In a recent exploration of Scanguard, we uncovered its ownership by Total Security LTD, a detail that may inspire confidence given Total AV’s reputation. This connection hints at the potential for ongoing enhancements, which could elevate Scanguard’s status in the antivirus and security landscape. Currently, Scanguard stands as a comprehensive security and optimization suite, addressing a spectrum of needs from virus protection to system performance improvements, including junk file removal, a password vault, and even a VPN.
Features
The suite’s security features commence with advanced real-time protection against a variety of threats such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and adware. This is facilitated through specialized guards: Malware Guard, Ransomware Guard, Spyware Guard, and Aware Guard. Users can experience many of these functionalities through a free version available for Windows. However, the speed of updates and definition applications in the free tool raised some concerns, leaving us uncertain if it was a connectivity issue or simply a limitation of the free version. Notably, the initial scan on a 512 GB SSD, which was approximately 30% full, was completed in under five minutes, efficiently covering malware scanning, junk removal, browser cleanup, and startup app checks.
It’s worth mentioning that while the app scans for tracking cookies, it prompts users to upgrade to the Pro version for removal, which may feel like an upsell tactic. Nevertheless, the company does provide a significant discount for first-time users, allowing access to Scanguard Essential Antivirus for as little as for the first year, although the renewal price jumps to .
The “smart scan” feature proved effective, quickly addressing malware, security and privacy issues, PC performance, system junk, and duplicate files with a single click. For those seeking a more thorough examination, the full system scan can take up to 20 minutes, while a Custom Scan option allows users to target specific folders for faster results. The settings menu offers further customization, enabling toggles for scanning removable drives, archives, specific file types, and scheduling scans.
Core security features include the Malware Guard, which protects against trojans and worms, the Ransomware Guard to thwart hackers, the Spyware Guard to eliminate tracking software, and the Aware Guard to block intrusive advertisements. Additionally, the WebShield feature provides real-time protection from malicious sites and includes a web cache cleaner for users who may venture onto less secure websites. While it effectively blocks many known threats, some obscure sites may still slip through, necessitating user vigilance.
For those concerned about identity theft, Scanguard offers a separate service that includes dark web monitoring, social media checks, identity restoration, lost wallet assistance, and up to million in identity theft insurance. The Data Breach Check feature scans for compromised passwords, requiring only an email for operation.
Scanguard also boasts a system optimizer, which efficiently cleans junk files, manages applications, and performs browser cleanup. The junk cleaner demonstrated impressive speed, removing around 300 MB of files in under a minute. However, the duplicate file scanner may require user verification before deletion, as it occasionally misidentifies files. The browser cleanup feature effectively enhances loading speeds and manages idle tabs, although the absence of disk optimization and gaming performance enhancements is notable.
For Android users, a dedicated app is available, though iPhone users will find no Scanguard app. The Android app must be sourced directly from the Scanguard website, as it is not listed on the Google Play Store, which raises safety warnings. While the mobile app replicates many desktop features, it lacks advanced security options such as SMS filtering and scam call protection.
Pricing
Scanguard adopts a straightforward pricing strategy with two plans: a free version offering basic protection and a paid plan priced at for the first year. However, users who upgrade from the free version can access a promotional rate of for the first year, with a subsequent renewal fee of . Payment is exclusively through PayPal, and upon purchase, users may encounter upsell offers for additional services like VPN and Ad Blocker Pro.
The paid plan encompasses real-time virus and phishing protection, cloud-based threat detection, adware and spyware defenses, a secure password vault, system tune-up tools, and a web shield extension. It also includes Android protection, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Protection
Recent evaluations from reliable testing sites indicate that Scanguard achieved a detection rate of 96.94% in a VB100 test conducted in October 2023, successfully identifying 1,871 out of 1,930 malware samples. Impressively, it maintained a 0.000% false alarm rate, indicating no clean files were incorrectly flagged as malicious. However, it’s important to note that Scanguard is not currently VB100 certified, as its testing results have not been updated recently.
Ease of Use
Scanguard features a modern design with an intuitive user interface, characterized by a sleek color scheme and large, informative icons. While the initial installation may take some time due to database updates, the layout is logical and user-friendly, with most settings easily adjustable via toggle switches. Despite the multitude of customization options, the experience remains approachable and not overwhelming.
In summary, Scanguard presents a unique proposition in the security suite market. While it excels in malware and web protection, significant issues with its mobile app and a convoluted pricing structure may deter potential users. For those seeking a reliable solution without demanding features, Scanguard may suffice, but the presence of superior alternatives at similar price points complicates its recommendation as a primary choice in the cybersecurity arena.
