Please observe
That is our all-in-one roundup reviewing F-Safe’s two shopper safety options for 2023. On this web page, you’ll discover a breakdown of
(a) F-Safe Web Safety, together with our opinions of the options included and an summary of the testing we carried out and different unbiased take a look at labs, and
(b) F-Safe Whole Safety is the top-end, all-in-one safety suite that features all of the options of capabilities of Web Safety bundled with F-Safe’s VPN and Id Theft companies.
Malware is now not restricted to viruses, bots, and ransomware, so the best antivirus software has modified its focus to look nearer at privateness and identification theft safety. F-Safe is not any exception.
F-Safe has dropped its Anti-Virus program and now not helps or upgrades its Web Safety software program if it was bought earlier than Feb 14, 2023. You possibly can re-purchase F-Safe Web Safety and make the most of its new antivirus engine, app format, and superior instruments. You may also select F-Safe Whole Safety, the all-in-one safety suite that F-Safe is attempting to slowly direct all its customers to buy.
These modifications have created some confusion, particularly amongst F-Safe customers which have loved the safety and advantages of F-Safe Anti-Virus for thus lengthy. Fortunate for you we have continued our testing and analysis of all F-Safe merchandise and can assist you study in regards to the instruments included in every, how nicely it protects, and any points we have discovered that it’s best to take into account earlier than shopping for an F-Safe antivirus resolution.
Plans and pricing
F-Safe Web Safety comes with a number of superior safety instruments that we really feel are essential to have in antivirus options. These embody a firewall, banking instruments, and even parental controls. You possibly can select to guard a single gadget with Web Safety, however F-Safe additionally has choices all the best way to 25 protected units. F-Safe Web Safety begins at $49.99 for one gadget for one yr, although its renewal is barely $10 extra making this antivirus resolution one of many higher general values relating to pc safety
You possibly can check out F-Safe Web Safety free for 30 days, It additionally has a 30-day money-back assure. It really works on Home windows, Mac, Android, and iOS units.
F-Safe Whole Safety builds upon the Web Safety program and provides the F-Safe VPN and its identification theft safety companies. For those who purchase F-Safe VPN by itself, it is going to value you $49.99 to make use of on 4 units whereas ID safety is $39.99. However for those who bundle each of those with F-Safe Whole Safety, you may make the most of all of those for $49.99 on one gadget for the primary yr, $59.99 for 5 units, or $64.99 for 10 units.
Examine F-Safe subscriptions
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
F-Safe Web Safety |
F-Safe Whole Safety |
|---|---|---|
|
Working system |
Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Home windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
|
Max variety of units |
25 |
25 |
|
Beginning worth |
$39.99 |
$49.99 |
|
Net safety |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Secure banking instruments |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Community protections |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Parental controls |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
VPN |
❌ |
✔️ |
|
ID monitoring |
❌ |
✔️ |
F-Safe Web Safety
It is unclear if F-Safe will proceed supporting Web Safety sooner or later. For now, so long as you buy, or repurchase this system, after Feb 2023, you may nonetheless be capable to make the most of any updates, together with to any malware database it makes use of for real-time safety, and 24/7 stay help for any challenge which may pop up.
Prior to now, F-Safe has supplied its superior antivirus options in a number of downloads. This implies you would need to set up some instruments individually, like parental controls. F-Safe now actually bundles all these options collectively into one program making it a lot simpler for customers to get began and use from a single dashboard.
The F-Safe app has loads of white area, so it does not really feel overwhelming, and simply sufficient shade to make you’re feeling comfy whereas additionally taking F-Safe critically. There are sections of textual content, together with some textual content hyperlinks, scattered across the dashboard which does not assist with general navigation. This could get irritating for a brand new consumer that is not aware of how antivirus applications work.
