Avast Antivirus

Avast’s history begins in Prague, Czech Republic in Since then, it has branched into a huge multinational cybersecurity company, acquiring and merging with AVG Technologies.
The company is most famous for its incredibly effective and hugely popular free antivirus software. It also offers premium software for those willing to pay for added protection.
In this review, I will check to see how Avast Antivirus stacks up. I plan to find out:

• How effective is Avast against malware?
• What system impact does Avast have on my PC?
• Is the program interface easy to use?
• How much does Avast cost and which plan is the best for the average user?

Through the process of this review, I found that Avast Antivirus is effective in combating cybersecurity threats. The program performed well in both of my own malware tests and scored highly in recent independent AV testing lab results. I also found that whilst its quick scan is not brilliant at picking up threats, its full scan performed well.

Not only is Avast effective, but it is also well priced. There are a few privacy and data logging concerns with both Avast and its subsidiary, AVG. It is worth considering these privacy issues before you purchase the software.

See also:Best antivirus providers for

Avast review summary

Pros:

• Incredibly powerful freeware as well as premium software
• Very thorough and effective full scan
• Lots of good first party software and apps offered as part of the different suites

Cons:

• Very serious session-logging and data-selling concerns
• Potential misrepresentation of the above concerns by the company
• Ineffective quick scan

What’s new in the latest version of Avast?

Avast rolled out a number of updates and improvements in the final few months of to help enhance its overall performance. These include:

Expanded Password Protection

Avast will now protect your passwords in the beta versions of browsers too, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and AVG Secure Browser.

CyberCapture results

New in the notification center, you can see all results for suspicious files you’ve sent to Avast Threat Labs.

Performance improvements

Avast will now load faster thanks to the simultaneous loading of the main service and VPS.

Better Remote Access Shield

The remote access shield now supports Windows’ Samba protocol and it also includes logs so you can see details of any attempts to remotely access your device.

Firewall update

The firewall has been updated so that it now recognizes VPNs. This ensures that when you’re using the Avast VPN the firewall won’t classify it as an unknown network.

Avast Pricing and Plans

I will outline the features and prices of each of Avast’s three different consumer grade antivirus suites. This will range from the company’s free software up to the “ultimate” plan offered by Avast.

Avast Free Antivirus

Avast’s most popular suite provides basic, but effective, malware protection, wi-fi security, password security, and ransomware protection.

This antivirus was originally offered as a free package for businesses, but has since become the company’s number one source of downloads.

This antivirus solution is offered as a free download from Avast’s website, alongside free trials for a host of different Avast apps. These include optimization, PC cleanup, and VPN tools.

Premium Security

Avast Premium Security is its base level premium package for consumers. The software covers all of the same features as the free version, but also offers webcam protection, a firewall, a web shield, botnet defence, a data shredder, and defense against remote access attacks.

The higher price reflects a much more sophisticated antivirus solution than the company’s freeware. Avast Premium Security costs $ per year for coverage of one Windows PC. Single Mac coverage is $ a year, and a free trial is available for both operating systems. The Windows free trial lasts for 30 days and the Mac free trial lasts for 60 days.

A second Premium Security package is offered for those requiring multi-device coverage. This costs $  per year for coverage of up to 10 different devices. The service works on PC, Mac, Android and iOS systems.

The different security packages are currently being offered at a significant first-year discount. The single device package is discounted by 34% making it $ for the first year. The device package is discounted by 30%, making it $ for the first year.

Ultimate

The top-tier product offered by Avast is its Ultimate protection. This includes all of the previous offerings’ features and tools (apart from standard multi-device coverage). It adds to this suite Avast Cleanup Premium, Avast Secureline VPN, and Avast Passwords Premium. Each of these tools is usually sold separately as premium products on Avast’s website.

Protection for one Windows PC costs $ per year. Like the Premium Security package before it, this subscription can be modified to provide protection to 10 different Mac, PC, Android, and iOS devices. The subscription for device coverage is $ per year.

At the time of writing,  Avast Ultimate is available at a significant discount. The single Windows PC coverage will cost consumers $ for the first year, and the multi-device package currently costs $ for the first year. This works out at a 34 and 35 percent discount, respectively.

Compatibility

Effectiveness against malware

Now the prices have been considered, I will move to the core topic of this review: the way in which the software handles attacks and threats from malware.

First, I tested samples of malware from a European antivirus lab, before running a further test with three live malware samples. I’m looking to see if the program prevents downloads of malware and detects the files with its real-time scanning. I also want to find out if the full and quick scans find the files.

Second, I monitored how many discrete items a full scan checks through on a PC in the time the scan takes to resolve. We are looking for a larger number of items relative to a shorter amount of time.

Finally, I looked at the latest antivirus lab test results for Avast. I checked the results available from AV-Comparatives and those available from AV-Test.

EICAR sample tests

The European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) provides a set of sample virus files to download for testing purposes. The idea of this test is to see if the software will:

1. Stop your browser from downloading the files (that are supposed to register as potential dangers).
2. Detect the files if you disable the software to download the files.
3. Detect the samples in real time.

Below are Avast’s results against the malware samples provided by EICAR.

Avast did not deliver the most promising results. When I attempted to download what should have registered as a suspicious file over a HTTPS connection, Avast’s antivirus software allowed it to be downloaded. Avast’s real-time scanning did not detect the file, so I ran the quick scan as well. The quick scan also failed to register the EICAR file.

When I tried to download the file on a less secure HTTP connection, Avast did attempt to block the download. When a full scan was run, the files were found and deleted.

The above picture also shows some harmful files, for example, the one marked alshamasislamicinstitute.com.pk[Trj]. This is one of my own tests, where I put the antivirus software up against some live samples of different malware files: one replicating a kind of adware and two types of trojan horse.

Adware works by installing popup ads within your computer. It can potentially install more dangerous types of malware if any of the popup boxes or links are clicked, redirecting you to more malicious websites.

A trojan horse works by disguising itself as genuine software, but once executed, inserts malware into the computer. This is often a type of ransomware, which locks you out of your device or holds select files hostage until you pay the hacker a fee. Trojans can do a lot of damage to system operation, privacy, and data security.

The table below demonstrates Avast’s performance against these live sample threats.

I observed a much more impressive showing by Avast here. It successfully detected and blocked each live sample with its quick and full scans. These are actual threats, so it might be a better indication of the software’s efficacy than the EICAR files, which may have been trusted because they were initially downloaded from a trusted or secure HTTPS domain.

This section will check how deep within your machine Avast scans. What we are looking for here is a good ratio of time against items scanned.

In just 60 minutes, Avast’s full scan managed to trawl through close to two million discrete items to check if they were infected with malicious files. This scan time is quick compared to other competitors, who tend to clock in at the hour and a half to two hour mark. This feat is only made more impressive when the amount of items are brought into consideration.

The next table shows how well Avast’s scan performs in terms of depth compared to a selection of notable competitors.

As you can see, Avast scans through more than all but two of its peers, checking about , fewer items than Kaspersky. It does take considerably less time than Kaspersky, and it is the fastest of all of the other AV companies listed here.

AV-Comparatives and AV-Test ranking

To confirm my own test results, I will now look at data from the independent testing labs. First up is AV-Comparatives. This site runs two particular tests of note, the Real World Protection test and the Malware Protection Test.

The Real World Protection Test is one of the most comprehensive AV comparison tools available, drawing from an incredibly large pool of test cases. The test is based on over live URLs that point to malware—replicating the same infection vectors that the everyday consumer is likely to encounter.

In the most recent Real World Protection Test, Avast ranked just underneath the highest scoring products in that category: Norton, Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, and Trendo Micro. Avast scored a percent success rate out of live tests, with only two false positives. This puts it in the same tier as Kaspersky, AVG, and Panda. AV-Comparatives rates Avast one of the top performers in its Real World Protection Test.

