ShieldApps: Malware Defense & Cyber Privacy Suite

Company Overview

ShieldApps, founded in 2015, is a cybersecurity company based in the United States that specializes in providing robust antivirus and anti-malware protection to both individual users and small to medium-sized businesses. While their service offerings are designed to cater to personal users looking for easy-to-use, efficient protection, they also offer solutions for businesses looking to protect sensitive data from emerging digital threats. ShieldApps serves a global market, providing services in multiple languages to ensure accessibility to diverse user bases. They have maintained a solid track record for reliability, with a growing presence in the competitive antivirus market.

As an antivirus provider, ShieldApps focuses on delivering comprehensive protection against a wide range of cyber threats, including malware, ransomware, spyware, and phishing attacks. Their suite of features includes real-time virus scanning, firewall capabilities, automatic updates, and web security tools to block malicious websites. Shield Antivirus uses advanced heuristic and signature-based scanning methods to identify both known and unknown threats. In terms of testing performance, they have participated in independent evaluations by organizations like AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. While detailed performance data may be limited, their software consistently performs well in routine detection tasks. The company offers both paid plans and a free trial version of their antivirus, providing a way for users to test the protection level before committing to a subscription. Their goal is to provide seamless, efficient security without hindering system performance.

In the cybersecurity industry, ShieldApps has managed to carve out a respectable reputation, although it has not garnered widespread industry accolades or certifications that top-tier antivirus providers have. While the company is not listed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), they do boast a satisfactory customer support reputation. Their antivirus products have been featured in various online tech publications, with favorable reviews for their straightforward, no-frills approach to device security. They continue to develop their offerings with an emphasis on keeping up with evolving cybersecurity threats.

Features & Services

• Real-time antivirus protection: Provides continuous scanning of files and processes to detect and block malware, ensuring real-time defense against various cyber threats
• Advanced malware and ransomware protection: Utilizes advanced detection techniques to identify and block malware and ransomware, preventing unauthorized file encryption and data loss
• Scheduled scans: Allows users to schedule automatic scans at preferred times, ensuring that the system is consistently monitored for potential threats
• Automatic updates: Keeps the antivirus definitions and software up-to-date with the latest threat intelligence, ensuring continuous protection against emerging threats
• Secure file eraser: Permanently deletes sensitive files from the system, ensuring that they cannot be recovered by unauthorized parties
• History cleaner: Removes browsing and search history, cookies, and cached files to enhance privacy and reduce the digital footprint of the user
• Startup manager: Optimizes system startup by managing unnecessary programs that slow down boot times, helping improve performance
• Email protection: Scans incoming and outgoing emails for malware attachments and phishing links, offering protection against email-borne threats
• Web protection: Blocks access to harmful websites and phishing attempts, safeguarding users from online fraud and malicious downloads
• Low system impact: Designed to run efficiently without significant impact on system performance, ensuring smooth multitasking while maintaining security
• Password vault: Securely stores login credentials in an encrypted vault, providing a safe way to manage and autofill passwords
• VPN integration: Encrypts the user's internet connection, ensuring secure browsing on public networks and preventing data interception
• Ad blocker: Blocks intrusive ads and pop-ups for a cleaner, faster browsing experience while protecting against malicious online advertising
• Personal data protection: Protects sensitive personal data, including credit card details and banking information, from being exposed to online threats
• Identity theft protection: Provides additional safeguards to protect against identity theft, alerting users to potential threats involving personal information

Plans & Prices

ShieldApps offers two products that include an antivirus, which have different prices based on the level of protection and the need for features. Here is a list of their antivirus products:

• Shield Antivirus (starts at $69.99/year for up to 5 devices): Provides full access to all features, including real-time antivirus protection, advanced malware protection, ransomware protection, scheduled scans, and email security
• Cyber Privacy Suite (starts at $79.99/year for up to 5 devices): Provides full access to the entire suite of privacy features, including real-time privacy safeguards, VPN, ad blocking, dark web monitoring, and protection for sensitive financial and personal data 

Customization options

These are two different products that include the ShieldApps antivirus. Therefore, they’re not plans for the same product. ShieldApps does not operate on a quote-based pricing model, but periodic discounts may be available, especially during seasonal sales or for first-time users.

