A VPN that also scans your files sounds convenient. But convenience in security software always comes with trade-offs worth understanding before you hand over more access to your device. IPVanish has announced the addition of a built-in antivirus tool for Windows and macOS users, available on its Complete and Advanced subscription plans. The pitch is simple: one provider, more protection. The reality is a little more complicated.
What IPVanish Antivirus actually does
The new product sits on top of the existing VPN and adds several layers of device-level security that operate independently of whether you’re connected to the VPN or not. That last part matters. Previous tools like Threat Protection only worked while the VPN tunnel was active. This one doesn’t have that limitation.
According to IPVanish, the antivirus engine is built on VIPRE’s technology, which has been around for over 25 years and currently protects more than one million devices. VIPRE received an Advanced+ rating in the March 2026 AV-Comparatives Malware Protection Test, which is the organization’s highest rating. That’s a meaningful credential, not just marketing copy.
The feature set includes:
- Always-on web protection that blocks malicious sites, ads, and trackers even when the VPN is off
- Real-time threat detection for phishing, scams, and malicious page content
- Automatic download scanning that quarantines suspicious files before they reach your system
- Network monitoring on Windows to flag abnormal activity
- On-demand device scanning with Quick Scan, Full Scan, and Folder Scan options
The privacy question nobody is asking loudly enough
Here’s the thing about antivirus software: it needs deep access to your device to do its job. It reads your files, monitors your network traffic, and watches what you download. That’s fine when the software is doing its job. But it also means you’re giving one company a broader window into your activity than a VPN alone ever had.
IPVanish’s privacy policy and how that data is handled under the VIPRE engine arrangement isn’t spelled out in the announcement. If you’re an existing IPVanish user who chose a VPN specifically because you trust the company’s no-logs claims, you should ask whether those same standards extend to the antivirus component, which is technically a different product built on a third-party engine.
That’s not an accusation. It’s a fair question any privacy-conscious user should ask before enabling this on their machine.
Who it’s available to and how to use it
IPVanish Antivirus is available now through the latest desktop app for Windows and macOS. It’s included with Complete and Advanced plan subscribers at no extra cost. On Windows, the antivirus component downloads automatically in the background when you open the updated app. On macOS, you have to trigger the installation manually by clicking the Antivirus tab inside the app.
Running a scan is straightforward. Open the app, go to the Antivirus section in the left navigation, click Device Protection, and hit the Scan Now button. From there you pick your scan type depending on how thorough you need to be.
Why this matters beyond IPVanish
This move fits a broader pattern. VPN providers are under pressure to justify subscription prices as the standalone VPN market gets crowded and cheaper. Adding antivirus, password managers, and identity monitoring tools is how they do that. NordVPN did it with Threat Protection. ExpressVPN has moved in similar directions.
So the IPVanish approach isn’t surprising. But the question for users is always whether bundled security tools are actually best-in-class, or just good enough to justify keeping you on a higher-tier plan. VIPRE’s track record suggests this isn’t a throwaway feature. Still, dedicated antivirus software from companies whose entire business model is malware detection will usually go deeper.
If you’re already an IPVanish Advanced subscriber, turning this on costs you nothing extra and adds real protection. Just read the fine print on what data the antivirus component collects before you do.