Is Scanguard Worth It?
Scanguard Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Scanguard at a Glance
Ease of Use
Pricing & Plans
Routine Scans
Additional Features
Customer Service
Overview
Scanguard belongs to the Protected.net group of companies which also includes fellow anti-virus software provider TotalAV. Protected.net was founded in 2016 and is based in Denmead, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Its products include antivirus software, PC optimization, ad-blocking software, smartphone protection, and VPN.
Highlights
- Features: Full featured protection
- Ease of Use: Above average
- Reliability: Average
- Value: Average
- Money Back Guarantee: 30-day
Best For
- Small households – protection for up to 6 computer/mobile devices
- First-time buyers – software is easy to set up
- Chrome users – includes free browser extension
Why Choose Scanguard
One of the advantages to choosing Scanguard is that it’s very easy to set up and is extremely user-friendly. Download and installation is a breeze; the software works right out of the box. Once setup is complete, all the features become immediately accessible to you via a sleek, intuitive, central dashboard.
What Scanguard Offers
- For PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices
- 24/7 support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Virus, Trojan, Adware, Spyware, and Malware protection
- Remote firewall protection
- Chrome browser extension
- Web browser cleaner and manager
- PC performance and optimization tools
- Smartphone optimization tools
Scanguard Features
The following security and performance features are built into Scanguard’s service:
- Real-time Antivirus Protection. Scans, locates and eliminates viruses in real time.
- Malware Guard. Prevents malicious software like Trojan Horses & Worms from damaging your device.
- Ransomware Guard. Prevents hackers from gaining access to your computer and blocking personal files.
- Spyware Guard. Defends against software designed to steal logins, credit card details, and other information about you.
- Adware Guard. Prevents malicious software from presenting you with unwanted adverts that cannot be closed.
- File Guard. Prevents malware from being hidden in seemingly harmless file downloads.
- Advanced firewall. Prevents unauthorized access to your computer system and private data.
- Safe site extension (for Pro and Ultimate users). For Chrome users only, this extension blocks potentially harmful websites before they can breach your system.
- System Optimization Scan. Recommends actions to help your devices perform better.
- Disc Cleaner. Identifies unnecessary files, helping free up valuable disc scape.
- Battery Monitor. Stops unwanted processes and applications running in the background, increasing battery life.
- Browser Manager. Cleans your browsers, increasing efficiency and preventing unwanted ads.
Is Scanguard Safe and Reliable?
Being one of the newer antivirus brands on the market, Scanguard has yet to be tested by credible third-party labs. However, TotalAV – which runs on the same technology from parent company Protected.net – is generally rated below average for protection, average for speed, and above average for usability.
How Scanguard Works
As mentioned above, the relative ease of use is one of the main advantages of the Scanguard antivirus solution. Each time you log in you’ll find everything you need on a single dashboard. Just click the category on the left-hand side of the dashboard to scan your device for viruses or malware, give your device a system boost, clean your disk, or take advantage of any of the add-ons you may have signed up for when you first subscribed to Scanguard.
Scanguard Customer Support
Each subscription plan comes with ’24/7 priority super-fast support’. The truth is, this is just a live chat support function and you may not receive an immediate response. However, it’s nice to know there’s always a customer support rep a click away, even if you are made to wait in line. Furthermore, the Scanguard website has an extensive Knowledge Base with answers to frequently asked questions.
Scanguard Pricing
| ESSENTIALS | PRO | ULTIMATE | |
|---|---|---|---|
ANNUAL PRICE (YEAR 1) | $24.95 | $39.95 | $59.95 |
ANNUAL PRICE (RENEWAL) | $99.95 | $119.95 | $149.95 |
DEVICES | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Unless you have more than 3 devices that need protecting, the Essential package provides the best value for money. The Pro package includes everything in the Essential package plus the Web Shield Extension for Chrome. The Ultimate package includes everything in Pro plus an antivirus ebook.
After purchasing a subscription, you’ll see offers for the following add-ons:
- Ad Block Pro - $24 in year one / $48 to renew
- VPN - $39 in year one / $78 to renew
- Password Vault - $9 in year one / $18 to renew
- Advanced Cloud Scanning - $19 in year one / $38 to renew
- 5 extra licenses - $29 in year one / $58 to renew
- ID theft protection – for U.S. customers only
Value for Money
If you don’t mind shopping around for a new antivirus provider in 12 months, then Scanguard offers good value for money right now. That’s because its prices in year one are below the market average, but the renewal prices (year 2 onwards) are well above the market average.
The Essentials and Pro packages offer best value for money, although there’s no added benefit to signing up for Pro unless you use Chrome and need protection for up to 5 devices. Don’t be sucked into buying the Ultimate package – this premium plan doesn’t offer any real value compared to the cheaper plans. Also, watch out for the attempts to upsell you features like VPN that you can easily purchase from dedicated providers for around the same price.
Bottom Line
Scanguard offers a full set of tools to protect and boost the performance of your desktop and mobile devices. If you’re looking for an antivirus software that does a decent job, is easy to use, and won’t break the bank, then Scanguard’s year-one offer is worth consideration. However, the high renewal fees make this a bad option if you’re looking for a provider you can stick with in the long term.
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