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Totalav Review: A Complete Overview
Totalav is a great antivirus option, especially for the first-year price. Our testing showed that it has many useful features and strong protection.
Need a quick overview? Here’s a brief summary of what we found about Totalav antivirus:
Pros of TotalAV:
- Complete digital security: Totalav offers many features, including privacy and online protection, which aren’t always found in other antivirus software.
- Ease of use: Totalav is user-friendly, with minimal impact on device performance and an intuitive app interface.
- Efficient scanning: We were impressed with Totalav’s quick scan times and its accurate detection of harmful files and programs.
Cons of TotalAV:
- No behavior-based detection: Unlike some modern antivirus programs, Totalav doesn’t use behavior-based methods to detect malware.
- Lacks a firewall: The absence of a firewall leaves users more vulnerable to network attacks, particularly on public Wi-Fi. While VPNs and WebShield provide some protection, they are not as robust as firewalls.
- Delayed malware detection: During our tests, Totalav didn’t prevent the download of potentially harmful files, but it detected and quarantined them when accessed.
Bottom Line: TotalAV antivirus may not immediately catch all malware, but it prevents malware from executing. It excels in protecting users from various cyber threats, both online and offline. With affordable pricing starting at $29 for the first year and easy-to-use apps, Totalav is a solid choice for most internet users.
What is TotalAV?
TotalAV is a top-rated antivirus software that offers robust protection against malware, viruses, and phishing. It combines real-time protection, system optimization, and a secure VPN for safe browsing. TotalAV is easy to use and comes in both free and premium versions, with advanced features like a password manager and web protection included.
What is antivirus software?
Antivirus software, also known as an antivirus program, is a security tool developed to prevent, detect, locate, and eliminate viruses and various forms of malware from computers, networks, and other devices. This software is frequently included within a larger security package, though it is also available as an independent product.
Antivirus programs are designed to defend against many cyber threats, such as keyloggers, browser hijackers, Trojan horses, worms, rootkits, spyware, adware, botnets, phishing schemes, and ransomware attacks. They are installed on a computer as a preventative measure in cybersecurity.
Given the ever-changing landscape of cybercrime and the constant emergence of new malware, including zero-day exploits, no antivirus software can guarantee complete detection and protection against all potential threats.
How does antivirus software work?
Antivirus software generally operates in the background, continuously scanning computers, servers, or mobile devices to detect and prevent the spread of malware. Many antivirus programs offer real-time threat detection and protection to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities, conducting system scans to monitor device and system files for any signs of risk.
Typically, antivirus software performs the following core functions:
- Scans directories or specific files, comparing them to a database of known malicious signatures to identify abnormal patterns that suggest the presence of malware.
- Allows users to schedule automatic scans.
- Provides the option for users to initiate scans manually at any time.
- Automatically removes detected malware or alerts users of infections, prompting them to clean the affected files.
For a deep scan, antivirus software usually requires privileged access to the entire system. This elevated access level can make the software itself a target for cyber attackers. In recent years, researchers have uncovered remote code execution and other significant vulnerabilities in several antivirus products.
Given the critical role antivirus software plays in safeguarding our digital lives, it’s essential to choose a solution that not only meets but exceeds your security needs. This is where Totalav comes into the picture. Totalav is not just an antivirus—it’s a comprehensive digital protection suite designed to offer robust security and much more. Let’s dive deeper into what makes Totalav a standout choice for anyone looking to protect and optimize their devices.
Is TotalAV Safe?
Yes, Totalav is generally considered safe and reliable for protecting your devices against various types of malware, including viruses, spyware, and ransomware. It offers real-time protection, system optimization tools, and additional features like a VPN and password manager. However, like any security software, its effectiveness depends on regular updates and proper configuration. It’s also important to download Totalav from the official website to avoid potential scams or counterfeit software.
What country is TotalAV antivirus from?
Totalav is from the United Kingdom. It is a UK-based software company that was founded in 2016.
How Much is Totalav Antivirus?
| License Details | Antivirus Pro | Internet Security | Total Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of devices | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Antivirus features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ad blocker | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Device optimizer features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VPN | No | Yes | Yes |
| Password manager | No | No | Yes |
| First-year price | $29 | $39 | $49 |
| Renewal price (per year) | $99 | $129 | $149 |
What do I Get From Totalav?
Totalav is a top-rated antivirus and VPN package, with its Internet Security offering showcasing why it stands out. It includes:
- Real-time protection
- Full, quick, and scheduled scans
- System optimization tools
- VPN
- WebShield
- Password manager
Real-time protection
You might be used to antivirus software that scans on a schedule or when you ask it to, but newer antivirus programs are better. Real-time protection checks files and programs as you download, open, or create them so malware doesn’t have a chance to get in. As long as your antivirus is on, your device stays safe.
Full, quick, and scheduled scans
Totalav offers several types of scans, which are common in antivirus software:
- Quick Scan: This scan checks key areas, new files, and processes where malware often hides. Totalav’s quick scan took about four minutes, scanning over 15,000 files and 78 folders, and it detected six threats.
