Surfshark Antivirus Review 2022 - Is It Any Good?

What Is Surfshark Antivirus?

That is user-friendly antivirus software with cross-platform support. It’s an adjunct to Surfshark’s flagship VPN service, founded in 2018.

The software protects against viruses, spyware, malware, adware, and zero-day attacks. It also keeps users secure while browsing the web and can even check if personal info has been leaked online.

Surfshark Antivirus Features

For this Surfshark Antivirus review, we tested its core features, and here is what we found notable:

Scanning

As with any antivirus software, first, you will be prompted to perform a quick scan of your system. There is a checkbox to schedule a scan every day at that time. Don’t worry too much about it; you can change this option later.

The clean interface will show the scanned areas and the elapsed time on the right. Any found threats will be listed on the left in the quarantine windows. They come in useful classifications, so you know how serious the danger is.

For example, it is common for some software, like Cheat Engine, to be flagged as a threat because it alters various processes in the background. However, these are mostly labeled as ‘riskware,’ implying the potential to do damage but not that they necessarily will.

Your device should not experience any slowdowns while running a scan. Moreover, we tested the quick scan, which took less than ten minutes, so it won’t bother you unnecessarily.

Once a scan is complete, you will be taken to a window that lets you check which threats to remove. There, you can deal with false alarms and actual problems.

Scan Scheduling

Surfshark for Windows gives you complete control over the system scan process.

Namely, the quick scan searches the most vulnerable areas of your system. It allows you to keep on top of things. The full scan, however, will inspect your entire device. Though it takes longer, it is best to do it when you first run the software.

You also have the freedom to choose specific files and folders to scan. The option to drag and drop files and folders into the scanning window is a nice touch.

It’s common to forget to perform scans regularly, so you can schedule days and times to have them done automatically. You may choose one or more days and enter the most convenient time, like early morning hours when you’re away from the computer.

Real-Time Protection

With Surfshark, you can use the internet with real-time protection. The software recognizes and blocks viruses, phishing sites, and other web threats before they start to take hold.

It does all this without hogging resources or disrupting your browsing experience.

Definitions Updates

Viruses and other threats are constantly evolving, and Surfshark does its best to stay ahead of the curve.

It has a cloud-based protection feature, which analyzes unknown and suspicious files and incorporates them into its updates.

When you first install the antivirus, it will download the latest definitions. Routine updates of the threats database will follow to ensure scans and real-time protection remain strong.

Ease of Use and Interface

Surfshark’s antivirus comes with a modern, clean, and simple-to-navigate interface. The layout is responsive to window resizing, and you can access a smaller version from the tray icon.

Upon the first download of the Windows app, some users reported having Surfshark flagged by Windows Defender as a potential threat. However, you shouldn’t experience such issues with the latest app version.

Once installed, you’ll see all the features on the left, while the main window has the rest of the settings. You can also manage your account directly from the software.

When you close the Windows app, it will minimize to the System Tray. Some services will continue running in the background to ensure you remain protected. It is not a resource hog and won’t interfere with your daily tasks, entertainment, or gaming.

The software uses a good chunk of CPU and memory only during a scan, but even then, it will not interrupt the normal functions of your device.

Most Surfshark Antivirus reviews note that the online dashboard, from which you can download all apps, is efficient and simple to use.

Keep in mind the antivirus is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Android, while the VPN also supports iOS and Linux.

The Android app is similarly intuitive. It first opens into a one-tap VPN screen. However, tapping the ‘One’ icon at the bottom will display the Alert, Antivirus, and Search features, which we will discuss in more detail further below.

On mobile, you get a single scan button and must allow file access permissions to start. 

The search engine will display results within the app using a version of the Android browser rather than opening a new tab in Chrome.

Overall, Surfshark’s application is very well-designed and easy to use.

Surfshark Antivirus Security

For our Surfshark for Windows review, we carried out a quick and full scan on a home system. It found several potential threats, so it’s certainly doing its job.

However, because it’s relatively new to the market, industry-leading experts AV-test.org or SE Labs have yet to test its performance.

