F-Secure Antivirus Review 2024 — How Good Is It Really?

Written by: Enemali Okwoli

F-Secure Overview

F-Secure is a cloud-based security suite with impressive protection scores. The virus scanner detected 100% of malware samples during tests, removing viruses, trojans, rootkits, spyware, and other cyber threats.

It also proved to be a robust defense mechanism against ransomware thanks to its DeepGuard behavior-based detection system. That’s not all, F-Secure also comes with useful security tools such as a password manager, VPN, parental controls, and banking protection. However, if you’re looking for a firewall, PC tune-up tools, or cloud backup, you’d be disappointed.

While F-Secure can’t stand shoulder-to-shoulder with big-name antiviruses like Norton, it does a fairly good job. The F-Secure TOTAL plan stood out, being the best value. You can try the F-Secure premium plan risk-free using the 30-day free trial.

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In a Rush? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary

F-Secure offers top-tier security features, achieving perfect malware detection and real-time protection. Unlike many lesser-known antiviruses, it rivaled premium options like Panda antivirus and TotalAV in detection accuracy.

Its advanced algorithm robustly defends against ransomware. Although F-Secure lacks a native firewall, it integrates smoothly with Windows Defender Firewall for comprehensive network protection.

Virus Scan — Achieves Perfect Malware Detection Rates

F-Secure’s virus scanner proved competent against malware during my tests. It’s capable of detecting and removing most malware threats, including viruses, trojans, spyware, worms, rootkits, ransomware, and others. It combines a massive database of known malware and a behavior-based detection system for zero-day threats.

F-Secure features 2 scan options: Quick and Full, powered by cloud engines including F-Secure Hydra, Virgo, and others. Scans can be set daily, weekly, or monthly. I appreciated its customizability; from the settings, you can scan USB devices, compressed files, or potentially harmful items.

I tested F-Secure’s scanner by introducing 1,000 malware samples to my test device and used both scan modes. F-Secure identified 100% of the malware samples, instantly blocking their harmful actions. This aligns with independent lab results that achieved the same rates in their tests.

F-Secure’s Quick scan lived up to its name. It took only 2 minutes for the initial scan of 11,000 files and 25 seconds for subsequent scans. This scan checked critical systems areas and found malware in my “Downloads” folder. The Full Scan, however, took longer — about 1 hour 36 minutes for the initial scan, but the subsequent scan took only 32 minutes.

The speed of later scans improves because the scanner remembers and bypasses known safe files. F-Secure antivirus didn’t flag any harmless files on my PC. It also didn’t significantly affect my PC’s performance, thanks to its cloud-based engine.

Real-Time Protection — Protects Against Zero-Day Malware Threats

F-Secure also offers protection against zero-day threats. It stops attacks in real-time, keeping you safe online and offline. To protect you from real-time threats, F-Secure uses a signature-based detection system for known threats and its DeepGuard behavior-based detection system, which blocks files and apps that exhibit suspicious patterns.

In my test, F-Secure successfully blocked all malicious websites. When I attempted to access the EICAR malware test page, F-Secure identified it as “harmful” and advised against proceeding. You can customize by listing websites to block or permit, as I did with the EICAR test site.

Ransomware Protection — Detects Ransomware With Its DeepGuard System

A quality antivirus should include ransomware protection. Fortunately, F-Secure provides this protection using its DeepGuard system, which watches over particular folders and defends them against dubious applications.

Once you install F-Secure, ransomware protection is activated by default. You have the option to add specific folders to the pre-set protection list. However, safeguarding an entire disk isn’t an option.

During a simulated ransomware attack test, F-Secure showcased its robust protective capabilities. As soon as the ransomware attempted to infiltrate and encrypt data, F-Secure promptly identified and neutralized all threats, ensuring that files remained unharmed.

Firewall — Uses Windows Firewall and DeepGuard to Prevent Network Attacks

F-Secure doesn’t have its own firewall. Instead, it serves as a remote control for the Windows Defender Firewall. This integration covers basic firewall needs but lacks advanced features.