- System Scan: Also known as a full scan, this type of scan examines every file on the computer. When we tested it, Totalav’s system scan took 25 minutes, scanning 300,000 files and 15,000 folders, and it found one additional threat that the quick scan missed.
- Scheduled Scan: You can schedule scans to run daily, weekly, every two weeks, or monthly. You can choose a quick scan, system scan, or smart scan. However, unlike some other antivirus programs like McAfee, you can’t specify the exact time for these scans. Instead, you set your active hours, and Totalav will scan outside of those times.
- Custom Scan: This allows you to target specific files and folders. You can also right-click on any folder and select “Scan with Totalav” to quickly check it for malware.
In addition to its standard antivirus scans, Totalav also offers smart scans as part of its all-around cybersecurity tools. With just one click, Totalav performs the following:
- Quick Scan: Checks for malware.
- Security and Privacy Scan: This scan identifies settings and programs, such as spyware and adware, that may compromise your security and privacy.
- Performance Scan: Looks for apps or files that are consuming too much storage space or system resources.
- System Junk and Duplicate Scan: Finds unnecessary files and duplicates that you can remove to free up storage space.
System optimization tools
Real-time protection and malware scans are the main anti-malware features of Totalav, but it also includes some extra tools for system tune-up. Here’s a look at a couple of them:
- Junk Cleaner: This tool scans your computer for junk files, such as cached updates, temporary files, and items in the recycle bin. When we used it, it freed up over 30 GB of memory.
- Duplicate File Finder: This feature helps you find duplicate files with similar names and sizes. It doesn’t delete them automatically, which is useful because it can sometimes flag files incorrectly. For instance, it mistakenly identified three different files as duplicates during our test.
- Application Uninstaller: This feature allows you to select and uninstall multiple apps at once, which is faster than the standard Windows uninstaller that handles one app at a time. It also successfully removed a broken program that Windows’ uninstaller couldn’t.
- Startup Manager: This tool shows you which apps are set to launch when your computer starts and allows you to enable or disable them. While useful, we still prefer Windows’ built-in startup manager because it displays the impact each app has on boot time (low, medium, high). Reducing the number of startup apps can help if your computer is slow to start.
- Browser Cleanup: This scans your web browsers and identifies items that can be removed to improve performance, such as cookies, cached files, download history, and saved passwords.
While these system tune-up tools are designed to keep your device running efficiently, they can also help detect and remove malicious programs. For example, a computer worm might create multiple copies of itself across your device, causing performance problems. The duplicate file finder can help locate and eliminate these copies, aiding in removing the worm.
Web shield
WebShield is Totalav’s primary tool for protecting you against online threats. When activated, it blocks access to potentially dangerous websites, including phishing sites that try to steal your personal information and crypto mining sites that secretly use your device’s resources.
WebShield is particularly effective at preventing phishing attacks. In fact, studies show that only about five percent of Americans can consistently distinguish between legitimate and phishing emails. Since phishing is a sophisticated scam, having WebShield can be a valuable layer of protection if you’re unsure about trusting your instincts.
Privacy Protections
Totalav also helps protect your privacy with two key tools:
- VPN: The main privacy tool is a VPN, which encrypts your online activity and masks your IP address from the websites you visit. Totalav’s VPN is full-featured, including a kill switch for added security. We rated it 8.7 out of 10 in our review, and while it’s a strong contender, it didn’t make our list of the best VPNs due to its limited server network.
- Password Vault: Available with the Total Security package, this password manager wasn’t included in our Internet Security subscription. When we tested it, it worked well—allowing you to create a master PIN to securely access all your stored login details. The password manager is compatible with Chrome, Edge, and Safari, and you can also use the Total Password app on your Android or iOS device.
What are the system requirements for TotalAV?
TotalAV System Requirements Across Devices
| Device | Operating System | Memory | Disk Space | CPU | Browser | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | Microsoft Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or higher with the newest updates, hotfixes, and service packs installed | At least 2 GB of RAM required or more | A minimum of 1.5 GB of free disk space is required (extra space needed for temporary and quarantine files). | Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 Processor or higher | Internet Explorer 11 or newer | Administrator rights and an internet connection are required for installation and automatic updates. |
| Mac | Mac OS X 10.9 Mavericks and higher | At least 2 GB of RAM required or more | A minimum of 1.5 GB of free disk space is required (extra space needed for temporary and quarantine files). | 64-Bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor or higher | Safari 6 or newer | Administrator rights and an internet connection are required for installation and automatic updates. Support for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion ceased in late-2019. Upgrading is strongly advised. |
| Android | Android 5.0 or higher | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Permissions Required:
|
| iOS | iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Real-Time Protection from viruses |
How do you cancel a Totalav subscription?
How do you cancel a Totalav subscription on iOS devices?
To cancel your TotalAV subscriptions on your iOS device, follow these advanced steps:
- Launch the Settings app on your device.
- Navigate to your iCloud® account at the top of the screen.
- Access Subscriptions (allow a few moments for it to fully load).
- Scroll through your active subscriptions and select the one you wish to modify.
