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Pros
- Blocks malware, viruses, and phishing websites
- Ad blocker and VPN for safer browsing
- Secure password manager
- Compatibility with several platforms
- Best desktop app
- Excellent free basic version
- Quick and helpful customer services
Cons
- Expensive than a few other market leaders
- Offers protection to a total of 6 devices
- Safe search doesn’t always function
- Browser extension is not user-friendly
- Poor phishing score
One of the award-winning software for virus protection, Total AntiVirus offers first-class protection for your computers and devices. Total AntiVirus gives you protection from URL phishing, malware, and data breaches. In this review, we will take a look at how effective the service is and other features that impressed us.
Ease of Use
You don’t need to be a tech genius if you want to use Total AV. They made sure that the platform will be easy to navigate even for amateurs. Installing the program will only take you 5 minutes. First, you need to create an account with Total AV. Then you will be asked to select which package you want to buy and input your email address. Lastly, you will be directed to a payment portal so you can pay for your purchase. It takes just a few clicks to start and set up your Total AV account.
Depending on the subscription package you choose you can connect 3 to 6 devices to your account. If you want to connect your account across all your devices, you’ll need to enter the unique activation code. Total AV is compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows systems.
Security Features
When you hear antivirus software, you immediately think of a suite of security features. Total AV will not let you down. Whether you are more concerned about visiting fishy websites or malware getting into your system, Total AV will protect your devices from data breaches.
Their best protection features include a powerful anti-malware engine that will prevent and eliminate all types of malware. They also have a spyware, adware, and ransomware protection feature so that you are also protected from malicious apps and programs that want to steal your personal information as well as other kinds of cyber-attacks. With Total AV, you also get remote access to your firewall settings so you can lock or unlock easily.
Virus Scan and Malware Protection
Total AV’s advanced malware scanning engine can perform four different kinds of virus scan. The Quick Scan is for temporary files where you will often find viruses. The System Scan will scan the complete system for any malware hiding. The Smart Scan will scan for tracking cookies, malware, and junk files. The Custom scan allows you to scan one file, folder, or the complete disk. Total AV performs daily updates on their virus definitions and real-time antivirus protection.
Anti-Phishing Protection
Total AV’s anti-phishing tool comes in the form of Web Shield which blocks phishing URLs to protect users against online scams. Phishing scams affect millions of individuals every year. Scammers use fake websites to try to get people to provide their financial details, passwords, and personal information to a hacker. Although browsers like Firefox and Chrome have good anti-phishing measures in place, a good antivirus program can help enhance these protections.
Real-time Protection
The real-time protection feature is always running to check for downloads and analyze files and programs. This helps you ensure that viruses are blocked and cannot modify anything in your device. Real-time scanning for malware is an incredibly effective feature if you want to protect yourself from malware and viruses.
System Optimization
Total AV system optimization tools look for any areas that can potentially help your device to perform better and last longer. System Tune-Up allows you to get rid of junk files to improve performance. System Tune-up includes Startup Manager, Browser Cleanup, Junk Cleaner, Application Uninstaller, and Duplicate File Finder.
The Startup Manager and Application Uninstaller feature do exist in Windows. However, users may have a hard time locating them in the Control Panel. Total AV gives you easy access if you want to manage which applications should run automatically when you start the computer or if you want to quickly uninstall a program.
Safe Browsing
If you are looking for something to protect your internet activity from surveillance agents, hackers, and internet service providers, the Safe Browsing VPN is a decent security measure. It works just like any VPN by rerouting traffic to a server located in a different part of the world and replacing your IP address with one from their servers.
Although it’s fast, it’s certainly not the fastest in the market. Using a VPN is guaranteed to slow you down a bit anyway since it has to reroute the data and encrypt your connection at the same time. The distance from the server and the process of encryption is what affect connection speeds.