However, the DeepGuard tool vigilantly oversees your system, blocking suspicious applications from internet access unless permitted. In addition, the “Tamper Protection” feature safeguards vital security processes from being terminated by malicious applications.

Personally, I appreciate antivirus solutions that feature their own advanced firewall. For instance, Norton offers a sophisticated firewall that surpasses the capabilities of the standard Windows firewall.

Protect against cyber threats with F-Secure

F-Secure offers a suite of features to enhance your online protection. It provides a secure vault for password management, protection against phishing and malicious sites, dark web monitoring, and a parental control tool.

On the downside, the VPN’s performance was disappointing in speed tests. While F-Secure offers a commendable set of added features, it doesn’t quite match the comprehensive offerings of leading providers like Norton and TotalAV.

Secure Browsing and Banking — Keeps You Safe From Malware and Phishing When Browsing

F-Secure’s secure browsing and banking protection are 2 features that work hand-in-hand, protecting you from online threats. While browsing protection blocks phishing sites, banking protection ensures your information is kept secure during banking sessions.

In my testing, F-Secure’s secure browsing feature consistently identified and blocked phishing and malware-infested websites. Additionally, you can manually block specific categories or unsafe sites, including those with explicit content or gambling themes.

This feature further integrates with search engines and displays a reputation score for websites on Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Bing, marking safe sites with a green check icon and red for harmful.

F-Secure’s banking protection impressed me. When accessing financial platforms like PayPal, it safeguards your activities against malicious sites and software by cutting off connections with untrusted applications, including command-line and scripting tools.

To recognize active banking protection on a site, watch for a momentary green border around the page upon login. Do note that to benefit from these protections, you need the secure browsing extension installed on your browser, compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

During a banking session, F-Secure clears your clipboard and denies remote PC access. The Remote Access Blocker feature is designed to prevent unauthorized remote connections to your computer. It actively monitors and denies any suspicious attempts, ensuring that your system remains protected from potential remote attacks.

Password Vault — Protect Your Identity and Manage Your Passwords

F-Secure’s Password Vault features a basic password manager with limited features. It provides all essential password management tools like password generator, auditing, and auto-filling passwords.

I found the setup process for the password manager uncomplicated. After launching the Password Vault tool, you’ll be prompted to set up a master password. Next, you’d have to download a QR code to help you regain access to your account should you forget your master password.

After creating your master password, you can import your credentials as a .CSV. F-Secure lets you import passwords from other popular password managers and browsers, such as:

• Dashlane
• LastPass
• True Key
• KeePassX
• Browsers (Firefox, Chrome, and Edge)

The password auditing tool highlighted weak or repeated passwords, suggesting I use its built-in generator for enhanced security. F-Secure’s password generator excels at creating strong, unique passwords. It generates a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols up to 32 characters long, but you can only do that on the app and not the browser extension.

For auto-filling functionality, it’s necessary to install the browser extension and activate it using the code provided in the Autofill tab of the password manager. After adding it to Microsoft Edge, I could auto-fill websites with the saved logins from my vault.

The F-Secure password manager also misses some key features. You can’t share passwords or set up multiple vaults. There’s no provision for emergency access, and it lacks two-factor authentication — a standard security measure in leading password managers such as 1Password and Dashlane.

Overall, F-Secure’s password vault is very limited. It can only do basic password management functions. While it provides essential tools like password generation and autofill, it lacks the advanced features like secure password sharing that top-tier password managers offer.

F-Secure Privacy VPN — Decent and Reliable VPN Service

Privacy VPN, integrated within F-Secure, offers robust security features, albeit with limited speed. It offers a modest server network comprising 28 servers across 22 countries, spanning Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania.

