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Surfshark Antivirus Review (2026): Is it the right choice?
By Tibor Moes / Updated: November 2025
Surfshark Antivirus Review 2026
Surfshark One is an excellent security suite with strong anti-malware protection, no impact on device speed, robust privacy features, and an outstanding price.
Buy it for innovative privacy and security across unlimited devices. It includes excellent anti-malware, a VPN, ad blocker, alternative ID, secure search engine, and data breach alerts.
Alternatively, consider Norton 360 Deluxe. It offers more advanced anti-malware protection along with a firewall and password manager. However, it can’t match Surfshark’s VPN and alternative ID features.
- Malware protection: 100%. Surfshark detected and removed each of the 1,200 malware samples in our test.
- Speed impact: 100%. Surfshark’s anti-malware engine is lightweight and did not slow down our test PC.
- Features: 60%. Surfshark has many innovative privacy features, but misses a firewall and a password manager.
- Price: 100%. Compared to similar products at competitors, Surfshark has an excellent price.
Thanks to the 30-day return policy, you can try it risk-free.
| Ranking | #8 of 28 |
| Anti-malware | ✅ |
| Anti-phishing | ✅ |
| Firewall | – |
| Password Manager | – |
| Unlimited VPN | ✅ |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| 🔥 Discount | Save 80% on Surfshark 🔥 |
Full Review
Surfshark is ranked #8 of the 28 best antivirus of 2026.
Surfshark One is a comprehensive cybersecurity bundle that includes a VPN, antivirus, private search engine, and data breach alert service. With just one account, users gain protection against malware, privacy threats, and data leaks.
Starting at $2.49/month, is also includes bonus features like an ad blocker, cookie pop-up blocker, and webcam protection. On top of that, it provides real-time alerts for email and credit card breaches, security reports, and tools like a masked email generator. For additional services, such as data removal from company databases, users can upgrade to Surfshark One+.
Anti-malware
Surfshark’s antivirus engine provides a lightweight and efficient malware detection system. It uses a vast signature database to identify all types of threats, including ransomware, trojans, spyware, and rootkits. Users can choose between Quick and Full Scans, the former targeting high-risk areas and the latter inspecting the entire system for hidden infections.
In testing, Surfshark successfully removed most malware samples, though a few escaped detection compared to top-tier competitors like Norton. The full scan completed in around seven minutes and caused no noticeable system slowdown—a significant advantage over McAfee, which required an hour and impacted performance.
Real-time protection effectively blocked malicious downloads before completion, performing on par with leaders such as Bitdefender. Additionally, Surfshark includes a drag-and-drop feature for scanning specific files or folders, providing quick, on-demand protection without needing to initiate a full system scan.
Users can customize their experience by scheduling scans at preferred times and excluding trusted files from future scans. The virus database is updated frequently and can also be manually refreshed, ensuring up-to-date defenses against emerging threats.
Overall, Surfshark’s antivirus solution is fast, accurate, and non-intrusive. While it may not match the extensive options of Avira or Norton, it remains an excellent choice for users seeking reliable malware protection without heavy resource usage.
VPN
Surfshark’s VPN is one of its strongest features, delivering exceptional speed, privacy, and usability. In performance tests, it provided high-speed connections across regions, allowing seamless streaming of content on services like Netflix and Max in both domestic and international libraries.
The VPN incorporates advanced capabilities, including split tunneling for routing selected traffic through the encrypted tunnel and MultiHop connections for an additional layer of anonymity. Its IP Rotator periodically changes users’ IP addresses, making long-term tracking extremely difficult for advertisers or surveillance entities.
Surfshark also integrates its CleanWeb technology, which blocks ads, malware, and phishing domains before they load. This enhances browsing performance and security simultaneously, reducing bandwidth consumption and exposure to harmful sites.
The VPN interface is intuitive, offering a smooth user experience across desktop and mobile platforms. Its combination of strong encryption, flexible controls, and reliable global coverage makes it one of the most competitive VPNs available in 2026.
Other Security Features
Surfshark’s suite extends beyond antivirus and VPN with several privacy-focused tools that enhance user protection. The Alternative ID feature allows users to generate realistic digital identities, complete with name, email, and address, shielding their real information during online sign-ups. This not only minimizes spam but also preserves anonymity when interacting with less secure websites.
Surfshark Alert, its data breach monitoring service, scans the web for leaks involving personal credentials, credit card data, or national IDs. It provides immediate notifications of potential compromises, similar to 1Password’s breach monitoring tools, though with a narrower scope.
Surfshark Search delivers ad-free, organic results unaffected by user profiling or geographic location. This search engine ensures unbiased visibility of information, with optional region-based filtering for localized relevance.
Another notable feature is the beta-stage webcam protection tool, which blocks unauthorized camera access and allows users to approve or deny permissions manually. This functionality is rare even among premium security providers like McAfee or TotalAV, adding a valuable safeguard against spyware and intrusion attempts.
While Surfshark lacks certain advanced utilities—such as parental controls and a password manager—it successfully covers core security needs with a thoughtful balance of performance, privacy, and innovation. The platform’s unified approach makes it a practical choice for users seeking an integrated, streamlined cybersecurity solution.
