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| PC World - 23 May (PC World)Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are one of the most effective ways to stay safe online. Not only do they allow you to stay anonymous, but they can help you get past region blocks on streaming services such as Netflix. However, you usually have to pay for a VPN subscription and adding an extra monthly expense to an already tight budget isn’t ideal. That’s where a free VPN can come in handy. They can provide you with a similar level of security for virtually — pun intended — nothing. But not all free VPNs are built the same.
With many free VPNs you’ll encounter a lot of restrictions such as speed constraints, bandwidth caps, or a limited country network. These restrictions can add up, making the experience of using a free VPN feel pointless. That’s why it’s important that you choose the right free VPN service based on your own needs.
While I advise that you opt for a premium VPN, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, I understand that sometimes you just need quick and easy basic protection without having to pay for yet another service. Therefore I’ve curated a list of the best free VPNs around. I lay out any restrictions they may impose and what activities they’re best used for — streaming, torrenting, browsing, etc. Following my recommendations you can read about what to look for in a free VPN and how I test.
Updated May 16, 2024: I’ve made ProtonVPN the new best free VPN overall. In the latest review, ProtonVPN’s free version impressed me with a trifecta of no-data limits, no speed-caps, and no ads. Read more about why I love this free VPN in the summary below.
ProtonVPN – Best free VPN
Pros
Excellent free plan
Great privacy tools
Reliable and transparent no-logs policy
Cons
Expensive
Best Prices Today:
$9.99 at ProtonVPN
Why I like ProtonVPN
If you’re looking for speed and excellent privacy in a free VPN then ProtonVPN is your best choice. The only real limitation to this service is that you can only connect with one device at at time, other than that it’s practically a premium VPN.
The service comes from a trustworthy, privacy-focused company that has undergone a successful audit of its no-logs policy. It’s also mercifully free of ads — a rarity among free VPNs. You’ll be able to choose from five servers located all of the world including Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the U.S. Plus, there are no data limits, meaning you can surf and stream to your heart’s content.
ProtonVPN even showed decent speeds in my tests, just going to show that this is the free VPN to get.
Who should use ProtonVPN
Users who need anonymity and speed while using their VPN will stand to gain the most from ProtonVPN’s free version. Because you’ll only be able to connect with one device at a time though, users who want to use a VPN with multiple devices might need to look elsewhere.
Read our full
ProtonVPN review
CyberGhost VPN – Best free VPN browser extension
Pros
Easy-to-use interface
Independently verified no-log policy
Seriously impressive server spread
Cons
Lacks some common features such as multi-hop and double VPN
Server speeds are hit-or-miss, especially in Asia
Why I like CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN provides an excellent VPN with plenty of servers optimized for different tasks such as gaming, streaming, and torrenting. While the premium service, with access to all of its 9,000-plus servers and additional security features, is a paid option, CyberGhost also has a great browser extension that it offers for free. If you have either Chrome or Firefox you can download the extension without having to pay anything and enjoy access to a limited number of the VPN servers for free — currently sitting at eight servers in four countries.
Additionally, you are able to connect and use these VPN servers without having to worry about bandwidth limits or data capping. Unfortunately, in my tests I found that the servers I used in the browser extension were not able to successfully unblock streaming servers. However, if you start using the free browser extension and decide you like CyberGhost, you can always opt for a premium membership, which can be as low as three dollars a month for a long-term plan.
Who should use CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost’s free version is ideal for users who don’t want to pay for a premium VPN service but also don’t want to worry about a monthly data cap. Plus, the fact that CyberGhost VPN’s free version is browser-based means that users who don’t want to bother downloading and setting up a new application can have the VPN based simply in either their Firefox or Chrome browser.
Read our full
CyberGhost review
Windscribe – Best free VPN for speed
Pros
Simple setup
Good performance
Great free plan
Cons
Tricky security track record with 2021 server incident
Slow loading of browser extension
Why I like Windscribe VPN
The Windscribe VPN service seems to get better and better each time I review a new version. It not only has an excellent Pro version that is reasonably priced, but it has a stand-out free service as well. What makes Windscribe’s free service really stand out is all the perks. You get a maximum 10GB of bandwidth per month and no device limits. To get that bandwidth you need a confirmed email address. If not, you’re stuck at 2GB per month.
