Avira 2022 — Cloud-Based With a Good Free Plan

browser Safety can block ads and trackers online. I compared them when I visited 5 sites that had heavy advertising.

I was however disappointed by Avira Safety exploit prevention.

Exploits are web-based tools which exploit software vulnerabilities to install malware or gain access. Exploit attacks are well-known. Most browsers and internet security tools can block exploit websites. Avira Browser Safety failed to detect all the exploits I tested. However, it detected approximately 10%. Bitdefender’s protection feature detected 100%.

Avira Web Security is excellent. However, it does not offer exploit attack protection. Avira Firefox Safety has a better ad blocking and tracker blocking feature than Chrome and Firefox.

Device Optimization Tools

Avira’s system optimization tools are outstanding. They are simple to use and clear up system space. Additionally, they provide useful metrics that can be used to chart system performance over time. Avira provides several key tools for optimizing devices.

• PC junk cleaner.
• Startup optimizer.
• Driver updater.
• Battery usage monitor.
• Game booster.

The computer junk folder cleaner detects junk, unutilized files and folders.

Avira detected more than 1.3 GB of junk files during my tests. Avira also showed me files and folders I might like to keep, and let you choose to delete or not. Avira’s junk folder cleaner is very efficient. TotalAV is the only one capable of detecting junk files and removing them.

This startup optimizer will tell you which programs are slowing down your PC so you can stop them from starting up at startup. Avira’s Hyper Boost is available for users with slower boot times. Avira requests that your computer be rebooted five times in order to optimize the boot sequence. While this Hyper Boost feature can take some time to set-up, it can be a valuable tool for anyone experiencing a faulty boot sequence. I love the way the startup optimizer keeps track of the time it takes for a PC to load and presents the data in an easily-read graph.

The driver updater from Avira impressed me as well. It ran a scan of all my programs, and informed me if any were missing. Software updates are not only more efficient, but they also offer security patches to close security holes. Avira’s driver updater is a useful security tool that can protect your device against the majority of known exploit attacks.

The battery usage manager isn’t that impressive. It can set your system to low power mode, which disables automatic updates and dims the screen. However, it does not track the apps that are using your battery as Android and iOS do.

Avira’s Game Booster can shut down background services, and stop unnecessary ones. It optimizes network settings in order to maximize CPU performance for high quality gaming, especially online games such Destiny 2 which can experience slowdowns due to network connectivity issues. I experienced less lag when playing online games and no intermittent slowdown.

BullGuard’s booster has my approval. It reallocates CPUs between multiple-core processors to allow games to run more efficiently. BullGuard and McAfee’s boosters allow me to increase my graphics settings while gaming.

Overall, however, I am extremely satisfied with Avira’s device-optimization capabilities. They are among the best of all system tuneup programs that I’ve tested.

Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Avira Phantom VPN is a good VPN that offers decent security and network connectivity. It also has fast speeds and no logs. However, it cannot access streaming websites consistently. Phantom VPN Pro unlimited data is included in Avira’s Prime Package. Lower-tier plans only offer 500MB of browsing data per month, which is not enough.

PhantomVPN also supports:

• AES encryption @ 256 bits All user details are protected by unbreakable encryption
• A strict no log policy. Avira does not log visits to websites, or files downloaded.
• DNS leak protection. PhantomVPN support IPv4/IPv6 traffic.
• Malware blocking. Prevents you from visiting malicious websites.
• Multiple server locations. 1400 server locations in 37 countries, including certain US states. Pro users have full and unlimited access to all 1,400 server sites, while the free version can access only one virtual host.
• The Kill switch. It will automatically block internet connection if VPN is disconnected. This feature is only available with Pro edition.

Avira VPN speeds are very fast. My speed drops were between 25-30% in my tests. This is comparable with ProtonVPN (one of the most popular standalone VPNs). Avira’s VPN made it possible to browse the internet and download videos as well as play games, with minimal or no downtime. Although I experienced slowdowns from connecting to distant servers (especially long distance ones), this is normal for VPNs.

Phantom VPN supports five simultaneous connections. This is quite a number, considering the industry average of 5-7 devices. Avira VPN does not work with smart TVs, routers, and gaming consoles. It can be difficult for users to protect multiple devices within their home. ExpressVPN is an independent competitor that can be installed across all devices. CactusVPN supports unlimited simultaneous connections. Some VPNs also allow simultaneous connections.

