye on the program.
Back at the HQ human programmers will dig into the file to see what’s going on. If they notice something is amiss then Webroot will zap the program like all other malware and move on. If not, they’ll add it to the database as a harmless file and you can go on your merry way.
All of this happens effortlessly, all you need to do is start up a scan and Webroot SecureAnywhere will take it from there. Since most of the heavy lifting is performed in the cloud, scans are notably quick to complete.
Speaking of the scans, early testing for Webroot has been extremely positive. A few users have tested out known malware samples and Webroot has smashed 100% of them – something they point out on their website. If the malware is identified, Webroot can weed it out immediately and secure your system.
What happens if the file is unknown though? While Webroot is keeping tabs on what the program is doing on your system, it’s also making a mini-backup. Normally identifying a new program takes about an hour or two. If Webroot determines that it needs to take action, it’ll roll back any settings the program changed then remove it from the system.
As more and more users scan new programs, Webroot gets smarter and smarter. Hypothetically once a new strain of malware is released you’ll be protected from it in only hours after any one of the many Webroot SecureAnywhere users scan it. No other competitor can come close to this, they would need to acquire some of the malware and then manually enter it into their databases, potentially leaving you vulnerable much longer.
The only downside to SecureAnywhere is the fact that it’s still relatively new, so not too many in-depth studies have been performed on it yet. User and media testing have shown Webroot to be extremely effective but few independent laboratories have given it a look.
Webroot SecureAnywhere comes in three different flavors depending on what features you’re looking for. Each of the packages offer a 14-day free trial as well to take it for a test drive.
First up is the basic ‘SecureAnywhere AntiVirus’ package. It will set you back $25.99 for a one-year license and you’re limited to one single Mac or PC device. It comes with everything you would expect from an antivirus suite including live protection to keep you safe, threat scanning, blocking potentially harmful websites and a firewall monitor.
Next up is ‘SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus.’ It costs $38.99 for a one-year license and you can install it on up to three devices. Security Plus comes with everything the basic package offers, but expands the protected devices to computers, smartphones and tablets. In addition, it offers a password manager feature that can safely secure your usernames and passwords.
Last but not least is the ‘Internet Security Complete’ package. It’s the most expensive at $51.99 for a year license and can protect up to 5 devices. Complete comes with everything the other two packages do but adds in 25GB of cloud storage for you to use in any way you like. They also add in a feature that clears your browsing history, hiding it from hackers.
The protection for mobile devices works a little bit differently than you might expect. It’s a separate browser that you can use to browse the web safely. Keep in mind that if you use Chrome or Safari to open a link on your phone but continue on your laptop, you’re out of luck – it’s a trade off for more security.
All in all Webroot SecureAnywhere is an amazing package that is hands down the best antivirus program your can install today. It’ll keep you safe while barely slowing down your computer with it’s blazing fast scans.
For complete rankings of all antivirus software, go here.
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