Cylance for Windows

Basic antivirus alternative

Cyclance is a security application for Windows that works to protect your device from threats, such as malware, hackers, viruses, and other malicious websites. The app relies completely on artificial intelligence and machine learning to distinguish malware from legitimate programs. With this, it works without the bloat of the traditional antivirus.

The app does a good job against most internet-based malware. However, compared to Norton and McAfee, users will find Cyclance to be a bit basic. Unlike the two popular apps, it does not offer that many internet security tools. It is also on the average side in terms of protection. 

What is Cyclance?

Cyclance is a relatively new virus protection program. As mentioned, this app utilizes artificial intelligence in detecting malware and other internet-based threats. In doing so, it can observe the behavior of websites in real-time. Additionally, it prevents attacks before they happen rather than relying on users to report the attack. With this, your device is protected before a threat gets to it.

As with similar products, you can start by creating an online account after your purchase. Then, you can download and run the appropriate installer. You will then get an installation token that will activate the product. Unlike F-Secure and other competitors, there are no signatures needed in the installation. You also don't need configuration tweaks. Moreover, you can share the download link and installation token with other users via email.

Performance-wise, Cyclance does its job of detecting malware-hosting websites. It does not notify users about the threats but instead quarantines dangerous files and automatically deletes them after a month. It also continuously scans the devices for malware threats. However, the app does not offer various tools that other security apps offer. Moreover, it only comes at 95% when it comes to virus detection, which is decent but not industry-standard.  

Should you use the app?

Overall, Cyclance is a decent choice if you are looking for an inexpensive yet effective antivirus alternative. The app uses AI technology to detect threats before they attack your device. It is also lightweight and easy to set up and use. However, it lacks the full range of protection features found in many competitors. It also does not score a perfect detection rate. Nevertheless, it does the job.