F-Secure’s Privacy VPN offers the following security features:

• AES 256-bit encryption — Protects your connection with military-grade security.
• IKEv2 & OpenVPN — Provide secure and robust VPN protocols that ensure stable connections.
• No-Logs Policy — Doesn’t store your connection data when browsing with the VPN.
• Wi-Fi Protection — Secures your connection when connected to public Wi-Fi, protecting your data from potential snoopers.
• Kill Switch — Ensures your real IP isn’t exposed if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

F-Secure’s VPN passed my DNS leak test, ensuring that my actual IP address and online activities remain hidden and protected from potential snoopers. This confirms the VPN’s capability to maintain user privacy and security effectively.

Unfortunately, the speeds delivered by F-Secure’s VPN weren’t up to the mark, leading to a laggy browsing experience, especially when streaming or downloading. I experienced slow speeds on nearby and distant servers. Generally, I got a 40% reduction for servers close to my location and a 93% speed reduction for the farthest server.

The VPN has decent streaming capabilities — my colleagues abroad found it worked with Netflix, Hulu, and Max in their tests. However, you may encounter buffering issues due to its slower speeds.

F-Secure’s VPN is not accessible in regions with strict online regulations like China, Russia, and the UAE. If you need a VPN for these areas, consider other top-rated antivirus VPNs. The VPN supports torrenting, however, but with slower speeds. Keep in mind that my team and I don’t support illegal activities like downloading copyrighted materials.

Overall, F-Secure VPN was straightforward to use. Though it’s adequate for secure browsing, streaming, and torrenting, F-Secure could benefit from expanding its server network and better speeds, especially on distant servers.

ID Monitoring — Notifies You About Compromised Logins

F-Secure’s ID Monitoring is a basic dark web monitoring tool. It’s designed to alert you if your personal information gets exposed in a data breach or is found circulating on the dark corners of the internet.

When I tested the feature, I was informed of compromised emails in past data breaches. It promptly notified me, allowing me to take quick action to safeguard my email accounts.

F-Secure’s ID Monitoring is not limited to email addresses. It can track phone numbers, driver’s licenses, credit cards, social security numbers, bank accounts, usernames, and passport numbers. If any of these items appear in breach databases or on the dark web, you’ll receive an alert.

After experiencing F-Secure’s ID Monitoring firsthand, it’s clear that it provides an extra layer of protection to keep your personal information secure.

Family Rules (Parental Controls) — Monitor Your Child’s Activities From Anywhere

“Family Rules” offers easy-to-use parental controls to oversee your kids’ activities. After activating the feature on your child’s device, be it Mac, Windows, Android, or iOS, you can conveniently manage it via the F-Secure web portal.

It offers the following features:

• Web Filtering — Blocks inappropriate content by categorizing and restricting access to certain websites.
• App Management — Controls the installation and usage of apps on your child’s device.
• Screen Time Limit — Set daily limits for device usage, ensuring healthy digital habits.
• Bedtime Control — Disables device access during specified hours to promote restful sleep.
• Safe Search — Filters out explicit content from search results on major search engines.
• Usage Reports — Offers insights into your child’s online activities and app usage patterns.

Family Rules allows parents to restrict access to potentially harmful or inappropriate websites. The filtering function worked well, blocking 16 categories for content like porn websites, drug-related content, violence, gambling, alcohol, and dating sites. This ensures that children only access age-appropriate content and are protected from malicious sites.

I tested the app control to restrict certain social media apps on my phone and activated the “bedtime” feature to cut off internet and app access during nighttime hours. Additionally, I set the “Daily Time Limits” to regulate screen time.

The parental controls app is user-friendly across devices, but the iOS version lacks several features like bedtime, app controls, daily time limits, and content filtering. These limitations are understandable on the iOS app because of Apple’s strong privacy rules.

Gamer Mode — Suspends Scans and Updates During Gaming Session

F-Secure has a Gaming Mode that halts scans and updates during gameplay. When I tested it, my PC’s gaming performance remained largely unchanged.

