Trend Micro Maximum Security Reviews

When it comes to email and browser protection, users can change the protection level so that the software will either aggressively block minor risks and checks every email attachment or instead merely act in the most serious cases of spam and malicious sites. Trend Micro made Maximum Security appropriate for parents as well, who can not only resort to the parental control features but can also lock any settings behind passwords, too.

Trend Micro Maximum Security allows its users to customize their scans, giving them the option to choose which parts of the hard drive to scan. For testing purposes we ran through both the quick and full scans with the preconfigured settings, meaning that no changes were made to its scanning patterns or settings.

Regarding the quick scan, the results were truly positive as no further interaction was needed and after less than five minutes a report of over 1,100 analyzed files was displayed. Even though a full scan is always the most conclusive, opting for the quick scan is already enough to find the biggest threats and save some time. Our experience came away without anything to worry about, fortunately, but even so there was no significant impact on the computer while the scan took place.

On the other hand, though, the full scan took much more time and had a greater impact of system performance as expected, yet the results were positive once again. Considering that over 300,000 files were deeply inspected on the test computer, the one hour and a few minutes that the scan took is pretty acceptable. On another positive note, despite the fact that the client itself was understandably feeling the effects and becoming a bit slower, other functions could still be used when it was scanning and the performance impact of doing so was limited given the scan task running in the background.

Scans can also be scheduled and customized to aim at a specific target. On top of this, Trend Micro Maximum Security also analyses USBs and other external drives automatically once connected, and can even prevent self-starting files from launching.

Trend Micro Maximum Security also boasts a device optimizer that checks for passwords saved on browsers, programs that need updates, fragmented disk space, and other aspects of your system that could use improvement. This is a much faster scan, obviously, as it took the program less than one minute to check for all the improvements that could be made to the test device. Once the results are displayed, it’s possible to fix them immediately without leaving the Trend Micro Maximum Security app, with our own tests only requiring a few things to be improved.

On top of a safe search bar that can be added to the supported web browsers – in which Edge and Opera are not included – there is also Wi-Fi protection, too, though it is mostly on a superficial level. This amounts to nothing more than a warning message when connected to potentially unsafe networks and a firewall booster to detect any “botnet programs” that could remotely hijack your computer. This basic extra isn’t too disappointing; Maximum Security is primarily an antivirus, after all, so much more shouldn’t be expected from than what it actually provides.

With Trend Micro Maximum Security customers also get two extra services for free: a password manager and Pay Guard that protects online transactions . The two are intimately connected, with the latter making use of both the password manager and the safe tool bar to provide secure online shopping and banking management.

Other additional tools include social media privacy protection, a file shredder, and a cloud scanner. Meanwhile, “Data Theft Prevention” and “Folder Shield” help to fight spyware and ransomware attacks, essentially, as they lock important folders and files with a password to prevent them from being accessed.

With Trend Micro, different products have different supported platforms. Fortunately, when it comes to Maximum Security, the most platforms are supported. On computers, the software is compatible with Windows 7 and beyond – even though it’s stated that Microsoft 10 S and ARM Processors are not supported, nor is the Edge browser – and macOS 10.12 or higher. But with the rise of mobile threats it’s also important to protect these devices, and as such the app can be installed on the two most significant mobile platforms, too. Android users will have to run at least version 4.1 while those with Apple devices will need iOS 9 or later and a 64-bit device for the latest version of the program.

The pricing structure for Trend Micro Maximum Security couldn’t be any simpler as there are only two choices both in terms of subscription length and the number of supported devices. The cheapest option costs $49.95 per year and includes support for up to five devices, covering both computers and mobile, but larger families that want to double the number of devices can do so for only ten extra dollars. The only other option is the two-year subscription at $79.90 and $119.90 for five and ten devices, respectively.

This pricing is fair given what’s under the hood of Trend Micro Maximum Security, which is much more than a simple antivirus thanks in large part to the fact that Pay Guard and the company’s password manager are included free. However, during checkout it’s also possible to add extra services at reduced price, too, as part of the “software + service plan” that Trend Micro has in place.

There are no free trials of Trend Micro Maximum Security but all purchases include a 30-day money-back guarantee that can be used for risk-free testing. Payment methods include credit cards and PayPal.

Just like the products it creates, Trend Micro also delivers good customer support. Even though the FAQ page only answers the basic questions for both technical and non-technical issues, there are video and product guides to help with the installation of the program or to explain some of its key features. Still, if more direct contact is needed then there’s no lack of choice: live chat, email via a ticket submission platform, or even assistance via Facebook Messenger. The last of these is not the only social network that can be used to contact Trend Micro, however, as the company also has profiles on Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.

The light scanning processes and the number of additional tools and features are only some of the biggest highlights of a multiplatform product made to prevent and attack even the least deadly digital menace. In addition, Maximum Security comes with attractive prices and was created by one of the world’s most reputable companies for internet security, enabling a focus on providing top quality customer support and offering other additional features on top.