Password Manager
Total AV’s password manager is comparable to any basic password vault but it’s only included in their top-tier package worth $59. Compared to leading standalone password managers which have 2-factor authentication, biometric login, and syncing across multiple devices, Total AV’s password manager is lagging.
However, if you were originally going for the Total Security package because you have six devices at home, then you might appreciate the password generator and auto-fill logins. The downside is that there is no version for mobile.
Pricing
Although we all want to enjoy the extraordinary features when it comes to products and services, an important determining factor is, of course, the price point. Pricing greatly affects whether you would purchase something or not. Total AV makes sure that their pricing is just as great as their security features. You only need to pay $29 a year to get access to all their protection features. Furthermore, Total AV allows you to use your account on three devices. You can have protection for your laptop, phone, and tablet.
If you have more than three devices to connect or if you want extra features, you can always upgrade your plan. For $39 a year, you can connect a maximum of five devices to your account. You will also get access to a VPN service useful when you’re always connected to the internet. If you need to connect six devices, you can go for their biggest suite which costs $59 a year.
Take note that these prices are in US dollars and may differ for other currencies. If you want to test out Total AV’s features, they offer a free trial for 7 days. You also get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Within the first 30 days of your purchase, you can get a refund if you find out that Total AV does not suit your needs.
Comparison of Total AV Packages
Packages | Antivirus Pro | Internet Security | Total Security |
Compatible Platforms | Mac, PC, Android, iOS | Mac, PC, Android, iOS | Mac, PC, Android, iOS |
Number of devices | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Virus, Trojan, and Malware Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ransomware Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Real-time antivirus protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Protection from phishing scams | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Protection from Adware and Spyware | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Disk cleaner | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Web shield extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
System Optimization Tools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cloud Scanning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Browser cleaner and manager | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Android + iOS Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
24/7 customer support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
VPN for Safe Browsing | – | Yes | Yes |
Ad Blocker | – | – | Yes |
Password Manager | – | – | Yes |
Compatibility
Many antivirus software that performs great on desktop computers often fails when it comes to mobile device platforms. Not with Total AV. You can get the protection you need for all your devices with different platforms. Total AV is completely compatible with Mac systems. It will detect malware and other kinds of threats to your cyber security. With Windows systems on laptops and desktops, users can get the best level of protection. Total AV is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. It’s easy to install and start setting up the antivirus with just a few clicks.
With mobile devices, Total AV is much more ahead of its competitors. It does not stop at providing security. It also cleans and frees up storage, boosts your phone’s memory, and enhances device performance. If you are using an android device, Total AV has an added feature for you. Android users can enjoy their Pin Protect feature which allows them to add passwords to their apps. This helps prevent people from accessing specific apps even if the phone has been unlocked. It’s a great feature especially if there is sensitive information stored on your device. It’s also a good tool for parents to help control the content that their kids can access on mobile phones.
Customer Support
Total AntiVirus gets high points for its outstanding customer support service. You can be assured that you can get in touch with highly responsive and friendly customer service representatives to handle your case. You can also check their section for Frequently Asked Questions to see if your question has already been answered. If not, there are several channels that you can choose from if you need to send them an inquiry. You can contact their customer support team through email, phone, or the live chat feature. The team responds promptly especially if you opt for a phone or live chat channel.
Conclusion
TotalAV stands out as an unassuming yet fully capable application with distinct qualities. In today’s competitive landscape of consumer products, possessing unique attributes is vital for a company to differentiate itself from the masses. This is particularly true within the antivirus software market, which is densely populated.
Its robust functionality is certainly noteworthy, and the fact that it doesn’t burden system resources is advantageous for all users, particularly those utilizing devices with limited processing capabilities, such as netbooks.
However, there’s room for enhancing some of its hallmark features, such as the VPN, in order to position itself as a more compelling alternative to the major players in the industry. Furthermore, for TotalAV to enhance both its reputation and customer base, it should continue its efforts towards greater transparency, particularly in relation to its auto-renewal pricing structure.