Surfshark One evaluate: Satisfactory antivirus safety with caveats

Finest Costs Right this moment: Surfshark One

Surfshark is well-known for its VPN service, however for those who subscribe to its increased tier plans, antivirus will get included as a part of the package deal, too.

That may be a plus for many who already know and love Surfshark’s interface, because the app is extraordinarily clear and easy. However whereas Surfshark provides enough malware safety, a few caveats make it a tougher promote, particularly for those who’re looking for light-weight, antivirus-focused safety software program.

Additional studying: Do you actually need a VPN as a part of your antivirus software program?

Surfshark One: What does it embrace?

Surfshark provides real-time scanning that hunts for malware, suspicious hyperlinks, and dodgy e-mail attachments; net safety that blocks harmful hyperlinks and distant entry initiated by dangerous actors and unauthorized webcam entry (at present a beta function, however accessible to customers). Moreover, system scans dig into susceptible elements of your PC (like registry objects) to search for oddities or modifications.

The Surfshark One suite additionally consists of entry to the corporate’s VPN service (arguably the star of the present—extra on that beneath), knowledge breach monitoring, its “different ID” service that permits you to create a profile with a pretend e-mail handle, identify, handle, and beginning date to feed to web sites, and a personal search engine.

In contrast to many safety suites, Surfshark doesn’t embrace a firewall as a part of its software program.

Surfshark One: How a lot does it value?

Surfshark One helps as much as 5 units for antivirus and allows you to set up the software program on Home windows, macOS, and Android units. For the VPN, you possibly can set up the software program on limitless units and extra platforms: Home windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and three browsers (Chrome, Firefox, and Edge).

Surfshark One will get cheaper the extra time you pay for upfront. If you happen to purchase a 12-month plan, it at present prices $55 for the primary 12 months, and consists of 4 bonus months. If you happen to purchase a 24-month plan, it prices $70 for the primary 12 months and likewise consists of 4 bonus months.

Afterward, Surfshark will cost $79 per 12 months (or no matter renewal worth is most present). Two-year plans will revert to one-year plans for renewal. In any other case, a month-to-month subscription is $18 per thirty days.

By default, customers are enrolled in auto-renewal. Renewals are charged 30 days earlier than the time period refreshes. The corporate provides refunds if requested inside the first 30 days of signup.

Surfshark One: Key options

Set up & account setup

To put in the Surfshark app, you’ll first have to create an account and buy a subscription—and the method may be barely awkward. An ordinary passphrase from our password supervisor (e.g., correct-horse-battery-staple) wasn’t accepted. We had so as to add a particular character to satisfy the necessities. Additionally, you solely enter the password as soon as, so you possibly can simply kind in one thing completely different than you suppose you entered.

Surfshark does enable password resets, however they are often quirky. After I carried out one, attempting the brand new password gave a “There have been too many makes an attempt to log in” error message. I needed to wait about 5 minutes earlier than the brand new password labored.

After getting an account, you’ll use your login for the app and the online interface.

Person interface

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Presently, Surfshark’s antivirus safety serves as an addition to its VPN—not the opposite method round, as with most antivirus suites.

The app’s structure places the emphasis on the VPN: It’s the primary merchandise within the left navigation bar, which absolutely slides out whenever you hover your mouse on that aspect of the window. The second and third tabs are for the Different ID and Alert options, which hyperlink to the online interface. Then lastly comes Antivirus… however you have to first set up the antivirus element of the software program to your PC to be protected. If you happen to’re anticipating antivirus safety from the beginning, this further step can really feel cumbersome (and just a little annoying).

General, the app is pared down and minimalist—in no way technical. Each display is straightforward however clear and straightforward to know. There’s no residence display or dashboard. For every function, the window is split into two sections, with a primary middle pane and a right-hand sidebar.

The primary space reveals info associated to the function (e.g., scan choices for antivirus) whereas the sidebar reveals the function’s standing (e.g., if scan is going on and its progress). Surfshark places all choices in these screens, so that you don’t must dig elsewhere. Additionally, in a pleasant contact, you possibly can resize the window to see extra (or much less) info directly.

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In the meantime, Surfshark’s settings are sparse, particularly within the app. The one actual adjustment you may make to scans are in the event that they mechanically embrace exterior drives, for instance. Outdoors of the choices inside every function display, you possibly can actually solely tinker with the VPN.

The companion net interface isn’t rather more sturdy. Although it mirrors the look of the app, with an analogous structure of left navigation bar, primary display, and proper sidebar, you primarily use it to handle simply two options: Different ID and Alert. If you happen to additionally subscribe to Surfshark’s separate, non-obligatory “Incogni” knowledge dealer elimination service (a further $4 per thirty days), you’ll management it through the online as nicely.