The free service offers 10 regional connections including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. It also has a ton of privacy features such as blockers for site notifications and “we use cookies” banners, WebRTC leak protection, location spoofing, user agent rotation, and more.
The service is also extremely easy to use with a simple setup and solid performance for a free VPN. I not only recommend the Windscribe free service on its own, but also as an easy way to get to know the service before committing to a paid tier with premium features.
Who should use Windscribe VPN
Those who want a free VPN with extra perks will find that Windscribe is the go-to option. Most free VPNs are only good for location spoofing with no real added features, and that’s why Windscribe is so good. It offers way more for users and the fact that it gives you up to 10GB of bandwidth means you can use it multiple times throughout the month without having to worry about hitting the data cap.
Read our full
Windscribe Pro review
Hide.me – Best free VPN for speed runner-up
Pros
Good option for streaming
Better than average overall speeds
Lots of power user options for customization
Free version available
Cons
Third-party audit not updated since 2015
Speeds were inconsistent in our tests
Not the easiest VPN for beginners
Best Prices Today:
$59.95 at Hide Me
Why I like Hide.me VPN
Hide.me offers a solid paid VPN service and the company is generous enough to provide the full premium feature set in their free version as well. Its server speeds are a bit inconsistent, but overall they are pretty fast and rank within the top 20 of all — paid or free — VPNs that I’ve ever tested. That makes it plenty speedy for the typical use cases for a free VPN. When you use Hide.me’s free service you’re limited to 10GB per month and one device at a time, as well as eight region choices including Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, U.S. East, and U.S. West.
Who should use Hide.me VPN
Hide.me’s free VPN is a solid option for any and all users. Not only are the speeds good for secure browsing, but you have access to their full premium feature set as well. The speeds are not quite as good as ProtonVPN and there is a monthly data cap, but the trade off is that with Hide.me you have access to useful features such as split-tunneling and the ability to choose between multiple proxy configurations.
Read our full
Hide.me review
TunnelBear – Best free VPN for get-in, get-out chores
Pros
Fun and easy-to-use interface
Reliable security features
Unlimited simultaneous device connections
Cons
Lacks some advanced features for power users
Customer support not the most helpful
Not a good option for torrenting
Best Prices Today:
$59.88 at TunnelBear
Why I like TunnelBear VPN
I’ve always liked TunnelBear. It’s simple to use, affordable, and the speeds are fine. In my speed tests, TunnelBear was outside the top 10, but its speeds were still good enough for most browsing or online tasks.
That’s more than enough for what this free VPN would be suited for, since you will only get a maximum of 500MB per month with the free version. The idea is to provide a trial for testing out the service before making a bigger commitment. Thankfully, beyond the data limit, the free version of TunnelBear puts no restrictions on what features are available so you’re able to experience the full application for no charge.
The data limit won’t allow you to stream or play games for the most part, but it’s enough for quick hits when you’re on the road for checking email, or some basic web browsing. Plus, TunnelBear keeps track of your bandwidth usage so you can see when you’re getting too close to the limit.
Who should use TunnelBear VPN
TunnelBear’s free VPN is best suited for those who need a one-and-done VPN experience. The 500MB data cap is quite restrictive, but you have access to all of the premium features from an excellent VPN service. This includes split-tunneling, a unique HTTPS masking feature, and your choice of multiple VPN protocols.
Read our full
TunnelBear review
AVG Secure VPN – Best VPN free trial
Pros
10 simultaneous device connectionsUnblocks streaming servicesFree 60-day trial
Cons
Logs some user activity dataNot a lot of extra featuresLong-term only subscription options
Why I like AVG Secure VPN
You might be wondering why I’d even bother including a free-trial option. Well, AVG Secure VPN is not only a fine premium service on its own, but it provides a 60-day free trial for new users. That’s incredibly generous for a premium service — most other VPNs only offer one-week free trials at best.
AVG is a household name in security software and they don’t disappoint with their VPN either. The free trial gives you complete access to all of the paid features such as 10 simultaneous device connections, over 700 servers across more than 50 countries, and guaranteed streaming service unblocking with specific servers. The speeds aren’t the fastest I’ve ever seen, but they’re good enough for most general online activities. All-in-all, two months for free of AVG Secure VPN is a fantastic deal, just remember to cancel the subscription before the free-trial runs out.
