AVG’s malware scanner employs machine learning, heuristics, and an online malware database in order to detect emerging threats. It scored high more info here in our tests and has excellent intelligent scanning and deep scanning performance. It lags behind its competitors in its ability to detect new as well as new «zero-day malware».

After a simple installation after which the program starts its «Smart Scan», which is a general scan of your system to look for threats and malware. It takes just 35 minutes to scan 430,167 different files on our test system. This is less than some competitors’ tools but it’s still a substantial amount of files.

The program’s modern and clean interface makes launching scanning or using its other features easy. It includes recognizable thumbnails and headings to help you identify what each feature does. The settings menu provides numerous options for customizing. For instance, you can adjust the intensity of a deep scan, or set up a data shredder by adding an option to Windows right-click menu.

Premium subscribers are able to enjoy some 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, as well as «Sensitive Data Shield» encryption of your private files. Other paid programs from AVG offer fancy extras such as an upgrade to performance or a password manager.

The mobile application of AVG comes with a variety of features, including the option for you to remotely secure an Android device or wipe it (Android only) and a photo vault which allows you to securely share your files. The most popular mobile feature, however, is its anti-theft option, which lets you track a missing phone or tablet, and even sound a siren to disorient it.