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F-Secure Antivirus Review (2024 Update): The Pros & Cons
By Tibor Moes / Updated: November 2023 / Rating: 4 of 5
F-Secure Antivirus 2024: Review Summary
F-Secure is ranked #12 of the 28 best antivirus of 2024.
F-Secure is a good antivirus program, but not our favorite. It has good anti-malware protection, a small impact on the speed of your PC, many security features, and a fair price.
However, we prefer Norton 360 Deluxe. Norton has better test scores, more security features, and a lower price. It’s simply a superior antivirus program.
- Malware protection: 95%. F-Secure detected and removed most of the 1,200 malware samples in our test.
- Speed impact: 80%. F-Secure anti-malware engine is lightweight, but it did have a small impact on the speed of our test PC.
- 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 on value for money.
If you want the best protection, we recommend Norton.
Ranking | #12 of 28 |
Anti-malware | ✅ |
Anti-phishing | ✅ |
Firewall | – |
Password Manager | ✅ |
Unlimited VPN | ✅ |
Operating systems | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton 360 Deluxe – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Total Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Windows 11.
F-Secure Antivirus 2024: Full Review
We tested F-Secure and found it highly reliable for stopping malware and online threats. Two plans are up for grabs: Internet Security and Total. Internet Security offers solid antivirus and web protection plus parental controls. If you go for the Total plan, you’ll get all of that plus a VPN, Wi-Fi safety, identity security, and a password manager.
Both plans can cover up to 25 devices and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also buy F-Secure’s VPN and ID Protection separately. Overall, F-Secure gives good value for the price.
Anti-malware
In our hands-on tests, F-Secure’s anti-malware scanner stood out. It uses a big malware database and machine learning to catch both old and new threats. We threw a mix of 1,200 malware files at it, and F-Secure caught nearly 95% of them.
The software offers two scan types: a full scan and a quick one. The first full scan took 27 minutes, but later scans were much faster—under 4 minutes—thanks to F-Secure’s smart skipping of safe files. If you like, you can turn off this feature.
We were pleased with how light F-Secure is on system resources. Our computer ran smoothly during scans, which is a big plus. You can also set up regular scans in the Tools section.
Real-time protection was spot-on. It stopped us from downloading new malware files and neutralized 900 ransomware samples instantly. F-Secure matches up well with top names like Norton and McAfee.
Anti-phishing
We put F-Secure’s online protection to the test and came away impressed. It’s split into two parts: Browsing Protection and Banking Protection. Browsing Protection blocked every phishing site we tried to visit, outdoing competitors like Systweak. The software also color-codes your search results—green for safe, yellow for caution, and red for risky—making web surfing easier.
Banking Protection kicks in when you visit financial websites. It adds extra checks and even blocks risky sites while you’re in a banking session. A standout feature is the Remote Access Blocker, which stops outsiders from controlling your computer during online banking.
While not as robust as Bitdefender’s Safepay, F-Secure’s Banking Protection is a strong layer of security for your online finances. It requires a browser extension but is well worth the setup.
Overall, F-Secure does an excellent job of keeping you safe online.
Password manager
We tried out F-Secure’s Password Vault and found it straightforward and effective. Setting up involves creating a master password and downloading a QR code for recovery, which is both clever and a bit risky. When it comes to importing passwords, F-Secure supports a range of sources like Dashlane, LastPass, and various browsers. The process is as simple as dragging a .CSV file into the app.
The browser extension worked seamlessly for us, auto-filling and saving credentials effortlessly. We used it with Microsoft Edge and had no issues.
The password generator is good but not great. It creates strong passwords up to 32 characters, but lacks some advanced options like passphrase generation found in 1Password. Also, it’s not integrated into the browser extension, requiring a visit to the desktop app for new passwords.
Overall, while not as feature-rich as standalone options like 1Password, F-Secure’s Password Vault does a solid job for basic password management needs.
VPN
We tested F-Secure’s VPN and found it to be a mixed bag. With just 28 servers across 22 countries, it’s limited compared to giants like ExpressVPN. However, it doesn’t skimp on security, offering AES 256-bit encryption, no-logs policy, and a kill switch on select platforms.
In terms of speed, local servers performed well, with only minor slowdowns during browsing and streaming. Distant servers were another story—noticeable lags made the experience less than ideal. On the upside, the VPN works with major streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, delivering HD quality without hitches.
Torrenting was also smooth, although the downloads took a bit longer than usual. A major downside is its unavailability in countries like China, Russia, and the UAE.
