AntiVirus + Identity Theft Protection + Encrypted VPN + Financial Fraud Protection

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1

I am looking for the best-of-class security coverage goals for servicing 10 devices and 3 adults:

  1. AntiVirus – maybe Norton 360 or Malwarebytes or Others???
  2. Encrypted VPN – maybe Norton 360 or Aura or NordVPN or Surfshark or Others???
  3. Identity Theft Protection – maybe Norton LifeLock or Aura or Others??
  4. Financial Fraud Protection – maybe Aura (three Bureau Credit Monitoring) or Others??

Through my limited research, subscription providers, many more services than I need, and costly.
I looked at Norton 360+LifeLock and Aura, but neither has the best of class for all four of my security coverage goals. So I am breaking it out into individual products.

I am seeking recommendations for lowering costs with the best-of-class provider per each of the four security coverage goals, even if it requires separated service providers (potentially lower costs).

In other words, not bundled under one subscription plan, for example, Norton or Aura.
Thank you

2

Hi I don’t know about the fraud protection or vpn but as antiviruses go I highly recommend bitdefender because in the independent tests it often scores 1st/2nd place next to Kaspersky (Kaspersky has ties to Russian government and FSB) so I wouldn’t take that one if you are outside of Russia. So yeah bitdefender I highly recommend it. It has its own vpn and identity protection that one is separate service from them I think but when it comes to protection from malware you wouldn’t go wrong with bitdefender.

3

Mullvad VPN or IVPN for encrypted VPN (or use ESET vpn since it’s built in)
ESET Ultimate for identity theft protection and antivirus

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Honestly you can get three of these with just surfshark. I’d you get the surfshark one+ you get the vpn, incogni, and surfshark anti-virus and the anti-virus is actually very respectable.

5

Aura, NordVPN, and Kaspersky (if you’re outside of the US) or Bitdefender Free (or the paid version if you’re willing to spend). Malwarebytes is more of a second opinion scanner, as the free version does not have 24/7 protection (as far as I’m aware). Aura has a really good reputation, and NordVPN worked great for me when I needed it. Also, don’t listen to people who say Kaspersky is dangerous, because the rumors surrounding it are baseless and unlikely. One last thing, don’t get Norton. It’s basically useless. The only good thing Norton has is the Power Eraser, which is a second opinion scanner that removes stuff easily.

6

Check out Proton VPN.

7

DO NOT RECOMMEND AURA Services. The company has no integrity and does not provide refunds even with a request less than 24-hours request from the charge. They did not allow me the option to only have one service and said it was a package deal for identity theft, password manager, and VPN.

  1. password manager is dysfunctional and frequently creates second log-ins rather than updating. Or I would have passwords saved with a password but not the username. The password generator is good, allowing you to choose length or special characters to use or not use. This feature is pointless if passwords are not saved correctly.
  2. the password manager extension in Chrome was buggy. I would get stuck in loops of trying to log-in but never gaining access. I wasted too much time and stopped using the feature.
  3. VPN blocks access to websites. With Nord VPN, with the option to change VPN location, I often can access any website with ease. After explaining my reason for requesting a refund and that their records would show that I stopped using their services, I still was not offered a partial refund!!!
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DO NOT RECOMMEND AURA SUITE SERVICES. The company has no integrity and does not provide refunds even with a request less than 24-hours request from the charge. They did not allow me the option to only have one service and said it was a package deal for identity theft, password manager, and VPN.

  1. password manager is dysfunctional and frequently creates second log-ins rather than updating. Or I would have passwords saved with a password but not the username. The password generator is good, allowing you to choose length or special characters to use or not use. This feature is pointless if passwords are not saved correctly.
  2. the password manager extension in Chrome was buggy. I would get stuck in loops of trying to log-in but never gaining access. I wasted too much time and stopped using the feature.
  3. VPN blocks access to websites. With Nord VPN, with the option to change VPN location, I often can access any website with ease. After explaining my reason for requesting a refund and that their records would show that I stopped using their services, I still was not offered a partial refund!!!
9

Please stop misinformating people that kaspersky has ties to Russian government and sells them their data, there are no real claims of them doing so.

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Thank you, I am checking out SurfShark now!

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Bitdenfeder free doesnt have ransomware module included.

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First of all I never said they sell data just that there are ties. I personally used their online scanner that scans PC without downloading their av because I understand the antivirus itself is good. You can’t deny that there is possible risk of Russian government forcing Kaspersky to add some backdoor. I will use text I got on this exact topic from other user.

Why shouldn’t use Kaspersky - Russian Laws and Regulations: Implications for Kaspersky Labs

Some SOFT links:

1.Kaspersky requiring certain licenses to operate and these licenses are issued by the FSB and it entitles the FSB under Article 13 to many things including using Kaspersky to:

<> conduct operational-search methods to fight… threats to Russian safety

<>penetrate foreign intelligence services, criminal groups, and organizations conducting espionage and other activities damaging to Russia’s security

other things

  1. article 15 - basically says if the FSB tells you to modify hardware or software, you do it

  2. Kaspersky said they work with governments, not for governments. But court documents show an FSB agent supervising a Kasp employee to enter a password and search for things (Lurk takedown)

4.While there are NO DIRECT EVIDENCE of attack against the countries that are currently banning Kaspersky on their government computers, there is enough concern/risk for some to avoid using Kaspersky.

Source: Russian Laws and Regulations: Implications for Kaspersky Labs

Bonus Point 1: Kaspersky is the only major antivirus company that routes its data through Russian Internet service providers, which are subject to Russia’s surveillance system.

Bonus Point 2: At the age of 16, Eugene Kaspersky entered a five-year program with The Technical Faculty of the KGB Higher School, which prepared intelligence officers for the Russian military and KGB. He graduated in 1987 with a degree in mathematical engineering and computer technology. After graduating college, Kaspersky served the Soviet military intelligence service as a software engineer.

Bonus Point 3: Headquarter AO Kaspersky Lab, located at bldg. 3, 39A, Leningradskoe Shosse, Moscow, 125212, Russian Federation and its affiliates.

13

I have it and love it. The anti-virus uses avira and it just came out that it was a very good anti-virus on avtest

14

Basically you just described what an every single AV can do to your computer. Smart.

One simple word you have given for that is - rootkit, thats what every AV software is.

15

Yes every antivirus is rootkit with acces to showe PC and every antivirus could be turned malicious by their own company. Difference is if antivirus from my country did this it would be fault of the company and there is no legal base for my government to interfere with the said company. On the other hand Kaspersky is based in country that is really different when it comes to government. Am not saying they do it and that they would in future am saying to others to be aware of it. That’s why I said it that he should keep it in mind. I personally used Kaspersky before. don’t understand why you argue here when there is literally law that gives power to Russian government to get compliance from Kaspersky if they wanted it. Why not to take it seriously as a possible threat?

16

Ok and what really are you? Working with FBI case which will hurt Russian government that they would really care about you? Keep in mind that Kaspersky is installed on millions of computers around the world (except USA :D), and theres no need to start worrying because “its a Russian software”… There are a lot of Russian developers creating software, and i can bet that some of the software or games you have installed on your computer has a Russian touch to it, what would make that Russian government can pay the Russian engineers who develop it to help steal your data… Antivirus in the other hands is a kernel level driver, which can do anything to your PC…