Panda Security, a notable player in the antivirus landscape, has consistently pushed the boundaries of cybersecurity innovation since its inception. The Spanish-based company has introduced a series of advancements, from daily signature updates in 1998 to behavioral monitoring in 2004 and cloud scanning in 2007. Today, it offers a range of plans tailored for home users, including Panda Dome Essential, Advanced, Complete, and Premium, each building upon the last with an array of features.
Each tier provides essential protections such as a firewall, WiFi security, online shopping safeguards, and a Dark Web Scanner. The higher tiers expand on these offerings with additional tools like parental controls, anti-ransomware measures, PC optimization, a password manager, and file encryption and shredding capabilities. Notably, all plans come with a 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore the features without commitment.
Protection
Panda Dome’s performance has garnered recognition, earning an AAA award from SE Labs for achieving a Total Accuracy Rating of 99% without any false positives between October and December 2024. This performance surpasses that of Microsoft Defender and Webroot, although it falls short of the perfect scores achieved by Avast, Kaspersky, and McAfee.
In addition, the AV-Test Product Review and Certification Report for September-October 2024 awarded Panda a score of 6/6 for protection and usability, while its performance score was slightly lower at 5.5/6. However, Panda Free Antivirus did experience a higher number of false alarms in AV-Comparatives’ False Alarm Test, indicating some room for improvement in this area.
Final Verdict: Essential
Panda Dome Essential presents a user-friendly interface and valuable features, particularly for tech-savvy individuals. However, it does not quite match the virus detection capabilities of leading competitors in the market.
Panda Dome Advanced
For those seeking more robust protection, the Panda Dome Advanced plan, priced at .99 for the first year (renewing at .99), includes everything from the Essential tier, plus parental controls and enhanced ransomware protection.
Antivirus
Panda Dome Advanced offers multiple scanning options, including Critical Area, Custom, and Full System scans, along with the ability to schedule scans at your convenience. Testing revealed reasonable scan times, with the first scan of 50GB taking approximately 39 minutes, aligning with typical expectations.
Ransomware
The anti-ransomware features in Panda Dome utilize behavior-based detection and file access control, alongside backup capabilities to recover files if infection occurs. Tools such as a data shield and shadow copies ensure users can restore their data in case of loss or corruption.
Parental Control
While Panda Dome Advanced includes parental controls, it lacks the comprehensive features found in dedicated applications. Users can filter content across various categories, but options for app usage control and screen time limitations are notably absent.
Final Verdict: Advanced
Panda Dome Advanced boasts a solid antivirus engine capable of effectively detecting and removing malware. Although it may not outperform some industry giants, it remains a reliable choice with a mix of basic and advanced features.
Panda Dome Complete
Stepping up to Panda Dome Complete, priced at .99 for the first year, adds system cleanup tools and a password manager to the mix. This tier is designed to enhance user experience by offering additional functionalities for maintaining system performance.
Cleanup: PC Optimization
The PC Cleanup feature allows users to free up space by removing unnecessary files, managing startup programs, and scheduling cleanup tasks. This tool is essential for maintaining optimal system performance.
Password Manager
Panda’s password manager provides standard functionalities such as password management, form autofill, and secure note creation. It ensures that sensitive information is stored securely and can be accessed easily across devices.
File Encryptor
This feature enables users to encrypt files with a password or an automatically generated key, ensuring that sensitive data remains protected from unauthorized access.
File Shredder
Panda Dome also includes a file shredder that securely deletes sensitive information, making it nearly impossible to recover deleted files, thus enhancing data security.
Final Verdict: Complete
Panda Dome Complete offers a well-rounded suite of features, including file encryption, shredding, and PC optimization tools. For users who do not require these extras, the Essential or Advanced tiers may be more suitable.
Panda Dome Premium
The pinnacle of Panda’s offerings, the Panda Dome Premium plan, provides unrestricted VPN access, an update manager, and unlimited premium technical support, all for annually for one device, renewing at 9.99.
Premium VPN
This tier eliminates VPN limitations found in lower packages, allowing secure browsing across over 60 countries for up to five devices. Testing showed solid connection speeds and quick server access, even for distant locations.
Update Manager
The Update Manager in Panda Dome Premium ensures that users’ systems remain current, helping to prevent security vulnerabilities by allowing for scheduled scans and updates of installed applications.
Final Verdict: Premium
Panda Dome Premium stands out as a comprehensive antivirus solution, particularly appealing for those who value the VPN, Update Manager, and Dark Web Scanner. However, potential renewal costs should be considered when planning for long-term use.