Who should use AVG Secure VPN
Most people looking for a free VPN for shorter-term use will stand to gain a lot from AVG Secure VPN’s free trial. But I think it’s an exceptional choice in particular for those who are traveling for awhile and need a VPN while abroad. By taking advantage of a premium service’s speeds and broad server network you can access all of your streaming content no matter what country you find yourself in and you shouldn’t have to worry about frustrating data caps from other free services. Stream and browse to your heart’s content for no cost — well, at least for 60 days.
Read our full
AVG Secure review
What to look for in a free VPN
Choosing a free VPN is a question of weighing the trade-offs with each service. Do you want unlimited bandwidth, but a restriction on devices? Or is it preferable to have more devices but deal with a bandwidth limit?
One thing you definitely want to avoid is a VPN that is ad supported. Ads expose you to tracking by the company delivering said ads, which is something you definitely don’t want. Also, stay away from any deal that suggests you can get a VPN by “sharing” your bandwidth like we saw with the Hola VPN scandal back in 2015. You also want to watch out for any VPNs you’ve never heard of, or that don’t have any official reviews by third-parties.
After that, you want to consider the usual issues such as the server network, connection speeds, privacy policy, Netflix support, and additional features.
How I test VPNs
I judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional features, and cost. For a more detailed guide on how I test, check out PCWorld’s comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services.
Speed tests are kept as simple as possible. I average the connections between different global locations for any given VPN and then compare them to a baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. I thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues.
Experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but I try my best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. Since you don’t have to pay for a free VPN, the value will be contingent upon the trade-offs you’ll need to make and the restrictions it has in place.
Free VPNs aren’t a top recommendation, but if you’re going to go that way I’d strongly suggest the VPNs mentioned above.
FAQ
1.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, or Virtual private network, is a way to encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your identity while browsing the internet. Through a VPN provider, you connect to their anonymized server with end-to-end encryption which redirects all of your traffic through that intermediary server thereby looking to outside viewers as if your location is that server itself.
Additionally, VPNs allow you to connect to servers all across the world. So if you are looking to access location restricted content, such as streaming services, you can gain access via connecting to the appropriate country’s server.
2.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN hides your IP address by redirecting it through a intermediary server hosted by the VPN provider. To anyone watching, the VPN server then becomes the source of your traffic instead of your own IP address. These remote servers can not only be in your own country, but they can also be located in different countries around the world. All of your network traffic from your computer to the VPN is sent over a secure and encrypted connection.
While browsing the internet and connected to a VPN, the VPN acts as a middleman between your computer and a website. Your computer sends a request to the VPN which then passes it on to a website. The website in return sends its response back to the VPN which forwards it through the secure connection back to your computer. All of the traffic rerouted through the VPN appears as if it is coming through their server rather than your own computer. This keeps your ISP and other third parties from potentially snooping on your internet activity.
3.
Are VPNs legal to use?
Absolutely! In most countries, including the United States, it is perfectly legal to use a VPN. You might notice that some websites try to block VPN connections, but they are still okay to use. Please note, while using a VPN is legal, some of the activities done while using a VPN might be illegal. Activities such as downloading pirated copyrighted content or accessing dark web markets are both illegal with and without a VPN.
4.
Should I use a free VPN?
That will depend on how you wish to use a VPN. A free VPN can be a great option for those who just need a quick and simple privacy solution. Whether it’s a one-off use case or you’re happy to just do basic internet browsing, a free VPN might be the way to go. If, on the other hand, you want to use a VPN to stream shows and movies or need it to access servers in different countries then you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid service.
Free VPNs will always come with tradeoffs. These can take the form of restrictions to available servers, speed constraints, or data limits. You may also find that free VPNs come loaded with ads or collect and sell your user date — thereby defeating the purpose of a private VPN.
It’s best to fully understand what you’ll get with any free VPN and make sure to stick with vetted, trustworthy services such as those in the list above. For more information, you can read our in-depth article explaining free VPNs.
