F-Secure is a very well rounded antivirus software provider. The software has an especially strong reputation as offering exceptional defense against malicious URLs and dangerous malware. F-Secure also features a variety of different antivirus packages, whether you opt for the basic F-Secure Anti-Virus or the extremely private F-Secure Freedom and Total suites.
Pros
- Performed exceptionally well when blocking malicious links in independent studies
- Stable all in one antivirus software with very strong malware protection
- Access the web privately without revealing your IP address and stay safe banking online
Cons
- Phishing defense did not score very high in independent studies
- Parental control is not that diverse, it is limited and strange to use
F-Secure Protects You From…
F-Secure performed very well in terms of blocking malware as well as malicious URLs. Those are two of the most frequent forms of cyber attacks, which is comforting for those that need a quality antivirus program.
F-Secure has a well versed, very detailed antivirus package that not only includes defense against the aforementioned malware and malicious links, but also trojans, ransomware, adware, keyloggers and spyware.
Thanks to a personalized VPN, F-Secure enables users to browse the web without compromising their identity. Your computer’s actual IP address is blocked, so web hosts and others are not able to obtain your IP address.
F-Secure provides very detailed banking software because nothing is more important than protecting bank account and credit card information online. It allows you to enter safe banking websites and secures your data once inside them.
While F-Secure does offer parental controls, we have seen more extensive and easier to use tools from other antivirus software such as Kaspersky and McAfee. The parental controls are designed to set limits, such as the amount of screen time your kids can have in a day and websites they can access. Though the parental control interface is not the most clear.
Wi-Fi protection not only secures your home network but also public WiFi as well. Tracking protection blocks advertisers from attempting to collect personal information in order to make money at the expense of your privacy.
Users may also locate their Android of iOS device and manage them through F-Secure as well.
Devices/Operating Systems F-Secure Supports
F-Secure is primarily available for Windows operating systems. F-Secure supports Windows 7, 8 and 10. ARM-based tablets are not supported. It is recommended that you have an Intel Pentium 4 processor or higher, 1 GB of memory and 1.2 GB of free disk space.
The antivirus software is also compatible with macOS x 10.12 or later, iOS 11 or later and Android 5.0 or later.
Installation & Performance
F-Secure does not get terrific grades for installation, though that is not to say it is extremely difficult. We have seen more straightforward and quicker installs from competitors, but overall F-Secure will get antivirus software up and running in a reasonable amount of time.
F-Secure does not appear to bog down performance on your PC while you are using it. The scan runs in the background and though some lag may occur when you are watching video or streaming music at the same time, for the most part performance remains stable.
Price
F-Secure delivers a number of different antivirus packages. Two of the most popular are the F-Secure Freedom antivirus suite and the F-Secure Total package.
The F-Secure Freedom enables users to become anonymous online. It provides a personal VPN that is used to keep all of your personal information and data private. Your actual IP is not revealed to the websites you visit and your traffic is hidden from the internet you are connected to.
F-Secure Freedom starts at $50 per year for three devices. It is also possible to upgrade the number of devices covered to 5 or 7, respectively. F-Secure Freedom regularly runs promotions to provide discounts on the yearly rate.
Meanwhile, F-Secure Total is the company’s premier antivirus package. The suite includes all the features of the Freedom deal, including the VPN for private online browsing. It also includes SAFE Internet security, KEY password manager and SENSE home protection. The subscription starts at $90 per year for three devices. Once again, upgrades to 5 and 7 devices is also available for an extra charge.
F-Secure also offers a basic antivirus service known as F-Secure Anti-Virus and F-Secure Safe. F-Secure Anti-Virus starts at $40 per year for one device. F-Secure Safe, on the other hand, starts at $70 a year for three devices and includes several more features. F-Secure Anti-Virus is only compatible with Windows operating systems, while Safe works for Android and Mac too. Neither offer a VPN for private browsing.
Conclusion
F-Secure is a good but not great antivirus software provider. They have a quality number of features and some individuals will really like the fact that you can browse the internet unanimously with a VPN provided on the F-Sure Freedom and F-Secure Total suites. Though the parental controls suffer compared to Norton and Panda Security, for the most part F-Secure is a quality antivirus software.