Avira VPN didn’t work with all the streaming sites that were tested. In my tests, Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ were not accessible. ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN, and VPN-Lite are good options if you’re looking for a fast VPN to stream video.

Phantom VPN can be used with most torrenting clients. Other VPNs such as McAfee Safe Connect, Norton Secure VPN and others do not allow torrenting.

Phantom VPN is an average VPN. Although it is worth the Avira Primepackage price and offers great value, standalone VPNs are much better. Avira PhantomVPN is an excellent choice for people who need a reliable, fast and secure VPN that has many international servers.

Password Manager

Avira’s password management software offers secure password storage and an intuitive interface. It also has security features. Norton Password Manager however is quite good. Avira is the only password manager that offers unlimited password storage and sync across multiple devices. Avira Antivirus Pro Plans and Avira Antivirus Pro Plans are both free and include Avira Password manager Pro.

Avira’s password administrator features these key features:

• 256-bit encryption.
• Login using Biometrics to access your mobile device.
• Two-factor authentication (2FA).
• Password generator.
• Autosave & auto-fill.
• Data breach monitoring (Pro version).
• Password vault auditing (Pro version).

Avira’s password management dashboard is clean and intuitive

You can also download a browser extension that will automatically fill in your login information, as well as generate strong passwords. It’s available in Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

A password generator is what’s missing from the browser extension. A password generator can be found within the desktop app. However, it is a good idea to include one in your browser extension for when you create new accounts.

Avira also provides a mobile application. This allows you sync logins stored within your vault from any device.

Avira’s vault monitoring software is very useful. It tracks all my suspicious logins, regardless of whether they are weak, repeated or old. It allows me to go down and make changes to my vault. Avira does a great work, although I wish it had a password auto-change feature like Norton and Dashlane. Data breach monitor allows you to receive live updates whenever your logins have been identified in any public data breaches.

Avira’s password manager is missing certain features. It is not compatible with 2FA tokens, such as YubiKey. It does not support live darkweb monitoring such as Dashlane or family password vault shares like 1Password. However, it is a solid password manager.

Avira password manager is a good choice if you’re looking for a simple, secure password management system with useful additional features. You can also get the majority of the features completely free!

Additional Features

Avira includes manymore features such as:

• File encryption. Passwords are a way to secure files and folders.
• File destruction. Blocks hackers from obtaining files.
• Network traffic manager. It displays information about the applications connected to the Internet. You can also stop certain connections.
• Process manager. Monitors all processes in use and stops them if necessary.
• Disk defragmenter. It increases speed and organization for hard drives.
• Retrieve files from deleted files.
• Safe shopping This browser extension encourages online shopping for better prices.

I love the file shredder. It was quick and easy to delete everything from my hard drive in just a few seconds. Avira includes many useful features like the disk defragmenter as well as process manager and file shredder.

Safe Shopping Browser Extension was not what I expected. It didn’t alert me to better deals, but it did sometimes offer humorous alternatives. When I was searching for Animorphs Books, it alerted me to a Amazon low price Terrarium.

Avira Easy of Use and Setup

Avira was the most user-friendly of all antiviruses I tested.

Installation took less than 10 min. Avira was much faster than other antiviruses such as TotalAV. Avira installation took just 10 minutes.

Avira features make it easy to run an anti-virus scan or use the device optimization tool.

I was capable of scheduling scans within a few minutes. All it took was clicking the calendar icon, and setting the scan frequency.

Avira provides many scanning options. This is one of Avira’s best perks. This may seem overwhelming to someone not versed in technical terms. Avira’s interface makes this easy to scan, schedule and manage.

Avira was able scan my entire computer, without affecting the CPU. It is significantly less than when McAfee and Panda were running on my computer. Both of them ate more than half my CPU while I ran a virus scanner. Avira allowed me use my computer as normal during the scan, so I was able to view YouTube and edit videos with no system slowdowns.

Avira installation and use are simple. Even for beginners, Avira is easy to use and install.

Avira Mobile App

Avira offers a mobile application that works with iOS and Android. It has many useful features, and an intuitive user interface.

The Android app was tested with my Nokia 6-1 smartphone. I also tested the iOS app with my iPad.