The Malware Protection test is slightly different, and is more focused on anti-malware performance than on real-world effectiveness. It is designed to test a program’s ability to fight off malware in the various stages of infection: before, during, and after activation of the file.

First, the test runs scans on different malware files to see if they are detected. If not, the test is run again as the malware is activated. It’s run again if malware is still not detected, this time while the malicious process is actively running. The test not only monitors detection rates, but also the rate at which different programs protect your machine from attack or infection.

In the most recent Malware Protection Test, Avast received the website’s Asvanced+ Malware Protecton award. It was among the top-scoring products in the upper tier of all antiviruses tested by AV-Comparatives. Avast left no compromised systems, and AV-Comparatives recommends purchasing this program.

AV-Test evaluates products in a similar fashion to the Real World Test, but uses a different set of criteria. It evaluates three aspects: protection, performance, and usability. In the most recent test, Avast scored a perfect six in the first and last categories, and a in the performance category. In the February test, the breakdown lists Avast as a “top product”. Even the free antivirus has this prestigious rating. In terms of protection, the product scores percent (a whole three percent better than the industry average of percent) success rate in preventing zero day attacks.

Additional features

Avast comes with a whole host of extra tools and features, some available to purchase, and some available as part of the more expensive premium packages. However, there are some notable controversies with the Avast suite, specifically with regards to the discovery of Avast and AVG selling off user data gathered from session logging.

SecureLine VPN

Avast SecureLine VPN is a tool that can be purchased from the Avast or AVG websites, or included as part of the Avast Ultimate package. The cost of this VPN changes depending on the time period you select. A year’s subscription averages as cheaper than the monthly charge. A monthly subscription will set you back $ per month, whereas a year’s subscription will only cost an average of $ per month.

Avast Antivirus Free users can use the VPN free, but it has a 5GB weekly bandwidth limit, which is likely to be used up fast if you&#;re streaming movies or TV shows.

This VPN is outfitted with basic features, including AES bit encryption, DNS protection, and unlimited bandwidth. Unfortunately, the VPN is lacking in a few key areas. It operates a small server network, doesn’t allow for protocol switching, and fails to include split tunneling.

Browser security and controversy

Avast offers solutions for browser security in two forms. First is the company’s browser plugin, which claims to make your data more secure while browsing, also acting as a scanner to stop you from accessing malicious websites when using it. The other option is the company’s own browser software, which comes with built-in ad blocking and page optimization.

This sounds great, but there are some downsides. In , Which? magazine found that Avast was selling off user data to third party companies. When confronted with this, Avast claimed that all of this data was “de-identified”, meaning that the data sold could not be traced back to individual users, as it was bundled together and anonymized.

PCMag and Motherboard found that to be completely untrue, as they got hold of some of the data bundles and found that they were able to narrow down the information as specifically as tracking what user purchased what iPad Pro, at what date and time. This is incredibly specific and powerful data for Avast to be selling to third parties, especially without the proper knowledge of its millions-wide user base.

Impact on PC performance

For this next section, I examined the impact that the different scans have on the performance of a system. I checked the impact on a system’s memory and CPU utilization. This was done by measuring a control level for each value, then monitoring the fluctuation when the full and quick scans were run.

This is by no means an exact science, and there could be other aspects at play. But it should give us a rough estimate of the impact the programs are having on system performance.

Quick scan

Below is a table showing the control memory utilization and CPU utilization before I ran the different scans, and then the results from the quick scan.

The quick scan resolves in just over two minutes, not impacting the memory utilization at all, and seeming to increase the CPU utilization by 58 percent. This is an interesting impact considering the quick scans are not able to find the EICAR files I downloaded earlier.

Full scan

Below is a similar table, with the full scan results also added.

This shows a less taxing impact on the CPU than the quick scan, but a slightly higher memory utilization. The data is put into context with other antivirus peers in the table pictured next:

What we see here is that Avast’s full scan has a relatively minimal impact on system operation, despite being very powerful, efficient, and thorough in its checking of a system. This is a definite positive for Avast.

Usability

Avast uses a classic combination of orange, whites, and blue as highlights, with clear demarcation between the interactive elements of its interface. This aesthetic choice is very clean and easy on the eye.

This main screen is plain and simple. The most important information and scan button is centralized, with clear tiles for each section of tools the suite offers.

Any new issues pop up with a in the messages tab on the left-hand menu as well as in the dashboard&#;s header.

Avast’s customer support

A Support button at the top of Avast’s website and PC app provides quick access to assistance. If you are a Premium or Ultimate subscriber, you get 24/7, live, premium tech support. Representatives can even help with issues involving your PC, printer, phone, and other devices.

If you are using Avast’s free software, you’ll have access to the Avast forums and a general help function that does put you in touch with an actual person. It is less comprehensive than the support provided to premium customers, which is to be expected.

Best Alternatives to Avast

Interested in learning about a few of the best alternatives to Avast? If you want to compare and contrast what Avast offers with some other leading antivirus products check out my top alternatives below.

Panda: In our most recent head-to-head article Panda beat Avast in antivirus performance, pricing, and usability. Panda is a smaller company while Avast is a giant in the industry, but Panda can still hold its own here.

Norton:A strong all-round performer, Norton boasts excellent malware protection results from independent labs and additional security features such as a VPN, cloud backup, and webcam protection.

Trend Micro:It’s always worth taking a look at Trend Micro if you are looking for a low cost alternative. Trend Micro includes a few extra tools, but nothing like the package you get with Avast. If you can live without tools such as a password manager then Trend Micro’s current discounts are worth taking up.

Antivirus Testing Methodology

Our antivirus methodology is designed to provide you with reliable data and insights into the software we test.

Our testing process includes:

• Testing the antivirus against EICAR samples
• Running live malware samples
• Reviewing the latest independent antivirus lab test results

We also review other important areas for antivirus including impact on PC performance, ease of use, and the transparency and support offered by the antivirus provider.

If you&#;d like to know more about how we analyse antivirus software, we have a dedicated post on our antivirus research and testing methodology.

Avast review verdict

In conclusion, Avast provides unparalleled protection against the very dangerous real-world threats you may encounter online. While its quick scan leaves a lot to be desired, the full scan is excellent. The software performs exceptionally in tests run by independent antivirus evaluation websites (it scores percent in many categories and is recommended as a top product).

In terms of a free antivirus software, there seems to be no better option. That said, if you particularly value your data privacy and security, the worrying session and data logging combined with an untruthful initial apology might make you think twice about Avast’s offerings.

See also:

Visit Avast Ultimate

Editor's note: This is a rundown of new additions and changes that happened since this review has been last updated.

• Wi-Fi Inspector is now called Network Inspector.
• UI has been updated and it looks more friendlier.
• Sensitive Data Shield now gives out detailed results it it found anything suspicious in the files.
• A new feature called 'Email Guardian' has been added for premium users. The feature scans all your incoming emails when you check them with a web browser, and any malicious or phishing emails are marked with an 'Avast: Suspicious' label.
• Websocket protocol scanning has been added to the Web Shield feature.
• Boot Time Scan now runs inside the Windows RE (Recovery Environment), on the Avast interface. This makes it easier to take action and see what the scan finds without having to reboot again.

Avast One (opens in new tab) is the new name for Avast's revamped and redesigned consumer security range, and combines antivirus (opens in new tab), VPN (opens in new tab), privacy and security tools to keep you safe online.

Avast One subscription options:
• Avast One for $ per year (opens in new tab)

Avast One Essential is free, but stuffed with features: antivirus, ransomware protection (opens in new tab), anti-phishing and a simple firewall (opens in new tab), with apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

New additions include a restricted VPN (one location and 5GB data a week), simple device speedup tools, and data breach scanning to warn you if your online accounts are breached.