Advantages

• Proactive protection against ransomware and malware: ShieldApps offers a comprehensive security solution with advanced real-time malware scanning and ransomware protection. By proactively detecting and blocking both known and emerging threats, including ransomware, viruses, spyware, and trojans, it ensures that your critical files, documents, and personal data remain safe. Using cloud-based detection and advanced heuristics, ShieldApps identifies new threats before traditional virus definitions are updated, providing continuous protection from the latest malware and minimizing the risk of data loss
• Scheduled and on-demand scans for complete flexibility: ShieldApps allows users to set up automatic, scheduled scans, as well as run on-demand scans whenever needed. Whether you want the software to automatically scan your system during off-hours or manually initiate a scan after downloading new files, this level of flexibility gives you control over when and how your system is checked for threats. For users who prefer having complete control over their security, this ensures that the antivirus can be customized to their individual schedule without disrupting their daily routine
• VPN protection for secure browsing: ShieldApps provides a built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) that encrypts your internet connection, ensuring your online activities are private and secure. The VPN masks your IP address, making it difficult for third parties to track your browsing behavior. This is particularly valuable for customers who frequently use public wifi or want to maintain their privacy while browsing the web. By using the VPN, users can protect sensitive data from hackers and maintain anonymity when accessing websites or making online transactions
• ID theft monitoring to protect personal information: ShieldApps offers identity theft monitoring as part of their Cyber Privacy Suite, alerting users if their personal information, such as credit card numbers or Social Security numbers, is being misused or exposed on the dark web. This feature continuously scans public and private databases to detect potential signs of fraud or identity theft. For customers, this provides an extra layer of protection, especially for those who store sensitive information online. It allows users to take action quickly if their identity is at risk, helping to prevent financial loss and other damage
• Ad block for a cleaner, faster browsing experience: ShieldApps includes an ad-blocking feature that prevents intrusive and often malicious ads from appearing while browsing. By blocking pop-ups, banners, and auto-play videos, the ad blocker enhances browsing speed and ensures a smoother, more pleasant online experience. This is especially useful for users who find ads distracting or annoying, as well as for those who want to avoid malware that can sometimes be delivered through malicious ads. The ad block feature also helps to protect privacy by preventing advertisers from tracking your online behavior
• Password vault for secure credential storage: The ShieldApps Password Vault offers a secure, encrypted storage solution for your passwords and login credentials. This feature helps users store all their important passwords in one safe place, making it easy to manage and retrieve them when needed. The password vault also includes an auto-fill option, which simplifies the login process for users. For customers, this means enhanced security by reducing the risk of password theft, as sensitive login information is stored securely and is only accessible with a master password. It’s particularly useful for those who manage multiple accounts and need a reliable, encrypted solution to protect their credentials

Disadvantages

• Limited PC protection to Windows: ShieldApps primarily focuses on Windows protection, with no support for iOS, Fire OS, and Chrome OS platforms. This is significant because users with non-Windows devices are left without comprehensive protection, limiting their ability to secure their entire digital ecosystem. Customers who own a mix of devices across different operating systems may need to seek alternative solutions or additional software to cover their devices, creating extra complexity and potentially higher costs for them
• Absence of 24/7 live chat or phone support: ShieldApps does not offer 24/7 live chat or phone support, which can be a drawback for customers needing immediate assistance during non-business hours. While email support and a contact form are available, there may be delays in response times, especially for urgent technical issues. This could be frustrating for users who encounter problems outside of regular business hours and require quick resolutions, making them feel unsupported at times when timely help is critical
• Limited features in the free trial version: The free trial of ShieldApps provides basic protection, but many of the advanced features, like VPN protection, identity theft monitoring, and password vault, require a premium plan. This is a disadvantage for customers who wish to explore the full range of features before committing to a paid subscription. They may feel restricted by the trial's limitations, preventing them from fully evaluating the product's capabilities and making an informed decision about upgrading to the premium version
• Lack of comprehensive backup and recovery solutions: Unlike some of their competitors, ShieldApps does not offer built-in cloud backup or recovery tools as part of their standard protection suite. This is significant because many users rely on these features for data recovery in case of an attack or system failure. Without this functionality, customers may need to invest in third-party backup solutions to ensure their important files are protected. This adds extra steps and potential costs for users who expect an all-in-one security solution