The Android antivirus scanner took just 5 minutes and did not slow down. I downloaded the massive Android-specific Malware Database. It returned the same result as the desktop application: 100% of the test files in my test file were either removed completely or placed into quarantine.

These features make up Avira’s mobile apps:

• Web protection.

• Anti-theft device finder.
• Camera protection and microphone protection.
• App locker.
• Call blocker.
• VPN.
• Password manger.
• Performance optimizer.
• Alerts for Identity Breach
• WiFi network scanning.
• Protection for Siri (iOS only).
• iOS upgrader (iOS only).

I love the microphone protection and the permissions manger. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track which applications have what permissions. My iPhone prompts are extremely helpful in helping me manage them.

The performance optimizer works great too. Avira enabled me to free up my microSD card storage, which made my phone run much faster.

Although it is the least effective feature in the Anti-Theft feature it still works well. It was able to locate my device at my neighbor’s house across the street with reasonable accuracy. It is definitely more efficient than Apple’s or Google’s device locator apps. I have always found them a bit cumbersome. Avira’s anti-theft feature isn’t quite as impressive than Norton’s. Norton can locate a device in less than 65ft.

Avira’s mobile apps offer many features. They can scan for malware, detect app vulnerabilities, optimize performance of devices, track privacy violations, and offer a range of useful anti-theft tools.

Avira Customer Service

Avira provides excellent customer support. Avira’s customer service is especially good over the phone and online.

Avira provides a range of customer support options.

• Email support.
• Telephone assistance.
• Online knowledgebase.

Unfortunately, there is no live chat. I find this the best option.

Avira doesn’t offer any customer support for paid customers. The knowledgebase is extremely useful and can provide detailed answers that resolve most issues.

Premium users can call a toll free number. It is available between 9-11 p.m. Central European Time and more than 30 countries. This includes many European, Asian, and African ones. This toll-free number cannot be used by all countries. They can, however, call another number and be charged the local rate.

Avira’s telephone support was extremely helpful in answering any questions I had about installation.

Premium subscribers will be able contact support via email. Avira replied to my message within 24hrs. I feel they should have replied sooner. Norton’s support staff will reply within 2 hours.

Overall, Avira offers decent customer support. The knowledge base contains a lot of information. Phone support is great. Email support is slower but still very helpful.

Is Avira a Good Antivirus in 2022?

Avira continues to be one of the most popular antiviruses currently available

This claim is supported by the high malware detection rates and the extensive range of excellent internet security features.

Avira is accessible to anyone, even those with no technical knowledge. Avira can be used as an advanced antivirus scanner because it is lightweight. It consumes less CPU than most antiviruses.

It also has many additional features such as a secure password manager, extensive device optimization tools, and automatic program updating. Although the VPN is excellent there are other better options.

Avira would be a great antivirus if it could offer parental controls, identity security, and robust mobile anti theft features such as McAfee, Norton, and McAfee. Avira still offers great antivirus protection and great additional features.

Avira, a low-cost, high-quality antivirus software, is highly recommended. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial that you can use for no cost for up to 30 days.

Is Avira’s Antivirus Protection Good?

My tests showed that Avira detected 100% of all malware. Its real-time scanning engine and antivirus scanner could detect and block viruses, ransomware, rootkits and any other malware.

Avira has combined cloud technology with their scanning engine to provide light and thorough malware detection. This makes it as efficient as McAfee’s premium antimalware products.

Is Avira available in a free edition?

Avira offers a free version, which is the same antivirus engine as the premium. Avira’s Free Version also provides real-time protection. This is a rare feature in an antivirus program.

Avira Safety Free is my favorite internet safety program in 2022. However, the free version lacks many other features.

Avira Prime provides all the premium features, including a great password manger, extensive system optimization tools, and decent VPN. It’s also very affordable.

Can Avira slow down the computer?

It is a lightweight antivirus program that uses very little CPU time when compared to other brands.

Avira utilizes cloud-based technology for its scanning engine. Avira’s servers scan files securely. Bitdefender, another competitor, uses cloud-based scanning technology that allows for fast antivirus scans.

Is Avira’s VPN Safe to Use?

Avira VPN can be used safely.

Avira VPN works well for torrenting and general browsing. However, it is not suitable for streaming.

ExpressVPN provides excellent streaming capabilities and is reliable.