AVG’s malware scanner employs machine learning, heuristics, and an online malware database in order to identify emerging threats. During our tests it scored highly with excellent smart scan and deep scan performance. However, it is not as effective as some competitors in its ability to detect new and unknown “zero-day” malware.
After a quick installation the program begins its first “Smart Scan” that is a comprehensive scan of your system for threats and malware. It takes approximately 35 minutes, and it looks at 430,167 files on our test systems. This is less than other tools, but it’s still a lot of files.
The program’s clean and modern interface makes launching scanning or using its other features easy. It includes recognizable thumbnails and headings to make it easier to discern what each feature is doing. The settings menu offers various options for customization. For example you can alter the intensity of a deep scan or even set up a shredder by adding an option to Windows right-click menu.
Premium subscribers receive a few extra features not included in the free version. These include “Webcam Protection” is a feature that blocks access to your camera and makes video calls more secure, as well as “Sensitive Data Shield” that encrypts your personal files. Extras that aren’t as fancy, like a password manager and performance tuning aren’t available, however, since AVG has other paid-for applications with these capabilities.
AVG’s mobile app offers a number of advantages, including the capability to remotely lock or wipe the Android device (Android only) and a photo vault that lets you safely share your photos. Its best mobile feature is its anti-theft function. This helps you locate a lost device or tablet and can even sound a siren to scare it away.
