Welcome to the ultimate PC Matic review. PC Matic is far away from a typical antivirus program.
Namely, unlike all the other software of this type, the PC Matic scanner features a ‘whitelist’ technique. This means that it lets only the legitimate programs run and blocks any programs that aren’t on the list.
Stay with us and go through all the essential features this antivirus software has to offer.
PC Matic Rating
Pros
- It blocks all types of malware
- Includes real-time protection
- It features excellent customer support
- The program is easy to navigate
- It is very economical
Cons
- It can sometimes block valid programs as well
- It doesn’t offer many additional features
About PC Matic
The company is entirely based in the US. It means that its servers, research, development, and support are all US-based, which adds to the excellent PC Matic rating on the market. Unlike PC Matic, many other antivirus programs are made in foreign countries, which means bearing possible security risks. Thus, PC Matic has decided to create ultimate protection from all foreign (as well as domestic) threats.
It is actually designed to stop ransomware proactively.
It also blocks annoying and malicious ads for hassle-free web browsing.
The company is very actively involved in its marketing strategy and often releases new television and online commercials.
Installing PC Matic
Most PC Matic reviews, consumer reports claim that this is one of the easiest programs to install. However, before installing PC Matic, you should uninstall any previously installed antivirus programs. Namely, having more than one antivirus on the computer will cause more problems than help solve them.
Once you have successfully purchased a PC Matic antivirus, you will get an email from PC Matic. The email contains the receipt and a link. Open the link, and it will open up in your default browser. Here, you will choose an icon depending on your device’s type—Windows, Mac OS, or Android.
You will notice the instructions on how to install the program. For all the newbies out there, we also recommend reading some of the PC Matic reviews on how to get started.
Get started by clicking the download button. Once the page loads, a file should automatically begin downloading. If the download isn’t happening, just click the Download Link.
Once the download is complete, the program will ask you whether you allow the app to make changes to your device. Click yes and select your primary language. After that, you will get the option to accept the user agreement. Next, choose the location where you want to install the program, click Next twice, which is pretty much it. Once the setup is complete, simply click Finish to launch PC Matic.
PC Matic Antivirus Review – Getting Started
Once you have opened the program, you will notice the login button. After that, sign in with your registered PC Matic email address and a password. Simply click login.
Having done that, click the SuperShield icon and then click Not Protected and Install. This will install SuperShield. Once you see the Uninstall and Disable button, you can be sure that the installation process is finished.
Adding a Device
Before we move on with our PC Matic review, let’s explain how to add new devices to the program. After closing the SuperShield window, select the My PCs icon. Now, you will want to run a PC Matic scan on the newly added device. To do that, click the Scan button, and Continue afterward. After the initial scan, it is best to restart your device and initiate another scan directly after.
What is PC Matic – Features and Functions
Thanks to the Automated System Maintenance features, unlike other antivirus programs that often slow down your computer, PC Matic will actually make it work faster.
It will make your system more reliable even after years of use.
The Whitelist
PC Matic blocks all the programs outside its whitelist. Namely, it is the world’s first whitelist antivirus. The concept was created in 2011; it checks the database of known and trusted applications and programs. Since no virus is on the safelist, PC Matic blocks known and unknown threats. The whitelist is proactive, made in the USA (as opposed to most of the dark list-based antivirus programs), and blocks even unknown viruses.
However, all reviews on PC Matic emphasize that it will block valid programs sometimes, detecting them as a possible threat.
So, PC Matic creates a safelist of all the programs allowed to run on your device. Thanks to this technique, this antivirus takes very little space. In addition, whitelists are fast and don’t slow down your device at all. So, if you are looking for a basic antivirus that will also improve your device’s performance and speed, PC Matic should be on your list of choices.
Still, this wouldn’t be a detailed PC Matic review if we didn’t explain that you can also manually whitelist specific programs that PC Matic recognizes as dangerous. Nonetheless, make sure that these programs are 100% safe.
In all other cases, you should wait for the PC Matic team to inspect a particular program. The antivirus sends all the unknown programs for inspection. If they decide the program is safe, it will be put on the whitelist.
How to Whitelist a Program
We have just explained the PC Matic pros and cons regarding its whitelist. So, if you want to mark a program or app as legitimate, here is what you have to do:
- On the system tray, click on the SuperShield icon.
- Hover over the Protection Level tab, and go to Block Notification Method
- Click on Prompt for Override
- Open the program you want to add to the whitelist, and a window will appear. Simply select Always Allow, and that’s it.
Of course, their protection doesn’t just include whitelisting. Instead, it is just one of the features used for the ultimate protection of your device.
Ad Blocker
We would also like to mention the ad blocker in this review of PC Matic. Besides the protection it provides, PC Matic also comes with an ad blocker, which is a great plus. However, it doesn’t feature any components to detect malware-hosting or phishing URLs.
