Staying secure online means using antivirus software. Paid suites are often the best option, featuring tools for combating viruses, malware, ransomware, and more.
An increasingly common feature listed in paid antivirus solutions is a VPN. But why would you need a VPN in your antivirus?
What Is an Antivirus VPN?
An antivirus VPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that is accessed through your online security software.
Antivirus companies are increasingly adding VPNs to their suite of internet security tools. Virtual private networks mean encrypted, secure connections, so it makes sense for this feature to be added.
For anyone looking for a way to unify their online security tools in one easy-to-use app, incorporating VPN with antivirus makes sense. But how do you know when you need a VPN?
Well, if you want to keep your online activity private, a VPN is a good place to start. It’s particularly useful for safely connecting to public Wi-Fi, an activity that has long attracted cybercriminals.
You can also take advantage of VPN servers in other countries to find cheaper hotel and flight deals. When internet traffic is busy, using a VPN to encrypt your data can also prevent ISPs from de-prioritizing your activity.
In some cases, online security software companies launch their own VPN services for inclusion in their antivirus software. In others, they team up with well-known VPN services, offering that VPN company potential new customers.
What You Get With a Standard Antivirus Package
Antivirus software is designed to protect your PCs data from infection and destruction. In most cases, the aim is to take personal data that can be reused or repurposed in some way, but almost always for profit.
This might mean copying passwords, mining the data for personal information that can be used in identity theft, or simply hijacking the system to force the computer to behave in a particular way. That can range from ensuring specific adverts are displayed, or websites visited, to subverting the system as part of a botnet.
Antivirus software can prevent all of these attacks, while also protecting your data from ransomware. Most operating systems have firewall controls, but antivirus software makes them more usable.
While free antivirus tools might display adverts regularly, paid solutions typically do not.
Can You Use an Existing VPN With an Antivirus VPN?
What if you use a VPN already and install an antivirus suite with a VPN included?
Strictly speaking, this shouldn’t be an issue. You can simply carry on using your existing VPN client, and disable or simply avoid using the antivirus VPN combo.
Both VPNs connected at the same time shouldn’t be a problem, but there is always a risk of the applications conflicting. Furthermore, connection issues might occur when one VPN drops out. If both have a killswitch function (which prevents internet access when the connection drops, protecting your privacy) then you have something extra to check.
On the other hand, if you want to increase privacy you can use two VPNs together. This is called VPN chaining.
How Antivirus VPN Software Works
If your antivirus offers a VPN, it is probably preconfigured for use.
Enabling the VPN initiates an encrypted connection that all internet traffic is routed through. This terminates at a VPN server, which then acts as your IP address, as far as any website or online service you connect to is concerned.
Like standard VPNs, antivirus VPN software provides the option to connect to specific servers in particular locations. There is also often the option to alow particular apps to bypass the VPN.
Along with real-time malware protection, virus scanning and removal, firewall access, and ransomware defense, the antivirus suite’s console will typically have a VPN option.
In most cases, this can be activated from within the antivirus suite. Many antivirus VPN bundles on Windows also enable quick and easy access to a VPN connection via the system tray. This is similar to the behavior of standard VPN clients.
Can You Use an Antivirus VPN With Netflix?
Many people use VPNs to watch Netflix in a foreign country. For example, you cannot access the Netflix US library from the UK without a VPN. The same is true in the other direction.
Consequently, VPNs generate a lot of business from people wishing to view another country’s Netflix library.
But while antivirus VPNs are great for privacy, they’re not suitable for viewing Netflix. Similarly, they’re poor for several other key uses, such as P2P file downloads.
The reason for this is simple. VPN companies (think ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, NordVPN, Surfshark, etc.) spend their budgets on developing specialized servers that fulfill their customers’ needs.
Antivirus VPN bundles are also likely to limit speed and bandwidth and cap your encrypted activity in a way that dedicated VPNs do not.
Conversely, antivirus companies add VPN functionality as a feature, little more than an afterthought.
One antivirus VPN that does work with Netflix, however, is Bitdefender Premium. However, that is a separate, paid VPN, which requires an additional subscription.
What Antivirus VPN App Should You Download?
Some top antivirus solutions offer a VPN. These include:
- Bitdefender Total Security
- Norton 360
- AVG Ultimate
- Malwarebytes Premium+Privacy
- Kaspersky Internet Security
Of course, these are all premium products, available for an annual license fee. You’re unlikely to find an antivirus or internet security suite offering a free VPN.
Why don't all antivirus software tools offer a virtual private network? Probably because their publishers recognize that VPNs are best left to VPN publishers. But as you can see from the list above, that seems to be changing, with well-known and respected antivirus software publishers bringing VPN technology into their internet security offerings.
What Is a Free Antivirus VPN?
Beware. Some pop-ads will promote “free antivirus VPNs.” While some free antivirus software is worth the time, free VPNs are invariably a waste of time. Some antivirus VPNs (such as AVG Secure VPN) are available with a free trial, but these are invariably for standalone VPNs separate from the VPN included in the main antivirus application.
If no trial is involved, avoid anything claiming to be a free antivirus VPN as it is likely to be a scam.
If Your Antivirus Offers a VPN, Why Not Use It?
If you’re looking for a VPN, then a service that is known for providing a good VPN service is recommended. At present, no antivirus VPN can offer anything like that level of service unless you pay extra for its premium option.
A free VPN bundled into a paid antivirus is useful to have. But it isn’t going to give you the full VPN experience. If you need a VPN for anything beyond occasional encrypted access, rely on a dedicated VPN subscription service.