Surfshark Antivirus Catches 100% Of Malware in Tests

• Lacks some additional antivirus features
• Antivirus is only available bundled with other applications
• Slightly higher demands on computer performance

• In independent tests, it has caught up to 100% of malware
• Includes a high-quality VPN in the package
• Simple and easy-to-use app
• Quality customer support

Surfshark Antivirus can be obtained as part of the Surfshark One package. This also includes a top-notch Surfshark, a private search engine, and data leak monitoring. The product was developed by the Dutch company Surfshark B.V.

The protection is available for both Windows and macOS computers and for Android mobile devices. Linux and iOS protection are not currently available.

You can try the antivirus as part of a 7-day free trial. The app offers high-quality real-time threat monitoring for early detection. The protection is capable of catching the vast majority of malicious files. You can also use quick or full scanning, including the option to create a list of applications and files that do not need to be scanned. Individually selected files can also be scanned, and another useful feature is webcam protection from other applications.

Surfshark Antivirus is a decent addition to a VPN; the app will protect your device from internet threats without any problems.

Surfshark Antivirus Subscription: Trial Version, Price, Money-Back Guarantee…

Surfshark Antivirus can only be obtained as part of a bundle together with data leak monitoring, anonymous search, and VPN. The advantage of Surfshark is the ability to use all applications on any number of devices.

You can get a subscription with monthly billing, or for one or two years paid in advance. The most cost-effective subscription is the two-year subscription, where you can save up to 80% compared to monthly billing. There is a discount for students who are members of the Student Beans program.

The free version of Surfshark Antivirus is not available. You can take advantage of the 7-day free trial available on the Google Play Store and App Store. Surfshark also provides a money-back guarantee within 30 days of purchase. According to the terms and conditions, you can only use this option twice; just contact technical support.

Surfshark Antivirus subscriptions can be paid by debit and credit card, via Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Amazon Pay, or with selected cryptocurrencies. You can get a free subscription for up to two years for referring friends to the service, depending on how many users you refer and the length of their subscription.

Device Support for Surfshark Antivirus: Android, Ios, macOS…

Surfshark Antivirus is available for Windows, macOS, and Android devices. Updated information about supported versions is available on the manufacturer’s website. Many competing solutions also do not offer antivirus apps for iOS or Linux devices.

The antivirus can only be downloaded as part of the Surfshark One package, so you’ll always find a virtual private network and private search in the download. Data leak monitoring is available for an additional fee.

If you download Surfshark One on a device that supports VPN but no longer supports Antivirus, you don’t need to worry. The tab for Antivirus will simply be missing; we didn’t notice any other differences.

Surfshark Antivirus Features: Regular Scan, File Check, Whitelist

Surfshark Antivirus offers a quick scan that scans only vulnerable items, and a complete device scan. Additionally, you can schedule a calendar for when scans should take place, and you can choose the day and time when scans begin. If you turn on notifications, you will be notified of scan results and updates to the virus and cyber threat database. In the app, you can see when the database was last updated, and if necessary, you can manually start the update.

The app offers real-time protection that runs in the background and constantly monitors your computer. It detects potential threats immediately and prevents your device from being infected. Infected files are quarantined by Surfshark Antivirus, and the user can choose to have them automatically deleted after 60 days or deal with them themselves.

You can also use Surfshark Antivirus to check selected files by simply dragging them into the app and checking them individually. This feature is useful, for example, when checking data from a flash drive. Some competing antiviruses can identify the USB drive plugged into the device and automatically check it.

You can also use a feature that works on the principle of whitelisting; you can set applications or files that Surfshark Antivirus will not check.

Surfshark Antivirus also offers webcam protection to prevent unwanted applications and sites from using your laptop or computer’s webcam.

Additional Features of Surfshark Antivirus: Personal Data Leak Checker, Vpn, Password Manager…

Surfshark Antivirus comes as part of a package called Surfshark One, whose main product is a VPN. If you’re interested in antivirus protection, get it along with Surfshark, which earned a 9.2/10 in our test. A VPN can ensure your anonymity when surfing the internet, torrenting, and unlocking foreign content streaming platforms.