Furthermore, it doesn’t offer other additional internet security features like VPN, parental control, or a password manager.
Scanning
Generally speaking, in most antivirus programs, you can choose from three different types of scans—quick, complete, or custom scan. PC Matic is, however, a little different. Namely, once you click the Scan button on the home page, the program will perform a quick scan by default. Still, if you want to perform a full scan, you will have to change this setting in the Options menu.
Many PC Matic reviews claim that a full scan takes a little more than the industry average of 68 minutes. Namely, it takes around 80 minutes for PC Matic to perform a full scan.
It is essential to say that PC Matic blocks different types of malware, such as junk files, broadband quality, and driver updates.
Scan Scheduler
You can also schedule a scan for all the devices that you have registered under your account. To do this, simply set a date and time. Again, it is recommended to go through the default options and make sure you don’t want to change any scan options.
You can receive the scan results via email, which can be very useful and is one of the most interesting features in our PC Matic Home Security review.
PC Matic Report and Cleanup
Once the scanning is finished, you will receive a detailed report with specific files and programs recommendations.
The report is color-coded, so all you have to do is follow the instructions. (Every color has a particular meaning. For example, gray is for skipped scans, dark blue is for a non-essential tweak, and so on.)
Here you can also choose to fix all the problems or skip some of them.
Once the PC Matic does its job, it will advise you to restart the PC and do another scan to make sure that all the issues are resolved. It shouldn’t find any new problems during the following scan.
In conclusion, the PC Matic price is really reasonable for the detailed report and cleaning you will get.
SuperShield
This is a section dedicated to real-time protection. If you want to activate it, you will need to download the SuperShield feature separately.
You can turn it on during the PC Matic installation process. Of course, there is also an option to enable it later on. Still, you can’t use SuperShield before you have performed at least one system scan.
It is straightforward to use and understand this feature.
How to Know whether SuperShield is Activated?
SuperShield is an excellent feature, especially considering the low PC Matic cost. To make sure this function is activated, pay attention to the color of the SuperShield icon. For example, if it is green, it means that real-time protection is enabled. If the icon is yellow, it means that SuperShield is updating. In the end, if it is red, real-time protection is disabled.
In the SuperShield report, you can see a list of all apps and programs running (or trying to run) on the device. It will use a red circle to mark an unknown or malicious program that the system has blocked. Furthermore, if you notice a green circle next to an entry, it means a program is good, while a yellow circle marks an unknown program.
Mobile App
Now, let’s review PC Matic mobile app. Unfortunately, they only offer an Android app. Still, it is effortless to navigate and use it. However, some of the more advanced users might find it to be a little too basic.
Namely, you can use it to scan all of your applications and files. And that is pretty much it. The scans are pretty quick and straightforward. The report shows how many files and apps the program scanned and how many infections it found.
Furthermore, you can see your previous scanning history, web portal, as well as a list of files that the antivirus couldn’t remove.
In the Settings section, you can see your whitelisted applications.
The mobile app also offers the option of scheduled scans.
PC Matic Rating – Blocking Malware
PC Matic is excellent at blocking malware and other threats. According to the PC Pitstop Scans website, here is what PC Matic does once it encounters an unknown file (or program). First, it submits it for analysis and then decides what to do with it. Then, it deletes some of the programs while it simply prevents some from running. In any case, it definitely protects your device.
Most of the unknowns are usually (or at least should be) resolved in the next 24 hours.
On our tests, PC Matic showed an excellent 100% rate of malware detection. Still, in the process, it also blocked some of the legitimate programs.
What Happens to Harmful Files and Programs?
To let you objectively rate PC Matic, we will explain what it does with harmful programs. First of all, you can manage the way it handles unknown files. For example, it can notify you anytime it detects an unknown threat. In that case, you will choose what will happen with the file every time. You can also choose to suppress the unknown files permanently. Furthermore, you can decide to block it, always block it, allow it, or always allow it.
Customer Support
Their technical support is excellent because they offer various videos and manuals online (user guides and how-to videos).
You can also contact their Home or Business Support (for PC Matic Pro & MSP).
However, they don’t have a PC Matic technical support phone number through which you can contact them. Still, they do have a live chatbot, a user forum, and email support. Of course, the live bot is applicable only if you have some basic questions and problems.
Their email support is also very agile, and you will get an answer in an hour or so.
There is also an option called PC Matic Plus, which includes unlimited calls with a technology expert. Still, this feature will cost you another $100 a year.
PC Matic VS Norton AntiVirus
Even though the PC Matic ads and commercials claim that they are the only company using the whitelisting technique, that isn’t exactly the truth. For example, Norton AntiVirus uses the same technology combined with others.
Namely, Norton quarantines programs that are known to be malicious, while it lets programs on the whitelist function normally. On the other hand, Norton monitors its behavior if the program is unknown (which means that it isn’t a threat, but it isn’t labeled as safe either). If it notices a hint of malicious activity, it will put the program in quarantine.
