Avira Antivirus Pro is a paid, subscription-based security program for Windows and Mac. It protects a computer against viruses, ransomware, phishing and other malware. It uses the same scan engine and cloud detection as Avira Free Security (formerly Avira Free Antivirus). It adds web protection, behavior-based ransomware blocking and, on Windows, its own firewall.
How real-time detection works
The core of Avira Antivirus Pro is a background scanner. It checks files at the moment they are opened, copied or otherwise accessed. When a file looks suspicious, Avira compares its fingerprint against the cloud database. It does not rely only on definitions stored on the computer.
Detection combines heuristic analysis, machine learning and AI-based checks. Avira calls the cloud side of this “swarm intelligence”. Once it identifies a new threat on one customer’s device, it passes the resulting protection on to all users. Virus definitions also update automatically.
Scan types and scheduling
Besides real-time protection, Avira Antivirus Pro lets the user start scans manually or on a schedule:
- Full scan covers the entire system.
- Quick scan checks the areas malware most often targets.
- Predefined scans target specific parts of the system.
- Custom scans cover locations the user chooses.
The user can set scheduled scans to a chosen frequency, day and time. A quick system scan is enabled by default and runs in the background every seven days.
Smart Scan is a single-click check that goes beyond malware. It also looks for outdated software, network threats, privacy weaknesses and performance problems. One pass therefore gives an overview of the computer’s general state. A separate device scanner checks removable drives for malware on both Windows and Mac.
Quarantine
The scanner moves the files it flags into quarantine, where they cannot run. From there the user decides whether to delete a file or attempt to repair it.
Ransomware blocking by behavior
This is one of the main differences from the free edition. Avira Free Security recognizes ransomware by its signature, which depends on the threat already being known. Avira Antivirus Pro adds behavior analysis. It watches for actions typical of ransomware, such as switching off security controls or encrypting files. It blocks the process performing them. This allows it to stop ransomware variants that have no signature yet.
Web protection and phishing
On Windows, Avira Antivirus Pro checks websites before they load and blocks pages classified as malicious, phishing or spam. The same component scans downloads for potentially unwanted applications. It also helps prevent drive-by downloads, where a site tries to install software without the user’s action. The user can adjust its behavior in the settings.
The anti-phishing layer targets pages that try to capture credit card numbers, bank details and passwords. It also protects against banking trojans and keyloggers, which steal the same information directly from the computer.
Avira Antivirus Pro additionally blocks potentially unwanted applications, the bundled “bloatware” that installs adware or unwanted browser toolbars. Avira Antivirus Pro can also scan files kept in cloud storage services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
Avira Firewall on Windows
The Windows version of Avira Antivirus Pro includes Avira Firewall, which monitors installed programs and blocks applications it considers risky. It notifies the user when it repels an attack. The firewall works on its own and does not need the built-in Windows firewall to be switched on. It adds a further layer on top of the protection Windows provides.
The Mac version
On macOS, Avira Antivirus Pro provides a real-time scanner, a system scanner, an integrated scheduler and quarantine management. It also provides an activity stream that records the program’s actions. The firewall and the Windows web protection component are not part of the Mac edition.
Browser-level protection on the Mac comes through Avira Browser Safety, a free extension for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. It adds ad blocking, a tracking blocker, phishing protection and warnings about unsafe sites.
Bundled Avira tools
The subscription comes with several other Avira applications that cover privacy and maintenance rather than malware:
- Avira Phantom VPN encrypts web traffic for private browsing.
- Avira Password Manager helps create strong passwords.
- Avira Software Updater (Windows) finds and installs updates for programs, apps and drivers, closing known security holes in third-party software.
- Avira System Speedup (Windows) handles performance tuning.
The Pro editions of these four tools are part of Avira Prime instead.
Free, Pro and the larger packages
| Function | Avira Free Security | Avira Antivirus Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time scanning and cloud detection | Yes | Yes |
| Manual and scheduled scans | Yes | Yes |
| Ransomware protection | Signature-based | Behavior-based |
| Web protection (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Avira Firewall (Windows) | No | Yes |
Avira Antivirus Pro is sold for one, three or five devices. Avira Internet Security and Avira Prime also contain it. These packages add the Pro versions of some of the bundled Avira tools. The Pro edition shows no advertising and includes unlimited support by phone or email.
