Surfshark, a renowned VPN provider, offers Surfshark One, a package that combines its VPN service with antivirus protection. But can a VPN truly offer competitive antivirus capabilities? This review delves into Surfshark One’s features, performance, and overall value, assessing its effectiveness in protecting against online threats.
Surfshark One: Pricing and Features
Surfshark One offers three tiered subscription options: Surfshark Starter (VPN only), Surfshark One (VPN + Antivirus), and Surfshark One+ (VPN + Antivirus + Incogni, a data removal service). Each tier is available in monthly, annual, and biennial subscriptions, with significant savings for longer commitments.
Surfshark Starter provides access to their well-regarded VPN service but lacks malware protection. Surfshark One adds real-time antivirus prevention and scanning, while Surfshark One+ further incorporates Incogni for enhanced online privacy. New subscribers benefit from bonus months free with annual or biennial plans.
Surfshark offers three tiers, each available as a monthly, annual, and two-year subscription (shown).
Installation and Design
Integrating the antivirus component into the existing Surfshark VPN app streamlines the installation process. After installing the VPN app, accessing the antivirus feature is as simple as selecting the corresponding tab within the interface. The initial setup prompts a quick scan, confirming a clean system and displaying various antivirus settings.
I installed Surfshark Antivirus from within the Surfshark VPN app.to get the best malware protection
Surfshark Antivirus provides real-time and browser protection by default, scheduling daily quick scans and weekly full scans. Users can customize scan times and enable optional features like webcam protection and automatic quarantine deletion.
Surfshark
Performance and Protection
Previous tests indicated some weaknesses in Surfshark’s antivirus capabilities. However, recent evaluations demonstrate significant improvements. In Wicar malware tests, Surfshark Antivirus successfully blocked 12 out of 13 malicious downloads and exploits, a notable enhancement from previous results. The missed vulnerability primarily affects older Windows systems.
Independent security lab AV-Test awarded Surfshark Antivirus a perfect protection score in June 2024, successfully detecting numerous zero-day attacks and malware samples. While earlier 2022 tests showed a slightly lower detection rate for zero-day threats, the recent perfect score indicates substantial progress.
Surfshark Antivirus blocked most Wicar malware tests.
AV-Test gave Surfshark Antiovirus a perfect score for June 2024 but deducted points in 2022.
Customer Support and Privacy
Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat support, providing prompt and informative assistance for both VPN and antivirus related queries. The company prioritizes user privacy and undergoes regular independent security and privacy audits. Their privacy policy clearly states a commitment to not selling or sharing user data with third-party advertisers.
Surfshark offers live chat support all day, every day.
Is Surfshark One the Right Choice?
Surfshark One presents a compelling combination of VPN and antivirus functionality at a competitive price point. While its antivirus component is relatively new, recent improvements and independent test results demonstrate its growing effectiveness. However, established antivirus solutions like Bitdefender offer a longer track record of consistent high performance.
Surfshark One’s VPN remains a strong offering, and the added antivirus protection provides valuable supplementary security for Windows, macOS, and Android devices. The absence of iOS antivirus support is a limitation for iPhone users requiring mobile malware protection.
Ultimately, Surfshark One offers a convenient and affordable solution for users seeking combined VPN and antivirus functionality. While dedicated antivirus solutions may offer slightly stronger protection, Surfshark One’s integrated approach and competitive pricing make it a worthwhile consideration.