A gaming mode should ideally minimize background tasks and optimize the PC beyond just pausing scans. In comparison, Norton’s Program Control feature effectively enhances gaming speeds.

F-Secure is designed to operate smoothly on major platforms like Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. Installation on all my devices was direct and swift, wrapping up in less than 5 minutes. Notably, the app is resource-efficient, demanding less from the system than many leading antivirus solutions.

Desktop App — Neat Interface With Simple Menu Options

The F-Secure app boasts a sleek design with an intuitive interface. Its grid-style menu ensures effortless navigation. I easily located the antivirus scanner, adjusted my scan preferences, and initiated secure browsing.

With F-Secure, tools such as the Privacy VPN, Password Vault, and ID Monitoring are conveniently housed in one place, simplifying their setup and access.

Upon installing the apps, I was pleased to find that most security features, including virus protection, DeepGuard, ransomware protection, web traffic scanning, and tamper protection, were already activated.

Additionally, any adjustments to the settings require administrator permissions, enhancing security. The user-friendly web portal lets you manage devices, set parental controls, download apps, and oversee your subscriptions.

Mobile App — User-Friendly Apps for Android and iOS

F-Secure provides a straightforward mobile app for both iOS and Android. The iOS app, called F-Secure Total Security & VPN, ensures your online safety by blocking malicious sites.

It features a Safe Browsing feature for secure access to banking and other websites, supports safe search functionalities, and lets you delete your browsing history. Yet, it misses some advanced features typical of top-tier iOS antivirus apps.

Unlike the iOS counterpart, the F-Secure Android app offers a Virus scanner. When I ran the virus scanner on my Android, it efficiently completed the scan in under 18 minutes, examining 41 apps and 10,298 files and flagging a potentially unwanted app. It also proactively scans newly added apps and files for vulnerabilities or malicious elements.

Every feature, including F-Secure VPN, ID Monitoring, and Password Vault, is housed within the F-Secure app for both Android and iOS devices. In my tests on both an iPhone and a Samsung device, I found that their performance was on par with the desktop versions.

Even after installing all F-Secure standalone apps on my phone and conducting a virus scan, I observed no lag in my phone’s performance. Overall, F-Secure’s mobile app proved to be intuitive and effective, safeguarding my phone against malware and potential security threats.

How to Download F-Secure Antivirus on Windows

F-Secure Antivirus is a decent security solution designed to protect Windows users from a myriad of online threats. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you seamlessly download and install it on your Windows device.

F-Secure provides a range of support channels, including live chat, phone assistance, a community forum, and a knowledge base. Each option proved helpful and dependable in my experience, addressing all my queries. Yet, unlike many industry peers, F-Secure lacks email support, a medium often preferred for thorough feedback and record-keeping.

Live Chat — Fast and Helpful Representatives

F-Secure’s live chat proved to be a swift and dependable support channel. When I tested it at various times throughout the day, I was connected to an agent in under 10 seconds.

The support representative provided comprehensive answers to my inquiries. When I asked technical questions, I consistently received knowledgeable and supportive responses. Each agent courteously checked if I had any more concerns before ending the conversation.

Phone Support — Get Help in Multiple Languages

F-Secure provides phone support in 18 countries, covering multiple languages, though it doesn’t operate around the clock. They have dedicated lines tailored for various countries, ensuring tailored assistance in multiple languages.

Reaching out to the international line, I connected with a representative in under 10 minutes and inquired about configuring the parental control feature. The agent demonstrated expertise, leading me through the setup process on my mobile device.

While phone support simplifies technical troubleshooting and leading antivirus brands like McAfee provide 24/7 assistance. It’s disappointing that F-Secure limits its phone support to weekdays, thus limiting support options on weekends.

Online Resources & FAQs — Helpful and Straightforward Articles

The F-Secure website hosts a wealth of informative online resources and FAQs, including numerous how-to and troubleshooting guides, subscription details, and general queries about F-Secure services.