Also included in the package is a feature called Surfshark Search, an anonymous search where, unlike Google, results are not stored. In addition, the search result is ad-free and not influenced by previous searches. However, if you click through to the selected site, you are no longer in anonymous mode, and it is better to have the aforementioned VPN activated.

The next feature is called “Alert” and works as a check to make sure your personal or payment information hasn’t been leaked to the public. In order to use the feature to check for personal data leaks, you need to activate two-factor authentication. You then set up the data you want to monitor in your account on the Surfshark website.

You can keep track of emails, credit cards (their number, but you need to enter it in the app), and, for selected countries, ID cards. You’ll get an email notification if the stored data is used. Additionally, you can set up a quarterly or annual report on data usage.

There are no other features in the package. Handy features offered by competitors include a cookie cleaner that cleans up your digital footprint in the browser and deletes tracking files. A useful feature is the “Junk Cleaner”, which cleans your computer of unused files and clears your cache. Surfshark Antivirus doesn’t even have a feature to properly and completely uninstall applications from your computer.

Surfshark Antivirus: Settings and User-Friendliness

The app for all operating systems looks very similar. The app’s interface is simple and straightforward, and even less tech-savvy users won’t find the setup difficult. There is an option to choose dark or light mode and the ability to turn off or on the application launching when the computer starts. The application environment is available in 13 different languages.

The antivirus and all other components of the package can be found together in the same application. In addition to the antivirus, you can go through the complete settings of all VPN features and use the private search. Only the leak check box redirects you to the web profile.

For added security of the app and your data, you can enable two-factor authentication via email or an authentication app.

Surfshark Antivirus Results in Independent Tests

Surfshark Antivirus has been tested by several leading companies specializing in cybersecurity and application quality. Major players in the field of antivirus application testing are AV-Test from Germany, the UK’s SE Labs, Virus Bulletin, and Austria’s AV-Comparatives.

The German company AV-Test tested Surfshark Antivirus in 2022. The antivirus passed without problems, although it still falls behind industry leaders like Avast. It scored best in the usability category, which primarily evaluates false problem reports. Here, Surfshark Antivirus received a score of 6/6. AV-Test also assesses the impact of using the software on computer performance, how slow it is to download, install, or open applications. In this category, Surfshark Antivirus scored 4.5/6.

The final category is device protection, the testing consists of two parts, one is testing to catch malware discovered in the last 24 hours, of which the antivirus detected an average of 95%. Then there is lab testing on a sample of malware collected over the last 4 weeks. Here, Surfshark Antivirus had a 100% success rate and received an overall score of 4.5/6.

Surfshark Antivirus also passed Virus Bulletin’s 2022 test with flying colors. It was tested for detection of common malware, where the antivirus caught 100% of the problematic data. It also had no problem with false detection, where it did not cause a false alarm even once. In the case of lesser-known malicious files, Surfshark Antivirus recorded a success rate of 99.4%.

Surfshark released its antivirus app in 2022, so tests by other companies are yet to emerge.

Computer Load With Surfshark Antivirus

On its website, Surfshark states that you need to have at least 2 GB of disk space available for Windows and 500 MB for macOS and Android to download the app. The app actually needed about 20% less space. In addition to antivirus, the app includes other features such as VPN, Data Breach Alert, and Surfshark Search.

Surfshark Antivirus loads devices at a similar rate to other antivirus programs. With real-time protection turned on, it took roughly 2% of the CPU and 90 MB of RAM. When running a full scan of the computer, the load increased to 20% of the CPU and 250 MB of RAM.

For modern computers, these values should not cause problems. For older devices, other antiviruses can be used that have a longer history on the market and place a lower load on the system.

Who’s Behind Surfshark Antivirus

Surfshark B.V., a company registered in the Netherlands, is responsible for developing the antivirus. Its main activity is the operation of the virtual private network Surfshark, and it is also linked by ownership to NordVPN and Atlas VPN Pro.

The Netherlands has favorable laws for anonymity on the Internet, and the company is not required to store any data on user activity. The country is a member of the Nine Eyes alliance, which includes the US and the UK, among others. The countries in this group have an agreement to share data obtained by intelligence services. Since Surfshark Antivirus only tracks device parameters, its operator has no personal data to hand over to the authorities.

