In the past we’ve picked AVG as the best free security package this time Avast has showed itself to be a lighter, friendlier and more capable option. That’s a better performance than any other free antivirus tool – and outshines several paid-for suites. Across two months of tests, Avast successfully protected against 98% of recent malware, including so-called zero-day malware attacks that hadn’t previously been seen. This partly duplicates Windows’ Remote Desktop capabilities, but no configuration is required, making it an appealing option if you’re one of those lucky souls who provides technical support to friends and family.Īll this would be moot if Avast Free Antivirus weren’t competent at the basic business of detecting malware, but here too it’s a strong performer. It installs by default in Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Opera – but it doesn’t meddle with homepage or search settings.Ī distinctive feature is the Remote Assistance tool, which can be used to access someone else’s desktop (with their permission, of course). You’ll mostly only notice it via the WebRep browser extension, which adds safety ratings to search results and shows trustworthiness ratings for sites you visit.
Turn off the grating voice notifications and Avast is attractively inconspicuous. Pro Antivirus ANTIVIRUS AND ANTI-SPYWARE ENGINE new avast WEBREP Innovative scanning engine protects against viruses, spyware, and other Provides website. In everyday use, however, this isn’t too intrusive.
A section of the interface is dedicated to promoting other Avast products and services, both paid-for and free, including data backup and protection for Android devices. The front page of the interface displays a big advert for Avast’s paid-for Internet Security suite, and an ever-present “upgrade” button sits in the top-right corner of the window. Since it’s free, some advertising is inevitable. It’s easy to navigate, too, with a tabbed interface offering direct access to primary settings and information panes, and it’s illustrated with surprisingly tasteful graphics. In our view, the Avast Free Antivirus front-end is one of the most attractive around.