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| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)Welsh parties make pitches to voters as Rishi Sunak kicks off general election campaign. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)Stormont party members have been reacting to the news that a general election will be held on 4 July Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)The Prime Minister is making a statement in Downing Street Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)The PM calls an early summer poll - having been widely expected to wait until the autumn to do so. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)The Labour leader reacts to the prime minister calling a general election on July 4. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | BBCWorld - 23 May (BBCWorld)After a day filled with chat and speculation, Mr Sunak confirms an election will take place in July. Read...Newslink ©2024 to BBCWorld | ![](/n.gif) |
| ![](/n.gif) | | PC World - 22 May (PC World)At a GlanceExpert`s Rating
ProsSimple interfaceBrowser extension is genuinely usefulConsWeak offline protection against malwareSeveral underwhelming features, including the password managerPotentially showstopping bugsOur VerdictEven when you can count on Trend Micro Maximum Security to work, this beginner-friendly antivirus suite feels underbaked. You can find much stronger malware protection, along with a more robust set of features, in rival software — and often at a lower price.
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When we last looked at Trend Micro Maximum Security, it won our favor with a simple interface and strong features. But in the years that have since passed, this antivirus suite has lost its ability to compete with rivals like Avast, AVG, and Norton.
It offers fewer features from similarly priced competing software, with several notable ones that disappoint. Its ability to catch offline threats ranks nearly dead last in benchmark results. And it can be buggy — to the point of not working.
Where this app once shone for its beginner-friendly vibe, you now have reason to seriously consider alternatives instead.
Further reading: See our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows PCs to learn about competing products.
What does Trend Micro Maximum Security include?
As you’d expect, Trend Micro’s main features are its protections against malware and web threats. By default, its antivirus engine scans continuously for real-time dangers, including phishing sites, malicious downloads, suspicious applications, and ransomware. And to help keep your more vulnerable loved ones safe, you get parental controls that filter or limit device usage as needed.
In addition, the Maximum Security plan includes a limited password manager to boost your online security, as well as dark web monitoring to keep you abreast of data leaks and breaches that you may have gotten caught in. You also get tools to ensure your PC stays up to date (and thus less vulnerable to attacks), keep some of your local data safe, and also preserve your privacy.
Trend Micro Maximum Security does not offer a firewall or VPN. For network protection, it relies on Windows’ default firewall. As for VPN access, you must upgrade to Trend Micro’s Premium Security Suite subscription.
How much does Trend Micro Maximum Security cost?
Trend Micro / PCWorld
Trend Micro / PCWorld
Trend Micro / PCWorld
If you purchase Trend Micro Maximum Security directly from its website, it costs $50 for the first year, then increases to $100 afterward. A free 30-day trial exists — and it’s the rare one that doesn’t require payment info upfront.
Plans come with a 30-day refund policy. Be aware that Trend Micro automatically enrolls subscribers into auto-renewal at sign up.
Trend Micro Maximum Security (5-devices)
1-year plan
$50 for the first year
$100 per year thereafter
2-year plan
$100 for the first year
$160 per year thereafter
Trend Micro Maximum Security can be purchased in one- or two-year increments — though the initial discount lasts longer if you opt for the two-year plan. Your device limit covers Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even ChromeOS.
For a little more savings, you can buy Trend Micro Maximum Security subscription codes from Best Buy. At the time of this article’s publishing, you can save another $10 on a one-year subscription, and another $5 on a two-year subscription, as compared to the first-year introductory prices.
Key features of Trend Micro Maximum Security
Installation experience
Installation went smoothly on my secondary Windows 10 machine — but not my primary test laptop, which runs Windows 11. The app refused to open, though other commands via the system tray icon worked. After multiple troubleshooting attempts, which included uninstalling and reinstalling the software, running Trend Micro’s diagnostic tool, and trying an older version of the installation file, I reset the laptop…yet still failed to get the app to run.
For my performance testing (detailed further below), I ended up installing Trend Micro Maximum Security on a different Windows 11 PC.
User interface
When the app does install successfully, you’ll be welcomed by the dashboard. The interface has light-themed coloring, though you can apply themes to the look. Doing so adds an image to the upper part of the screen.
