The package added only two background processes to our PC – one user application, one service – which typically consumed under 10MB RAM, just about as undemanding as an antivirus can be.Įlsewhere, a background Identity Shield hardens browser sessions to protect you from keyloggers, screen grabber attacks, clipboard snooping and other attempts to steal your data. Whatever you're doing, it doesn't look like Webroot will have any real impact on your system resources. You can review or deal with any results in a click or two, then leave Webroot to get on with protecting your PC. This took under a minute on our test PC, but still found a couple of adware-related items on our test system which other antivirus products typically ignore. Webroot can run alongside most other antivirus apps, too, with none of the usual conflicts or hassles.Īfter setup is complete, Webroot launches and runs an initial system scan. Installation is speedy, which is no surprise when the package is so lightweight that there's almost nothing to do.
The website then provides you with a download link and 14-day license key. Webroot doesn't require credit card details to use its trials, but you will have to register with your name and email address.
If you've a houseful of hardware to protect, for instance, a three-year, ten-device license costs only $180, or $6 per device per year. You're able to add more devices and years to your license, making big savings long-term.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus is cheaper in year one at $15, for instance, but it renews at an identical $40.īitdefender has more billing flexibility, though. This isn't outstanding value, but it's in the range we'd expect. Webroot Internet Security Complete with AntiVirus (opens in new tab) covers five devices for $48 in year one, $80 on renewal. Webroot Internet Security Plus with AntiVirus (opens in new tab) protects three devices for $36 in year one, $60 on renewal. Webroot offers a second year for $36, but that's such a small discount it's unlikely to tempt most users. There's no option to add extra devices to the license. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus (opens in new tab) is priced at $24 to protect one device for the first year, rising to $40 on renewal. Under the PC Security tab you’ll find the scan button, as well as firewall and quarantine settings and information.(Image credit: Webroot) Plans and pricing Webroot’s interface is organized into tabs, rather than modules, for each area of security, and there are five of them to choose from: Overview, PC Security, Identity & Privacy, System Tools, and My Account. While this information is interesting, I didn’t find it to be all that useful and it makes the window look a little intimidating and cluttered. The main screen does show your protection status, as well as statistics such as when the last scan was performed, how long you’ve been protected, and how many system events have been inspected since installation. The Webroot SecureAnywhere user interface is a little tricky to get around.
The program does not attempt to install any extras, such as toolbars, nor does it try to change any of your settings. It’s a one-click installation process, and it doesn’t require a reboot. Installing Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security 2013 is quick and painless. It had the fastest scan time of all the 2013 suites we tested, for both on-demand scans (58 seconds) and on-access scans (two minutes, 10 seconds). It added just half a second to startup time (as compared to a PC with no antivirus installed) and three seconds to shutdown time. While Webroot’s protection may not be top-notch, it’s a speedy program with little effect on performance.