Upgrading to Avast One Individual extends your protection with an advanced firewall, full VPN (unlimited data, 54 locations), anti-tracking, webcam (opens in new tab) monitoring, a powerful disk cleaner (opens in new tab), extra device speedup tools and automatic updates for your apps. The license covers protection for up to five of your devices.

Avast One Family takes all the features of Avast One Individual, and allows you to share them with up to six family members and 30 devices.

Getting started

Avast One's installer isn't as customizable as the last edition. Previously you could clear a checkbox if you didn't need the firewall, say, or the cleanup tools, and they wouldn't be installed. Now, it's all or nothing.

This certainly keeps life simple, though, and the setup process has improved in other ways. The installer doesn't try to set Avast Secure Browser as your system default, for instance (in fact, Avast One doesn't include Secure Browser at all.)

Avast One Essential doesn't require registration, either, so there's no need to create accounts or hand over any personal information.

The end result was a speedy and hassle-free installation on our normal review system. 

We tested Avast One's impact on system performance by running top benchmark (opens in new tab) PCMark Professional before and after installation. Previously Avast slowed us down a little more than average, but this time we found no measurable difference at all. Absolutely nothing. 

That's based on Avast One Essentials and without using any of Avast's speedup tools, either. There are too many variables to make any guarantees, but it's at least possible that installing and setting up Avast One could leave your system faster than it was before.

There was more good news in our self-protection tests ,where we launched a number of attacks on Avast One to see if malware (opens in new tab) could disable it. These involve attempting to delete files, change Registry settings, stop or disable services, close processes, unload drivers and more, but none of them made the tiniest difference to the package, which continued to protect us as usual.

Interface

Avast One has a totally redesigned interface, and that's mostly a good thing. Out go the dark backgrounds, the tabs, the tiles: in comes a light and airy look, with friendly graphics and speedy access to all of One's core features.

Looking to run a scan, connect to the VPN, accelerate your system, for instance? No need to go browsing through various tabs, then try to remember wherever everything is. Just scroll down and there are shortcuts to scans, the VPN and others, and you can run them all in a couple of clicks.

Clicking the Explore button displays a full list of Avast One's features, which does look a little more complicated. But it's easier to understand what's on offer when you can see everything in one place, rather than browsing around a number of tabs. And if you don't understand something - what is 'File Shield', exactly? - clicking the option gets you a simple explanation (the File Shield allows Avast to scan every file you access to make sure it's safe.)

Several options aren't available in the free Avast One Essentials (Webcam Protection, Web Hijack Guard, Driver Updater, more.) Some free apps don't mark these, so you're forever clicking buttons and being told 'can't have that until you upgrade, you freeloader.' Avast highlights options you can't use with a padlock, a smarter approach which makes One Essential much more comfortable to use.

Overall, Avast One's dashboard looks great, is easy for beginners to use, but also makes it simple to discover and access the suite's more advanced features.

Antivirus

Avast One's antivirus features begin with the Smart Scan. Launch this with a click and it runs a second Quick Scan for malware, combined with checks for dubious browser (opens in new tab) add-ons and PC performance issues. (It doesn't look for missing software patches, unlike the previous Avast Antivirus, although you can still do this manually.)

The Smart Scan and Avast's real-time protection should spot most threats, but the package has plenty of other options. There's a Deep Scan (previously called a Full Scan) to check your entire system; a Targeted Scan which examines specific files or folders, and a Boot-Time Scan to check for threats before Windows (opens in new tab) fully starts. And, if that's not enough, you can create custom scan types to do whatever you like.

There are plenty of configuration options, too. You're able to define what to scan (all hard drives (opens in new tab), the system drive only, removable drives, archives, more), how to treat any threats, set scan priority to optimize performance, and more.

On demand scans

The engine supports running on-demand scans in parallel, a level of flexibility you won't always see elsewhere. If you're running a lengthy full system scan, for instance, you're able to run a separate targeted scan on a removable drive you've just connected, and maybe check some recent downloads, all at the same time.

This didn't always work smoothly. Although our normal on-demand scans ended with a reassuring 'we didn't find anything' message, the Scan History page warned that 'your Explorer Scan was unable to scan all files', and 'we suggest scanning again.'

Could that be a problem? We needed to see which files had been missed to decide. But, no - although we think that's really important information, the Scan History page doesn't make it available.

Scan speeds

Scan speeds were average, with Avast Essentials taking 32 minutes to scan 50GB of executable files. That's fractionally slower than Avira (28 minutes) and Kaspersky (29 minutes), but well ahead of Bitdefender (39 minutes.)

We scan the same test data a second time to find out whether an antivirus uses any optimizations. Avast's time dropped fractionally to 27 minutes, similar to Avira's second scan of But some apps only scan files if they're new or change, and that makes a huge difference. Bitdefender's second scan of our test data took 27 seconds, and Kaspersky managed seconds.

Avast has a little room for antivirus improvements, but on balance it's a likeable product, easy to use, powerful and configurable, with something for every level of user.

Protection

AV-Comparatives' Real-World Protection Test regularly checks top antivirus products against the very latest malware.

It's a seriously tough benchmark, but didn't trouble Avast. The latest February-May summary report places the company in an excellent 2nd place out of 16, with a protection rate of %. To put that in perspective, Kaspersky's % earned it 11th place, and Avira's % got the company to 14th.

There's more good news with AV-Test's Home Windows report, where Avast scored a maximum 6/6 for protection in all six tests over the last year. AV-Test has marked Avast down just a little for performance in the past, finding it slowed down the test system a little more than average. Even that's improved recently, though, with Avast also scoring the best possible 6/6 for the three previous tests.

Our own tests began with some simple behavior monitoring checks, where a custom executable uses common scripting tricks to download a malicious file.

Results were mixed, with Avast quarantining our test app immediately for some actions, while allowing others to continue and only detecting an issue when the file hit our hard drive. Bitdefender and Kaspersky are more consistent, blocking all tests, but others have done much worse (Adaware missed all the suspect behavior, although it did detect the files), and Avast was acceptable overall.

The second, more advanced test used a simple ransomware simulator we've developed ourselves. As Avast hadn't seen this before, it wouldn't be able to detect it from a file signature alone, making this a useful test of behavior monitoring.

We launched the simulator and Avast One realized this was something new, and announced that it was being scanned for threats. A positive start? Maybe, but around 15 seconds later Avast told us the simulator was safe, then did nothing at all as it encrypted thousands of user files.

Some antivirus apps perform much better on this test. Bitdefender and Kaspersky not only killed the simulator within a fraction of a second, but they also recovered the handful of files it managed to encrypt (five to ten.)

Our simulator isn't real malware, though, so while we treat successful detections as a plus, we don't significantly penalize apps which fail to detect it.

What's more, this isn't Avast's only ransomware defense. There's another more effective layer available.

Avast Free Antivirus is now called Avast One Essential, but it still supports Windows 7 and 8, so if you’re running an older version of Windows, Avast remains our go-to malware protection.

Introduction

Avast is a long-standing favourite in the world of free malware defence, and it’s just given its entire product range a refresh. This means that the software formerly known as Avast Free Antivirus is now Avast One Essential. Existing users will automatically be updated to the new branding and interface.

Like stablemate AVG, the brand also offers more feature-packed paid-for subscriptions, which I’ve reviewed, too; but the free version is what Avast is best known for.

Avast was set to be bought by NortonLifeLock, maker of Norton (which also owns rival free-antivirus maker Avira) in spring However, this has been held up by a UK Competition and Markets Authority inquiry into the potential negative impact of this move on UK consumers.