Nevertheless, the online interface does have a couple of extra prolonged settings for options—handbook VPN settings dwell right here, in addition to gadget administration for antivirus protection. It may be complicated at first, however with how easy Surfshark is, adapting to the break up interfaces comes fairly fast.

Virus, malware, and menace safety

Actual-time safety

Like different antivirus software program, Surfshark stays on alert for threats, each native and on-line. In your PC, it examines opened or added information, screens downloaded e-mail for sketchy hyperlinks and attachments (together with .zip and different archive information), and watches for uncommon habits from apps.

While you’re on-line, the app stays looking out for malicious downloads, in addition to suspicious hyperlinks (together with phishing makes an attempt). It’ll additionally block unauthorized use of your webcam, as long as you allow webcam safety, which remains to be a beta function.

Scheduled and handbook scans

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By default, Surfshark scans your system every day. A fast scan runs on six of the times, whereas a full scan occurs on the seventh. Each are set for the time you first set up the app. You may also carry out an on-demand scan—this defaults to simply the put in drive in your PC, except you’ve turned on scans of exterior storage drives. You may also select a particular file or folder.

Throughout each fast and full scans, Surfshark examines registry objects, community settings, Home windows’ boot sector, drivers (and affiliated areas), in addition to usually focused folders (Downloads, Paperwork, Desktop). For a broader vital have a look at your information, run the complete scan.

For fast and full scans, you possibly can alter schedule and timing, however not what’s scanned. Settings are additionally extraordinarily minimal—you possibly can select to activate automated scanning of exterior storage drives throughout fast and full scans, automated scanning of exterior storage drives when first linked, and if quarantined objects are mechanically deleted.

VPN

Surfshark’s main service is its digital personal community, which securely routes your site visitors in order that it registers as coming from a special location. (Helpful if you wish to stay nameless, or have a look at content material not accessible in your area.) Its antivirus shouldn’t be accessible as an unbiased subscription—slightly, malware safety is an add-on function as you progress as much as dearer plans.

You may learn PCWorld’s full ideas on Surfshark’s VPN in our evaluate, however general, the expertise is generally easy and streamlined when it really works. (Extra on that in only a second.) You should utilize the VPN on a vast variety of units, and whereas lively, the service mechanically blocks advertisements and pop-ups, in addition to cookie consent notifications.

You even have the choice to do multi-hop connections, which sends your on-line site visitors by way of two VPN companies for larger anonymity. If you should run an app or entry an internet site unbiased of the VPN, you possibly can particularly set them to bypass it.

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I discovered that Surfshark didn’t work in any respect places. Whereas on a Hilton resort’s public Wi-Fi community, the app struggled (and successfully failed) to attach, citing restricted entry by way of the resort’s community. In the meantime, rival ProtonVPN linked instantly. When requested, Surfshark cited potential firewall guidelines, DNS filtering, or port administration that might have blocked entry to the VPN servers.

For places, you possibly can select devoted servers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Eire, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the USA.

Extra digital servers can be found as nicely, although they’re of most use to those that care about location slightly than privateness. Surfshark additionally makes clear within the app that are the quickest servers.

Surfshark One: Extra options

Different ID

Considered one of Surfshark’s extra distinctive options is Different ID, which not solely creates masked e-mail addresses however a complete false id to assist protect your id on-line.

By default, these are randomly generated. For e-mail masks, ten domains exist (the half that comes after “@”), with an oddly sturdy sea theme. 5 of the domains are clearly primarily based on fish names and the randomly generated usernames usually use the identify of an aquatic creature. Luckily, you possibly can manually edit the ideas, in case you’re aiming for a special vibe.

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For the id, you get assigned a full identify and handle. (I turned Hector, a man residing in Tasmania, Australia.) Like the e-mail masks, you possibly can edit what the app spins collectively, in case you need a completely different identify, gender, or basic locale. You may’t select a particular handle, solely the nation and state/province, with simply six nations as choices—the US, Denmark, Australia, Germany, Portugal, and Brazil.

The prompt addresses are actual—Surfshark says it makes use of a “publicly accessible handle database offered by governmental establishments.” So if your property is a part of a public database (and it very probably is), it might get used for another person’s pretend id.

Surfshark additionally provides the flexibility to masks your cellphone quantity, however you have to pay a further subscription charge of $2.50 per thirty days. Digital cellphone numbers are restricted to USA nation codes, and may obtain calls and textual content messages. You may reply to textual content messages by way of your digital quantity however not return calls.

Surfshark Alert

Labeled merely Alert, this function appears for appearances of your e-mail addresses in knowledge breaches—in addition to any leaked passwords, private info, or IP addresses tied to a specific e-mail handle. For the Surfshark One subscription, you possibly can monitor a vast variety of e-mail addresses. You may also monitor limitless bank card and ID numbers (e.g., social safety quantity) by way of this function.

