How do you review security software? If it is doing its job effectively then it is the sort of program that should remain largely invisible and you rarely need to interact with it.

What it needs to do is provide peace of mind that it is acting in your best interests without being memory hungry and therefore affecting performance.

In this review we take a look at Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus

Gone are the days when security meant anti-virus. Yes, any software you rely upon to keep you safe has to identify viruses and effectively deal with them, but in 2025 it needs to do so much more.

This is where Trend Micro’s offering comes in, featuring anti-virus as a single instrument in a security toolkit designed to keep you protected from bad actors and at times, even yourself.

What is Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus?

Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus offers AI-powered device, identity and scam protection across PC, Mac, mobile phones and tablets. It’s components are:

  • Antivirus, malware, ransomware & spyware protection
  • Password management
  • Scam and spam protection
  • VPN
  • Dark Web monitoring
  • Parental controls

Installation

First up you need to set up an account to hold your subscription status and order history. You will then be prompted to enter your activation code which is issued to you upon purchase

Upon successfully downloading , the installer package first checks that your system is capable of running the software, installs the suite and confirms a successful installation.

You are then prompted with installing the browser Toolbar on the browser of your choice. The program is compatible with

  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox

Trend Micro Toolbar

Lets face it, most people interact with the web daily. In the old days you ran programs and security software was designed primarily to stop downloaded malicious content running.

We live on browsers now so the key approach of Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus is to protect you from threats online, facilitated through a browser or on mobile

The Trend Micro Toolbar provides that protection via 5 main functions

  • Web Threat protection
  • Email Defender
  • Ad Blocker
  • Privacy Scanner
  • Pay Guard

Web Threat protection

Identifies potential threats as you browse the web by flagging known and potentially dangerous sites. It highlights the link before you click on it.

Email defender

Provides live monitoring of potentially dangerous links for scams or spam and is compatible with Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo Mail.

In our testing this is one of the more common visualisations of the suite in day-to-day operation. We found that not every warning was justified but users can play their part in improving email defender by reporting false alarms

But not every item of obvious spam was detected such as this bogus email regarding a PayPal payment in Gmail. I took the opportunity to report it as a scam.

Another example, this time in Yahoo Mail was successfully identified.

Ad Block

I must admit I struggle with this component as ads pay the bills but of course it is entirely optional. Pop-up ads are my exception. They are simply annoying and should be outlawed. There is also the option to retain ads on websites you nominate. An exclusion list.

Privacy Scanner

In my testing Trend Micro issued 2 warnings about potential privacy issues. Both of these were highlighted as I allow Friends of Friends to see my posts. Whilst I am ok with that it was reassuring to know that it was highlighted and ultimately I made the call to accept that setting.

Pay Guard

Pay Guard is designed to detect any sites that you interact with that involve payments of any sort. This feature essentially isolates the browser window, sandboxing the transaction to insure integrity of the organisation taking your money. Known dodgy sites just don’t make the grade. To be honest I found this a little annoying as it opens a separate window, identical to the one you visited but again you receive reassurance that the software is doing everything it can to protect you. YOU make the choice whether to allow it to do what it is designed to do or turn it off altogether.

Old school virus protection

As mentioned earlier this is such a fundamental aspect of any security software suite and could be easily overlooked. Scheduled, regular scans are undertaken that identify and quarantine any potential threat if it happens to get under the radar. You are reminded of it’s presence when any file is downloaded, when scheduled scans are about to be conducted or they have completed.

Mobile protection

There would be users out there who would wonder why all the fuss about protecting a PC or Mac when they rarely, if at all use those devices. They spend all their time on mobile devices such as phones and tablets.

Trend Micro replicates its functionality for your devices, whether they be running Android or iOS so it makes sense to go into this task of protecting you and your data by investing in a multi device licence. Trend Micro have plans to cover 3 or 6 devices and options for 1 or 2 year terms.

Functionality in the mobile platform duplicates that on a PC with some specific tools relevant to these mobile devices.

How do you protect your other devices?

For mobile protection, installation can be implemented via QRCode, link, or email. You are advised to download the app then assign one of your licences to the device by signing into your account.

The Security Pro Plus subscription entitles you to access

  • protection against identity theft
  • encryption of personal information  
  • Safesurfing (the mobile equivalent of Pay Guard)
  • Fraud Buster – scam and spam protection whilst using iMessage in iOS and SMS/MMS messages and app notifications on Android devices
  • Calendar Guard – detects suspicious links in calendar events
  • WiFi checker – an essential tool if you are on unfamiliar wifi networks such as coffee shops and other businesses.
  • Data Usage tracker
  • Device Access Status – ensures you have an active passcode, are running the latest OS and that no unauthorized modifications have been installed
  • Lost device protection – Makes it easy to locate, lock or wipe a missing mobile device

Weirdly, different terminology is used from iOS to Android in what appears to be the same functionality. Safesurfing in iOS is Pay Guard Mobile on Android

The iOS version also offers Calendar Guard but that cannot be found in Android. Android also gives you the power remove unwanted apps or to stop all running apps, a feature most Apple nerds will tell you is unnecessary in iOS

iOS on the left and Android on the right

Verdict

For those that want the ultimate security package you can’t go past such an extensive suite of tools to ensure your every move is monitored and your safety protected. For others that feel that they don’t need handholding, know that most of the elements of the Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus can be switched off.

Many years ago consumers tended to switch off certain aspects of invasive software such as this as it simply bogged down the computer due to its memory hogging implementation. With Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus you won’t even know it is running. That’s a good thing. You won’t know it’s running until the day comes that you need to know it is running.

Trend Micro Security Suite Pro Plus can be downloaded from the Trend Micro Australian site here and is currently priced at $119 for a 3 device, 12 month subscription. A 6 licence version is $179.95