F-Secure Antivirus Review (2023 Update): The Pros & Cons

F-Secure review: summary

F-Secure is ranked #8 out of 20 antivirus software.

F-Secure has perfect anti-malware protection, a small impact on the speed of your PC, most important security features, and a fair price.

However, Norton and Kaspersky have even better test scores, more security features, and a lower price. Both are superior antivirus programs.

• Malware protection: 100%. F-Secure averaged 6.00 out of 6 in the last 10 protection tests. It is excellent at detecting and removing malware.
• Speed impact: 80%. F-Secure averaged 5.80 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. So it has a small impact on your PC’s speed.
• Features: 80%. F-Secure offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, unlimited VPN, parental controls, and more. But it misses a firewall.
• Price: 70%. F-Secure has a better price than most antivirus software, but can’t compete with Norton and Kaspersky on value for money.

If you want the best protection, we recommend Norton.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Specification comparison

Below, we have compared F-Secure Total to Norton 360 Standard. These are the most affordable products at each brand, which allow you to protect at least 1 PC with the core features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

Norton 360 is the best antivirus for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Test score comparison

We’ve compared the 10 most recent test scores of all antivirus brands. The tests were performed by AV-Test, the German anti-malware test lab. They use three factors:

• Protection (1-6): Antivirus protection against malware attacks.
• Performance (1-6): System slowdown caused by the antivirus.
• Usability (1-6): Frequency of false alarms and disruptions.

We used their results, and this formula, to calculate the final score:

Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.

Brands not listed in the table haven’t participated in the analysis by AV-Test. This is usually not a good sign. Because most reputable brands, except Panda, ESET, and Sophos, partake in the test.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Price comparison

We’ve compared the prices of the top antivirus products for Windows. To make it a fair comparison, we looked at what it would cost us, to protect a Windows PC with the following essential features:

• Anti-malware
• Anti-phishing (web protection)
• Firewall
• Password manager
• Unlimited VPN (no data limit)

A few notes:

• Some brands are missing features, lowering their value for money.
• Prices are second-year prices in the USA, without first-year discounts.
• Prices are rounded up for readability (e.g., $99.99 becomes $100).

Brands have different prices outside the USA. See those on their website.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

User reviews

We’ve compared the user reviews of all antivirus brands. We’ve used the scores and review count of TrustPilot, a leading user review platform. However, take these results with a grain of salt, as some brands actively attempt to increase their ratings.

Personally, we are wary of exceptionally high scores. Especially those by brands such as TotalAV, known for aggressive marketing and sales tactics.

We consider scores between 4.0 and 4.5 good and realistic. Higher scores are dubious, and lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Product analysis

In the table below are the core products with their features and prices. 

The prices shown are from the USA. However, most brands have different prices (and currencies) in other regions. So visit the brand’s website to see the price in your country.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

F-Secure antivirus review

Antivirus scanner

F-Secure’s cloud-based anti-malware scanner impressed us with its performance. Leveraging a comprehensive malware database and machine learning effectively detects known and emerging threats.

Users can choose between full and quick scans, and customize settings to target specific file types or examine compressed files.

F-Secure identified 97.8% of 1,000 test files, spanning various malware categories. The initial full scan took 22 minutes, with subsequent scans significantly faster due to file marking.

We observed minimal system performance impact and appreciated the option for scheduled scans. F-Secure’s real-time scanning and ransomware detection capabilities rival market leaders Norton and McAfee.

Secure browsing

F-Secure offers online protection through Browsing Protection and Banking Protection. Browsing Protection restricts access to dubious websites, while Banking Protection provides additional safeguards during financial transactions.

F-Secure successfully identified and blocked web-based exploits and phishing sites, using color coding to clarify search result safety levels.

Banking Protection activates when visiting financial websites, screening for unsafe behaviors, and denying access to high-risk sites. Additionally, a Remote Access Blocker feature enhances security.

While not as robust as Bitdefender’s Safepay, F-Secure’s secure browsing effectively defends against web exploits, phishing threats, and offers valuable protection for online banking activities.

