FortiClient

Fortinet is a technology firm that is better known for its digital enterprise protection solutions and network security appliances; FortiGate is the name of the company's flagship cybersecurity solution, and FortiClient is an app that provides access and tools to manage FortiGate. It so happens that FortiClient 5.0 is an app that can also be used for personal computing purposes, and it offers plenty of value to Windows users.

Getting to Know FortiClient for Windows

The primary goal of FortiClient is to support FortiGate customers who subscribe to various Fortinet security services. Let's say your company purchases a Fortinet hardware firewall; in order to configure it, you would have to download and install FortiClient. Since this app is a free download for anyone who runs Windows 10 or Windows 11, quite a few people have made it one of their primary security apps.

FortiClient is a modern app in the sense that it assumes your Windows desktop, laptop, or hybrid device such as the Microsoft Surface is in need of security solutions; to this effect, it scans the system upon installation for existing components or services developed by Fortinet, and then it recommends what should be downloaded and installed. Right off the bat, this installation method makes FortiClient effective because the initial scan for malware will alert you of issues that may prevent the installation of security apps.

Some malware instances are known to impede or otherwise disable the installation of antivirus solutions; FortiClient defeats this malicious strategy by checking for specific software fingerprints and neutralizing them if possible. Once the coast is clear, you can proceed with the download and installation of the antivirus component developed and maintained by Fortinet. You will then have a choice to install additional components for safe web browsing, parental control, phishing protection, and connectivity for virtual private networking (VPN). If you are not a FortiGate customer, you will not be able to use the endpoint protection, firewall configuration, or secure remote access features.

How FortiClient Works

The antivirus component of FortiClient is heuristic. The malware definitions database is maintained by the Fortinet cyber security team, and you do not have to worry about updates because they are automatically installed as long as an internet connection is detected. Depending on the situation, antivirus updates may be applied according to schedule or in real-time if a major zero-day threat has been identified.

The web browsing protection and content filtering features of FortiClient are easy to configure. Most users accept the default settings, but this component can be fully configured. The VPN client requires you to adjust the settings so that you can connect to the servers you specify, but Fortinet does not offer free VPN access in and of itself.

According to independent testing, the Fortinet antivirus has an effective rate of 94% with regard to protection against malware and other cyber security threats. The reliability of the web browsing component is 90%. If you connect to corporate VPNs, FortiClient is a good choice, but you are better off using the clients provided by commercial VPN providers.

FortiClient Pros

• Free to download and install.
• Enterprise-grade malware protection.
• Safe web browsing extensions.

FortiClient Cons

• Custom antivirus settings may seem confusing.