Customer Experience

ShieldApps has garnered a user satisfaction rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Capterra, based on 21 reviews. This indicates a generally positive reception among users from fewer reviews, with particular appreciation for the ease of use and effective malware protection.

Positive feedback

Users have commended ShieldApps for their straightforward installation process and user-friendly interface. Many have noted that the software provides comprehensive protection against various threats, including viruses, trojans, and spyware. The real-time monitoring feature has been highlighted as a significant advantage, offering continuous protection without noticeable system slowdowns. Additionally, the software's compatibility with both Windows and Android platforms has been appreciated, allowing users to secure multiple devices under a single license.

Critical feedback

Despite the positive reviews, some users have expressed concerns regarding the software's performance during scans, noting that scanning can be slow, particularly with large files. Others have mentioned that the real-time system monitoring feature occasionally causes system crashes, though these instances are not frequent. A few users have also reported receiving unsolicited advertisements and notifications, which can be intrusive and detract from the overall user experience.

Proactive approach

In response to user feedback, ShieldApps has shown a proactive approach by releasing updates aimed at improving system stability and scan efficiency. While specific details about these updates are limited, the company's willingness to address user concerns suggests a commitment to enhancing the product based on customer input.

Customer Support

ShieldApps offers several customer support options to assist users with technical issues, billing questions, and product-related inquiries. Their primary resource is the ShieldApps Support Center, which includes a comprehensive knowledge base with step-by-step articles on installation, activation, troubleshooting, and more. For those requiring direct assistance, ShieldApps provides email support where users can submit inquiries and receive responses from their support team.

ShieldApps does not offer phone support, but users can contact them via email at contact@shieldapps.com for troubleshooting or product inquiries. They also offer a contact form on their website for submitting more specific requests.

For users needing real-time assistance, ShieldApps provides live chat support during business hours. This feature can be accessed through the support page. While they don’t offer 24/7 live chat or phone support, their email responses are typically timely, and the support center provides useful resources.

In addition to these support options, ShieldApps provides training materials and tutorials through their blog, which covers topics such as online privacy, password management, and maximizing the use of their software. These resources help users fully understand and utilize the features of their ShieldApps products.

Conclusion

ShieldApps offers a versatile range of features designed to meet the needs of individual users and families seeking to secure their devices and protect their privacy. With real-time malware protection, ransomware defense, and the Cyber Privacy Suite, which includes VPN protection and identity theft monitoring, ShieldApps provides comprehensive security solutions. 

The software’s advantages, such as lightweight system performance, effective scanning, and flexible licensing, stand out as key benefits. For example, users enjoy reliable protection without significant system slowdowns, while email scanning and ransomware defense proactively safeguard against serious threats. However, there are some drawbacks, such as PC compatibility exclusive to Windows, along with occasional slow scanning and minor system instability during real-time monitoring. Despite these issues, ShieldApps has shown a proactive approach in addressing customer concerns with updates and improvements.

We recommend you do your research before deciding on which antivirus tool is the best fit for your needs. To that end, we provide a variety of resources, including in-depth reviews of other top antivirus products and a comparison tool to help you weigh your options. Our blog also offers valuable insights on cybersecurity. By using these resources, you can find the right antivirus solution that matches your security requirements.