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PC Protect Antivirus Review (2024 Update): The Pros & Cons
By Tibor Moes / Updated: November 2023 / Rating: 3 of 5
PC Protect Antivirus 2024: Review Summary
PC Protect is ranked #25 of the 28 best antivirus of 2024.
PC Protect is a copy of TotalAV, one of our favorite antivirus software. Like TotalAV, PC Protect’s anti-malware capabilities are solid, and it includes anti-phishing, a password manager, and a VPN. But it lacks a firewall.
If you’re interested in PC Protect, we recommend getting TotalAV.
Ranking | #25 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.
PC Protect Antivirus 2024: Full Review
We tried out PCProtect and found it to be a solid antivirus, pretty much a re-skinned version of TotalAV. It caught almost all malware we threw at it, scoring a 97% in detection. However, when it comes to web safety, VPN, and help from customer service, it lags behind TotalAV. You can grab it for just $20.14 a year, and if you’re not happy, there’s a 30-day refund policy.
Anti-malware
We tested PCProtect’s anti-malware capabilities and it delivered strong results. Using Avira’s top-rated engine, it offers four types of scans: a full system scan, a quick scan, a custom scan, and a smart scan. We found that it caught nearly 97% of a wide variety of malware in our tests, even doing well with real-time detection.
The full scan was a bit slower than some rivals like Bitdefender, taking around 100 minutes, but it was thorough. The smart scan was a nice touch; it cleaned up malware and even spotted 1100 duplicate files in just 28 minutes.
In summary, PCProtect provides reliable malware protection, catching almost everything we tried to throw at it.
Anti-phishing
We put PCProtect’s WebShield to the test and found it lacking, especially when compared to TotalAV’s web protection. Although both use the same technology, WebShield hasn’t seen an update since 2019. It failed to flag many risky sites that TotalAV easily caught. We even reported a known phishing site, but weeks later, it was still accessible.
Interestingly, WebShield works differently on Windows and Mac. On Windows, it functions across all browsers without needing an extension, but Mac users will need to install one.
Our bottom line: WebShield needs work. For stronger web security, we’d recommend going with TotalAV instead.
Password manager
We explored PCProtect’s Password Vault and found it to be a straightforward, secure option, much like TotalAV’s password manager. It keeps your passwords safely locked away in an encrypted vault and includes a password generator and browser extension for auto-filling login fields. Importing our existing passwords was a breeze with a .csv file, and auto-fill worked smoothly.
That said, it does lack some features offered by competitors like 1Password, such as password health checks, 2FA support, and dark web monitoring. So, while it’s good for basic use, if you’re looking for more robust features, you might want to explore other options.
VPN
We took PCProtect’s VPN for a spin and found it suitable for general browsing and torrenting. It uses robust 256-bit AES encryption and includes a kill switch, which is reassuring. The server coverage spans nearly 40 countries, but we’d like to see more options in Asia; currently, only Japan is available.
Speed-wise, it’s on par with TotalAV’s VPN but lags behind standalone options like ExpressVPN. Our speed tests showed some drop in performance, but it was still good enough for 4K streaming and hefty downloads. However, it fell short in unblocking popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, something many standalone VPNs manage to do.
To sum it up, PCProtect’s VPN offers good security features and decent speed but could improve in server diversity and streaming capabilities.
System tune-up
We experimented with PCProtect’s system tune-up tools and were generally impressed. The suite includes a junk cleaner, duplicate finder, application uninstaller, startup optimizer, and browser cleaner. It successfully found over 3GB of unnecessary files on our test system, putting it ahead of some competitors like Trend Micro. However, it could benefit from additional features like Norton’s Game Booster and performance graphs.
As for extra features, PCProtect offers an ad blocker, a data breach checker, and an antivirus eBook, but these come at an additional cost and aren’t particularly compelling. You can get similar functionalities for free with tools like uBlock Origin and haveibeenpwned.com.
In summary, while PCProtect excels in system tune-up and offers a decent range of features, there’s room for improvement in the extras department. Overall, it’s a solid choice for internet security in 2024 but could step up its game in a few areas.
Mobile app
We tested PCProtect’s mobile apps and found a mixed bag. The Android version offers robust features like anti-malware scanning and real-time protection, performing well in our tests with a 98% malware detection rate. However, its iOS counterpart falls short, mainly providing VPN and basic utilities.
The Android app’s incognito browser disappointed us. It lacks customization and performed poorly in blocking dangerous websites. While the VPN is functional, it’s not on par with specialized services like ExpressVPN.
Customer support
For customer support, PCProtect leaves a lot to be desired. The company offers only an online knowledge base and no direct channels for assistance. We even tried reaching out through email and phone, only to find that these options were unresponsive or redirected to unrelated services.
In conclusion, PCProtect’s Android app provides decent protection but could improve in web safety and user customization. The iOS app and customer support are areas where the service seriously lags behind competitors. If customer service is crucial for you, consider alternatives like TotalAV.
Plans and pricing
We explored PCProtect’s pricing and found it offers two plans: a limited free version and a paid one priced at $20.14/year for two devices. While the pricing is reasonable for the features you get, it’s comparable to TotalAV, a service we find slightly superior.
Navigating the payment process can be frustrating. PCProtect pushes various upsells and add-ons that could significantly increase your total cost. There’s also an online marketplace that appears post-purchase, offering items like eBooks and premium support, potentially confusing buyers even more.
In short, PCProtect’s basic plan is fairly priced for its feature set, but the upselling tactics can make the purchasing experience cumbersome and potentially more expensive. If you’re looking for a deal, stick to the basic plan and skip the add-ons.
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.
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 Antivirus Plus – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for Android.
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 Advanced – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Premium Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best antivirus for iOS.
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 360 for Gamers – The #1 in 2024
🥈 Bitdefender Total Security
🥉 TotalAV Antivirus
Or read our complete comparison of the best VPN of 2024.
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 PC Protect a good antivirus program?
PC Protect is ranked #25 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.
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