VIPRE Antivirus Review (2023 Update): The Pros & Cons

VIPRE review: summary

VIPRE is ranked #14 out of 20 antivirus software.

VIPRE has below average anti-malware test scores, falling behind Microsoft Defender. Although it has a minimal impact on the speed of your PC and includes many features, it lacks a password manager and parental controls.

On top of that, if you want the unlimited VPN, it’s very expensive. You will get significantly more value for your money at Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee, or Kaspersky. All have better test scores and more features.

• Malware protection: 50%. VIPRE scored 5.50 out of 6 in the last 10 tests. This is below average and behind Microsoft Defender. 
• Speed impact: 90%. VIPRE averaged 5.90 out of 6 in the last 10 performance tests. So it has a minimal impact on your PC’s speed.
• Features: 60%. VIPRE offers anti-malware, anti-phishing, a firewall, and an unlimited VPN. But it misses a password manager and parental controls.
• Price: 50%. If you want the unlimited VPN, you’ll need VIPRE Ultimate, which is very expensive. You’ll get much better value at Norton.

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 VIPRE Ultimate Security Bundle 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.

VIPRE also has a product line targeted at companies. If you’re interested in that, have a look at the VIPRE endpoint security solution 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.

VIPRE antivirus review

Antivirus scanner

VIPRE provides various antivirus scans, including Full, Quick, and other specialized scans. We tested the Quick Scan, which detected a malware sample in the System folder. The Full Scan, however, discovered 96% of malware samples on our test machine. Nevertheless, VIPRE blocked only 72% of simulated ransomware attacks, indicating a need for improvement in this area.

The Full Scan takes longer than Norton and Avira, requiring 4 hours, but consumes a mere 17% of CPU power, resulting in a lightweight experience. Although Norton and Bitdefender achieve a 100% malware detection rate, VIPRE’s performance remains competitive with leading cybersecurity firms. Therefore, we recommend VIPRE for users seeking protection against common malware like viruses, trojans, and rootkits.

Web protection

VIPRE’s web protection compares URLs to a blacklist database to block malicious websites. In tests involving Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, VIPRE prevented access to 100% of harmful sites, surpassing competitors like Malwarebytes in phishing defense.

Additionally, VIPRE offers guidance for whitelisting secure sites and sharing blocked sites on social media. As a result, we consider VIPRE’s web protection exceptional and a solid choice for robust web security.

Personal profile protection

VIPRE Privacy Shield examines computers for concealed files containing personal details, like email addresses, usernames, and passwords. It assigns a risk score to each identified profile, with higher scores for more sensitive data.

Despite its usefulness, the feature’s limited information on profile sources and storage locations complicates profile deletion decisions. Nonetheless, VIPRE outshines rivals such as Norton’s Privacy Manager and Avira’s Privacy Optimizer.

Local document scanner

VIPRE’s Privacy Shield detects unprotected documents containing private information. After scanning, it lists the found documents, allowing users to ignore, delete, or transfer them to a secure vault. This distinctive and efficient feature aids in organizing files.

And thanks to VIPRE’s secure file eraser, you can remove sensitive files securely and indefinitely.

Anti-tracking

VIPRE’s anti-tracking function is a browser extension that halts trackers and advertisements. Upon installing it on Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, and erasing browsing history, we observed that targeted ads vanished from websites.

Dark web scanner

VIPRE’s dark web scanner searches for sensitive personal information within the obscure corners of the internet. We found that the scanner identified 16 breaches linked to the user’s email, offering details and suggesting protective measures. However, it falls short of Norton’s dark web monitoring in terms of comprehensiveness.

VPN

VIPRE’s Internet Shield VPN provides anonymous browsing, a no-log policy, unrestricted data, compatibility for up to 10 devices, and avoidance of ISP throttling. In addition, it works seamlessly with popular streaming sites, including Netflix, and boasts a user-friendly layout featuring over 80 server locations in over 50 countries.

The VPN’s “Best Available” server option connects users to the quickest server, ensuring minimal impact on connection speed. We believe VIPRE’s VPN is a strong choice for users seeking a secure, anonymous browsing experience and access to streaming platforms without compromising internet speed. Nevertheless, it may not outperform standalone VPN services in every aspect.

If you want to the best VPN, we recommend CyberGhost or NordVPN.

Installation and user experience

Setting up VIPRE requires installing three applications, which takes roughly 22 minutes—longer than competitors like Avira and TotalAV. Nevertheless, VIPRE Advanced Security is easy to use, with accessible features, straightforward scan scheduling, one-click web safety, and automatic app updates. Both the Privacy Shield app and the VPN, Internet Shield, are also user-friendly.

VIPRE Mobile app

VIPRE provides an Android app, Android Security, which must be acquired separately. Users of VIPRE Ultimate Security can install the VPN on Android and iOS devices at no extra cost. The Android app has a mobile malware scanner, online protection, privacy safeguards, and features such as Autopilot, App lock, and Anti-theft tools.

The app sports a clear layout, rapid and accurate scanning, and adequate mobile browsing security. Its drawbacks include not being part of the Ultimate Security package and the absence of an iOS app. But, overall, we believe it is a solid choice for users seeking robust malware detection, additional practical features, and an intuitive dashboard.

Customer support

VIPRE presents customer assistance through email, phone, FAQ, and a user forum. Unfortunately, navigating the knowledge base proves challenging, and the forum lacks activity. Phone help is accessible in the US, Canada, and six European nations, though users might face lengthy waiting times. Email aid is efficient and provides prompt responses to pressing issues.

Conclusion

VIPRE security boasts a 96% virus detection rate, robust web safety, and innovative privacy tools. Nevertheless, enhancements in ransomware defense are necessary. The software disperses features across three apps, rendering it less user-friendly than rivals such as Norton and Bitdefender. VIPRE falls short in offering vital features like device optimization, gaming mode, password management, and parental supervision. The Android application is commendable but not part of internet security packages, and no iOS app exists.

In conclusion, VIPRE supplies basic protection and a few unique features. We recommend taking advantage of the 30-day free trial and money-back guarantee to evaluate the program without risks.

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.