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Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
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We need more than a basic antivirus program in today’s fast-paced world. If you want features like identity theft protection services and credit monitoring, you may find Aura offers the comprehensive solutions you need. Antivirus programs protect you from malware, but what about the other options you may want, like financial protection?
Aura Antivirus offers more than your run-of-the-mill antivirus software. The installation includes features like a secure VPN for safe internet browsing. And depending on what plan you get, Aura Antivirus offers financial transaction monitoring, and credit protection. Aura's Ultimate antivirus plan includes up to $1,000,000 of identity theft insurance, and all plans include 24/7 customer support.
With annual plans starting at $3.00/mo for the first year, we think Aura is packed with solutions to make your life simpler and safer.
Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
| Price | $3.00-$5.00/mo for the first year (billed annually) |
| Free plan | No |
| # of devices protected | Up to 10 |
| Malware scans | Yes |
| Firewall | No |
| Phishing protection | Yes |
| Parental controls | No |
| Learn more | Get Aura Antivirus |
Aura is great for users who want options, whether you need antivirus protection as an individual or want something to protect your entire household. There are three different security plans to fit various needs. The Ultimate plan comes with $1,000,000 identity theft insurance.
The most economical plans are billed annually, so keep that in mind when you select the option that’s best for you. Since Aura has many standard features, we think this cybersecurity suite may check all those security boxes for most people.
Aura has three plans to accommodate most needs: Antivirus, Antivirus Plus, and Ultimate. The Antivirus plan starts at $3.00/mo for the first year, the Antivirus Plus plan starts at $4.00/mo for the first year, and the Ultimate plan starts at $5.00/mo for the first year. These are all billed annually, so it’s something to be aware of before purchasing.
These prices are a bit on the high side if you compare them to Norton 360, which starts at $29.99/first yr. We do like the all-encompassing approach Aura uses for security protection. This may make it well worth the cost for some users. For those who may be more on the fence and don’t mind spending a bit extra, you can choose the monthly option. Paying for an entire year of antivirus protection upfront may be off-putting, but the savings and peace of mind can be worth the price.
| Antivirus | Antivirus Plus | Ultimate | |
| Monthly price (billed annually) | $3.00/mo for the first year | $4.00/mo for the first year | $5.00/mo for the first year |
| # devices supported | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Compatible with | Windows, Mac, Android | Windows, Mac, Android | Windows, Mac, Android |
| Manual and auto scan | |||
| Phishing protection | |||
| Firewall | |||
| Real-time protection | |||
| Ransomware protection | |||
| Parental controls | |||
| Performance optimization tools | |||
| VPN | |||
| Details | View Plan | View Plan | View Plan |
Aura comes standard with most features you’d want from a security suite. It focuses on being an all-in-one software, giving you antivirus protection, a VPN, a password manager, and security for multiple devices. The password manager offers safe storage and retrieval for online credentials, and the financial fraud protection gives users more peace of mind when shopping or banking online.
The antivirus protection offers manual and real-time scans that run in the background to keep your device safe. You won’t be able to schedule a scan, but you can choose among Full, Quick, or Custom scanning options.
We had no issues running Aura’s antivirus scan on our Macbook Air. It checked over 312,000 files in around 10 minutes and notified us of threats placed in quarantine.
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Aura has the Safe Browsing feature that automatically blocks suspicious websites and prevents users from accessing harmful phishing websites. There’s nothing extra for the user to do, and Aura will notify you when it has stopped a potentially malicious download and explain why.
One of the features Aura does not come with is a firewall. Some users could consider this a drawback because a firewall helps prevent unauthorized traffic from viewing your private data. Many people have a firewall as a first line of defense strategy against hackers.
Aura’s real-time protection scans every file you attempt to add to your computer. That means that before you can download new software, Aura will ensure it’s safe. The caveat is that it’s only available for PCs, so if you’re a macOS user, you won’t have this feature. Since we were testing this software on our Macbook Air, we couldn’t verify its potential.
One of the ways hackers try to steal your data is with the use of ransomware. Much like the name implies, these cybercriminals hold your data for ransom until you pay them whatever fee they request. Aura checks for all kinds of malware, including ransomware. The threat will be isolated and quarantined to keep your device secure if anything is detected. After seven days, the files are automatically deleted. There is no setting to enable this protection, so it’s ready to work when you set up your account.
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Aura's Ultimate antivirus plan comes with Identity Theft Insurance and the White Glove Fraud Resolution features. The adult on the plan gets $1,000,000 in insurance that covers fees and losses resulting from identity theft. Also, with the White Glove Fraud Resolution, there is a U.S.-based team to help resolve these issues and mitigate the damages. Aura makes the process simple if you have the misfortune of needing the service, with a few easy steps to follow to get help.
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This antivirus comes with extra features that enhance your online security. Some of these may persuade you to pay for Aura’s all-inclusive cybersecurity solution.
Aura uses AI to scan for unknown calls and messages before your phone even rings. If you’re bothered by annoying spam calls and messages throughout the day, this feature adds the layer of protection you need to keep those communication attempts at bay.
When using public Wi-Fi, everyone needs a secure network for better online protection. Aura’s virtual private network is easy to set up, and you can choose when to use it.
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To help users stay safe online, Aura helps remove your private information from data brokers and search listings. These sites can sell your data, increasing the chances of placing it into the hands of scammers.
