Splashtop, a company with over two decades of experience in remote access solutions, has recently ventured into the antivirus market with the launch of Splashtop Shield. Having previously shipped its software on 300 million PCs, the company has earned a solid reputation. After testing the new antivirus offering, it received a commendable rating of four stars, although it appears to still be in the early stages of refinement.
Fair Pricing, Average Value
One of the standout features of Splashtop Shield is its remote care capability for family members. The Individual license, priced at per year, conveniently covers two computers, while the Family Lite license, available for annually, extends protection to up to five devices, whether they are PCs or Macs. For larger households, the full Family subscription, which accommodates ten devices, is offered at per year.
In terms of pricing, Splashtop positions itself competitively within the market. At the five-license tier, it sits comfortably in the middle range. For comparison, K7 AntiVirus Premium starts at per year, while G Data Antivirus is priced at .95. On the higher end, TotalAV Antivirus Pro and Norton AntiVirus Plus are available for and .99 per year, respectively. While the necessity for ten antivirus licenses may be questionable for many consumers, Splashtop’s pricing aligns with industry standards at that tier.
Bulletproof Remote Security Meets Centralized Control
Splashtop has made significant strides in ensuring secure remote access, a critical aspect often overlooked by other tools in the market. Co-founder Mark Lee emphasized the importance of creating a secure remote experience, stating, “making that entire remote experience secure has also been a major undertaking for us.” Splashtop Shield not only functions as a robust antivirus solution but also blocks any unapproved remote access tools, enhancing overall security.
Upon subscribing to Splashtop Shield, users gain access to an essential online control console, where they assume the role of the Family Guardian. This console allows the Guardian to send installation instructions to family members, who will first install Splashtop Streamer, the company’s proprietary remote-control app, followed by the antivirus application. Family members can initiate antivirus scans, but all configuration settings remain under the Guardian’s control.
Hands-On Testing: A Mixed Bag of Protection
In my evaluation of Splashtop Shield, I subjected it to a series of tests using local malware samples. Unfortunately, it scored a mere 7.8 out of 10, the lowest among recent antivirus products. In contrast, competitors like Sophos Home Premium and Malwarebytes Premium Security achieved scores of 9.9 and 9.8, respectively. Notably, Splashtop managed to eliminate three-quarters of the malware samples immediately but faltered when faced with modified samples, failing to recognize any of them.
Additionally, I assessed its performance against a set of malware-hosting URLs. Splashtop Shield blocked 86% of these threats, a score that falls short compared to competitors like Avira Free Security, which achieved a perfect 100%. While the antivirus did excel in phishing protection, detecting 99% of fraudulent attempts, several competitors still managed to achieve a flawless score.
Total Machine Control for the Family ‘Guardian’
The Family Guardian feature provides comprehensive control over family members’ antivirus settings, allowing them to seek assistance when needed. The process begins with the Guardian initiating a remote help session, which requires approval from the family member. This ensures transparency, as they can observe all actions taken during the session.
During testing, I encountered challenges with this feature, necessitating support from Splashtop. However, once I added a support contact’s remote laptop to my family setup, I successfully took control of the computer. The Splashtop Streamer client, installed alongside Splashtop Shield, facilitates the remote connection, while the Guardian’s computer requires a separate client called Splashtop Remote Help.
Once connected, I found myself able to navigate the remote computer seamlessly, managing the antivirus settings and performing various tasks as if I were physically present. A control panel provided easy access to essential functions, including session termination and advanced features like screen blanking and keyboard remapping.
While Splashtop offers a unique blend of remote control and antivirus management, the antivirus component lacks the robustness seen in established competitors. Although it has not yet undergone extensive testing by major labs, its performance in hands-on evaluations raises concerns. As Splashtop Shield continues to evolve, it may warrant a more comprehensive review in the future.