In the center of this main screen sits a large scan button, with smaller icons for settings and a security report to its right. Above are four icons that group related features. On the far left is Device, where you’ll configure scans, optimize your PC performance, silence non-critical notifications, and access downloads for Trend Micro (in case you want to install it on other devices). Privacy houses a security and privacy extension for social media and your browser, settings for the Pay Guard secure browser feature, and a data-theft prevention tool. Data lets you protect specific folders against ransomware, securely erase files, and access the password manager. Finally, Family is where you’ll configure the parental controls.
One quirk in Trend Micro’s interface is the layering of settings — opening them first drops you into settings for app features. To get to general settings (including the themes mentioned above), you must click on the Other Settings button in the left navbar.
Overall, despite its simplistic layout, Trend Micro’s app feels disorganized compared to rivals’ more modern interfaces. While not illogical, it has similar ease-of-use as software from 10 to 15 years ago.
A look at the layout within one of the feature groups.
A look at the layout within one of the feature groups.
A look at the layout within one of the feature groups.
Virus, malware, and threat protection
Real-time protection
Trend Micro Maximum Security constantly watches for online and offline threats to your PC. Whenever you’re on the web, it scans for sites leading to phishing links and malware. It also monitors your network traffic for any unusual activity. You can choose to block specific websites in the program’s settings.
On your computer, the app checks over files you open or add, as well as downloaded email attachments. It also gives the once-over to your whole system at startup, blocks programs on external drives from auto-running, and shuts down software acting oddly. By default, Maximum Security does not check archive files (like zipped archives) as part of real-time scanning.
In addition to standard protection against malware (which includes ransomware), Trend Micro also protects any folders you designate against unauthorized access — a hallmark behavior of ransomware.
Included with the Maximum Security subscription is dark web monitoring and social media monitoring. For dark web monitoring, Trend Micro will keep tabs on up to five email addresses — and for one email address I linked for this review, it surfaced more breaches than I’d seen through other services. It’ll also track your phone number, full name, address, social security number, passport number, and driver’s license number. You can also add up to 10 credit card numbers and five bank accounts.
For social media monitoring, you can link your Trend Micro account with a Facebook, Google, and Instagram account. (Note: We don’t recommend leaving sensitive accounts linked with third-party services, in the event that the connected account is compromised — in this scenario, Trend Micro.)
Scheduled and manual scans
Scheduled scans run on a “smart schedule” by default, where Trend Micro adjusts the frequency based on your computer usage. You can instead switch to a specific schedule, choosing between daily, monthly, or weekly intervals at a particular time, and the scan depth. You cannot create custom scans, nor add additional scheduled scans. All changes must be made within the app settings.
Manual scans can be run by clicking on the scan button in the app dashboard. Clicking the small down arrow on the button lets you choose between a Quick Scan (examines commonly targeted areas on your computer), Full Scan (investigates all areas of your PC and attached external drives, but not network drives), and Custom Scan. Custom Scans let you choose the exact folders and/or drives you want to scan.
You can adjust the scan parameters under Security & Tuneup Controls in settings, including the sensitivity level of scans and if suspicious software is immediately deleted.
Additional features
Browser extension
To get the most out of Trend Micro Maximum Security, you’ll need to install the Trend Micro Toolbar (sometimes known as Trend Micro Security) browser extension for Chrome, Edge, and/or Firefox. It bundles together several helpful protections for web browsing.
Web Threat Protection lets you know if a page you’re on is safe or risky. Email Defender will scan through your email in Gmail, Outlook.com, and Yahoo Mail for any risky messages. Ad Block nukes advertisements, which lessens both risk and nuisance. Privacy scanner will evaluate your settings on Facebook, X/Twitter, and LinkedIn if you’re logged in, and also notify you of any browser settings you could tighten up. And Pay Guard lets you open websites in a secure browsing session.
This extension can also mark search results in Google and Bing as safe or dangerous, with your choice of full link highlights or small icons as visual cues. (The full link highlighting looks best with light-themed browsers.) I did notice a slight delay before results would get their badging, unlike with rival extensions.
Of all the extra features that come with Trend Micro, this set worked the smoothest.
Trend Micro’s two styles for marking links as safe or dangerous.
Folder Shield
Trend Micro offers an additional protection against ransomware — the ability to restrict app access to specified folders. This feature serves as a backup shield in case ransomware makes it past Trend Micro’s antivirus engine. However, I ran into bugs with Folder Shield during testing, which reduced its utility. Attempts to configure the feature after setup would freeze the entire program. A reboot would restore access to other features but not solve this issue, preventing any adjustment (or disabling) to Folder Shield.
