Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2
An Internet security suite that excels where it counts.
Pros
- Successfully identified all the active and inactive rootkit samples
Cons
- A number of other suites are easier to use, cleaned up only four out of nine active rootkits
Bottom Line
If you're a more technically inclined user willing to figure out a few things on your own, and you want the best malware detection available, Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 might be a fine choice for you. But a number of other suites are easier to use. And if you fear that you already have a rootkit on your system, this is not the suite to buy.
-
Price
$ 72.72 (AUD)
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 is an Internet security suite that excels where it counts. This package beat all the 2009 security suites in detection tests, continuing Avira's long history of strong performance in such tests.
While detection ability is critical, it is not the sole component of a security suite. And Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2's somewhat clunky interface (which feels suited to a more technical user), combined with its lack of a parental-control feature, knocked it down in our rankings to fourth place.
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 shone in tests conducted by AV-Test.org, a German antivirus testing lab that partners with PC World to evaluate antivirus applications. Put up against 654,914 Trojan horses, password stealers, and other malware, it successfully identified an impressive 99.2 percent of the threats. In catching aggravating adware, it was an even stronger enforcer, tagging 99.6 percent.
The sweep continued in heuristic tests designed to simulate how an antivirus app might deal with new, unknown malware. In tests with two-week-old signature files, Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 identified 55.3 percent of the samples, a top showing.
Avira's suite successfully identified all the active and inactive rootkit samples. But in a surprising about-face, the suite cleaned up only four out of nine active rootkits, a last-place finish for that task. While the suite would likely prevent a rootkit from installing on your PC, if one already existed on your machine, these tests show that the suite probably wouldn't be able to scrub it away.
The scan speed was good. The Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 is good at on-access scan speed, which comes into play whenever you save or open a file. And it's no slouch at on-demand scan speed, for scheduled and manually run scans.
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 needs no boost in detecting malware, but its interface could use some polish. Techies will quickly recognise terms such as ‘Local protection', but typical users might not know off the bat that it refers to your computer, as opposed to a remote server or network connection. And the program uses many small icons to indicate scans and other tasks, so you'll have to move your mouse over the icons constantly to get the description of what each does.
Also, the interface divides settings into a basic view and an expert mode, a clunky approach that most other suites avoid. The basic view hides a lot of settings; if you want to access any of the configuration settings for the antispam Mailguard, for example, you'll have to okay a prompt to enter expert mode. Say no, and you won't see any of that feature's options.
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2's antispam feature also stands out as the only one we tested that didn't add a toolbar to Outlook or any other email applications for dealing with spam. Instead, you must open the suite to label messages as spam, approve others as not spam, or handle related functions.
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 does offer a decent backup feature. You can choose one or more directories or drives to back up, select a destination for the backups, and pick from many scheduling options, including daily, weekly, or whenever you connect a particular USB storage device.
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.2 also has good information in its help files, and pop-ups are generally clear and informative. But if you have a question that the built-in help can't answer, you're stuck sending an email and waiting for a response; the German company doesn't offer UK phone support.
Brand Post
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dell U3223QE review: A winning debut for an IPS Black monitor
- 2 HP Spectre x360 16 review: The right 2-in-1 at the wrong time
- 3 Acer K242HYL review: An affordable monitor for any occasion
- 4 GeForce Now review: You bring the games, Nvidia streams the hardware
- 5 Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor review: The go-to for content creators on a budget
Latest News Articles
- Microsoft’s universal ‘One Outlook’ client just leaked out
- Microsoft reveals a new Windows Game Bar built for controllers
- Microsoft tests a limited VPN for Microsoft Edge
- Audacity developer puts the ‘proper’ version on the Microsoft Store
- How to pin an extension to Chrome’s toolbar
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks
Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world
Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles
PCW Evaluation Team
Pedro Peixoto
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Set up is effortless.
Cate Bacon
Aruba Instant On AP11D
The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.
Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G
Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65
This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76
It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Featured Content
- Which Lenovo Laptop Should I Buy?
- Every TV in Samsung's 2022 line-up: OLED, Neo QLED and more!
- Top 10 best Android and Apple phones for under $600
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?