On the bright side, it did receive VB100 certification from Virus Bulletin, with 99.4% of malware detected.

That’s certainly a good sign, and more Surfshark Antivirus reviews are expected soon.

Customer Support

Surfshark’s customer support is on hand 24/7 by email or live web chat. 

It also has a help center with guides for getting started and common troubleshooting topics. You can also use the search bar if you can’t find what you’re looking for immediately.

According to most user reviews, the support team is prompt and helpful. In our own test, we reached a representative who expertly assisted us with an issue in a matter of minutes.

What Is Surfshark One?

That is the bundle Surfshark offers, and it is the only way to get the antivirus software. It also features a few other handy services:

VPN

Surfshark really shines when it comes to its Virtual Private Network capabilities. Firstly, it permits unlimited connections without extra charge, which is rare among its competitors. That means you can use it on all your devices simultaneously.

Moreover, MultiHop adds a second layer of protection by routing your traffic through two different VPN servers. i.e., your real IP is masked, as is the second location.

It also supports split tunneling, which allows you to exclude specific applications from the secure network. For example, you might keep your online games directly connected to the internet to ensure you get top speeds while still securing your web browsing with the VPN.

Even though all traffic that runs through the VPN is slower than usual, you can still stream Netflix and similar platforms without buffering. It also allows you to access region-locked content.

It’s definitely a great addition to the Surfshark One bundle as it features:

• KillSwitch – If you lose the VPN connection, no traffic is sent, preserving your anonymity.
• NoBorders – All traffic is disguised as regular HTTPS web traffic, regardless of the actual usage. i.e., you could be using a file-sharing client, but it’ll still appear as if you are just web browsing.
• IP Rotator – Your IP address changes automatically every ten minutes.
• Protocols – You can manually choose between OpenVPN (UDP), OpenVPN (TCP), or WireGuard.

Alert

If you have ever had one of your online accounts compromised, you know it can be a head-scratcher. Even if you have a strong password and never give anyone access to your devices, you can still fall victim to a data breach.

Cybercriminals gain direct access to unsecure sites and services, and your details can get exposed.

The internet security suite aims to tackle computer fraud with the Surfshark Alert feature. It scans the web for breached online databases to check if your email addresses and passwords are among them.

It doesn’t necessarily mean criminals have used this information, but it gives you the chance to change passwords before they do. Furthermore, it also keeps track of breached personal identification numbers and credit card information.

Alert is managed online at my.surfshark.com, and you can open it from the link within the software. Before you proceed, you must turn on the multi-factor authentication.

It takes a bit of work, entering your email addresses and scanning credit cards and IDs, but it’s worth a go if it means protecting yourself from online identity theft.

Surfshark Alert checks can be carried out immediately. If you opt-in, you can receive quarterly or yearly security reports containing data about various breaches.

Search Engine

This feature opens a search bar within the software that will display results in a tab in your default browser. It allows you to search the web without any ads or tracking for stronger browser security.

One benefit is that the results aren’t influenced by your previous searches, i.e., organic results. Moreover, you can easily swap regions instead of having results from your actual location.

It’s a bit like Chrome incognito mode with the addition of VPN protection if you have that turned on. 

However, since you have to log in to use it, some may find alternatives like DuckDuckGo more convenient.

Pricing

As we mentioned above, you can’t purchase the antivirus on its own. However, you can get it as part of a bundle with the other Surfshark products with a monthly subscription.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also test the suite for seven days for free.

Surfshark prices are spread across three billing cycles.

• Monthly – $14.44/mo
• Yearly – $2.49/mo ($29.88 for the first year)
• 24-month – $3.98/mo ($95.52 for the first two years)

Keep in mind that, unlike the VPN that can be installed on unlimited devices, the antivirus can be downloaded only on five.

Surfshark Antivirus Review – Verdict

The antivirus software deserves praise for its user-friendly apps and dedication to personal info protection.

While independent labs still need to test its performance and features, our experience was definitely positive. Furthermore, combined with the VPN, it makes for an affordable and comprehensive security solution.

The signs certainly look good for the future of this internet security suite.