Pay Guard
If you install the Trend Micro Toolbar extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, you can sandbox your browser tabs, which prevents other apps on the system from spying on your web activity. Trend Micro promotes this feature for banking and other sensitive transactions, but you can sandbox any website you choose.
Browser tabs and windows open in Pay Guard will show a blue outline.
Browser tabs and windows open in Pay Guard will show a blue outline.
Browser tabs and windows open in Pay Guard will show a blue outline.
Activating Pay Guard can be done by firing up the Trend Micro Pay Guard app in Windows, which opens your default browser in this sandboxed mode. Or, you can click on the Trend Micro Toolbar extension in your browser and choose Pay Guard to open a sandboxed copy of the tab.
Parental control
Setting up parental controls in Trend Micro is straightforward, with easy-to-understand settings. (Some competing antivirus software get deep into the weeds with configurations.) Website filtering, time limits, and app restrictions can be quickly set, since they’re so clear. You can choose preset filtering levels for websites based on age ranges (child, pre-teen, teen) or create your own criteria. For time limits, you’ll set up either a simple or detailed schedule by highlighting the hours you want to block. (Tip: You can click and then drag your mouse to select or deselect multiple hours.)
But while the time limits and app restrictions work, the website filtering did not. Obvious sites that should have been blocked were not.
Trend Micro does not offer mobile apps for its parental controls — you’ll only be able to control internet content and device usage on a PC.
PC Health Check
Trend Micro’s PC optimization tool is one of the rarer ones that sticks to the basics — in a good way. It avoids the registry and other areas on the PC that, if messed with, could cause problems.
Instead, this utility looks for security vulnerabilities, apps potentially incompatible with your PC, software slowing down your startup time, temporary files that could be deleted to clear space, and data that could be cleared to strengthen your privacy. Generally, the suggestions are good, but as usual, I recommend still making sure you understand what will be changed or deleted before giving the app the green light.
Trend Micro Password Manager
If you need a password manager, Maximum Security includes one — but the company isn’t upfront about it being the free version.
As free password managers go, Trend Micro’s take is underwhelming in its utility, falling between bare-bones and rough-edged. The interface is sparse, with only basic data entry for passwords, form info, and secure notes. You can also install an extension on just Chrome, otherwise you must use the website or the mobile app.
The layout of the password screen is also inefficient. Much of the screen is an info display about password stats, pushing your list of credentials out of view on a standard 1080p screen. Most infuriating is the paywalling of sorting passwords. Upgrading to the pro version of the service costs $15 per year or $25 for two years. If you put down this money, unlimited autofill for passwords also unlocks. Otherwise, you’re limited to your first five created entries — all others are grayed out.
A view of the password manager on a 1440p display—for a 1080p, it’s much more crunched.
A view of the password manager on a 1440p display—for a 1080p, it’s much more crunched.
A view of the password manager on a 1440p display—for a 1080p, it’s much more crunched.
Even setup and login for the password manager feel clunky. For starters, the password manager button within the desktop app sends you to the product page for Trend Micro’s Password Manager subscription, rather than an actual download page. You must also pass through a double login — once with your Trend Micro account credentials, and then a separate vault password that you must create.
To its credit, Trend Micro captures passwords on websites well. It also supports two-factor authentication, though that sets it for your overall account, and not just the password manager.
Secure erase
Trend Micro lets you securely delete files from your PC — this feature overwrites files with additional data so no one can recover the original information. However, these types of tools work best with data stored on hard-disk drives (HDD). Overwriting files in this manner can shorten the life of an SSD.
Since most laptops and even desktop PCs use SSDs, Secure Erase will be only useful for external HDDs. Trend Micro offers two options: Quick Erase, which does a single overwrite pass, and Permanent Erase, which overwrites seven times. No information was available for which protocol is used for wiping.
Customer support
Help with Trend Micro Maximum Security can be found in the company’s knowledge base, from the community forums, or through support team. The easiest way to access all three is by clicking the question mark icon in the app’s upper-right corner, then Product Support. Depending on your concern, you may be directed to chat, email, or phone when connecting with customer support.