The interface is clean but overly simple, lacking data on server speeds or loads. This could be an issue if you’re looking for the fastest connection.
In summary, F-Secure VPN is decent but not exceptional. It works well for basic needs but falls short in server variety and some performance aspects.
Parental controls
We evaluated F-Secure’s parental controls and found them to be straightforward but basic. Setting up child profiles is a breeze, allowing parents to block specific web content, set internet “bedtimes,” and limit daily usage. These rules are easily managed via a simple web portal.
While the bedtime feature works well on Windows and Mac, its functionality is limited on Android and iOS. Our tests showed effective content filtering on Android; we were blocked from accessing harmful websites across various categories. However, F-Secure’s content filters are not as detailed as Norton’s, which offers 47 categories.
The App Control feature, available only on Android, lets parents restrict specific apps. This is great for limiting social media time but requires device administrator permissions, meaning F-Secure could potentially delete data and alter settings, a point to consider for privacy-conscious users.
In summary, F-Secure’s parental controls are easy to use but lack the granularity and additional features like location tracking found in competitors like Norton and Bitdefender.
Dark web monitor
We tested F-Secure’s ID Monitoring, a tool that scans the dark web for your personal data. After verifying our email addresses, the tool alerted us about past data breaches. The user interface is clean and informative, providing essential next steps for securing compromised accounts.
While the tool allows you to monitor various types of personal information, like credit cards and Social Security numbers, it’s less comprehensive than competitors like Avira and Norton, which offer more robust data breach protection.
In a nutshell, F-Secure’s ID Monitoring is a decent but basic option for keeping an eye on your personal information in the dark web.
Mobile app
We took F-Secure’s mobile app for a spin on an Android device and were pleased with the results. The antivirus scan was quick and effective, catching nearly all the malware samples we threw at it. Parental controls were user-friendly and similar to what’s offered on the PC version. The app conveniently bundles antivirus, VPN, and ID protections, making it a one-stop security solution.
Customer support
On the customer support front, our experience was a mixed bag. While we appreciated the friendly service when we could reach them, the limited hours for live chat and phone support were disappointing. Although there’s no 24/7 support like Norton offers, their community forum is active, and the website’s user guides are helpful.
Plans and pricing
We examined F-Secure’s two main plans: Internet Security and Total. Both offer 30-day money-back guarantees, work across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and allow for 1 to 25 devices. We can vouch that the refund policy is hassle-free.
The Internet Security plan, priced at $49.99/year, provides basic features like antivirus, ransomware protection, and parental controls. It’s a bit pricey compared to competitors like Norton, especially since it lacks a VPN and password manager.
The Total plan, on the other hand, is priced at $31.50/year and includes a VPN, password manager, and data breach monitoring on top of Internet Security features. While it’s similarly priced to premium packages from Norton and McAfee, it falls short in offering cloud storage or a high-quality VPN.
If you have to choose between the two, we’d recommend the Total plan for the added features. However, there are more comprehensive options available in the market for a similar price.
Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton 360 Standard – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Internet Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Mac.
Plans and pricing
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 our country.
Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton Antivirus Plus – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Android.
Test score comparison
Next to our own anti-malware tests, we analyze those by AV-Test. We’ve compared the results of the 10 most recent tests for Windows 10. 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.
Source: AV-Test.
Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton 360 Advanced – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Premium Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for iOS.
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 single Windows PC with the most 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 read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton 360 for Gamers – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Total Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best VPN of 2024.
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.
Source: TrustPilot.
Click the links to read the reviews of the best antivirus of 2024:
🥇 Norton Antivirus Plus – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Android.
How we test antivirus software
Below we describe how we run our tests. For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Anti-phishing protection test
We evaluate antivirus browser extensions that block phishing sites by installing them and attempting to visit dangerous URLs.
Ransomware protection test
We assess security suites’ ability to prevent data encryption through exploit prevention and behavioral detection during ransomware attacks.
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
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the most frequently asked questions.
Is F-Secure a good antivirus program?
F-Secure is ranked #12 of 28 antivirus programs. The ranking is based on its protection, performance, price, and features. Find the best protection in our comparison of the best antivirus of 2024.
How do we test antivirus software?
We analyze the protection from malware, the performance impact on a PC, and the number of false positives. On top of that, we test various security features such as the firewall, password manager, VPN, and more.
Author: Tibor Moes
Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab
Tibor has tested 39 antivirus programs and 30 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.
He uses Norton to protect his devices, CyberGhost for his privacy, and Dashlane for his passwords.
F-Secure Antivirus
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