AVG’s malware scanner employs machine learning and heuristic analysis along with an online database of malware to identify emerging threats. It scored highly in our tests with excellent sophisticated scanning and deep scan performance. However, it is not as effective as some competitors in its ability to identify new and untested “zero-day” malware.
After a quick installation the program will launch its first “Smart Scan” that is a comprehensive scan of your computer for potential threats and malware. It takes around 35 minutes examine 430,167 files on our test system. This is lower than other tools, but it’s plenty of files.
The program’s contemporary and clean interface makes it easy to launch scans or navigate through its other features. It comes with recognizable thumbnails and headings to help you quickly identify what each feature does. The settings menu is well-organized and offers a few options for customization, including the ability to modify the degree of security a deep-scan is, or even set up a shredder that can be added to Windows right-click menu.
Premium subscribers can avail several additional features that aren’t included in the free version. These include “Webcam Protection” is a feature that blocks access to your camera and makes video calls more secure and secure, as well as “Sensitive Data Shield” which encrypts your private files. Additional features such as a password manager or a performance tune-ups aren’t included, since AVG offers other paid software in its portfolio that provide these features.
The mobile application of AVG provides many advantages, such as the ability to remotely wipe or lock your Android device (Android only), and a photo vault that lets you safely share your photos. Its most useful mobile feature though, is the anti-theft function, which can help you find a lost phone or tablet, and even sound an alarm to scare it away.