Parental controls

F-Secure’s parental controls provide a straightforward solution for parents to monitor their children’s online activity. With these controls, parents can create a separate profile, block specific web content, set internet “bedtimes,” limit daily usage, and manage app access. The controls are easily managed through F-Secure’s web portal.

However, the bedtime feature has limitations. It only works for non-system apps on Android and the SAFE Browser on iOS. We found that parental control features, including content filters and app restrictions, perform well on Android devices. Despite this, the content filters could be more comprehensive, as Norton offers a more granular approach.

F-Secure’s App Control feature, unavailable on iOS, permits parents to regulate app access on their child’s device. Yet, F-Secure requires device administrator permissions for parental controls on Android, potentially raising privacy concerns.

In conclusion, F-Secure’s parental controls are user-friendly but basic compared to other antivirus programs. They lack features like detailed content categories and location tracking or geofencing capabilities found in Bitdefender.

While we appreciate the simplicity of F-Secure’s parental controls, we believe there is room for improvement to ensure comprehensive protection for children’s online safety.

VPN

F-Secure VPN provides access to a mere 28 servers across 22 countries, a modest offering compared to CyberGhost’s and NordVPN’s extensive reach. Despite this limitation, the service boasts commendable security features, such as AES 256-bit encryption, robust protocols, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch.

We conducted speed tests, connecting to both nearby and distant servers. Local connections revealed minor slowdowns, while remote connections resulted in significant delays during browsing. Nonetheless, F-Secure VPN supports popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, delivering a smooth viewing experience.

The service also accommodates torrenting, with only slight delays in download times. Regrettably, F-Secure VPN remains inaccessible in restricted countries like China, Russia, and the UAE.

While its interface is user-friendly, it lacks crucial server information, such as upload and download speeds or load percentages. In summary, F-Secure VPN performs well in many areas but falls short in server availability, information transparency, and access in restricted regions. Have a look at our comparison of the best VPN of 2023 for better options.

Dark web monitoring

F-Secure’s ID Monitoring scans the dark web for potential data breaches. It monitors various personal information, including email addresses and identification numbers. Although basic compared to Avira and Norton, it remains a viable choice. The streamlined interface offers crucial details on data breaches and securing affected accounts.

Password manager

The Password Vault from F-Secure is a well-crafted tool, employing a master password and QR recovery code. However, the QR code introduces a security risk. Importing passwords from different sources is straightforward, utilizing a .CSV file. The browser extension enables seamless password management, including auto-saving and auto-filling features.

Despite its decent password generation capabilities, F-Secure’s tool has limitations. For example, the generator is not part of the browser extension and lacks advanced features found in standalone apps like 1Password and Dashlane. Nevertheless, F-Secure’s password manager caters to the security requirements of most users.

Installation and user experience

Setting up F-Secure proves to be an effortless task. We found the interface straightforward, enabling users to execute updates, manage quarantines, whitelists, and schedule scans with ease.

The website navigation is intuitive, and managing devices or subscriptions requires minimal effort. Adjusting Family Rules can be done via the web portal or directly on the device, and features can be customized for each household member.

Mobile app

The antivirus app is well-organized across various platforms, making it accessible even for those with limited experience. The mobile application offers multiple features, such as antivirus scanning (for Android), real-time browsing protection, secure banking, parental controls, and a secure browser app.

Our tests revealed effective detection of Android-specific malware without causing phone slowdowns or battery drainage. In addition, parental controls are simple to manage on the mobile app, maintaining user-friendliness.

F-Secure’s application stands out by combining antivirus, VPN, and ID protection in one place, unlike some competitors, which require separate downloads. In summary, the mobile app performs effectively, offering features similar to its PC counterpart. Moreover, with its clear and concise interface, F-Secure is a reliable choice for users seeking efficient device protection.