Safety
We examined the general safety of F-Safe utilizing our personal take a look at recordsdata. A few of these contained identified malware whereas others, like our ransomware file, solely simulated true threats with out being a real menace. That is essential as a result of antivirus corporations routinely create take a look at recordsdata of their very own that their antivirus software program simply blocks. Utilizing recordsdata that antivirus software program has by no means seen earlier than provides us a greater take a look at its true capability to cease malware.
Through the testing of F-Safe, our take a look at executables used every kind of very suspect methods – launch one Home windows device, which launches PowerShell, scripting it to make use of one other Home windows device to obtain a malicious file – and F-Safe jumped on most of those, elevating an alert and killing the method so it could not trigger any extra harm.
For our subsequent evaluate, we launched our customized ransomware simulator. Because the simulator has by no means been publicly launched, F-Safe could not have seen it earlier than, in concept making the menace far tougher to detect.
F-Safe has blocked our simulator from its file signature prior to now however missed it this time. Our take a look at menace launched efficiently and encrypted 1000’s of consumer paperwork with out F-Safe’s conduct monitoring elevating any purple flags.
F-Safe’s Protected Folders system permits defining particular folders which the app says are then “shielded from encryption blackmail (like ransomware.)” That will certainly shield our take a look at knowledge, proper? Nope: our simulator encrypted all of them.
These outcomes have to be interpreted with care. We all know from lab testing that F-Safe blocks most ransomware with out issue, even probably the most refined of zero-day threats, so it appears odd that our tiny simulator received by way of. Because it is not actual malware, maybe F-Safe believed it was a reliable software, perhaps a real encryption device, and so allowed it to run unrestricted.
Nonetheless, whereas we will not be certain what occurred or why, these outcomes make us somewhat nervous. When an antivirus is confronted with an executable file it is by no means seen earlier than, participating in very ransomware-like conduct, and encrypting recordsdata inside a protected folder, we might anticipate it to a minimum of elevate an alert, asking the consumer if this was okay. The truth that did not occur needs to be a priority.
Impartial take a look at labs, like AV-Comparatives and AV-Test, had extra success than we did with F-Safe of their evaluations. Each gave good, or near-perfect general scores. Neither confirmed that F-Safe struggled to determine or block present, new, or unknown threats. Combining all these findings collectively, we really feel F-Safe general is a really, solidly safe antivirus program.
Efficiency
If you first set up this system, F-Safe robotically begins scanning your total gadget whereas additionally providing a fast walk-through of this system. On high of malware, F-Safe will examine your total system and search for any vulnerabilities in your pc the place threats like worms, ransomware, and hackers can sneak by way of. You may be given a listing of really useful fixes, and F-Safe will provide to repair them for you if you would like.
F-Safe has just a few scanning choices which might be additionally speedy, correct, and simple to make use of. Even the primary scan will take lower than 10 minutes to run whereas different applications, like Bitdefender, take as much as 45 minutes, or generally an hour. It helps scheduled scanning that permits the bundle to robotically examine the system
You possibly can run focused scans by right-clicking a file, folder, or drive and selecting Scan For Viruses. These, too, are speedy, even initially, and get quicker in subsequent runs. The app checked 50GB of executables in round 19 minutes at first, for example, quicker than most, dropping to 14 minutes once we checked once more.
F-Safe Web Safety has protected banking instruments. These assist defend your private and monetary data whereas banking on-line.
If you go to a identified banking web site, F-Safe disconnects all untrusted functions from the web and prevents them from going again on-line when you’re there. It additionally blocks untrusted web sites till your transactions are full.
These are drastic steps, however an alert warns you what is taking place, and F-Safe highlights your display with a inexperienced border as a reminder. Banking safety ends robotically once you depart the positioning, or you may shut it down manually with a few clicks if it is interfered with any reliable apps.
You additionally get parental controls with two essential components. The primary is internet filtering. You possibly can click on the varied content material presets to shortly block webpages about abuse, drug and alcohol use, pornography, or gaming web sites.