Alerts are managed within the net interface, with a number of settings you possibly can tweak associated to knowledge breach reviews and knowledge breach alerts.

Surfshark Search

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Surfshark provides a search engine that it says permits personal looking for “really natural outcomes.” The corporate doesn’t preserve the engine itself; as a substitute it says it depends on “third-party APIs.”

You may provoke a search from the online interface or the app, however in the end, you’ll get pointed to You may simply bookmark this handle to be used, although it’s solely accessible for those who’re logged into your Surfshark account on that browser.

Search outcomes are usually streamlined, with a mixture of sources that embrace Reddit posts and YouTube movies. You may select between Internet, Photographs, and Movies for end result varieties, and likewise change the locale to a special nation. If you happen to’re used to the extra useful solutions and prompt hyperlinks from search engines like google and yahoo like Google and Bing, Surfshark’s outcomes might really feel a bit bare-bones.

Surfshark One: Buyer help

You may entry Surfshark’s help and assist pages by way of the app (Settings > Get assist). From there, you possibly can leap on to standard help pages. Alternatively, you possibly can head to the corporate’s assist and speak to web page. To get in contact with Surfshark, you’ll file a assist request or use chat.

From these settings, you may as well run Surfshark’s troubleshooting instruments—Gather Diagnostics (which aids the Surfshark crew in figuring out points), Reset community, and Restore authentic settings.

Surfshark One: Updates and upkeep 

Virus database updates occur mechanically within the background each three hours, in addition to each time a scan begins. You may’t in any other case alter the timing, although you possibly can manually examine for brand spanking new virus definitions.

Surfshark One: Efficiency

Presently, Surfshark doesn’t have knowledge for the latest checks from AV-Take a look at and AV-Comparatives, two unbiased safety organizations who consider antivirus software program efficiency. Nevertheless, in AV-Take a look at’s zero-day exploit and malware checks for Might and June 2025, Surfshark took residence good scores. It caught one hundred pc of the 407 zero-day assault samples and 19,213 widespread and prevalent malware samples.

AV-Take a look at

(Observe: Antivirus software program corporations voluntarily elect to take part in AV-Take a look at’s benchmarks. When requested about its participation frequency, Surfshark stated: “We don’t see the necessity to carry out these each couple of months, as these checks are precisely the identical month over month with simply completely different malware samples. We usually carry out these checks after we see a change within the malware panorama, or we need to take a look at a brand new backend function and confirm the improved efficiency independently.” Presently, Surfshark has scores with AV-Take a look at for under December 2022, June 2024, and June 2025.)

Surfshark does have more moderen testing knowledge accessible by way of AVLab. In AVLab’s March 2026 Superior within the Wild Malware take a look at, Surfshark scored a 70.78 % score for catching malware earlier than infecting the system, and 28.74 % score for stopping malware after working on the system. And crucially, it missed two samples within the set. These outcomes fall very wanting rivals like ESET, Bitdefender, and Avast, all of which blocked malware one hundred pc earlier than launch.

AVLab

When left to run within the background, Surfshark impacts system efficiency pretty little. The true-time scanner solely brought about underneath a two % lower for the rating in PCMark 10, which simulates video conferencing, net shopping, and modifying in open-source doc and picture apps.

Equally, in our Handbrake encode take a look at, which entails crunching down a big video right into a smaller 1080p30 file, the rise in time to finish the duty was additionally underneath two %. Surfshark’s screening does enhance when modifying paperwork in Microsoft Workplace applications like Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint—UL’s Procyon benchmark scores dropped by virtually 9 %.

On the flip aspect, Surfshark can drag arduous in your PC’s assets throughout full scans. On our funds laptop computer, working a steady scan dropped PCMark 10 scores by a notable 36 %—and that was the smallest impression. Procyon outcomes decreased by a whopping 53 %, and Handbrake encodes shot up in time wanted by a painful 72 %.

After all, you possibly can mitigate this impact by altering the schedule of system scans (particularly full scans) to occur throughout off-hours. And with this a lot of an impact, you undoubtedly need to avoid scan occasions—which could possibly be a possible subject for many who are lively on their PCs for many hours of a day.

Surfshark One: Is it value it?

If VPN protection is your first precedence (and also you’re already offered on Surfshark’s VPN), subscribing to Surfshark One ought to increase your safety safety to incorporate seemingly enough antivirus safety. Nevertheless, for those who’re primarily out there for antivirus software program, you’ll get extra bang to your buck with a special suite—and a rival gained’t hit your system efficiency practically so arduous.