Customer support

F-Secure Customer Support extends several avenues: live chat, phone assistance, a community forum, and user manuals. However, email support remains absent. Live chat services adhere to phone hours, falling short of Norton’s 24/7 support. Phone assistance caters to 17 countries, operating from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. The community forum is lively and prompt, while online guides offer comprehensive information.

Conclusion

In 2023, F-Secure Antivirus delivers outstanding anti-malware and web safeguards, complemented by valuable features such as Banking Protection, parental controls, password management, and VPN.

Nevertheless, it omits certain elements available in competitors’ entry-level packages, including a firewall, cloud storage backup, and webcam security. Nonetheless, F-Secure is a reliable, no-frills alternative for users seeking a straightforward antivirus with valuable extras.

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

How do we test antivirus software?

The best antivirus software offer virus protection, identity theft protection, and privacy protection for Windows, macOS, and Android. Some also offer security features for iOS and Linus.

To evaluate which providers are worth your money, we run 11 tests:

> Test 1: Anti-malware protection test

We analyze antivirus software’s capability to detect and eliminate known and unknown malware, using heuristic analysis for behavior monitoring.

We conduct in-house tests and analyze those from labs like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to determine the best malware protection.

Malware includes adware, keyloggers, ransomware, rootkits, spyware, trojans, viruses, worms, and more. Other cyber threats, usually not classified as malware, are (zero-day) exploits, hacks, identity theft, phishing attacks, scams, and social engineering.

> Test 2: False positives test

False positives occur when antivirus software misidentifies legitimate software, files, or websites as malicious. We rely on AV-Test’s large-scale analysis of false positives in its usability test to guide our evaluations.

> Test 3: System performance test

We measure the CPU load during antivirus software system scans and consider AV-Test’s performance results on the slowdown caused by antivirus software when opening websites and handling software.

> Test 4: Firewall test

We evaluate two-way firewalls that filter incoming and outgoing data and allow users to set rules to regulate data streams. We use the ShieldsUP! test to determine if the antivirus software blocks all ports.

> Test 5: Password manager test

We assess password managers’ ability to create, store, and autofill secure passwords, as well as additional features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.

> Test 6: Virtual Private Network (VPN) test

We evaluate built-in VPNs on their security, privacy, speed, compatibility with streaming services, unlimited data access, and support for peer-to-peer networks and torrent clients.

> Test 7: Parental control test

We examine parental control features, such as screen time rules, website/app blocking, and real-world location tracking. We test these features on a device and attempt to circumvent them, checking if the activity is accurately reported in the parental control admin.

> Test 8: Anti-phishing protection test

We evaluate antivirus browser extensions that block phishing sites by installing them and attempting to visit dangerous URLs.

> Test 9: Ransomware protection test

We assess security suites’ ability to prevent data encryption through exploit prevention and behavioral detection during ransomware attacks.

> Test 10: Bonus features test

We test any additional cybersecurity tools such as:

• Ad Blocker
• Anti-theft
• Dark web monitoring (identity protection)
• Email protection
• File encryption
• File shredder
• Gaming mode
• Microphone protection
• PC maintenance features
• Secure browser (hardened browser to protect your online banking)
• Secure cloud storage (cloud backup)
• Spam filter
• Startup optimizer
• Tune up tools
• Virtual keyboard
• Webcam protection

> Test 11: Operating system and multiple devices test

Operating system and multiple devices: We test antivirus software on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices and award bonus points for unlimited device protection.

> Test 12: Ownership and reputation test

We analyze the trustworthiness of antivirus companies, especially concerning customer data. We read press releases, news articles, and privacy policies to determine their reputation.

Sources and tools

Below are the sources and tools we’ve used to test the antivirus software:

• Apple Platform Security
• AV-Comparatives Consumer
• AV-Test Android
• AV-Test macOS
• AV-Test Windows
• GRC Firewall Test
• Microsoft Defender
• SpeedTest VPN
• Trustpilot Security Software

Click the links to compare the prices of the best antivirus software:

🥇 Norton Antivirus - The best of 2023
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus
🥉 McAfee Antivirus

Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus of 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most frequently asked questions.