It’s an important investigation, as the buy-out would mean that three major free antivirus brands – Avast, AVG and Avira – would all be owned by a single company with a core interest in paid-for antivirus. With the sun setting on Bitdefender’s free product and geopolitical concerns currently surrounding the Kaspersky brand, options are starting to look limited for anyone in need of free antivirus that isn’t built into their operating system.

But is Avast One Essential one of the best free antivirus options? Or are you better off with the likes of Microsoft Defender Antivirus instead?

Malware detection performance

• Achieved perfect detection score
• Uses same detection engine as AVG

These tests were carried out on Avast Free Antivirus, but are still valid for Avast One Essential since the core malware detection engine hasn&#;t changed.

Avast achieved perfect scores in AV-Test’s latest real-world exposure and reference file-scanning tests, with only one false positive. It blocked % of malicious content in AV Comparatives’ real-world protection tests – the same as Microsoft Defender, with a single false positive.

AVG and Avast use the same malware-detection engine, and usually perform identically in detection tests. However, since each was only compromised once in SE Labs’ tests, Avast had to neutralise one virus after infection, while AVG just blocked it. Neutralisation is a less favourable outcome, and the score weighting reflects this in Avast’s 97% protection rating.

Features

• Partially funded by adverts
• Includes malware scanning and real-time protection

Installation is smooth and simple, and you aren’t guilt-tripped about opting for the free version, although an initial scan will detect “advanced issues” that can be solved by getting a premium subscription, even on a freshly-installed PC.

The free version is partially funded by advertising, so you’ll be invited to install partner software such as Google Chrome, but this is easy to decline if you don’t want it. There are no longer prominent ads for the paid version of Avast scattered around the interface, although a number of features are still marked with a lock icon, indicating that they’re only available to premium users.

You’re also encouraged to create an Avast account, but you’re not required to use most of Avast’s features. The core malware protection features of Avast One Essential work without this: on-demand and scheduled malware scanning, real-time protection, ransomware protection, email and web protection, a simple firewall based solely on granting per-app access, a generous 5GB per week free tier on Avast’s VPN service, and a selection of privacy and system optimisation tools.

If you sign into an account, you get limited device management that allows you to track lost or stolen Android devices associated with the account, but there’s nothing you really need here. The VPN – Avast SecureLine – is particularly notable in this context, since 5GB a week with no obligation to create an account is one of the best deals I’ve ever seen – you can’t get this from the standalone VPN at time of review.

Although its features are fantastic for a free product, and it looks perfectly fine, I’m not entirely impressed by the new Avast One Essential interface. The biggest problem here is the homepage, which either displays alerts or news or, more helpfully, a Run Smart Scan button.

You’d be forgiven for not noticing the squiggly “Scroll to shortcuts” arrow at the bottom, which you have to click or scroll down to get access to a set a features that you might want to have at your fingertips. These include more scan choices, the VPN and system optimisation tools, for example. Although the arrow is later replaced by a frequently-used shortcut, a broader selection of these should really be front and centre on the Home tab.

Literally everything else is crammed into the Explore tab. This is good in that you don’t have to wonder where to find any given feature, but it can feel cluttered. In addition, the grey-on-white text isn’t particularly friendly to those working at the distance from the screen or with impaired vision.

Fortunately, you can still get an overview of Avast’s settings via a button in the Account tab, where you can configure behaviour, notifications, alert sounds and app exceptions and restrictions. If you want to enable silent mode, that can still be done either in Settings or the right-click menu on the notification area icon.

Best Offers

Avast has a broad range of products that cover all major operating systems and hardware platforms. Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS users can go free or paid. There’s also an enterprise version of Avast known as Avast Business. The available features are best broken down by product.

Avast Antivirus Free

The Free Antivirus is what’s Avast is most known for. It is available on all the major platforms including macOS, iOS, and Android. It’s a comprehensive solution for individual users who crave quality protection.

Avast Antivirus relies on machine learning (one of AI’s real-world uses) to protect users from new and advanced viruses and other threats. In doing so, it takes full advantage of Avast’s large threat-detection network.

Behavior Shield is one of its most interesting features. With this feature, Avast scans the behavior of individual applications to detect anything fishy.

CyberCapture relies on Avast Cloud. It automatically detects suspicious files and sends them to the cloud for inspection.

The free version can also help with password management, browser cleanup, and network protection. It also has a Do Not Disturb mode, which disables popups when the user is watching movies or playing games.

Avast Premium Security

The Premium version of Avast offers outstanding performance all around. Its target audience is home users and can protect your computer from a huge number of known viruses, spyware, phishing attacks, and other types of malware. It comes with single and multiple-device licenses.

Unlike the free version, Avast Premium Security has a robust Firewall feature. It allows users complete control over all online traffic, both incoming and outgoing.

Users also get advanced protection against ransomware with Ransomware Shield. It scans the behavior of sites and applications to detect potential ransomware threats. It also prevents unauthorized file modification.

Thanks to the Sandbox feature, you’ll be able to test files virtually. In other words, you can run a potentially dangerous file in Sandbox without fear that it might do any harm.

 Avast Premium Security is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

Avast Business Antivirus

This is available as Avast Business Antivirus, Business Antivirus Pro, and Business Antivirus Pro Plus. The basic version is available on all three platforms (Windows, Mac and Android). While Business Antivirus Pro and Pro Plus are targeted at Windows users only.

Found in all three, File Shield scans applications and files before you run or open them. CyberCapture can send potentially dangerous files to the Threat Lab for analysis. Rescue Disk helps users create backups and save data on an infected computer. However, the macOS version is not as feature-rich.

As you might expect, Business Antivirus Pro has several additional features. Data Shredder alone might be worth the price of admission for a lot of Windows users. Windows Server users also get Sharepoint Server Protection, Exchange Server Protection, and Data Shredder features.

The Pro Plus adds Browser Cleanup, Webcam Shield, Passwords, and SecureLine VPN.

Also check out the other leading antivirus brands: Norton & BitDefender.

UPDATE: When Google and Mozilla removed Avast’s web extension from their stores, a scandal broke out which revealed that Avast (who also owns AVG) had allegedly been spying on their users’ browsing data and selling it to corporations for millions of dollars in profit. In light of these unethical practices, we can no longer recommend them on our site. You can read more about the controversy and our decision here. For a list of antivirus companies we do recommend, please see this list of the 10 best antiviruses of

Original Review: How secure is secure enough? Avast seems to be betting that you’ll want all the security bells and whistles that you can afford, but its paid tiers seem to be offering too little for the price. With that said, the free tier of Avast offers a fantastic antivirus engine at its core (PLEASE NOTE THE ABOVE UPDATE).You’ll love the security of Avast, as well as the speed with which it reacts to detect and mitigate dangerous programs – just try not to get too frustrated by its incessant pleas for you to upgrade.

Security

As mentioned, Avast went above and beyond when it came time to design the free version of their antivirus product. Even the basic virus scan offers more functionality than most. Instead of just searching for viruses and malware, it also detects out-of-date software, malicious browser add-ons, network issues, unprotected sensitive documents, and weak passwords.

My first scan detected no malware, bad extensions, or network issues, but it did find vulnerable software, unprotected documents, and weak passwords. I’m not surprised that there’s vulnerable software on my computer – I have a lot of software and it’s a pain to update it all – but these last two items gave me a little bit of pause. What does Avast count as unprotected sensitive documents and how do they find them? Furthermore, how do they check the strength of my passwords?

As it turns out, the sensitive documents scan is highly effective. It found tax records, employment documents, financial statements, and more – stuff I’ve stored on my computer without even remembering that I’ve put it there. In all, it only detected two false positives. Avast sorted these documents into categories such as taxes, payroll, employment, and travel (documents such as driver’s licenses and passports. It also gives you an easy button to the right of each entry that instantly shows you the location of each document that it finds.

