Self-confessed industry leaders Vipre offer free antivirus protection software for your home computer. They also do a premium version of this malware scanner. A software which comes with advanced options if you’re looking for something a little more robust. The trouble is, every antivirus protection software claims that it’s the best. So, I have reviewed Vipre Antivirus protection – both versions – to offer you an honest and reliable source of comparison.
What is Vipre Antivirus?
Initially, it seems as though Vipre virus protection has mimicked a lot of the more recognisable names on the market. As you use the software, however, it becomes clear that it has borrowed some of these features and combined them into one all-rounder, while keeping some of the more unique options that make it so easy to use. Like most malware scanners, there is an option to trial – but there’s also a money back guarantee.
Free vs Premium
Obviously, the first thing people want to know is what do I get in the paid version that I won’t get in the free one. The downsides to the free antivirus protection are fairly straightforward. Mostly, they are those found in most free versions of an antivirus software.
The free version means that you have to put up with ads which pop up a lot. Something that can become quite frustrating if you use your computer a lot. Additionally, it doesn’t offer any support or website detection. Meaning, if you get stuck with it, then you’re on your own. Unfortunately, that also means, no peace of mind/protection while searching the web.
The premium version of Vipre virus protection means that you have access to the support you need, should you run into trouble while using the program. Starting at $32.99 you will gain access to more features and an improved firewall, leaving you better protected. The problem with the free version is, hackers are more likely to get past these firewalls. Although, the premium software is primed to overcome its failings. As a malware scanner, it gives you more control over what it and individual programs can and can’t do.
RapidScan
As a premium user of Vipre antivirus protection, you get access to a very cool feature called RapidScan. This tool allows you to conduct a thorough scan in half the time of a normal scan. If you are a constant user of your PC, then this tool will come in very handy. Why, because it can reduce scan times from 30-minutes an hour to just fifteen.
You can run this as part of the scheduled scan, so as long as your ‘virus definitions’ are up to date. If that is so, you shouldn’t run into any problems. Without RapidScan, the running times can be quite long, so maybe worth investing if you don’t want to waste time.
System Requirements
The main limitation of Vipre malware software is how incompatible it is with many operating systems. It works on all Windows systems down to Windows Vista. However, once installed it will have a noticeable impact on the overall running speed of your computer. According to Vipre, the software also works with Android. Although they do not make it clear which versions are compatible.
It takes up a fair bit of space – requiring 1GB of hard-drive space to install. Plus, as it needs at least 1GB RAM to work well, forget about it if you haven’t. Having said that, it is a relatively standard requirement these day’s; you will be hard pushed to find less demanding. Did I notice a slow down in performance? To be clear, no, I didn’t perceive any lag or slow-down in my PC performance when using Vipre.
Interface
Using Vipre’s antivirus protection won’t leave you feeling too disorientated if you’ve used some of the bigger name malware scanners. Even if you’re new to this software, you should be able to navigate it fairly successfully. The main homepage is clutter free, and most things are straightforward to find and use. There is the MyVipre section which is where you find the scanning features. Plus, there is an account section which will take you to your subscriptions and access to support.
Finally, there’s a manage section, which allows you to see all of the security features. Overall, the user interface is incredibly easy to navigate.
Active scanning
The premium version of Vipre malware scan will give you the option to run active scanning. That means, it can actively scan any threat while you are using your PC. It will look inside archives to find any potential threats, block potentially malicious processes and scans files as they are opened. This option is great for those who use their PC a lot and want to make sure they are constantly protected.
For those who are worried about being constantly interrupted by the software informing you of any potential threats, you can turn on quiet mode, which keeps the software running and scanning in the background, without notifying the user. The downside to this is that the active scanning can close something while you are using it as it deems it potentially malicious. This is an optional feature, so it’s up to you if you want to turn it on or leave it off.
Other Tools
The paid version offers plenty of additional tools that the free software doesn’t. For example, once signed up for a package, you have access to Edge Protection. Edge monitors your downloads in the background, if it detects a file with a virus, the download it is halted.
There is the web filtering which is nothing overly unique, as it comes as standard now with most antivirus software. Vipre’s web filtering, however, offers an option not to scan some websites, so if you know of a site which tends to get blocked but is actually harmless, then you may want to do this.
Automatic handling is one of the standout features of Vipre virus protection, giving you the option to let the program deal with the threats itself, or give you more control over what happens to each folder or file. The best feature of this is that malicious files will automatically get deleted and the ones that the program is unsure about will get put into quarantine, leaving you to decide what happens to them when you have the time. This stops any potential virus infecting the rest of your PC, while not deleting them altogether.
Social Watch
The Social Watch feature is something which really makes this product stand out from other antivirus scanners. Social media is a hotspot for malicious content, and because social media is constantly changing, it can be difficult to keep on track of all the information which has attached itself to links, stories and pictures.
Social Watch scans any of this information while you are browsing, and will detect any threat that is found – notifying the user of the PC and giving them the option of deciding what to do with the threat. This is a completely unique feature for Vipre virus protection – something that is worth noting.
Customer Service
If you are a paying customer, you will have access to the customer support team 24/7, who are available for contact through email, phone or the live chat option on the site. If you use the premium version, you can also access their FAQ pages, and community forums, meaning if your problem is fairly straightforward or common then you can get it resolved easily.
Vipre Antivirus Review – Final Thoughts
Vipre antivirus protection offers a very basic program, with a simple and easy to use interface. There are no frills or fluffy bits in the software, but it does a good job as a robust, all-around antispyware. As a paying customer, you will be able to access a lot more of the options and features that are available, so if you want to have better protection from your PC, then you may want to consider this.
The software is somewhat pricey when you consider the no-fuss design it has. But if you’re a person who doesn’t care about high tech gadgets and software, then it is a good program for you.
Vipre does offer a limited functionality trial, but it’s hardly a test of its capabilities. Instead, I would advise you to signup, and then if you do not like it use the money back guarantee to get out. However, if you are looking for a good all-rounder, this antivirus is undoubtedly a contender.
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