Updates and maintenance
Updates for the Trend Micro Maximum Security app and its virus definitions should happen automatically. If you prefer manual checks, you can click on the hamburger icon in the upper-right corner of the app, then choose About the Software. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Trend Micro icon in your system tray, then choose Check for Program Updates.
Performance
Trend Micro’s antivirus engine generally provides good protection against malware, but with a large caveat — as illustrated by its performance in tests conducted by leading security research institutions. It blocked 100 percent of the threats in AV-Test’s January and February 2024 zero-day attack and malware evaluation (the most current as of this article’s publishing), catching all 15,362 samples for recently discovered and widespread malware and 278 samples for zero-day attacks.
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
When subjected to AV-Comparatives’ battery of tests, Trend Micro also performed fairly well — at least for online protection. In the real-world protection test for February through March 2024, which assesses an antivirus suite’s ability to stop malware during typical online activities (like web browsing), Trend Micro blocked 99.6 percent of the 246 test cases. However, it had a notably higher number of false positives — 20, or double the next highest competitor (Norton).
Meanwhile, in the March 2024 malware protection test, Trend Micro scored a 97.10 percent in online protection — that is, keeping 10,053 malware samples from spreading through network, USB, or local drives. But its online detection and offline detection rates were far lower, coming in at 84.5 percent and a staggeringly low 45.1 percent, respectively. (It ranks nearly dead last on that latter point, and a fair amount lower than other well-known antivirus suites.) Translated: So long as your PC’s connected to the internet, its ability to communicate with Trend Micro’s servers should keep your system safe by actually stopping the threats. But it may not notice the presence of the malware when you’re offline…and occasionally even while online.
Trend Micro did not participate in AV-Comparison’s November 2023 advanced threat protection test, which evaluates how well an antivirus engine catches sophisticated, targeted threats like zero-day attacks, malicious scripts, and fileless exploits.
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
AV-Comparatives / PCWorld
To evaluate how antivirus software affects a PC’s system performance, we run several benchmarks before and after the app is installed. Typically, these are done on our laptop designated for this testing, but as mentioned above, Trend Micro refused to open after installation.
So for this review, an Intel NUC11i5TN featuring an Intel i5-1135G7 processor was used for this part of our performance benchmarks. While in the same class as our testing laptop’s CPU, it has slightly different strengths and weaknesses—so the results can’t be compared directly to our other recent antivirus reviews.
Trend Micro’s effect on a PC appears to be on the lighter side. When running in the background, it had a mild effect on the Intel NUC’s system resources. Scores in PCMark 10’s Extended benchmark, which simulates web browsing, video chatting, gaming, and image and document editing in free, open-source apps, didn’t budge after installing Maximum Security. Similarly, the amount of time needed to complete our Handbrake encoding test, which transforms a large uncompressed video into a smaller version, didn’t change either. Even in UL Procyon’s Office Productivity benchmark, which involves Microsoft Word, Excel, and other document use, the real-time scanning caused a tolerable 6 percent decrease for results.
Even during a continuous full scan, scores decreased relatively moderately—just under 11 percent in PCMark 10, and about 13 percent in Procyon. Meanwhile, the time needed to complete the Handbrake encode increased by almost 14 percent. Hard-hitting rivals like Avira Prime can tank performance by as much as 50 percent under the same conditions.
These benchmark results suggest that users with newer mid-range laptops or better should see a relatively modest hit to performance. Those with older or more budget computers should anticipate a bit deeper effect. As always, if you’re concerned about getting work done on your computer during a scan—you can bypass the issue by scheduling full scans for off-hours (like when you’re asleep).
Should you buy Trend Micro Maximum Security?
Ultimately, the worst outcome for Trend Micro Maximum Security is attempting to install it on a PC you’ve already been using — and have it refuse to open the main console. (The exact scenario I ran into with my usual testing laptop.)
But even when working, enough of the suite still feels underbaked, including its primary job of blocking malware. You can save much headache and frustration by choosing a similar alternative, like Norton 360 Deluxe, which also includes a VPN.
Editor’s note: Because online services are often iterative, gaining new features and performance improvements over time, this review is subject to change in order to accurately reflect the current state of the service. Any changes to text or our final review verdict will be noted at the top of this article.
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