Geek's Advice

Webroot Antivirus reacts to cyber threats rapidly

Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is the lightest and fastest antivirus available, which checks your computer for malware and wipes detected threats rapidly. It differs from other antivirus products because it doesn’t use a traditional signature database to identify computer threats, but relies on metadata and analyzes behavioral patterns instead.

Speaking of its features, advanced threat protection can be provided for PC and Mac users, and the security vendor also offers exclusive data and identity protection for the users. Additionally, users of Webroot should not be afraid of ransomware attacks and stay calm because real-time anti-phishing shield will block deceptive and malware-laden sites immediately. What also comes with this antivirus is Firewall and network connection monitor.

By paying a little extra, you can upgrade to Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus or Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete and access even more features along with protection for multiple devices instantly. In this article, Geeks’ Advice team will overview the pros and cons of the software, reveal the price and share thoughts on this antivirus product.

Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus overview

Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is the most popular among Webroot’s products for home users. It is a light and so far the fastest antivirus solution for those who have only one device to protect – be it a PC or Mac. The software costs $39.99 per year for one device or $49.99 for three devices.

However, you might grab the license for $25.99 (1 device) or $32.49 (3 devices). If you don’t like the product, you can request a refund within 70 days from the day you purchased the license. You can also test this antivirus on one device with a free Webroot SecureAnywhere Trial, which lasts for 14 days.

Advantages of Webroot Antivirus

• Identity theft protection. The antivirus provides protection for your usernames, passwords, account numbers, credit card data and other sensitive data.
• Real-time anti-phishing. While using a computer that’s protected with this antivirus, you won’t be able to access fraudulent and phishing websites that might try to steal your sensitive details such as passwords and usernames.
• Light. What’s important to mention is that Webroot Antivirus doesn’t take up much space on your computer. It needs only 15MB, while an average antivirus requires at least 516MB.
• Fastest antivirus available. The software won’t make your computer lag at all, allowing you to perform other tasks without worries while the system scan is in progress. According to the official website of the software developer, the scanner can finish the system check in approximately 20 seconds whereas other security products take from 2.25 to 46.51 minutes to scan the system.
• Webcam protection. You sure heard about hackers spying and illegally taking pictures or videos of victims via computer’s webcam. The discussed antivirus identifies and blocks spying threats and keeps you protected at all times.

The downside

Since Webroot’s malware detection system differs from traditional antivirus products, the antivirus product hardly ever participates in independent lab testings. It is so because the antivirus’ detection style doesn’t go well with typical testing methods that expect immediate malware detection.

Features of Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus

Webroot Internet Security Plus is basically an improved version of the basic antivirus version. It contains two extra features added on top of the ones listed above.

• It is an excellent product for those looking to protect their smartphones and tablets.
• Additionally, Internet Security Plus will guard your account logins and passwords, preventing scammers from stealing your identity as you shop online or use online banking services.

The license of Internet Security Plus costs $59.99 a year for three devices (can drop to $38.99/year, stay vigilant for special offers) or $69.99/year for 5 devices.

All in one – Webroot SecureAnyWhere Internet Security Complete overview

Webroot Internet Security Complete is fundamentally the same as the Internet Security Plus, but it contains two additional features which cannot be found in the previously described options. Just like the standard Webroot Antivirus, it contains all useful features and also provides excellent account logins/passwords protection. However, it has two extra features:

• Eliminates traces of online activity. The software gets rid of all traces connected to your online activity, making more space on your hard drive at the same time.
• 25GB of secure online storage. The security product protects your files by backing them up automatically. Enjoy 25GB of space in an online cloud which comes along with the license of the described Webroot product.

Compatibility and installation guidelines

The minimum system requirements for the antivirus software to function is shown below.

Intel® Pentium®/Celeron® family, or AMD®K6/Athlon™/Duron™ family, or other compatible processors
128 MB RAM (minimum);
10 MB Hard Disk Space;
Internet access;
Internet Explorer 7.0 and higher, Mozilla Firefox 3.6 and higher (32-bit only), Google Chrome™10.0 or higher

Operating systems supported

Microsoft® Windows®: XP (32/64-bit SP2, SP3), Vista® 32-bit (all Editions), Vista SP1, SP2 32 or 64-bit (all Editions), 7 32 or 64-bit (all Editions), 7 SP1 32 or 64-bit (all Editions) 8/8.1/10 (32 or 64-bit);
Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion®), 10.8 (Mountain Lion®), 10.9 (Mavericks®), 10.10 (Yosemite®), 10.11 (El Capitan®), 10.12 (Sierra®), 10.13 (High Sierra®).

Finally, you can secure mobile devices running these OS:

Android™ OS version 4.4 (KitKat) or higher;
Android™-compatible device with 3 MB of free storage space;
Data connection required;
Apple® iOS® 10 or higher;
Compatible with iPhone®, iPod touch®, and iPad®.

Install Webroot on Windows

1. Installing Webroot is easy. Make sure your PC is connected to the Internet, and run the installer. You should only download the software from trustworthy sources. Do not attempt to download illegal and “cracked” versions of the software – they might be malicious! To get the real thing, consider visiting the official Webroot website.
2. Run the installer and follow instructions on your screen. If you have the license code already (if you purchased it, check your email to find it), enter it in a dialog box that appears on the screen during the installation.
3. You can also customize the installation options by clicking the button at the bottom of the dialog box. Choose whether to create a shortcut on the desktop or not and randomize the antivirus’ filename so that stubborn malware variants could not identify the security product and attempt to block it. Also, take the chance to choose to protect antivirus’ files, processes, and memory from unauthorized modifications.
4. Finally, choose the language you prefer and click Agree and Install.

Revealing the rating for Webroot SecureAnywhere

Webroot Antivirus is by far the fastest antivirus which gives an instant verdict on your computer’s security. It won’t slow down your device during the scan. It will provide all the protection you expect and need from an antivirus product. The security product comes with anti-ransomware and anti-phishing features, helping you to keep your identity, credit card data, and files on your computer safe.

What’s even more important is that the antivirus monitors suspicious and unknown malware samples, allowing to record and roll back all of their actions. In other words, if the security software doesn’t get interrupted, it could return encrypted files in their original form for you. Outstanding!

While the basic antivirus doesn’t provide a password manager option, Internet Security Plus/Complete gives this little useful extra. We must say that the version of Mac computers isn’t as polished as the one designed for Windows.  In fact, the same thing applies to the majority of programs providing versions for both of these operating systems. However, we hope that Webroot for Mac will fix its crashing issue and improve its anti-phishing feature for Mac OS users in the future.

Norbert Webb

Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.