PC Matic Review

If you have been searching for an antivirus for your computer or device, you may have heard of PC Matic. This company was developed by PC Pitstop—a company from Iowa. This antivirus takes a different, unique approach to tacking online viruses, which we will discuss soon.

PC Matic Review: Is it Any Good?

Yes, PC Matic is a good choice for an antivirus. However, PC Matic isn’t your typical antivirus at all. It’s a set of optimization tools that will boost your system’s performance, and the antivirus is part of the package.

You see, the company believes that whitelisting is the best tool against malware. Updated whitelists minimize the likelihood that of malware and ransomware taking over your system. This product also increases your network’s security and could speed up business growth.

It is especially useful for those with older computers or those using Windows XP because it is one of the few antiviruses that is compatible. Users looking for an all-in-one product will also benefit from PC Matic.

Highlights and Features

Here are some highlights and features of PC Matic.

A unique approach to detecting and eliminating malware
Whitelisting, Fileless Script Block, and RDP Port Controls
Compatible with all versions of Windows OS
Full support of Android devices
Automated PC Maintenance
Low system impact
Smartphone optimizer
Built-in Adblocker
User-Friendly
Easy installation
30-day money-back guarantee
Available in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese

Reliability and Security

Whitelisting is a rather new way of detecting malware, so you may be wondering, does it work? Typically, antiviruses create blacklists of evolving malware codes and algorithms. PC Matic takes the opposite approach: it creates a whitelist of known safe files. When it comes across a file from the list, it clears it.

Any other files are sent to the company’s research team for analysis. It may take up to a day to categorize the files as safe or not.

PC Matic also uses the Fileless Script Block, original to this company, that works well at detecting malicious activity. The RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) Controls then prevents hackers from access to RDP ports.

Because PC Matic is not a typical antivirus, it can be difficult to test it. However, it does have some good test results. Virus Bulletin tested this software in a variety of tests, and it earned a perfect detection rating. However, in the VB100 test, it failed several times, but that is because PC Matic sometimes blocks valid programs.

In the AV-Comparatives tests, the antivirus earned another perfect score in the zero-day attacks test, but it also blocked some legitimate programs. Overall, PC Matic has been successful in blocking all malware, even if it blocks some other harmless programs. It is better to be safe than sorry, though!

Scanning Options

Just like the way they detect malware takes a different approach, PC Matic’s scanning options are a bit different too. Instead of running specific tests that focus on malware, you will run a full scan. The full scans include complete disc fragmentation, performance improvements, and malware protection.

Performance, security, maintenance, and stability are the basics of this scan. The scans check specifically for junk files, driver updates, and potential malware. Then, it runs some benchmark tests and creates a report.

In the report, you will see the color-coded results. Green is good, of course. Failed tests are red, gray means that a test was skipped, and yellow, blue, and purple tests mean that tips and solutions are given to resolve whatever issue was found.

Other Security Features

The AdBlocker is another security feature. Have you ever been browsing for a product on Amazon, and then suddenly, you see a bunch of advertisements for the exact product you were looking at? It’s not in your head! Ads collect personal information and browsing habits.

The Adblocker works well, and it will rid your system of malicious and annoying ads. This is a great tool that not all antiviruses have.

PC Matic’s Automated Maintenance is impressive at improving your system’s performance. It runs automatically when you scan the PC. This tool does a full scan and does the following:

Removes junk files
Optimizes broadband
Updates drivers on the OS
Cleans the registry
Defragments local discs
Improves SSD performance
Speeds up downloads on internet browsers
Patches security issues in software

Performance

This product has minimal impact on an OS. On the official website, hardware requirements include 1GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, and 1GB of free space on the hard drive. That’s very minimal! PC Matic is probably the least demanding antivirus out there in affecting the performance of a system.

Ease of Use

You may think, since this product is different from most of the others in the way it works, that it may not be as user-friendly. Well, thankfully, that’s not true. Customers affirmed that it is easy to use. This program was originally designed for PCs (Hence the name), but Android is also compatible.

Installation is simple, quick, and easy. There are a ton of available options, which may be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you start using it, you will see the interface is easy to use. Another perk is that this product doesn’t “warn” you with pop-up messages all the time. It pretty much leaves you alone and only tells you if there’s an issue.

Pricing

There are two subscriptions for this product: an annual subscription for $50, and a lifetime subscription for $150. These plans offer protection for up to five devices. Customers can purchase licenses for up to 125 devices, though, which makes this an excellent choice for businesses. The lifetime subscription is a great deal, and no other antivirus out there offers a deal like this one.

These prices are fair and affordable compared to other antiviruses out there. Also, there’s a free version too, but it only allows the user to run scans. If it finds any issues, they won’t be able to fix them unless they order a paid plan. Both paid plans offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Customer Service

The PC Matic official website offers a plethora of helpful information, including a FAQ page, how-to videos, and user guides. The customer service page offers an interactive knowledge base. This is not as easy as a live chat, but you will be able to get answers to most of your issues.

On the technical support page, you can send a message to the support team. It should take no more than 24 hours for a reply.

In addition, there’s a 32-page user guide with the most detailed of information on all this product’s features. Installation, logging in, and system cleaning are a few of the topics covered here.

Reviews 2019

Most of the reviews we looked at regarding PC Matic are positive. Customers love the new anti-malware approach using whitelisting. They also find security features like the Adblocker and the Automated Maintenance beneficial and helpful.

One reviewer wrote, “I have been using PC Matic for close to a year now and have never had a problem. If there was something I didn’t understand or questioned, I contacted their customer support and couldn’t have been more satisfied with the results or their answers. No Anti-Virus program is fool-proof and with the ever-increasing hacking attempts and constant technology changes, it is rare to find a company that is one step ahead.”

Other reviewers made the same type of comments.

The only negatives we found were that Macs and IOS devices are not supported and that sometimes this program blocks legitimate websites (which is to be expected).

www.pcmatic.com

On PC Matic’s website, you can find so much useful information on this security software. When you click on the site, you will see a map of the United States, and recent cyber-attacks are signaled with blue spots. It is good to know that they aggressively keep up with all the recent attacks.

One of their logos is “We thrive on innovation,” and we can confirm that while reviewing their product. They “provide leading security solutions for every vertical that are affordable and easy to use.”

You can find products, support, and more about the company on their website. You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter by providing your email address.

Pros and Cons

Just like all antiviruses, there are some pros and cons to this product. Thankfully, the pros outweigh the cons.

We like:

The whitelist approach to anti-malware protection
Affordable, and the Lifetime subscription is a great value
PC optimization tools are great
30-day money-back guarantee

We don’t like:

The antivirus may block valid programs
Not available for Mac or IOS
No phone support or live chat

Bottom Line?

The bottom line is that we recommend PC Matic to anyone with a PC or Android. This is a great software that is one step ahead in the malware protection world. The prices are affordable, the amount of information they offer on their products is excellent, and most importantly: this program will not only protect your device, but it will also improve its performance.