Reading between the lines of the marketing copy, Avast seems to be leveraging a technology known as Data Loss Prevention (DLP). DLP is a tool that’s normally used in the context of large companies that store customer data such as credit card and social security numbers. Using DLP, companies can scan word documents and conduct optical character recognition (OCR) on PDFs in order to detect strings of numbers that resemble these sensitive bits of data. The company can then know exactly where its sensitive data is and take steps to ensure that no one moves or deletes it.

Simply knowing the location of my sensitive data is very useful and seeing DLP technology move from a corporate to a consumer context is interesting to say the least. There’s unfortunately not a lot that you can do with this information without locking yourself into a subscription, however. Once you do subscribe, you get the option to encrypt your information and store it in a secure digital locker. If any attacker attempts to move or delete these files, the program blocks access and notifies the user.

Avast’s weak password scan is frankly a bit of a letdown. I was expecting the service to tell me that I’d set one of my passwords to “cat” or something equally simple by using some sort of futuristic hash-scanning algorithm. Instead, it just told me that I’m storing passwords in my browser (everyone does), that this method is potentially insecure (jury’s out on that), and that I should upgrade in order to use Avast Passwords, Avast’s password management service. This may certainly be useful, but it’s not worth committing to a yearly subscription when you could just use one of the best password managers that are already available elsewhere. (More on this later.)

Does the Antivirus Engine Make the Grade?

All of these extras are frankly a distraction from the core of the scan itself – the malware detector. Independent lab tests show that Avast has a highly-rated antivirus engine, demonstrating advanced features and flagging zero false positives. Few antivirus engines scored higher. In addition, testing-under real-world conditions shows that Avast is efficient at detecting and mitigating the vectors – such as drive-by-downloads and code injection attacks – by which malware propagates. To summarize, Avast will detect most forms of advanced malware, and prevent most of them from even installing on your computer. If any malware gets by, an automatic scan will usually detect and destroy the infection within a day.

When malware attempts to execute on a computer, Avast springs into action. It will detect most known malware samples immediately, then quarantine and delete them. If Avast detects an unknown file that acts suspiciously, Avast kills the process and analyzes the malware sample at its corporate headquarters. If you suspect that Avast has missed a file, you can right-click on any file in your Windows Explorer panel and select the file or folder for individual scanning.

More importantly, Avast is very good at making sure that malware doesn’t get onto your computer in the first place. It detects most sites that attempt to distribute malware before they start downloading onto your computer. For the rest, Avast will interrupt the malware sites during the download stage – missing only a few files, which will usually be caught by Avast’s active protection once they attempt to execute.

Phishing sites – sites that attempt to duplicate banking login screens and social media – are far more common than malware sites, as well as being a bit simpler to produce. It’s arguably more important to protect users from these sites than it is to protect them from sites dedicated to malware. Although this is a paid feature, Avast has the ability to protect users from phishing sites with surprising efficiency. Their software doesn’t just block sites that have already been blacklisted – they also can identify phishing sites that are too new to have been identified by security researchers.

To summarize, the free version of Avast offers security that’s among the best that I’ve ever seen. You’d almost expect that its designers would have turned something off to make the paid upgrade more essential, but they haven’t. Its paid features, including a locker for your passwords and an encryption option for sensitive files, just don’t add more to the table.

Features

Outside of the core antivirus function, Avast offers a host of features in both its free and paid versions that are designed to keep your data secure. These features range from the expected to the exotic, with many of the paid features being perhaps more useful to power users. Here’s the rundown:

Free Features are Critical to Online Security and Quality of Life

First of all, Avast offers a series of advanced security scans. This is distinct from the “Smart Scan” that you see on the program’s main menu. When you click on the “protection” tab, you’ll see a variety of options, including “Full Virus Scan” and “Boot-Time Scan.”

Full Virus Scan is both slower and more thorough than the primary smart scan. Although it takes quite a bit longer – up to a couple of hours on a slower machine – it has a better chance of detecting and resolving threats. If you suspect that your computer was infected by malware prior to installing Avast, you’ll likely want to do a Full Virus Scan in order to weed out any lingering threats.

You’ll also want to run a Boot Time Scan. Many advanced kinds of malware now have the ability to persist even when their files are deleted from your computer’s operating system. That’s because these viruses exist outside the primary OS. When they’re deleted, they simply reinstall themselves from files that are outside the operating system. A Boot Time Scan restarts your computer and watches for suspicious programs that try to execute while the computer is running, and then stops them in their tracks.

Lastly, Avast offers a full-featured WiFi scanner designed to protect you at your home and on the go. When I ran it, it discovered every device connected to my WiFi in under a minute – my desktop, laptop, console, cellphone, and kitchen speaker. If my devices were unsecured, it would have pointed out vulnerabilities such as ports exposed to the internet, default passwords, and other weaknesses.

Paid Features Don’t Add Enough Value

Outside of these advanced virus scanning features, Avast doesn’t offer much – but it’s not clear that you’d need much more anyway. For example, there’s a utility that’s supposed to clean your computer’s hard drive, for example, but it’s paid for. Meanwhile, CCleaner is free. Want to get rid of particularly sensitive materials? Avast offers a secure erase function that can delete a file by writing over it many times, removing all trace of it from your computer. The system works as advertised, but it’s hard to see who needs it other than security researchers. There’s a VPN add-on that you can pay for, but other standalone VPNs offer similar features for less.

To summarize, Avast has won me over with its free version, but it has lost its balance when it comes to paid and premium pricing. The features here won’t make you much more secure than the free software, and you can replicate most of their functionality with free or lower-cost third party software.

Ease of use

This is an area where Avast frustrated me. I realize that if you’re an antivirus company, you need to make money by converting your free users to paid subscribers. I really shouldn’t mind that Avast takes every opportunity to get me to upsell – and for the most part, I don’t. What irks me, however, is the liberal use of dark-pattern UI in order to get me to pay up.

If you’re unfamiliar with dark-pattern UI, here’s a quick example.

When you boot up Avast, you get a splash screen a big “scan now” button in the middle and a white box offering you a welcome gift.

The “gift” turns out to be a steep discount on a subscription. What if you don’t want a subscription? As you can see from the screenshot below, there’s no “back” button, only a “buy now” option. In order to back out of the upsell screen you actually have to click the red X in the top right corner, something that’s counter-intuitive to most users who think that button just closes the program.

When you hit that X, by the way, another pop up comes after it, offering you a free trial.

Again, this is not a huge disappointment – because again, the service needs to make money – and if that were the only example of that in the program, I probably wouldn’t mind. With that said, Avast goes a long way towards burying its goodwill by offering other confusing and intrusive upsells buried in its software.

Here’s another example. In Avast’s “privacy” menu, you can see some options that are closed off with a big orange lock, and some that aren’t. You’d expect that you’d have to pay to unlock features that are locked, and that the features that are unlocked would be free. That’s unfortunately not the case. When you click on SecureLine VPN, for example, a separate program installs itself on your computer, and then asks you for money. If you click on “Performance” and choose “Driver Updater,” the same thing happens. Avast takes you all the way into installing a new program on your computer, and then asks you for money.

The most egregious example happened with the password manager, which is free but not great. The password manager operates as a Chrome or Firefox extension that stores your password and is secured with a master password, but it neither suggests strong passwords nor warns you about weak or duplicate passwords – something that’s a must in other products. You can’t even implement two-factor authentication.

Anyway, when I clicked through the menus that led into the password management function, I decided to decline to import my passwords into Avast’s password manager. Imagine my surprise when Avast started to import my passwords anyway! Although I was able to cancel the transfer, Avast also installed their proprietary secure browser on my machine – again without my permission.

