Avast Free Antivirus is based on multiple protective layers that work together to provide security. The product is designed for the average consumer who wants easy-to-use protection for basic email and web surfing. It is limited to home and non-commercial users. New features match top detection with increased efficiency. Computer memory requirements for the new antivirus and antispyware engine have been cut in half. Scanning is 40 percent faster, saving both time and computer resources. Complete rootkit protection includes real-time detection to ward off initial installation, on-demand scanning and boot-time scans. The user friendly 5.0 has a new interface with easy-to-adjust settings, a context-sensitive help menu and graphs showing ongoing protection activities. Users can set the time and conditions for complete scans, with avast even waking up their computer from hibernation for midnight scans before putting it back to bed. Multiple shields prevent the spread of malware via email by checking incoming and outgoing emails for suspect content, identify malware by its anticipated behavior or by looking out for unusual activity and attempts at system modifications.
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Review
by software.com
avast! Free Antivirus is perfect for people who send e-mails and surf popular websites.
by pcmag.com
Pros: Improved user interface. New heuristic anti-malware engine. New code emulator technology. Powerful boot-time scan. Good malware removal. Effective malware blocking.
Cons: Full scan and boot scan both take a long time. Some threats still present after supposed removal. Boot scan requires user interaction if threats found.
Bottom Line: The new user interface of avast! free antivirus makes it easier to use, and its new technology eliminates more malware. This tool offers more control over settings and more detail in reporting than some of its free competitors.
by cnet.com
Avast Free 5, an A-list freeware antivirus app, provides the same steadfast protection of well-known, pricier antivirus programs. Avast is remarkable for both its effectiveness and arguably providing the most complete free antivirus on the market.
Avast Free 5, formerly known as the Home Edition, protects you with multiple guards. The antivirus, antispyware, and heuristics engines form a security core that also includes multiple real-time shields. The adjustable mail and file system shields join the pre-existing behavior, network, instant messaging, peer-to-peer, and Web shields. The behavioral shield is a common-sense feature, as security software publishers leverage their large user bases to detect threats early and warn others. Other new features include a silent-gaming mode and an "intelligent scanner" that only looks at changed files after establishing a baseline. The biggest change in Avast 5, though, is the interface. Gone is the music player default look, which was skinnable but confusing. In its place is a sleek UI that new users should find far more manageable. It's also Aero-friendly, with Explorer-style navigation buttons in case you can't remember where you tweaked a particular setting.
Avast's recent independent third-party testing has been notably solid, able to hold its own against better-known programs from Symantec and Microsoft. Avast 5 Free lacks features in the paid upgrade including antispam measures, a testing sandbox, a Script shield, and a firewall. Even without those, Avast Free 5 is probably the strongest, free antivirus currently available.
I tested it with 3 trojans and didn't catch none of them. Well it was Avira and Mbam to the rescue. It took a couple times, but we nailed it.
ReplyDeleteI have never had any trouble with avast! before. It has been my preferred anti-virus program for several years. There is no way to download the older, more reliable version 4.8, which makes me wonder if I should start reading up on other, reliable, free anti-virus programs.
ReplyDeleteInteresting the comparison with Panda Cloud. I've installed Cloud on my wife's netbook and like it's light footprint. Thought about putting it on my computer but Avast has never let me down and I like Version 5 better than 4, so I still like Avast slightly better than Panda, maybe because of the reassuring "your virus has been updated" voice and maybe because I can schedule scans. Both are top flight products but Avast gets the nod.
ReplyDeleteI felt it was just a fluff program giving people a very false sense of protection, while at the same time leaving people vulnerable to attacks of just about every type. this was one of the most worthless programs I've had the unfortunate opertunity to use. While I did recieve it while I was having troubles with attacks honestly it should have at the very least acknowledged there where attacks present. I also found out while I was manually removing the effects of the attack I also found out that more ports where open than when I started with this particular program.
ReplyDeleteAvast free Antivirus has always been good, it just got better.
ReplyDeleteLoved all versions up until version 5 came out. Avast would not allow you to renew and keep version 4.8. It was a nightmare to go through their uninstall and reinstall to make version 5 work and then it trashed my computer. When I would click to open a program the computer did not know where to go. Windows Media Player stopped working. Tech support took a week to repair. Also would not recognize my internet connection even though I was on the internert. Don't do it until they let you go back to 4.8 or fix all the issues.
ReplyDeleteEasy to use, and very informative of what it is doing. Also uses comparitively little memory resources compared to the competition. Avast 5 installation, from Avast 4, however, has now cocked up the wireless interconnection on one of my most used PCs, and I can no longer connect to the internet. Problem and issue remains unsolved. I have downloaded the tool from Avast to remove all of their antivirus programs, too. But again, no internet. Very disappointed. Avast 5 works OK on the laptop and I have recommended to others, with good comments coming back, but, not being able to use the PC without internet connection, or being able to solve the issue dispite surfing for help and assistance is really bugging me, big time, as well as costing me money in lost business.
ReplyDeleteI've used AVG, Panda, ZoneAlarm and more recently Avast! Antivirus 5.0 with various levels of success. My computers were infected by drive-by viruses, porno pop-ups and a host of other problems that prevented me from utilizing my internet service and my ability to activate my task manager. I reinstalled the OS (what a pain) and installed Avast! Antivirus 5.0. I went back to some of the sites I visit often and to my surprise, Avast found malware and viruses as the webpages loaded! Not only did Avast remove the infection, but it contained it too. I enjoy reading the reviews of the PCMag staff often. Avast didn't give me any of the problems the reviewer encountered. As far as my review goes, this is a top-notch virus program. And a small perk . . . the program uses a friendly female voice to let you know about updates and infections. Turn on your speakers to hear it. To the software engineers at Avast - well done. Keep up the good work.
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