There are each white and black lists that you should use to additional customise content material entry. We have discovered that some web sites slip by way of the filters, so we merely add the URL to the blacklist to make sure children cannot view them. On the opposite facet, there are some gaming web sites that we’re okay with our children enjoying, so we add these to the whitelist whereas preserving nearly all of the gaming websites securely blocked.
The opposite controls on this characteristic allow you to set closing dates for when and the way lengthy your youngsters can use the web. Whereas your youngster is on-line, they are going to obtain warnings about when their time is about as much as assist with the transition.
F-Safe Web Safe is lacking some instruments that we want to see included at this degree. These embody a password supervisor and Wi-Fi safety. These are reserved, nevertheless, for Whole Safety customers.
Ultimate verdict
F-Safe Web Safety is pretty priced, compact, simple to make use of, and with largely constructive outcomes from the testing labs, however sudden evaluate points together with its ineffective Protected Folders system depart us with some considerations. We do just like the few further options it consists of, primarily the protected banking instruments and parental management, although we want to see only a couple extra.
F-Safe Whole Safety
As F-Safe’s top-tier providing, F-Safe Whole builds upon its lower-level F-Safe Web Safety bundle. Because of this it consists of its strong antivirus, ransomware safety, gaming mode, replace checkup and unauthorized entry safety of your cellular units with gadget lock, protections towards varied sorts of scams, and advert blocking.
To this already highly effective safety bundle, F-Safe Whole provides an imposing assortment of further options. They embody a private limitless VPN, Wi-Fi safety, password administration with auto-fill, on-line identification monitoring, breach alerts, and identification theft help.
Plans and pricing
F-Safe Whole affords the identical service for all of its subscribers, with the one distinction in worth, period, and gadget depend. So, for those who want F-Safe Whole for only one gadget for 2 years, it is going to value you $124.99 (that’s $5.20 per thirty days), whereas a one-year subscription for one gadget is charged $69.99 ($5.83 per thirty days).
Securing three units for 2 years comes with a price ticket of $144.99 ($6.04 per thirty days), whereas one yr will set you again by $89.99 ($7.50 per thirty days). Lastly, F-Safe Whole can hold 5 of your units protected for 2 years on the worth of $149.99 ($6.25 per thirty days), whereas selecting this selection for one yr goes for $84.99 ($7.08 per thirty days).
Whatever the chosen bundle, F-Safe Whole works on Home windows, Mac, Android, and iOS units.
There’s additionally the choice to purchase components of the service individually, together with F-Safe ID safety (beginning at $49.99 per yr for 1 gadget, 1 yr), F-Safe VPN (additionally beginning at $49.99), and F-Safe Web Safety (beginning at $49.99 as nicely).
Unsure whether or not F-Safe Whole is the best match for you? No worries! You possibly can take a look at out the total model in your cellular units and computer systems (as much as 5 of them concurrently) without spending a dime throughout a really beneficiant 30-day trial interval earlier than making the ultimate determination.
You do have to submit your cost particulars (PayPal or credit score/debit card accepted) and the automated renewal is activated by default. So, keep in mind to cancel earlier than the trial interval is over to keep away from getting charged (until you prefer it and need to hold utilizing it).
For those who do find yourself shopping for the service and one thing doesn’t work out within the subsequent month, you may make the most of the 30-day money-back assure.
Gadget safety
The F-Safe Whole app boasts a handsome but simple dashboard. It gives a pleasant overview of the lively safety progress (recordsdata and internet addresses checked, web site visitors protected), current occasions (set up, activation, scans, and so on.), and the app’s major options.
Within the Gadget Safety section, you may run a fast or full scan and entry the quarantine/blocked/excluded/protected merchandise checklist. Right here you may also make additional changes by way of computerized scanning, DeepGuard (a device that makes certain you utilize solely protected apps), ransomware protection, antimalware scan interface (AMSI) integration, and tamper safety.