- Tap on Cancel Subscription to terminate the service.
How to cancel a Totalav subscription on Android?
To cancel a Totalav subscription on an Android device, open the Google Play Store app, tap on your profile icon, select “Payments & Subscriptions,” then “Subscriptions.” Find Totalav, Tap “Cancel Subscription,” and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the cancellation. You may receive a confirmation message or email.
If you want to cancel your Totalav subscription, log into your account on the company’s official website and go to the services menu.
Here’s a quick summary of the steps you’ll need to take.
1. Login
Log in to Totalav antivirus official website here
2. Dashboard
Click ‘Account’ on your dashboard.
3. Menu
In the Menu, select ‘My Services.’
4. My Service
Click ‘Manage’ under your subscription.
5. Manage Service
Click ‘cancel’
6. Verification
Is there a free version of Totalav?
How do I use Totalav to scan my device for threats?
To scan your Windows device for threats using Totalav, follow these steps:
- Open the Totalav application on your computer.
- Select the “Smart Scan” or “Virus Scan” option from the main dashboard.
- Allow the scan to run to check your system for any harmful threats or vulnerabilities.
- Review the scan results and follow the prompts to resolve any detected issues.
To scan your iOS device for Threats with Totalav
Quick and Easy: To Scan Your iOS Device for Threats with Totalav
- Open the Totalav app on your iOS device.
- Tap the “Smart Scan” button on the main screen.
- The app will begin scanning your device for any security issues or vulnerabilities.
- Once the scan is complete, review the results and follow the prompts to address any detected issues.
To scan your Android device, follow these steps:
1. Open the Totalav app.
2. Tap on the “Security Scan” button.
Is Totalav Antivirus Legit?
Yes, TotalAV antivirus is legit and provides reliable protection against malware. It uses a version of Avira’s highly regarded anti-malware engine, ensuring a strong defense against viruses, spyware, ransomware, and phishing attacks. With its user-friendly interface and additional features like a VPN and system optimization tools, TotalAV is a credible and effective cybersecurity option.
What is the alternative to TotalAV?
An alternative to TotalAV includes antivirus software such as:
- Norton Antivirus.
- Avast
- Smadav
- Webroot Business Endpoint Protection.
- Symantec End-user Endpoint Security.
- ThreatDown.
- Acronis Cyber Protect
- ESET PROTECT.
- Sophos Intercept X: Next-Gen Endpoint.
- GoTo Resolve (formerly GoToAssist)
These are the best paid & free alternatives to TotalAV antivirus.
FAQs
Is Totalav a good antivirus?
Yes, Totalav is a solid antivirus. It does a good job protecting against viruses, spyware, and other harmful software. Totalav also has extra features like a VPN and tools to help your device run better. It’s user-friendly and won’t impact your device’s performance. Remember that while the first-year price is low, the cost increases when you renew.
How long does a TotalAV subscription last?
Totalav antivirus protection provides monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual subscription options, all of which automatically renew unless you choose to cancel.
Is Totalav a scam?
No, Totalav is not a scam. It’s a legitimate antivirus software that protects against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Totalav is used by many people worldwide and has received positive reviews for its effectiveness and user-friendly interface. However, it’s important to download it from the official website to avoid any potential scams or fake versions.
How many devices can I have on TotalAV?
With TotalAV, the number of devices you can protect depends on your chosen plan. Typically:
- Essential Antivirus: Covers 1 device.
- Pro Antivirus: Covers up to 3 devices.
- Ultimate Antivirus: Covers up to 6 devices.
These plans allow you to secure multiple devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets, under a single subscription.
Is TotalAV to be trusted?
Is TotalAV a VPN?
Does TotalAV block spyware?
TotalAV’s real-time protection, including WebShield, effectively blocks ransomware, but regular file backups are still advised. Moreover, TotalAV’s real-time protection guards against spyware and adware.
Is TotalAV easy to Uninstall?
To uninstall TotalAV, click on the Start menu, then go to Settings and select Apps. Scroll through the list of installed applications until you locate TotalAV. Click on it and choose Uninstall. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
How can I use TotalAV for free?
You can use TotalAV for free by downloading and installing the application, which offers a Free Antivirus Scan. This feature lets you quickly identify and remove harmful malware, unwanted applications, and privacy concerns. After installation, TotalAV will prompt you to run a smart scan, providing a detailed analysis of threats and vulnerabilities, along with guidance to help resolve them.
Why does my TotalAV keep turning off?
If your TotalAV keeps turning off, it might be due to a conflict between TotalAV and Windows Defender, as these two programs can sometimes battle for control over your system’s security. To fix this, you should disable Windows Defender to prevent it from interfering with TotalAV. Here’s how to do it: Open the Services app and run it as an administrator, then scroll down to find PC security management.
Other possible reasons for TotalAV turning off include software conflicts with other security programs, outdated software, corrupted installation, low system resources, or even malware interference. To address these issues, consider updating the software, reinstalling TotalAV, or scanning your device for malware using a different trusted antivirus tool.