This is a bit worrying. It doesn’t speak ill when it comes to the functionality of the antivirus engine itself, but for long-term users, the constant reminders to upsell – plus the misleading menu options – may eventually become frustrating

Support

Avast offers premium support services for its antivirus product at every pricing tier. There’s an extensive knowledgebase that explains how its features work and what they’re supposed to do. These walk inexperienced users through the operation of the product and allow them to do some basic troubleshooting on their own.

The organization also boasts a 24/7 call center for more serious problems. The tech support specialists are able to provide detailed and helpful information within a short amount of time. This information should be helpful for both inexperienced users and power users alike.

Pricing

When compared to other antivirus programs, Avast is roughly average in terms of expense. There are four main pricing tiers – Free, Internet Security, Premier, and Ultimate. If you’re determined to pay for Avast, Internet Security is probably the best option for you. It includes several useful quality of life features that the free tier lacks – a Real Site option that protects against phishing sites, a Ransomware Shield to protect your files from encryption, a firewall that stops intrusion attempts, and an anti-spam feature.

Internet Security also includes one of the coolest features that isn’t included in the free version – the Sandbox mode. This lets you open files and programs in a virtual machine that doesn’t have access permissions to your desktop. If the file contains malware, then the malicious program will execute in an area where it can’t do your computer any harm. This is a really neat little bonus, and it’s great for anyone who’s constantly receiving phishing attempts.

Meanwhile, the more expensive pricing tiers contain more of the software that’s nice to have, but not vital. Upgrading to Premier gets you the superfluous data shredder and disk cleanup features, while upgrading to Ultimate gets you the VPN and the password manager. None of these are necessarily essential to your data security, and if you must have them, they’re available from third parties at a lower price for the same effectiveness.

Once again: the free tier of Avast gives you all the information security you’re likely to need, but if you must upgrade, the Internet Security tier gives you most of everything else.

Avast is a popular choice used by over million active users worldwide to protect their smartphones and computers from malware and other threats online.

With its suite of excellent security features, the software blocks over billion threats every month. These features include a malware-scanning engine that can detect threats in real time and an antivirus database that is frequently updated with new identified threats and vulnerabilities.

Pricing

Avast offers a range of plans and prices to suit different needs, such as Avast One, Avast Premium Security, Avast Home Office Solutions, Avast Small Business Cybersecurity Solutions, and the MSSPs and reseller&#;s Advanced Protection Plan.

Avast One

Avast One is an all-in-one service that features protection from malware and viruses, unlimited VPN, data breach monitoring and device cleanup tools. Pricing starts at $ for the first year for five devices and $ for the first year for 30 devices.

Avast Premium Security

Avast Premium Security is an antivirus protection package that offers advanced security measures against online threats. This enables users to avoid fake websites, shop safely and block web spies. The Avast Premium Security cost is $ for the first year for up to ten devices.

Avast Home Office Solutions

For these solutions, Avast adds 24/7 support from its technical team to assist you and your employees. The Small Office Protection costs $ per year plus $14 per device per year, while the Essential Business Security costs $ per year plus $ per device per year.

Avast Small Business Cybersecurity Solutions

The small business solutions feature an online management platform where security and subscriptions can be managed all from one place. It also includes IT support, identity protection, USB protection, unlimited VPN and patch management.

Plans include:

• Essential: This costs $ per year plus $ per device per year
• Premium: This costs $ per year plus $ per device per year
• Ultimate: This costs $ per year plus $ per device per year

The MSSPs and Resellers Advanced Protection Plan From Avast

Avast has a lot to offer whether you&#;re seeking comprehensive antivirus software for a reseller or a managed security service provider (MSSP). For this pricing, a custom quote is needed.

Features

Avast antivirus is a feature-rich antivirus that offers a wide range of security features.

First, Avast has a user-friendly interface that&#;s simple to navigate and easy to use. It is intuitive, so you don&#;t need any in-depth training or instruction manuals—you can install it, update it and uninstall it all on your own. You can also use Avast on multiple devices with ease. The antivirus software is compatible with Windows PCs, Macs, Android phones and tablets and iOS devices (iPhones).

The software comes with an anti-theft feature called Device Lock, which helps you locate your lost device and secure it from unauthorized access. It also has a password manager that can automatically generate strong passwords for each website you visit.

The Avast firewall monitors all incoming and outgoing data traffic to block any malicious activity. In addition, Avast offers sandbox technology that isolates unknown files in an isolated environment before they are allowed to run on your PC or mobile device.

Avast review on avast antivirus a leading name in the cybersecurity world. This Czech-based company has been around for over thirty years and boasts of over million users globally. Avast also owns AVG Technologies, another formidable brand in the cybersecurity business.

InAvast&#;s spotless reputation was sullied after investigations revealed that the company was selling user data to advertisers, review on avast antivirus. Hence, potential users may question whether Avast Antivirus software is safe to use.

How good is Avast Antivirus? Can Avast be trusted? Does Avast protect against malware?

In this Avast Antivirus review, review on avast antivirus dig deep into Avast&#;s security and privacy features to answer these questions. We also look at how the antivirus affects a computer&#;s performance and assess its ease of use and customer service. To provide some context on Avast&#;s performance, we&#;ve also compared it with some leading antivirus providers, review on avast antivirus, such as Norton.

Check out the visual below for a quick summary of our Avast Antivirus review. The final score is determined by arriving at a weighted average of the scores in each category. The weights assigned are security (), privacy (), ease of use (), and speed and system load ().

Avast Antivirus Short Review

Avast Antivirus offers a solid package overall — especially the paid versions.

Avast Free Antivirus boasts a robust anti-virus scanner and protection against ransomware. However, advanced features, such as a virtual private network (VPN) and Clean Up utility, are only available in the Ultimate version, which starts at $/year. This is much higher than similar internet security suites offered by competitors.

The biggest concern for us about using Avast Antivirus software is its privacy and data sharing policies. While a thorough review of Avast&#;s privacy policy didn&#;t reveal anything particularly concerning, the company&#;s previous history makes us hesitant to give it a clean chit.

The user interface of both the website and app is well designed. The antivirus scanner is easy to use and supports different types of scans. These scans are completed fairly quickly and don&#;t overload your CPU.

Avast&#;s customer care section is full review on avast antivirus informative answers and forum posts. Premium users can get in touch with the support team through email, live chat, or by phone. We found the team to be informative and helpful.

Click on the button below to check out the latest offers for Avast Antivirus.

Avast Antivirus Specifications and Subscriptions

Avast offers a range of antivirus software solutions and pricing review on avast antivirus. Avast Free Antivirus is the most basic option. It provides protection against viruses, malware, and ransomware, but not much else.

The Avast Premium Security package comes with several internet security tools review on avast antivirus addition to the features you get with the free version. These include Wi-Fi network security and protection against phishing scams. The Avast Premium Security plan costs $/year for a single device, but you pay $ for the first year. You can pay $ for a plan that covers up to 10 devices, but you only shell out $ for the first year.

Avast&#;s full security suite is known as Avast Ultimate. It comes with a VPN and other useful features like identity protection in addition to an antivirus scanner and some internet security tools. Avast Ultimate starts at $ for one device and goes up to $ for ten devices. For a single device, you only pay $ for the first year and $10 more for a plan that covers 10 devices.

Note: The prices listed above are for the worldwide store. In some jurisdictions, such as the USA, you may only see Avast Premium Security along with Avast&#;s new security bundle, Avast One (discussed later).

Avast One

Avast has launched a new security suite, called Avast One, in a handful of countries. Avast One replaces the Ultimate plan and offers upgraded privacy and online security features.