The Netherlands is a member of the European Union, so personal data is protected in accordance with the GDPR.

Privacy and Surfshark Antivirus: Log Storage and Data Protection

Surfshark collects anonymous analytics data on its website to improve its services. Advertising IDs are also collected through third parties such as Google Play.

Surfshark stores user account information, including email addresses and payment details, which are used in the event of a refund request.

If you want to take advantage of the data leak monitoring feature, you can store your credit card number or used email addresses in the app. Access to these is then protected by two-factor authentication, which you can activate to use the app, thus providing additional protection for your privacy and personal data.

When using a VPN, you don’t have to worry about your activities being discovered. Surfshark servers use RAM memory, which is not recoverable once deleted or overwritten, so all data is safe, unlike physical hard drives. The servers retain your account ID and the time you connected via VPN, but the data is deleted 15 minutes after disconnection. Search history, the amount of data transferred, and any other data are not stored.

Additionally, Surfshark has been audited several times for VPN connection security by independent firms, including Deloitte. You can also find a Warrant Canary on the company’s website with information on whether the company has received subpoenas for its users’ data from government agencies.

Overall, then, in the case of Surfshark, you don’t have to worry about your data being misused or disclosed.

Support at Surfshark Antivirus: Chat, Email…

Surfshark has an extensive knowledge base with tutorials and tips for troubleshooting problems with its applications. The texts are clear and easy to understand.

If you can’t find a solution to your problem in the support center, you can contact Surfshark’s technical support, where the company’s staff can help you. You can email support@surfshark.com or use the contact form.

Additionally, web chat is available. Here, you will first be contacted by a chatbot that can help you with basic problems. If you prefer to communicate with a live human, just type “Live agent” in the message, and the chatbot will connect you to a company employee.

Surfshark support is available 24/7, and all communication is in English. Surfshark is constantly working to improve the user experience and sends an email questionnaire after the conclusion of each chat to gauge satisfaction with the resolution of the issue.

Unfortunately, contacting support is not possible directly in the app; you always need to go to the company’s website. You can report a bug directly from the app.

Frequently Asked Questions about Surfshark Antivirus

NordLayer: Pros, Cons and Comparison of All Corporate VPN Options

• The provider is based in a member country of the 5 Eyes alliance

• Many additional security features
• Superior features for administrators
• Ability to create a site-to-site VPN with a dedicated server
• Top-of-the-line NordLynx protocol
• Very good customer support

NordLayer is a VPN specifically designed for small businesses with at least five users, medium-sized businesses and large corporations. Unlike a regular VPN, it offers special features for network administrators and additional security features.

The operator of the service is the American company Nord Security Inc., which also owns the NordVPN service for individual users. The same ownership group as NordLayer also includes Surfshark and Atlas VPN Pro.

We have thoroughly tested NordLayer’s corporate VPN and found its strengths and weaknesses.

In repeated measurements, NordLayer achieved very good transfer speeds, with download and upload speeds above 100 Mbps. This value is sufficient for transferring large files and for fast data backups to the cloud. Users can choose from servers in 35 locations across the world in the app. They also have a dedicated server that is only for users from the same organization.

The NordLayer app has implemented important DNS leak protection and a kill switch feature that disconnects the device from the Internet if the connection to the VPN server is lost. This prevents possible data compromise and disclosure of the user’s real IP address.

The advantage of NordLayer is the wide range of features and tools that allow administrators to change the VPN settings for their company’s needs. Automatic launch of the app and connection to the VPN can be enabled when the device boots up or when connected to an unknown wi-fi network. The administrator can enable additional security features for users, such as two-factor authentication or biometric authentication. In the account management, the administrator can monitor the activity of individual users and, if necessary, block them from accessing selected websites.

NordLayer is well secured against possible leaks of user data by using only servers equipped with RAM memory, which does not allow long-term storage. As a result, the servers can no longer collect transmitted data, lists of websites visited or IP addresses of users.

NordLayer’s customer support is also excellent and available 24/7.

NordLayer: Comparison of Lite, Core and Premium

NordLayer subscriptions come in three variants, which differ in features and naturally also in price. For the most demanding customers, NordLayer offers a customised programme in which the individual parameters of the service can be configured in detail.