Also, Norton features a more advanced malware detection and fighting technology.
However, PC Matic is a much cheaper solution for basic needs.
PC Matic VS Kaspersky
Even though Kaspersky is one of the leading antivirus software on the market, PC Matic can compete with it. For example, even though Kaspersky may have better customer support, it is more expensive (if we compare the pricing per single device). Regarding the support, you can contact the Kaspersky team through phone, but not through email (while it is the opposite with PC Matic).
Still, Kaspersky does offer some features PC Matic doesn’t cover, such as USB virus scan and email protection. On the other hand, Kaspersky doesn’t include adware prevention, while PC Matic does.
How Much Does PC Matic Cost
The Free Trial
If you want to test PC Matic and see whether you like it, you can download the free version and perform a free scan. Still, the free version doesn’t include real-time protection. Instead, it is only restricted to scanning for malware. Further, it covers up to 3 devices. Also, many customers (including ourselves) aren’t satisfied with the long scanning time (up to 20 hours).
PC Matic Home Security
Annual Subscription
After your PC Matic free trial, we suggest purchasing an annual subscription with all the additional functions. It covers five devices and costs only $50.
Lifetime Subscription
Still, they have an even better offer than their annual subscription. Namely, for only $150, you can keep your five devices protected for a lifetime.
Also, if you want to protect more than five devices (up to 20), you can pay extra for it.
There is another feature that you can add—PC Magnum. It is an excellent solution for dark web monitoring. You can also upgrade it to include credit monitoring for both families and individuals, as well as identity theft insurance for up to $1 million.
Summary
To conclude our PC Matic review, let’s talk about cyber security these days. Namely, the cyber threat landscape evolves each day, with cybercriminals inventing more sophisticated malware and viruses. In addition, zero-day attacks are also on the rise, and unforeseen exploits and vulnerabilities have put our devices and data at a greater risk.
PC Matic has found a way to defeat cybercriminals. Their secret is the Whitelist technique. The logic behind it is pretty simple. Namely, as the hackers constantly come up with new threats, it is much easier to keep a list of allowed programs instead of continually updating the malware list (and risking not recognizing some of the dangers).
In the end, as a contribution to the excellent PC Matic rating, we would say that PC Matic indeed does what it says. It promises it won’t let any program run unless it is on the whitelist, and that is precisely what it does. On the other hand, it doesn’t promise that it will identify treacherous programs. As a result, it will most probably block some of the legitimate programs, as well. Still, if you don’t mind fixing this from time to time, you should be more than pleased with this antivirus, especially considering its low price.
People Also Ask
Yes, PC Matic is reliable antivirus software. It won’t let any program run unless it is on the whitelist, keeping your devices safe from different types of threats. Still, be aware that sometimes it might block some legitimate programs just because they aren’t safelisted. However, you can manually allow using these programs and apps, so you shouldn’t have difficulty using this antivirus.
Yes, PC Matic is very safe antivirus software. Even though it doesn’t offer some of the advanced features other antivirus programs might have, it is pretty decent for the price you pay. Not only will it keep your devices protected from malware, but you will also get real-time protection (not in the free version, though). Talking about malware protection, it has shown excellent scores at detecting it—up to an impressive 100%.
PC Matic and McAfee are pretty much similar in functions. Still, they do have their differences. For example, McAfee comes with a USB virus scanner, as well. On the other hand, it doesn’t provide adware protection, while PC Matic does. However, McAfee offers better customer support. In the end, PC Matic is much cheaper if we observe the price per single device.
The short answer would be—no, PC Matic doesn’t provide a firewall. Still, it uses SuperShield as a real-time protection feature. So once the SuperShield is installed and activated, the default Windows firewall should be sufficient for protection. Still, don’t forget to state specifically that you want to install the SuperShield, since it isn’t installed by default with the PC Matic.
Many reviews of the program claim that a full scan takes more than the industry average, which is 68 minutes. For PC Matic, it takes around 80 minutes to perform a full scan. Still, considering its low price and other outstanding features, it seems like a good bargain. On the other hand, the quick scan can take just a few minutes.
PC Matic is one of the leading companies on the market, regarding their perseverance and long history. Namely, the company was founded in 1999, so they have been in business for 21 years. In 2011, they presented the Whitelist technique, securing their place in the antivirus software field. Thanks to this security feature (in addition to many others included), they managed to stay in the business for such a long time.
Pc Matic offers a free version without some of the crucial features, such as real-time scanning. Also, it covers up to three devices. Still, their annual subscription is really cheap. Namely, you will pay only $50 for protecting up to five devices. Furthermore, you can also purchase a lifetime subscription for the same number of devices for only $150. Their prices are our favorite part of this PC Matic review.