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.
Test score comparison
We conduct in-house anti-malware tests and review the results from AV-Test, a German lab renowned for its objective evaluations. Below is the average of the last 10 AV-Test results for Windows. Their scoring criteria are:
- Protection (1-6): Effectiveness in blocking malware.
- Performance (1-6): Impact on system speed.
- Usability (1-6): Frequency of errors like false alarms.
We calculate a final score using this formula:
Final Score = 60% Protection + 20% Performance + 20% Usability.
While these results influence our choice of the best antivirus for Windows 11, other factors like privacy and identity protection also play a key role. For a similar analysis for Android or macOS, visit our other comparisons:
Note: Brands not listed in the table either do not participate in AV-Test trials or are tested too infrequently, such as Surfshark Antivirus.
Source: AV-Test (Last updated: November 2025).
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.
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.
We consider scores above 4.0 very good. Lower scores indicate that the brand might have a poor product or customer service. McAfee’s scores, for instance, are worrying.
Source: TrustPilot. Last Update: November 2025.
Company Profile
Surfshark was founded in 2018 by Vytautas Kaziukonis, who continues to lead the company. Since its inception, Surfshark has demonstrated a commitment to innovation and growth:
- 2019: Expanded its offerings with Surfshark Alert and Surfshark Search.
- 2020: Transitioned to RAM-only servers, enhancing privacy and security.
- 2021: Introduced new tools like Surfshark Antivirus and Incogni.
- 2022: Merged with Nord Security, achieving unicorn status with a $1.6 billion valuation.
- 2023: Passed a no-logs policy audit by Deloitte, reinforcing trust in its privacy claims.
- 2024: Ranked 47th on the Financial Times’ list of the 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe.
These milestones highlight Surfshark’s rapid evolution and its commitment to delivering cutting-edge privacy and security solutions.
How we test antivirus software
At SoftwareLab, we provide thorough and unbiased antivirus reviews to help you make informed cybersecurity decisions. Our comprehensive testing covers all critical aspects of antivirus performance. We assess each product in six key categories, weighted by importance:
For even more details, visit our blog posts on how we test antivirus software.
Anti-Malware Protection (30%)
We evaluate how well the antivirus detects and removes various malware types like viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
In-House Testing: Using 1,200 diverse malware samples, we conduct real-time attack simulations to assess detection and neutralization of known and emerging threats through signature-based and heuristic analysis.
Independent Lab Results: We incorporate findings from respected institutes like AV-Test, SE Labs, and AV-Comparatives to validate our results.
Security and Privacy Features (30%)
We assess additional tools that enhance cybersecurity:
Web Protection: Testing the software’s ability to block phishing sites and web-based threats by accessing known malicious websites.
Firewall: Evaluating effectiveness using intrusion simulations and the ShieldsUP! test to secure network ports and monitor traffic.
Password Manager: Assessing capabilities to generate, store, and auto-fill complex passwords, plus features like two-factor authentication and biometric login.
VPN: Evaluating security protocols, encryption, speed, server locations, data limits, and support for streaming and peer-to-peer sharing while hiding IP addresses.
Parental Controls: Testing screen time management, content filtering, location tracking, and resistance to bypass attempts to protect children.
Identity Theft Protection: Assessing monitoring of personal info and responsiveness to potential identity theft alerts.
Secure Cloud Storage: Evaluating capacity, security, usability, and features like file encryption and secure sharing.
Anti-Ransomware: Simulating attacks to test detection and blocking of unauthorized encryption via behavioral detection and exploit prevention.
Dark Web Monitoring: Checking effectiveness in scanning the dark web for personal info and providing timely alerts.
System Performance Impact (10%)
We measure how the antivirus affects device performance during everyday tasks:
Resource Usage: Monitoring CPU and memory during scans and real-time protection.
Performance Tests: Evaluating impact on launching apps, downloading files, browsing websites, and copying data, aligned with AV-Test criteria.
False Positives (10%)
Accuracy is crucial to avoid interruptions:
False Positive Detection: Assessing how often legitimate applications or files are incorrectly flagged.
Usability Tests: Referencing AV-Test evaluations to gauge false positive frequency for effectiveness and user-friendliness.
Price and Value (10%)
We analyze overall value by comparing features to cost:
Cost Analysis: Considering subscription prices, device coverage, and multi-year plans.
Feature Evaluation: Assessing if included features justify the price compared to competitors.
Ownership and Reputation (10%)
Trust is essential in cybersecurity providers:
Company Background: Researching history, industry track record, mergers, or acquisitions.
Privacy Policies: Examining data handling, privacy commitment, and compliance with regulations.
Ethical Conduct: Investigating past unethical behavior, data breaches, or controversies.
Sources and tools
- 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
Author: Tibor Moes
Founder & Chief Editor at SoftwareLab
Tibor has tested 28 antivirus programs and 25 VPN services, and holds a Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate from Stanford University.
He uses Norton to protect his devices, NordVPN for his privacy, and Proton for his passwords and email.
Surfshark Antivirus
Rating: 5 of 5