Except for actively scanning your gadget for viruses within the background, F-Safe Whole additionally means that you can run a fast or full scan. There’s no custom-made or detachable gadget scan, however the ransomware safety device is an honest various, as you may choose which folders to watch.
When beginning up the total scan, we observed it was slightly quick in comparison with Home windows Defender and among the opponents. It took solely about 10 minutes to scan the take a look at machine with 390 GB of recordsdata and folders. Upon subsequent scans, it took even much less time.
In the newest spherical of testing probably the most distinguished antivirus platforms for residence customers (November – December 2024), the unbiased take a look at lab AV-Check rated F-Safe Whole the ‘Prime Product.’ It handed all of its probes with flying colours, receiving 6/6 factors for defense, efficiency, and usefulness, with no false flags – on par with different main names within the trade.
On the similar time, AV-Comparatives gave its Web Safety part of the service a ‘Normal’ rating by way of real-world safety (July – October 2024) and efficiency (September 2024), and ‘Superior’ within the space of malware safety (September 2024), with 17 false alarms however a 99.98% on-line safety charge.
The speed of false alarms is greater than that of, say Kaspersky and Development Micro (1 false constructive every), ESET (2 false positives), and G DATA (3 false alarms). Nonetheless, it’s decrease than Panda (28 false positives) and Norton (32 false flags).
Web safety
As talked about, the web safety a part of F-Safe Whole’s providing bestows you with antivirus, ransomware safety, gadget lock, protections towards the commonest kinds of on-line scams, in addition to advert/tracker blocking.
The most recent addition to F-Safe Whole is the Rip-off Safety device, which gives an summary and administration choices for its completely different components. The searching safety blocks dangerous web sites and presents websites’ security scores, whereas the banking safety retains you protected towards digital skimming and pretend banking web sites.
In the meantime, the procuring safety prevents entry to faux web sites and web thieves and the cookie popup blocker robotically rejects non-essential cookies the place attainable, saving you the difficulty of incessantly clicking on the ‘Settle for,’ ‘Reject,’ or ‘Important Solely’ buttons on web sites. You may also handle the checklist of allowed and blocked web sites.
VPN
As a safety device designed to defend your on-line identification and actions by routing your data by way of a secured server, F-Safe VPN is a particularly great tool to have. As your knowledge passes by way of, the VPN encrypts it, successfully stopping anybody from having the ability to see it.
The encryption used for all of your community site visitors is TLS, 2048-bit RSA keys with SHA-256 certificates, AES-256-GCM for OpenVPN’s management channel (authentication, key negotiation, and configuration), and AES-128-GCM for the protocol’s knowledge channel (packet encryption and transportation).
Plus, it modifications your gadget’s IP deal with, making it inconceivable to trace or hint again any on-line exercise to you or your gadget.
VPN settings permit you to connect with a specific server location, edit trusted networks, apps that bypass the VPN, along with letting you tinker with different VPN-specific instruments, just like the kill change, protocols, and related.
The kill change is there to shortly step in if the VPN connection drops, preserving your data shielded till the connection is re-established.
By way of its server community, it’s smaller than many standalone VPN companies, contemplating it’s restricted to solely 25 international locations (by comparability, Private Internet Access has servers in 90 international locations, Surfshark in 100, and NordVPN in 118 international locations).
Nevertheless, what’s spectacular is that the VPN doesn’t disconnect a server connection once you select to connect with a special one. Due to this fact, we might change servers as many occasions as we needed.
The VPN’s efficiency is suitable, connecting in 2 to fifteen seconds and reaching first rate obtain and add speeds upon testing. The speeds differed based mostly on the chosen location (extra distance between bodily and server location = decrease pace) and had been typically decrease than our non-VPN efficiency, as anticipated.
There are not any bandwidth caps, so you should use it for so long as you’d like.
