



Manually force an up-to-date database refresh, scan your computer or attached devices, and toggle on different levels of privacy protection. The software tour is painless enough that it’s worth the 20 seconds to see what Kaspersky offers.Īfter that, it’s a very user-friendly dashboard with the main tools. There’s an immediate offer to trial the premium version, but you can just as easily proceed with Kaspersky’s free antivirus. While the Android app doesn’t require an account, the Windows version asks you to enter a username and secure password. The initially requested quick scan took under 10 seconds in my test, then impressed with a range of basic and advanced features, including an optional call filter and data-leak checker (the latter needs a Kaspersky account). On the Android app, just download Kaspersky Antivirus & VPN, give it the one permission it asks for, and be sure to hit the little ‘x’ to ensure you’re using the free version. There are some final prompts for ad-blocking, malicious tool deleting, and malware detection options, all of which are toggled on by default. After a restart, the Kaspersky installer automatically downloaded the 200MB-ish software and eventually installed after a comparatively slow process. Kaspersky flagged McAfee Site Advisor as incompatible but automatically removed it as part of the installation. I unchecked password manger but left the other option selected for my Windows software tests. This latter feature sends data by design, but it ultimately provides better real-time protection. For Windows, an initially small download opens an installer that prompts you to install Kaspersky Password Manager as well as optional optimal protection. Once you’ve picked the best Kaspersky plan for your needs, remembering to choose the number of devices you want to protect, things are a lot more straightforward.
