Panda Dome Essential Antivirus Review 2019. Does it really protect you?

In this article we are going to check if Panda Dome Essential is a good antivirus for your home computer. Let’s review some of the features offered by Panda, and decide if this is something that you wanna try.

We’re going to review only the fundamental features, and most important modules of Panda Dome Essential.

If you feel like you’re getting curious about this antivirus, I suggest you go and check this page here, to get more detailed explanation of what each feature allows you to do, and some other details.

Want to skip the full review of Panda Dome Essential and get some real life experience with this antivirus?

You never know how exactly the specific program would work for your system. Even after reading hundreds of reviews, there is a chance that you wouldn’t like certain software. It could work just fine for most users, but might not meet your personal expectations.

Some software products are quite expensive, and it is understandable that you’re trying to find out as much as possible information about Panda Dome antivirus, prior to buying it.

Free version of Panda. Test it in combat.

Reading a review like this one, certainly helps to get the basic idea of the features, and main aspects of antivirus like Panda. With that said, sometimes it just works better to go ahead and try testing this software for a week or two by yourself.

In case you are not sure yet, but want to try Panda Antivirus in practice, I suggest you getting a free version, just to get the idea if it’s good enough, before you devote to upgrading to a premium version.

Panda Dome Essential. Exclusive discounts.

For those of you, who like this antivirus, but want a little bit smaller price, I got a Good News. If you decide that you want to give it a try with Panda, I have crafted special discounts for you only, if you visit this page here.

Now let’s get to the actual review…

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Panda Dome Essential installation process

What I personally enjoy about this antivirus, is that the installation process is fast and easy. Screenshot below is the final step of the setup process. Panda Dome Essential requires your email address for sake of granting you the entire protection experience.

You can choose not to enter your email. It is entirely up to you. But, at certain moment, when doing changes in the settings, Panda might request your email address again.

Panda Dome Essential. Review the User Interface

Since, I have Panda Dome Essential already installed let’s have a look into it’s UI. I must say, it is very intuitive, and easy to navigate. Quick access panel looks pretty similar to Apple’s iOS home screen.

Each and every module and feature of this antivirus is always in front of you. This makes it easy to find what you need. In addition to that – every feature have a custom icon so you can find it in no time.

If you navigate into any of the features from the main window, you could also enter a detailed customization mode, if you press a gear icon. Screenshot below shows the details settings after entering the “Antivirus” icon on the Quick Access panel.

You are also able to navigate into each feature by using the hamburger menu button on the left. In case you don’t like a quick access panel and prefer old fashioned style user interface.

Now, as we got introduced with the UI of Panda Essential from the broad perspective, let’s navigate through each module, and see what is available in Firewall, VPN, Wi-Fi Security module, and more.

Protection against hackers

Firewall

It has lots of settings inside. You can select one of 3 profiles depending on where you are currently using your computer. It can be work, home, or the public place. You are able to configure rules for each application separately. Allow inbound and outbound connections, or deny them. You can also specify the list of IP addresses and ports for each rule.

VPN

Is highly configurable. You can choose a country you wish to use as your VPN server (but only after upgrade). Panda Dome Essential plan allows you to transfer up to 150 MBs over the VPN. In case you are using this option rarely, I suggest you to have the auto-start VPN setting disabled.

USB Protection.

You can vaccinate your USB device, so it becomes less likely to infect any other Windows computer by not letting it auto-run the malware that can be present on the USB stick. You can turn auto-vaccinate feature on and off. Auto-scanning can also be enabled or disabled.

Control your processes

Process Monitor

It allows you to see the list of all currently running processes and  see their signature (signed or non-signed).

Non-signed process does not necessarily mean dangerous, it just makes it easier for you to find a source of a threat faster when you can check the process signature.

You can see which processes are currently accessing the internet. If you choose to view the detailed report, you can block specific applications from executing and move them to a quarantine.

You can also see the source URL of some applications. Nice feature, to be aware where the app was downloaded from, in case you were already using Panda at that time.

Rescue kit

Allows you to create a rescue USB stick so you can clean another computer that has been infected and doesn’t have Panda Dome installed yet. You can also perform advanced scanning of the current machine. This will install additional tool to your PC.

Wi-Fi security capabilities

Wi-Fi scanning

This feature allows you to get a complete security report for the current Wi-Fi network you are currently connected to.

Virtual keyboard

It helps you hide a sensitive data from key-loggers – nice addition.

My devices menu

It allows you to see and manage every device, that you have protected with Panda Dome antivirus.

Safe browsing feature

This module allows you to add list of safe websites.

Application monitor

Allows you to view and configure how Panda performs scanning of your applications. You are able to create a list of trusted applications, so you don’t get interrupted when not necessary.

Scanning

You can control different options of antivirus scanner:

• Different types of scanning (Critical areas only – Panda decides what to scan, Full Scan – can be fairly long, Custom folder scan – scan particular folders only). –Demonstrate quick scanning (Critical areas only).–
• If you go to ‘Antivirus’ menu area, you can add scheduled scans.
• You can also exclude certain folders or file extensions from being scanned.

How to get rid of the popups?

This section is a little bonus from me to those of you, who naturally hate those annoying popups.

After you have Panda Dome antivirus installed, you will be presented with Panda News popups quite frequently. I found myself to become really annoyed with this “nice feature” from Panda. Just check the screenshot below to get the idea.

Conclusion

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Overall protection features

Overall, Panda Dome Essential a nice security product, yet it is quite cheap. Rich list of features. Easy to use user interface (though someone might like or dislike iPhone like quick access panel – it’s a matter of preference).

VPN and Wi-Fi scanner work nicely in conjunction. Offering even greater level of protection for your device, in case you are using it in different networks frequently.

VPN client comes with a data allowance of 150MB per day. Unlimited VPN data for up to five devices, is offered for additional 10$ a month or 119$ a year.

USB protection along with USB vaccine and a rescue kit is an awesome additional feature you’ll definitely find useful.

Antivirus protection level and system impact of Panda

Panda Dome essential is using 3 levels of protection. Heuristic engine watches the running processes behaviour, and uploads suspicious files to cloud server to perform deep analysis to make sure you’re not getting infected with a new threat. This data helps to protect other Panda users, so this is a shared benefit of using Panda antivirus.

Panda Dome Essential demonstrated above average level of malware protection, leaving AVG and Avira free products behind, and getting close to Avast, by demonstrating malware detection ratio of 97%.

Panda antivirus has moderate impact on your system’s performance, and does it’s best in catching new threats that can’t be detected by virus signatures alone.

What are the downsides?

Panda Dome Essential lacks some nice features I enjoy in other similar products. This features are Passwords Manager, Webcam Spying protection, and a File Shredder. It would be nice to have them, but it’s not essential for most users. Just my personal preference.

The downside – this software would collect your usage statistics, and there is no opt-out for this. Not big of a deal, but just to make sure you are aware.