The VPN characteristic means that you can add or take away Wi-Fi networks to the trusted checklist, choose the protocol (OpenVPN, OpenVPN/TCP, or IKEv2), add particular apps you need to bypass the VPN safety, and activate the kill change to stop any leaks if the VPN connection drops (off by default). Right here, you may also activate computerized VPN safety as quickly as your gadget begins and switch off advertiser monitoring safety (on by default).
One other factor that VPN does fairly nicely is bypassing geo-restrictions. In different phrases, it helps us entry streaming platforms like US Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Plus. Alternatively, different Netflix areas and BBC iPlayer remained unreachable.
Our general safety checks confirmed that F-Safe VPN stored a decent lid on our connection and didn’t enable any DNS leaks. Upon forcing the connection to drop, the kill change was fast to activate and stored our data shielded till the connection was re-established.
That mentioned, we don’t advocate utilizing this VPN whereas gaming on-line or for torrenting, because it nonetheless doesn’t provide the newer Wireguard protocol, neither is there any data on whether or not it plans to introduce it any time quickly.
ID safety
F-Safe Whole affords an entire ID safety service that begins with a succesful password supervisor. This offers you a protected vault to retailer your login credentials, so that you don’t have to fret about remembering lengthy, difficult passwords, or hackers getting their grubby fingers on them.
The Password Vault means that you can import passwords from different password managers, together with these featured in your internet browsers, in addition to the standalone ones like LastPass and Dashlane. You may also arrange the app to lock robotically once you step away from the pc, sync along with your different units, let the platform analyze your passwords’ power, and arrange a restoration QR code for those who neglect your grasp password.
This service additionally consists of darkish internet monitoring. It implies that the platform appears to be like for any private data that will have discovered its technique to the web’s darkest corners due to a knowledge breach. If it finds something matching the outline, it is going to provide you with a warning.
All you could do is add your e mail deal with and the app will instantly examine if it has appeared in a knowledge breach and supply full particulars of what data was concerned particularly. It’ll additionally proceed to watch for any future knowledge breaches involving your data.
You may also archive any breach discovered when you have taken the really useful actions and are assured your uncovered data is now protected.
Different helpful options supplied by F-Safe Whole embody protected banking instruments. These assist defend your private and monetary data when conducting your banking actions on-line. So, once you go to a identified banking web site, F-Safe disconnects all untrusted functions from the web and prevents them from going again on-line for so long as you’re there. It additionally blocks any untrusted web sites till your transactions are full.
Banking safety ends robotically once you depart the positioning, or you may shut it down manually with a few clicks if it’s interfering with any reliable apps.
Parental controls had been exceptionally helpful and simple to arrange. All we needed to do was ship a affirmation e mail to the gadget we needed to cowl with this section of F-Safe Whole service after which open it from the goal gadget. A single faucet took us to the web site (on this case Google Play), from which we had been in a position to set up the app in just a few seconds.
The subsequent step was to create a brand new youngster profile, which included placing within the youngster’s identify and age. Then we had been in a position to arrange App Management or choose which apps are all the time allowed, that are restricted by Each day Time Limits and/or Bedtime, and that are all the time blocked.
There are additionally choices to show Content material Filtering and Secure Search on/off. The previous was customizable by way of particular content material (from grownup, medicine, playing, alcohol and tobacco, violence, and so on. to streaming media and social networks), whereas the latter covers searches on Google, Bing, Yahoo, YouTube, and DuckDuckGo.
Moreover, the “youngster” model of the app features a password supervisor and VPN as nicely.
Ultimate verdict
Shopping for F-Safe Whole makes loads of sense for anybody in search of a simple technique to get strong antivirus and ID safety, with just a few helpful extras. Its VPN won’t be something to write down residence about, but it surely does cowl the fundamentals and parental controls aren’t all the time included in opponents’ merchandise. In addition to, getting all the factor for $5.20 per thirty days is a steal these days.