Parameter	Lite	Core	Premium
Server Performance	up to 1 Gbs	up to 1 Gbs	up to 1 Gbs
Shared Sites	over 30	over 30	over 30
Private Sites	No	over 30	over 30
Dedicated server with fixed IP	Yes	Yes	Yes
IP allowlisting	Yes	Yes	Yes
Automated threat detection	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of different protocols	4	4	4
NordLynx protocol	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom DNS	No	Yes	Yes
Manual network configuration	No	Yes	Yes
Browser Extensions	No	No	Yes
Smart Remote Access	No	No	Yes
Dedicated Account Manager	No	Yes	Yes
	Show Price	View price	View price

Minimum number of NordLayer licenses

For all subscription options, the minimum is 5 paying users. A dedicated IP address can be optionally added to NordLayer Core and NordLayer Premium licenses.

Trial version of NordLayer

NordLayer does not offer a trial version in the classical sense, but you can activate a demo account via customer support, which includes all the features offered. Alternatively, you can pay for the service and take advantage of the money back guarantee, where 100% of the amount is refunded within the first 14 days. The money back guarantee does not apply to payment in Bitcoins.

How to pay your NordLayer subscription

You can use a debit or credit card to pay for your subscription, bank transfer and if your order exceeds $1,000, you can pay with Bitcoins. All orders are of course accompanied by an invoice and a tax receipt.

Device Support at NordLayer: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS…

The NordLayer app is available for all common platforms that are used at work. It can be installed on Windows, macOS and Linux computers and on Android and iOS mobile phones.

Support for securing smart TVs, game consoles or alternative devices is directly missing. All devices connected to the same network can be protected by installing NordLayer directly on the router.

Starting with the Premium variant, NordLayer is also available as an extension for Chrome, Edge and Mozilla browsers.

If an employee has trouble installing the original NordLayer application, it is possible to download the IKEv2 or OpenVPN configuration and use an external solution.

NordLayer App: User-Friendliness, Whitelist, Server Selection…

The NordLayer desktop and mobile app is user-friendly and simple. Users can easily download it and log in with an assigned username and password, which can optionally be supplemented with a code for two-factor authentication. There are several languages to choose from within the app. Changing the colour theme of the template is not possible.

In the settings, you can activate the automatic launch of the app after the device boots or enable advanced security features. These include a kill switch or automatic connection to NordLayer after logging into an unsecured wi-fi network. You can also turn on notifications informing you when the connection status changes.

The protocol is selected automatically from NordLynx, OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP and IKEv2. In case of problems, the protocols can be switched manually.

Locations are sorted alphabetically in the list, individual countries can be saved as favorites. The corporate gateway is displayed above the common sites. Connecting to it can be secured by requiring biometric authentication, for example in the form of a fingerprint. The corporate gateway ensures that all users have the same IP address.

In the web browser extension, whitelisting (called split tunneling) can be used to define websites that can be accessed without a VPN.

NordLayer Configuration Options: User-Friendliness, Reports…

With NordLayer, the corporate network administrator has quite a wide range of options to set or restrict the rights of individual members of the organization.

The main feature is the ability to set up a private secure gateway with a static VPN that individual users can connect to. The admin interface shows the server load, plus there is the option to set up a site-to-site secure connection to the corporate network via a dedicated server.

For a server with a corporate private gateway, Deep Packet Inspection can be activated, which, in simple terms, inspects all passing data. Another option is DNS filtering, where connected devices will be blocked from accessing selected categories of websites. For example, gambling sites, social networking sites or adult content sites can be banned.

A corporate network administrator can define their own “secure devices”, while denying access to all others. For example, it is possible to allow access only to Windows devices or block all Linux devices. Individual restrictions can be activated down to the operating system version level, and several profiles with different permissions and rules can be created.

Administrators have access to a large number of statistics, and the activity of individual users can be monitored in great detail. For each profile created, the number of connections, duration and servers connected to can be tracked. Any activity associated with the account can be viewed, such as activating two-factor authentication, setting up a dedicated server or DNS filtering.

All statistics can be easily exported in .csv format for more detailed analysis.

For easier user login, SSO (Single Sign-on) can be activated, where a third party account can be used instead of a name and password. For example, Google, Azure AD or OneLogin are supported.