Avast One Essential, which replaces Avast Free Antivirus, provides added features, such as VPN protection, data breach protection, and a password check. It also provides a PC tune-up utility. Avast One Essential is a significant upgrade to the Avast Free Antivirus.

The same cannot be said for the paid version of Avast One, which is very similar to Avast Ultimate Plus. The most notable additions are on the internet security side of things. For instance, Avast One includes a webcam protection review on avast antivirus, which is not available with Avast Ultimate. It is also cheaper than Avast Ultimate, review on avast antivirus, with the basic version (covers up to 5 devices) starting at $/year.

The Family version, which covers up to 30 devices, costs $ yearly.

Security: Can Avast Antivirus Be Trusted?

Avast Antivirus provides real-time protection and comes with some important security features. Some features that caught our eye are:

• % detection rate on AV-Tests
• Real-time review on avast antivirus additional security features for Avast Ultimate users, such as a VPN and Cleanup utility

Security testing: How does Avast Antivirus measure up?

Avast claims its antivirus software stops approximately 66 million threats per day. The popularity of Avast is an enormous advantage in this respect as its network is constantly exchanging informationabout the latest threats and viruses, such as keyloggers, trojans, and worms.

Avast&#;s remarkable ability to detect the latest malware and other online threats is reflected in its performance on leading antivirus tests. On the well-known AV-TEST, Avast Antivirus software scored a % zero-day malware detection rate in January/February It also detected all widespread and prevalent malware with just one false detection.

Not only does this showcase the excellent malware protection that Avast Antivirus provides, but it also highlights improvements to this product in a relatively short time. In the December AV-TEST on Windows, Avast had a slightly lower detection rate of % against prevalent zero-day malware attacks.

Avast Antivirus was similarly impressive in AV-Comparatives tests (March to June ), where it had a % online detection rate. Only Norton LifeLock, which is one of the best antivirus solutions on the market, had a higher detection rate.

These results were confirmed during review on avast antivirus daily use. When we tried to download a malicious test file, we immediately received a pop-up saying the download was blocked as the file could be harmful.

Real-time threat protection

Avast&#;s real-time protection comprises two components: shields and scans. The former, as the name suggests, shields your computer from threats on a continuous and automatic basis. The four shields that Avast offers are:

• File Shield — Scans new files added or downloaded onto your device
• Web Shield — Blocks web attacks, prevents unsafe downloads, and bolsters your online security
• Email Shield — Blocks dangerous attachments
• Real Site — Blocks fake and phishing sites

Coupled with Avast&#;s effective firewall protection, the Core Shields ensure that no new virus or malware can infect your device.

Besides the automatic shields, you can also scan your computer manually using Scan Central. Avast Antivirus offers a few types of scans. They include Smart Scan (scans the important files on your device), and Deep Scan (thoroughly scans all the folders on your device). You can even set up targeted scans for specific folders.

Avast Antivirus also lets you scan external storage devices, review on avast antivirus, like a USB.

You can schedule scans and view your scan history on Scan Central. You can also manually configure each type of scan to your specifications. For instance, you can specify which files should be scanned. Exceptions to scans and shields can also be added from the menu.

Avast Wi-Fi Inspector

Avast Premium Security and Ultimate both come with some additional security features. One of the more useful features is the Avast Wi-Fi Inspector. The tool scans your network to detect vulnerabilities. This is useful when connecting to a public network or a private network with weak security.

The Wi-Fi Inspector also detects unwanted devices on your private review on avast antivirus. This is handy if you suspect that someone is free-riding on your internet connection.

Avast Ransomware Shield

Another key component of Avast Antivirus is its Ransomware Shield. Ransomware is malware that infects and prevents access to your device unless a ransom is paid. While ransomware attacks typically target large corporations that can cough up hefty amounts, individuals are not safe from them.

Avast&#;s Ransomware Shield prevents third-party software from changing, deleting, or locking your personal files. You can choose which folders you want to secure using Ransomware Shield.

Avast SecureLine VPN

The features we&#;ve described so far can be accessed from within the Avast Premium Security app. However, the VPN service and Cleanup utility are standalone apps and need to be downloaded separately. Moreover, they are only available with the Avast Ultimate plan.

Avast&#;s SecureLine is review on avast antivirus pretty decent VPN that fulfills most digital privacy and security requirements. A VPN helps protect your digital identity by encrypting your internet traffic and changing your IP address.

Avast uses IPSec, and its own Avast Mimic protocols to encrypt your data. IPSec is widely regarded as a secure protocol. Avast&#;s VPN also features a kill switch, which is an important security feature.

A VPN can also unblock content that has been geo-restricted by streaming platforms or censored by governments, review on avast antivirus. Avast SecureLine VPN gives you access to servers in 34 countries, so it can unblock content from several nations. The VPN also comes with specialty servers for torrenting and streaming.

In terms of speed, Avast SecureLine performs pretty decently. While connected to nearby servers, it recorded a roughly 25% drop in download speeds, which is comparable to some premium VPN providers we&#;ve reviewed.

However, the speeds dropped significantly when we connected to servers further away. While this is to be expected, it reduces the utility of Avast SecureLine VPN for streaming and downloading.

Although nothing of concern came up during our review of Avast VPN&#;s logging policy, we are hesitant to give it a thumbs up because of the company&#;s chequered past with the handling of user review on avast antivirus AntiTrack

AntiTrack is another useful feature that&#;s included in the Avast Ultimate suite. It is a digital identity protection solution that works by disguising your online identity. It blocks trackers from collecting and sharing user data.

The app also lets users schedule regular deletion of their browsing history and cookies, which can take up significant space on devices.

Avast AntiTrack&#;s ID & privacy protection status suggests measures you can take to improve your overall privacy. Stats on blocked trackers and total cookies are visible on the home screen of the app.

Avast Cleanup Premium

Avast&#;s Ultimate package also includes Cleanup Premium. The app helps declutter your device by removing unused files and photos. It also uninstalls apps that are no longer used and clean up duplicates, thus saving drive space and boosting your device&#;s performance.

You can choose the size, type, and location of files that you want Cleanup Premium to target. During our tests, we noticed that Cleanup Premium boosted the performance of our laptop slightly.

Privacy: How Does Avast Antivirus Handle Your Data?

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Privacy is a major sticking point for Avast. Our key takeaways in terms of privacy are:

• Avast Ultimate bundle has some privacy-oriented features, such as a VPN and Identity Monitor
• Avast&#;s privacy policy allows the company to collect a large but reasonable amount of personal data

Avast&#;s Privacy Protection Features

Avast Free Antivirus doesn&#;t come with any privacy protection apps. However, the Premium Security and Ultimate bundles include some useful additions, such as:

• Avast SecureLine VPN
• Avast AntiTrack
• Avast Core Shields
• Avast Wi-Fi Inspector

These apps work together to help you browse the web freely, without worrying too much about privacy. With that said, Avast SecureLine VPN lacks some crucial features, review on avast antivirus, such as a clear no-logs policy. If you&#;re looking for a private and reliable VPN that&#;s also fast, check out NordVPN.

Avast Antivirus’s privacy policy

Before recommending Avast to users, we wanted to answer the question — is Avast Antivirus safe?. To determine the answer, we took a close look at Avast&#;s privacy policy. Our study revealed that Avast collects the following user data:

Most of the data that Avast collects is used to ensure the smooth operation of its services. For example, malware samples and virus detections are used to make the antivirus software as effective as possible.

If one user encounters a virus, the virus signature is added to their library, and they build defenses against it. This means other users get protection from the virus even before they encounter it.

The fact that Avast collects users&#; IP addresses and locations give rise to some concerns. Of course, you can decide what information you want to share with Avast in the settings menu. You can even turn off data sharing for app and security improvement. We recommend you do this given Avast&#;s history with users&#; personal data.

