TotalAV

An antivirus suite that sells a VPN as one tier feature

TotalAV is antivirus software first. Its homepage calls it "Award-Winning Antivirus & Security Software," and the VPN, branded Total VPN, is one component of the bundle rather than the product itself. For readers here, the relevant parts are Total VPN, the Adblock tool and the WebShield site blocker, and this listing treats the antivirus only as the thing they come packaged with.

On who can buy it, the plans are sold directly from the site and priced in US dollars. The site's language menu offers English, Dansk, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Norsk, Polski, Português, Svenska, Česky and Türkçe, and the apps are listed for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, with footnotes saying they work on "most modern versions" and that device features may vary. The site does not list payment methods, does not link specific app store listings, and does not say that any country is excluded. There is no free plan or trial on the product pages; every tier is a paid subscription.

The footer names the business behind the site: it gives "Total Security US LLC, 250 Northern Avenue, Floor 3, Boston, MA 02210," a company number of 10161957, and a copyright line for "Total Security Limited." The subscription FAQ also refers to "related brands under the Total Security umbrella, such as Total Adblock or Total VPN," which the provider presents as sister products that can share one login.

Logging, ownership and the audit question

The site does not name an independent audit of its logging policy. More than that, none of the product pages make a specific statement about what the VPN logs or does not log. They describe Total VPN as using "AES-256 encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, and a VPN kill switch," and say it helps "protect your privacy," but there is no no-logs claim to attribute and no summary of what connection data is kept or for how long. A privacy policy is linked in the footer, and the product pages do not summarize it.

The award language on the site concerns the antivirus, not the VPN. The Internet Security page says TotalAV "has earned top marks from independent labs for malware detection, real-time protection and performance," and the homepage calls it "independently tested, award-recognised." The site does not name the labs or the tests, and none of this covers the VPN's logging. A Trustpilot widget appears on the homepage, but the page shows no rating figure.

On jurisdiction, the only facts on the pages are the footer entities above: a US LLC with a Boston address and a company styled Total Security Limited. The site does not say which of the two operates the VPN, where the VPN servers are run from, or which country's law governs user data, though the footer does link an Impressum.

Ad and tracker blocking, and what the VPN adds

The ad and tracker tools are the reason TotalAV sits in this category. The homepage says the Adblock tool can "remove intrusive ads, pop-ups, and notifications that clutter your favourite sites" and offers "in-page ad blocking for a cleaner, faster browsing experience." The Total Security page adds that one click can remove persistent notifications and that blocked ads can mean "faster loading times." WebShield is described as a "first line of defence against fake, scam, phishing, and 'spoofed' websites." The suite also includes tools to "clear tracking cookies and browsing traces" and to remove browsing history and cached data, plus Data Breach monitoring that alerts users when their email appears in known public breach data. A footnote tempers all of this: blocking results "may differ by device and network conditions."

Total VPN itself is described briefly. The site says it encrypts the connection with AES-256 on home networks or public Wi-Fi and includes DNS/IP leak protection and a kill switch. The Total Security page says it offers "over 35 country locations available around the globe," and a footnote says server locations "are subject to change" with "comparable alternative locations" offered where possible. The site does not publish a server count, the VPN protocols it uses, split tunneling, or speed figures. On streaming, the Total Security page says users can "enjoy your favourite shows and streams without interruptions" while traveling, but the footnotes add that access to geo-restricted content and streaming services "is subject to provider terms and may vary by region." No streaming service is named, and the site says nothing about torrenting.

The password manager, Total Password, uses AES-256 and offers autofill for Chrome and Firefox; it comes only with the top tier. System tools cover junk file removal and uninstalling unused apps.

Plans, prices, refunds and renewals

The product pages show three plans, each priced per year. Total AV Plus is $99 per year for 4 devices, Internet Security is $129 per year for 6 devices, and Total Security is $149 per year for 8 devices. The VPN is not in Plus: the site says Total VPN "is included with Internet Security and Total Security plans," and that Total Password is "included exclusively in the Total Security plan," though both can be bought separately alongside Plus. Adblock is listed as part of the Total Security page's pitch; the site says some displayed features are only available in higher tiers.

Renewal is where the fine print matters. The FAQ says there are "monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual subscription plans that automatically renew unless canceled," but the site shows only the yearly prices. A plan left running "will automatically renew at the then-regular rate," and a footnote says "introductory pricing may be available to first-time customers" with renewals "billed at the standard rate unless otherwise stated." The pages point to a pricing matrix but do not print the renewal price for any tier. The site says it gives at least 15 days' notice before an annual renewal.

The refund terms are stated clearly. Annual and biannual plans carry a 30-day money-back guarantee, monthly and quarterly plans and add-ons a 14-day one. A refund requires fully terminating the subscription first; turning off auto-renewal alone does not trigger one, and an approved refund ends access immediately. Cancellation runs through the online portal's My Subscriptions section. Support links in the footer go to a knowledge base and a contact page; the site does not state support hours or channels.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The gaps are mostly about the VPN. There is no logging statement for Total VPN on the site, no named audit, no server count or protocol list, and no named streaming services. The renewal price for each tier is not printed, and the site does not say which of the named Total Security companies runs the VPN or where its user data is held. Payment methods are not listed.

What the site does lay out is the bundle and its terms: which tier includes the VPN, how many devices each covers, the 30-day and 14-day refund windows, and the auto-renewal rules. TotalAV suits someone who wants antivirus, ad and tracker blocking and a basic VPN under one subscription, on up to 8 devices, and who reads the renewal terms before buying. It fits less well someone choosing a VPN primarily on its logging policy, protocols or streaming reach, since the site gives little detail on any of them.