NordLayer Speed Test

NordLayer does not restrict users in any way in the amount of data transferred, this applies to Lite, Core and Premium tariffs.

The connection location must always be selected manually, the app does not offer automatic selection of the fastest server. We have repeatedly tested the connection speed for several different servers in different countries.

The download speed reached an average of 140 Mbps, which is sufficient for downloading large files, streaming 4k video and working with data in the cloud.

The average measured upload speed was 110 Mbps. NordLayer can thus be used for fast backups of important corporate data to the cloud or elsewhere on the Internet.

The third parameter monitored is the response rate, which indicates the delay between the signal sent and the server’s response to it. After connecting to NordLayer servers, we measured an average response time of 30 ms, which is sufficient for all Internet activities. For response speed, a lower value is always better. Server responses above 50-100 ms can cause annoying stuttering, for example during video calls.

NordLayer Servers and Locations

NordLayer operates servers in 33 countries around the world, with Europe and North America being the best covered.

Servers are also available in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and in countries with internet censorship, such as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Compared to VPN services for regular users, the number of locations is smaller, but still quite sufficient for most business customers.

Dedicated servers are available in some countries for the exclusive use of specific customers.

The number of servers in operation is not disclosed for security reasons, however, given the brand’s reputation, there will be enough servers to provide a quality service. In addition, NordLayer gives corporate customers the opportunity to have a server customized according to the required parameters.

All servers are physically located in the specified locations. In addition, the servers are equipped exclusively with RAM memory and do not have a hard disk, so they do not allow long-term storage of sensitive data. This practice significantly increases user privacy.

In NordLayer, servers can be saved as favorites and accessed more quickly. You can also set up automatic connections to the selected server when the application is started. The function to automatically select the fastest site at that moment is not available.

List of NordLayer Shared Servers

The sites in the list are available to all NordLayer subscribers. Servers in these countries are shared between multiple users.

Europe	Belgium Bulgaria Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Croatia Ireland Italy Hungary Germany Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Austria Romania Slovakia Serbia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom
North America	Canada Mexico USA
Asia	Hong Kong Israel Japan Singapore United Arab Emirates
Oceania	Australia

List of NordLayer Dedicated Servers

NordLayer’s dedicated servers with fixed IP addresses are for the exclusive use of the subscriber. They are only available with the NordLayer Core and NordLayer Premium subscription options.

Europe	Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Ireland Italy Lithuania Hungary Cyprus Germany Netherlands Norway Poland Austria Romania Spain Sweden United Kingdom
North America	Canada USA
South America	Brazil
Asia	Japan South Korea Singapore
Africa	South Africa
Oceania	Australia

Security at NordLayer: DNS Protection, Kill Switch…

NordLayer offers advanced security features to ensure complete anonymity and protect your entire company from data loss.

The basis of security is the advanced NordLynx security protocol. Developed by Nord Security itself, it is based on the advanced WireGuard protocol, which excels in high transmission speeds. In the setup, NordLynx can optionally be replaced with the security protocols OpenVPN UDP, OpenVPN TCP, or IKEv2.

All transmitted data is protected by 256-bit AES encryption, which is highly secure and is used to secure banking and military systems, among others.

It is possible to create your own gateway with a dedicated IP address within your organization. It can only be accessed from approved devices connected to a given NordLayer account. Connections can optionally be protected with additional biometric verification. This is either a fingerprint or a facial scan on mobile devices, or a password on a computer application.

Better account security can also be achieved with two-factor authentication, where a one-time code from the mobile app or SMS is required during login along with a password.

The NordLayer app has implemented a kill switch feature that disconnects the device from the internet if the connection to the VPN server is lost. This prevents the user’s real IP address and location from being discovered and the transmitted data from being compromised. Once the VPN server is reconnected, the connection is restored. Kill switch is only available with NordLynx and OpenVPN protocols.

Another additional feature of NordLynx and OpenVPN protocols is blocking connections to devices on the home wi-fi network. Devices with active settings will not be able to connect to other computers and mobile phones on the same network, printers or smart TVs. All of these devices can pose a security risk.

NordLayer does not currently support multi-hop connections, where data is routed through two different VPN servers simultaneously. This provides a higher level of security, as a second server protects the user in the event of the first layer of protection being breached.