Avast sold data to third-parties

In Januarya joint investigation by PCMag and Motherboard revealed that Avast indirectly sold user data review on avast antivirus third parties. It did not deal directly with companies such as Google, Yelp, and Microsoft, but used a subsidiary called Jumpshot.

Avast passed on a lot of specific information to third parties, including users&#; locations, Google searches, YouTube videos, Review on avast antivirus pages, and the porn websites they visited. This sensitive information was collected from over million devices and then resold.

Users could indicate in their settings whether they wanted to participate in this data collection or otherwise. However, many Avast users were unaware that this data was subsequently being sold and unknowingly opted in, review on avast antivirus. Avast was not transparent about the process and did not respect the privacy of its users.

While Avast has confirmed that it no longer sells user data, the public&#;s trust in the company has been seriously damaged. The lack of transparency and the fact that this incident occurred recently influenced Avast&#;s overall privacy score.

Usability: How User-Friendly Is Avast Antivirus?

Avast Antivirus is quite user-friendly, but contacting customer care can be a complicated process. Here are some highlights of Avast&#;s usability:

• Intuitive app and website
• Apps for VPN and anti-tracking need to be downloaded separately
• Human customer support is helpful but not easily accessible

How do I install Avast Antivirus?

The Avast website is available in over 50 languages. The homepage prominently advertises the Avast Free Antivirus software. You will immediately notice the button to download it.

The paid version and Avast’s other products aren’t immediately visible. You’ll have to look for them via the menu or scroll further down the page.

The Avast website is easy to navigate. The various products on offer are all introduced with a short informative review on avast antivirus, download buttons, and their prices. There are separate sections for people looking to use Avast for their homes or businesses. There&#;s also a section for people who want to partner with the company.

Installing Avast is easy. Winutilities pro the steps listed review on avast antivirus to get it up and running on your device:

1. Click the Store button on the Avast homepage.
2. Select the Avast package/suite you&#;d like to purchase and click on buy now.
3. If you&#;re purchasing a paid version, you&#;ll be redirected to the payments page.
4. Fill in the required information and make your payment.
5. 
6. Once the payment is complete, you&#;ll be redirected to the Avast website and prompted to download the Avast software.
7. Download Avast on your device from the website.
8. Once the download is complete, double click on the .exe or .dmg file to open the installer.
9. 
10. The installer will guide you through the process. You will be prompted to grant Avast permissions on your device, such as the permission to access your network settings. This is required for the antivirus to function properly.

After installation, review on avast antivirus, Avast Antivirus should boot up on its own, review on avast antivirus. You can configure the antivirus scanner according to your preferences. If you&#;re using an iOS or Android device, you can also download Avast Antivirus by going to the App Store or Play Store.

Avast’s software

Avast&#;s antivirus app is well-designed and visually pleasing. The color tones are nice and easy on the eyes. In terms of usability, the antivirus software is moderately easy touse.

While most settings and features can be accessed easily, others can take a bit of effort to figure out. For review on avast antivirus, it wasn&#;t immediately clear that you need to click the magnifying glass on the home screen to access Scan Central.

We were also bugged by the fact that the VPN and Anti-track software have to be downloaded separately. Another thing worth mentioning is that on macOS, the app window is quite small, which can make it difficult to read the settings.

These minor issues aside, Avast&#;s user interface is pretty intuitive. It is easy to perform a scan and execute any follow-up actions that are required. The same can be said about other apps in the suite. The SecureLine VPN app, for instance, is designed so well that even beginners can easily use it.

With that said, the Avast AntiTrack dashboard can get a little cluttered and difficult to understand.

How easy is it to cancel an Avast Antivirus subscription?

Canceling your subscription to Avast Antivirus is not possible through the app. Instead, you need to visit Avast&#;s website and log in to your account. Overall, the process is pretty easy and only takes a couple of minutes.

Follow the steps outlined below review on avast antivirus cancel your Avast Antivirus subscription:

1. Go to the Avast website and log in to your account.
2. On the landing page, click on &#;My Subscriptions&#;
3. 
4. You should be able to view your existing subscription and payment details, review on avast antivirus. Click on unsubscribe to stop automatic billing.
5. 
6. If you purchased the subscription less than a month ago, you can take advantage of Avast&#;s day money-back guarantee to get a refund. To do this, go to the Payments page and click on Request a Refund. You may be asked why you&#;re canceling your subscription. Simply check one of the options provided.
7. 
8. Avast will email you to confirm that you have successfully unsubscribed. Refunds, if any, are processed within five to seven working days.

Avast&#;s customer support

Customer support review on avast antivirus integral to an antivirus&#; utility. It is particularly important if there are any technical issues that affect your device&#;s performance or security. In our experience, Avast&#;s customer support team is knowledgeable and professional.

If you are having issues with Avast Antivirus software, you can start by visiting the dedicated support website. The website lists commonly asked questions under different topics, such as requesting a refund and canceling a subscription. The site also provides access to the Avast forum, review on avast antivirus, where you can view solutions to similar problems other users have encountered.

If you can&#;t find an answer on the forum or in the FAQ section, you can contact Avast&#;s support team.

However, access to the support team depends on the subscription package you have. For free users, customer care is limited to the forum and FAQs while premium subscribers can access support by email, live chat, or over the phone.

We found Avast&#;s customer support team to be knowledgeable and friendly when could get through to them. They guided us through the cancellation and refund process. For non-Avast-related technical issues, such as device repair, Avast has a separate service called Premium Tech Support. However, the service is quite expensive — it costs upwards of $70 per call.

Overall, Avast&#;s customer support is good but not great. While the resources and staff are helpful, accessing human customer support can take a lot of time.

Speed and Performance: Will Avast Antivirus Slow Down My System?

Avast delivers quick scans without overloading your CPU. Here are our key observations about its speed and performance:

• A Quick Scan takes about two minutes, while a Deep Scan takes close to 20 minutes
• Avast had nearly no impact on our device&#;s performance when running in the background
• Running a scan only takes up about 20% of your CPU&#;s processing capacity.

How long does a scan take?

To test Avast&#;s scan speeds, we ran a Quick or Smart Scan and a Deep Scan. We measured how long each of these took, review on avast antivirus. The results are:

• Smart Scan: minutes
• Deep Scan: minutes

Bear in mind that these tests were conducted on a MacBook Pro with an M1 processor. This is a fairly powerful device and test results on other devices may differ. Nonetheless, Avast&#;s speeds are pretty impressive and compare favorably with competitors&#.

How does Avast Antivirus impact my CPU?

Antivirus software can sometimes affect a device&#;s performance. They can slow down a device&#;s processing capacity and hamper your daily activities. We did not experience this with Avast antivirus.

While running in the background, Avast did not take up more than % to 1% of our CPU&#;s processing capacity. During a Quick Scan, this shot up to around 15%. Since the Smart Scan only takes a couple of minutes, it didn&#;t have any noticeable impact on the performance of our device.

Surprisingly, even the Deep Scan didn&#;t take up too much of our CPU&#;s processing power. While marginally higher than the Smart Scan, at around 20%, the Deep Scan did not affect our ability to browse the web, edit documents, or avant browser 2017 build 5 videos.

Final Verdict: Is Avast Antivirus a Good Virus Scanner?

Avast is a great option if you&#;re looking for reliable antivirus software that will keep your device free from malware and viruses. However, review on avast antivirus, its data-sharing practices raise some concerns for us. Also, Avast Ultimate lacks some security and privacy features that competitors like Norton provide, like cloud backup, data breach notification, and identity theft alerts.

If you&#;re convinced that Avast is a good fit for you, click the button below to check out Avast&#;s subscription plans.