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Aura’s password manager is another protection layer that helps you store your online credentials in a secure location. You can access passwords across devices, and it’s built into the software, so there’s nothing for you to do. You can even import accounts from another password manager if needed.
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Being bombarded by various online ads can be intrusive and distracting when browsing online. Aura’s Anti-Track and Ad Blocker feature keeps those trackers and ads from invading your space while your online activity remains private. You can feel safer knowing those pesky ads aren’t stalking you online.
Aura seems to have your financial security in mind with this software. There are alerts for inquiries into your credit across three major credit bureaus. It also includes a credit lock feature that will lock your Experian file to protect you from identity theft. A monthly VantageScore credit score is included to keep you informed of any changes in your report.
Aura doesn't offer parental controls with its antivirus-specific plans. But Aura does offer parental controls as part of other available plans if you want to get alerts about things like cyberbullying threats, as well as manage the time your children spend on different apps, including Snapchat and YouTube.
When reviewing antivirus software, we often rely on third-party testing sites to help give an accurate illustration of how the program performs. These tests put the software against real-world scenarios to see how it stacks against malware threats. This gives users a better indication of how it will work at home.
Aura has no third-party testing available. The lack of testing means we couldn’t verify how the antivirus holds up in these real-world environments. That doesn’t mean Aura isn’t a reliable software, as these companies must pay for the testing, and it could get quite pricey. It means that aside from our product testing, we cannot verify how it might perform regarding usability and protection.
We tested Aura Antivirus on a Macbook Air, running Sonoma 14.0. The interface was simple to use, and we didn’t notice any lag time when running scans, even having numerous browser tabs open simultaneously.
It took a little over 10 minutes to run a full scan and check over 300,000 files. Aura found some threats and immediately quarantined them. Afterward, we could review and delete them or leave them in quarantine for up to seven days.
If you want safe browsing on all devices, you’ll need to install it on each one you want to protect. That’s no problem; you can simply scan the QR code with your smartphone when downloading it for mobile security.
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The scanning was easy, and we had no issues navigating the interface. Again, you won’t be able to schedule a scan with Aura antivirus, but you can run a manual scan anytime you want. Fortunately, real-time security protection is constantly running in the background to check for any malicious software.
Most options are turned on by default, so there’s not much for you to do. It was nice to have the dark web monitoring and data broker removal features ready when we logged into the Aura dashboard.
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With everything Aura has going for it, we were impressed with the software. Signing up only took a few minutes, and downloading the application was fast and easy.
We did notice it got a couple of things wrong, though. For one, it mixed up the street address and city of our location. It also showed a car title from a car owned in 2000 but none more recent. Neither of these were cause for great alarm, though. They were simply errors we noticed with the software.
Aura also alerted us during testing that it found two malware threats. Upon further investigation, we found that it was an application that was not harmful, but we didn’t find a way to notify Aura of the false positive.
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Overall, we thought Aura got a lot of things right with this antivirus software. Although there were some false positives, we’d rather be safe than sorry about possible computer viruses. For users on a budget, the price of Aura may be daunting, but if you have a family and want a few extra bells and whistles, Aura may be worth the cost. We feel that identity theft protection and parental controls do a thorough job of keeping data safe for families or individual users.
When searching for the best antivirus protection for your family, you may need compatibility for various devices. Aura works with almost any device, making it easy for multiple users who share a plan. These are the devices and platforms that will work with Aura:
During testing, we didn’t need to contact customer support, but if you do, there are some options for service. If you’d rather investigate an issue yourself, Aura has a help center that contains numerous categories for assistance.
You can also use the phone support option or chat with a specialist from 9 am to 6 pm EST Monday through Friday.
One of the hardest parts of finding the right antivirus is sorting through the availability. Many of them have similar features, but sometimes prices and compatibility can vary, among other options. In case Aura doesn’t fit your needs, we have some alternatives you might like more.
Aura is better than Norton if you have more than 10 devices to protect. Aura has a Family plan that includes antivirus and covers up to 50 devices for five adults. Plus, you’d have to purchase additional coverage — like identity theft protection — separately with Norton. Aura offers a comprehensive cybersecurity suite. Learn more about Aura vs. LifeLock in our detailed review.
Aura includes features like a VPN and private browsing, alongside broader security suite options, such as $1,000,000 worth of identity insurance coverage. With all the options you get with this software, we think the protection is more than just good.
If you are looking for an emphasis on identity protection and credit monitoring, Aura may be better than McAfee. The tools included will alert you to fraud and notify you of sensitive data found in public records or on the dark web.
Aura is a legitimate company. Although there are no third-party testing scores available, that does not mean it is not a credible antivirus program. Companies must pay for the testing services, so some antivirus products don’t include them.
Overall, Aura Antivirus is solid. The product downloads without any issues, and the scans run in a short amount of time. There are lots of features that work to keep your identity safe and your device more secure.
Aura is especially good for people who want multiple device coverage with extra features like a secure VPN and dark web monitoring. If the price is a bit too much for your needs, you could consider another of the best antivirus solutions.
Anti-ransomware, spyware, adware, worms, trojan, and rootkits protection
Real-time protection scans, phishing and scam site prevention, and ability to quickly isolate dangerous files
Choice between 3 plans, all of which include a VPN, Safe Browsing, and 24/7 customer support
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