By: Matt | Last updated February 2, 2020 
The more technology evolves and internet use becomes more and more indispensable in our lives, the more exposed we become to online threats of all kind. Our data has become really sensitive and our identity can easily be stolen while we are online.
Internet threats can take many forms and that is why more and more complex security solutions are being developed every year, to keep up with all these ever evolving dangers.
As a general rule, no user should get online until the security aspect has been taken care of. Antivirus, anti-malware, internet security programs and even VPNs, are efficient ways to protect yourself while surfing the web.
What to look for in an Antivirus software?
There are several important aspects to consider when looking for a reliable Antivirus solution. A good antivirus has to be able to detect and deal with the threats it finds, without letting itself get fooled or confused by certain healthy files or apps and blocking them unnecessarily. It also has to have a minimal impact on your device’s performance while performing scans, so it shouldn’t make your computer sluggish.
The 3 main aspects to consider when choosing an antivirus are the performance of the software, its usability and its protection.
Performance means that the antivirus shouldn’t hinder the performance of your device, slow down your computer and so on.
Usability refers to the number of false positives (false threats) the program detects. The fewer, the better the antivirus.
Protection means how good the antivirus is at detecting and getting rid of threats. There are specialized websites that measure all these parameters and give scores for usability, performance and protection. One of the most popular testing labs and an authority in this industry is AV-Test.
F-Secure Overview - Is it a good antivirus to consider?
F-Secure is an Antivirus program developed by a company based in Finland. F-Secure has been on the market for over 30 years now and offers security solutions for both home and business use. They are based in Helsinky and have over 100,000 businesses and tens of millions of consumers in their client base.
Here are the most important paid products offered by F-Secure:
- F-Secure Antivirus
- F-Secure Internet Security
- F-Security
- F-Security Freedome VPN
- F-Secure SAFE
- F-Security Total
F-Secure Antivirus protects your device from all the common threats such as viruses, malware, spyware and more.
The software comes with a free 30-day trial and after that trial expire you can choose the best paid option for your needs.
How much does F-Secure Antivirus cost?
A license for 1 PC for a year costs $45.05.
A license for up to 3 PCs per one year costs a bit over $56.
As payment methods, F-Secure lets you choose between PayPal, credit card (VISA, American Express, MasterCard, JCB) and wire transfer.
You have to fill in a short form with your name, Zip/Postal code, city, country and email address or your company’s info if you are a business.
What features does F-Secure Antivirus include?
- Secure is definitely a reliable antivirus program and it’s been rated extremely high for protection for 5 times in a row by AV-Test. F-Secure is user-friendly, accurate and also affordable.
While this antivirus might not have the richest set of features we’ve seen, it does have its strengths, which is why it is still one of the most popular antivirus programs on the market.
The interface of the program looks simple, minimalist but it is very user-friendly. You usually get the ‘your computer is protected’ message when everything is enabled and functions well.
The first full scan might take a bit too long to complete, compared to other programs. You have to wait around 40 to 50 minutes, but when you perform a second scan, the time drops significantly. You can choose between performing a full scan or a virus scan and you can also schedule scans to your liking, on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Secure doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles found in other top competitors but it does a great job in protecting you from viruses, ransomware, spyware and malware. It has great usability test scores, meaning in knows how to differentiate between real threats and files that are healthy. It’s greatest strength is malware detection and removal. However, if you want more complex features, you should consider buying F-Secure Total, which also comes with internet security, password management and VPN or opt for F-Secure SAFE, which comes with internet security for all your devices, plus protection against various threats.