Each article is concise, offering step-by-step instructions and emphasizing key information. After each piece, there are links to related articles. Every F-Secure product has its dedicated user guide, with content that is succinct and straightforward.

Community Forum — Thousands of Answered Questions

The F-Secure community forum is bustling with activity and prompt responses. With forums available in both English and Finnish, each hosts thousands of lively discussions and insights.

While exploring, I stumbled upon valuable tips that streamlined my F-Secure product experience. After posting a query in the “Home Security Products > F-Secure Internet Security” section, another user provided a useful answer in under a day.

F-Secure offers 2 plans — F-Secure Internet Security and F-Secure Total. Both have essential security features, including ID Monitoring, Password Vault, and VPN. They are compatible with major platforms like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and cover 1-25 devices.

Although it’s possible to subscribe to the VPN or the ID Protection separately, I don’t recommend this as they’re both more expensive than most top-tier VPNs and password managers.

F-Secure doesn’t provide a free version; however, it does offer a 30-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free antivirus testing. While the Internet Security plan serves as a solid starting point, the Total plan provides a broader array of features.

Quick Guide: Available Plans for F-Secure Antivirus

F-Secure Internet Security — Most Affordable Plan

This is F-Secure’s entry-level plan that provides basic protection. It offers features such as:

• Antivirus protection — removes malware threats from your device.
• Browsing and banking protection — lets you browse and shop online safely.
• Ransomware protection — prevents ransomware from encrypting your files.
• Real-time protection — protects against zero-day malware threats.
• Gaming Mode — suspends scans and updates when gaming.
• Parental controls — blocks inappropriate content and help limit screen time for your kids.

Overall, the F-Secure Internet security plan doesn’t offer much value at the price it goes for. Competitors like TotalAV cost less while offering a better range of features.

F-Secure TOTAL — Most Feature-Rich and Best-Value Plan

This is F-Secure’s most expensive but best-value plan. It has all the features offered in the Internet Security plan, plus:

• VPN — encrypts your internet connection to protect you from cyber threats.
• Password Manager — stores and organizes your passwords and other credentials.
• WiFi Protection — prevents you from accessing unsecured WiFi networks.
• Dark Web Monitoring — notifies you if your information is compromised in a data breach.

Overall, F-Secure TOTAL is the most comprehensive plan, having the most features. It is reasonably priced, supporting 1 – 25 devices.

Upon extensively testing the F-Secure Antivirus, I consider it a commendable antivirus solution. It excels in malware and real-time protection, particularly against emerging threats. The robust cloud-based engine of F-Secure defended against malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts during my tests.

In addition, F-Secure offers a variety of security tools. These include a VPN with a limited server network, a basic password manager, and an efficient parental control app. The banking protection feature, ensuring safety on sites like PayPal, particularly stands out for me.

I appreciate that F-Secure apps are intuitive, efficient, and compatible across major devices. Still, it doesn’t quite match the comprehensive capabilities of elite suites like Norton.

In terms of pricing, F-Secure’s offerings align with initial tier plans from industry leaders like Norton and TotalAV. The F-Secure TOTAL plan offers the most comprehensive set of features, giving it the best value proposition. To gauge its efficacy yourself, F-Secure allows a 30-day free trial on any premium plan.

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Written by: Enemali Okwoli

Enemali Okwoli is a Writer at WizCase. He focuses on crafting relevant security tips for individuals and businesses. Enemali has written hundreds of articles on security products including, VPNs, Antiviruses, and Password Managers. He enjoys testing security tools for different platforms and presenting well-researched methods that readers can use to secure their devices. Prior to joining WizCase, Enemali worked with 2 different startups as a content writer where he wrote scores of web copies and tech-related articles. By keeping up with the latest security threats and trends, Enemali has been able to develop in-depth knowledge and insights into the complex world of cybersecurity. When he isn't writing or researching the latest security tools, you'll find him watching sci-fi movies or running for fitness.