In the NordLayer administration, individual users can activate the “Always On VPN” feature, which ensures that the internet connection will only work with an active VPN connection. Employees cannot change this setting, so company data remains protected from possible leaks.

Cloud Firewall will ensure the protection of the company’s cloud infrastructure, thanks to dedicated gateways it will be possible to access files and applications even outside the company premises. NordLayer also features ThreatBlock, which blocks malware and other internet threats.

NordLayer’s simple web-based administration makes onboarding and offboarding employees easy. It is easy to restrict user permissions and assign preset roles to which different permissions can be assigned. This can not only increase security but also reduce the volume of traffic on a secure network.

User management is further simplified by the function of blocking devices based on their operating system. For example, if you know that everyone in your company only uses Windows devices, you can easily automatically block connection attempts for iOS, macOS or Android devices.

If you miss a feature, NordLayer’s 24/7 customer support allows you to contact their engineers and request a customized service.

Torrenting and Streaming Video with NordLayer

NordLayer is designed for business and corporate customers, yet we have also tested streaming and torrenting capabilities with NordLayer.

Torrenting with active NordLayer protection is possible, although there are no servers specifically optimized for this type of traffic. The actual IP address of the user remains hidden from the adversary, protected by the kill switch function in case of a failure. The download and upload speeds we achieved were sufficient for torrenting.

We tested NordLayer’s ability to make otherwise unavailable movies and series available by connecting to US servers. NordLayerd was successful with YouTube, Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu, but despite repeated attempts, we were unable to play video from Amazon Prime Video and HBO Max. Average connection speeds were well above the 50 Mbps required for streaming ultra-high definition 4k video.

Video playback was smooth and there was no annoying loading of content.

Computer Load with NordLayer

NordLayer for desktop is one of the very low-maintenance applications, its demands on the device are minimal. The load exerted on the device varies depending on its processor and battery size. On the MacBook test laptop, the CPU and battery load showed 0.1%, with the application taking only 30 MB of RAM capacity.

To reduce system requirements, the app can be disabled to automatically connect to the VPN when the device boots up. However, for maximum protection, we recommend keeping the VPN activated at all times when working with corporate data.

NordLayer Headquarters

NordLayer is operated by Nord Security Inc., a company based in New York, USA. Nord Security is a multinational company, some parts of which are also registered in the Netherlands and Lithuania.

NordLayer is affiliated by ownership with NordVPN, Surfshark, Atlas VPN Pro and Atlas VPN Free.

The ownership group also includes Incogni, a service that ensures users have their personal data removed from marketing databases.

NordLayer’s Privacy Policy

NordLayer has strict privacy policies. The servers are installed in secure locations and are equipped exclusively with rewritable RAM memory, which does not allow long-term data storage. In addition, all data stored in memory is continuously overwritten and erased even when the server is restarted. They cannot be restored, so the risk of data compromise is minimal.

When using NordLayer, user names, email addresses, employee positions, IP addresses, devices and operating systems used, connection times and servers used are stored. All data is thoroughly encrypted, and there is a reason for collecting this information: to ensure that an administrator in the company has access to the information.

The NordLayer service provider itself has access to data about the service customer, including payment information. Data generated when contacting customer support is also collected, the aim of this step is to improve the level of service provided. If Nord Security Inc. is presented with a binding challenge, the company is obliged to hand over any information requested to the police or the courts.

So far, there is no known data leak from Nord Security Inc. The service has repeatedly passed checks and audits to confirm that user data is not at serious risk. The operator of NordLayer has been issued an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certificate according to SOC 2 Type I audit rules by TÜV Thüringen.

Support at NordLayer: Chat, Email…

Basic NordLayer technical support is available via live chat and email at support@nordlayer.com. A large amount of information can be found in the knowledge base and in the FAQ section. This is also where the support staff referred us to in the live chat.

NordLayer also runs a blog with information from the world of cybersecurity.

NordLayer Core and NordLayer Premium customers with 30 or more users have their own NordLayer account manager. Additionally, when purchasing a customized NordLayer license, an architect is available to help set up parameters to meet the customer’s specific needs.

NordLayer FAQs