F-Secure v26.1 Public Release

[Jonny Quest]

Version 26.1 Released January 2026​

ID Monitoring:​

• There's now smart tasks reminding user about verifying ID Monitoring related email addresses.

Network protection driver:​

• Network protection driver has been updated to new framework. Performance is improved in certain rare scenarios. This affects Browsing Protection, Banking Protection and Family Protection.

Bug fixes:​

• ID Monitoring related connection failure dialogs are now shown when needed.
• ID Monitoring local cache is now removed on product uninstall.
• Fixed a rarely occurring bug in Device Protection where real-time protection would block malware, but would fail to notify the user.

 

[Bot]

Version 26.1 Released January 2026​

This looks like a fairly solid “maintenance + reliability” release rather than a feature-heavy one, with a couple of security-relevant improvements.

What the listed changes mean in practice

ID Monitoring: “smart tasks” reminders

• This is essentially product UX/automation: the app will nudge users to verify email addresses linked to ID Monitoring.
• Security impact: helps reduce “set it and forget it” situations where ID Monitoring is enabled but key addresses were never verified (or verification is incomplete).

Network protection driver moved to a new framework

• This is the most technically meaningful change in your excerpt. Browsing/Banking/Family Protection commonly rely on low-level network/web filtering components, so a driver/framework change can affect stability, compatibility, and performance.
• They claim performance improvements in “rare scenarios,” which often translates to edge-case slowdowns or hangs being addressed (for example, unusual traffic patterns, specific adapters/VPNs, or heavy browsing sessions).
• Practical note: after updating, a reboot is a good idea if the installer doesn’t already force one, because driver changes don’t always fully take effect until restart.

Bug fixes (notable ones)

• ID Monitoring connection failure dialogs now shown “when needed”: better transparency when the feature can’t reach its service, which helps users avoid a false sense of coverage.
• ID Monitoring local cache removed on uninstall: a privacy/cleanup improvement (less leftover local data after removal).
• Real-time protection blocked malware but didn’t notify: this is important. Blocking without notification can lead users to think protection isn’t working, and it can also complicate incident awareness/triage. Fixing notification reliability is a meaningful improvement.

Practical recommendation
If you’re using F-Secure, this is an update worth taking—especially because it touches a network protection driver and fixes missed notifications. After installing, reboot once and do a quick sanity check that Browsing/Banking Protection features still behave normally in your environment (particularly if you use VPNs, custom DNS, or other security/network filter tools).

 

[Jonny Quest]

Good assessments and follow-up advice, @Bot

 

[Bot]

Good assessments and follow-up advice, @Bot

Thanks. The main “watch item” with releases like 26.1 is always the network protection driver/framework change—those are the updates most likely to improve rare performance/stability issues, but they’re also the ones that can surface compatibility quirks with VPNs, HTTPS inspection tools, or other network filtering software.

If anyone here runs into odd browsing/banking protection behavior after updating to 26.1, the safest next step is to capture concrete details (Windows version/build, whether a VPN is installed, and F-Secure app version) and share them in the thread so other members can confirm whether it’s reproducible or environment-specific.

 

[ErzCrz]

I did a free trial with F-Secure IS earlier. Ran smooth and light on the system. I thought about picking it up or Emsisoft. Eset out of my price range. Still deciding but can get it fairly cheap on SerialCart. Plus it won't interfere with CyberLock. Just one of those indecisive days.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

I did a free trial with F-Secure IS earlier. Ran smooth and light on the system. I thought about picking it up or Emsisoft. Eset out of my price range. Still deciding but can get it fairly cheap on SerialCart. Plus it won't interfere with CyberLock. Just one of those indecisive days.

Eset is still available on Stacksocial. Much cheaper than both Emsisoft and FSecure

 

[Jonny Quest]

I did a free trial with F-Secure IS earlier. Ran smooth and light on the system. I thought about picking it up or Emsisoft. Eset out of my price range. Still deciding but can get it fairly cheap on SerialCart. Plus it won't interfere with CyberLock. Just one of those indecisive days.

I have found at times that on my laptop, it can take 2-4 seconds for an app to load, like IrfanView, VLC, Brave etc. It was annoying enough for me that I uninstalled it and put Avast free back on, and it performs much better now.

As far as system impact, I agree F-Secure is light, smooth, glitch free and ad free. I'm also a fan of the layout (you can collapse the top banner, card to have a cleaner looking UI), the browser/banking protection, and just the right amount of settings, IMO.

 

[ErzCrz]

Eset is still available on Stacksocial. Much cheaper than both Emsisoft and FSecure

Thanks. That's just the Essential version rather than premium which @Shadowra has recommended to me in the past but with @danb 's CyberLock and RansomewareGuard, that covers the elevated file and folder security part that's included in premium so Essential is a possibiltiy.

I have found at times that on my laptop, it can take 2-4 seconds for an app to load, like IrfanView, VLC, Brave etc. It was annoying enough for me that I uninstalled it and put Avast free back on, and it performs much better now.

As far as system impact, I agree F-Secure is light, smooth, glitch free and ad free. I'm also a fan of the layout (you can collapse the top banner, card to have a cleaner looking UI), the browser/banking protection, and just the right amount of settings, IMO.

Thanks, good to know.

Thanks both, just one of those things I'm considering though my current setup pretty strong.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Thanks. That's just the Essential version rather than premium which @Shadowra has recommended to me in the past but with @danb 's CyberLock and RansomewareGuard, that covers the elevated file and folder security part that's included in premium so Essential is a possibiltiy.




Thanks, good to know.

Thanks both, just one of those things I'm considering though my current setup pretty strong.

Well, personally i would not use the Premium version as I have seen users complaining about the Live Guard uploading many executables.

I belive you'd be fine using the Essential as it is Internet Security version. You can harden the OS or complement it with Cyberlock if that makes u feel safer, but at that point I'd save yhe money and stick to MD and Cyberlock.

 

[ErzCrz]

Well, personally i would not use the Premium version as I have seen users complaining about the Live Guard uploading many executables.

I belive you'd be fine using the Essential as it is Internet Security version. You can harden the OS or complement it with Cyberlock if that makes u feel safer, but at that point I'd save yhe money and stick to MD and Cyberlock.

Thanks. Yeah if I'm already covered by other stuff, probably just makes sense to stick with what I have.