Avast Free Antivirus is the company's latest malware-hunting engine.
Avast Antivirus Download Center. Protect your Windows 10 PC against viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other types of malware with Avast Free Antivirus. Used by more than 400 million people around the world, our free antivirus is fully compatible with Windows 10 and 8.1 It includes a password manager, browser cleaner, and Wi-Fi Inspector to. Open any webpage from the avast.com domain in your browser window (this is any URL that has avast.com at the beginning). Click the shield icon to the left of the address bar. Click the blue (ON) slider next to Enhanced Tracking Protection is ON for this site so that it changes to gray (OFF).
Installation is simple and straightforward. Compatibility seems good, too, with the package running happily alongside Bitdefender Internet Security on our test PC.
The program interface is clean and very easy to use. Just click 'Run Smart Scan' and Free Antivirus immediately runs a quick check for malware, missing software updates, network vulnerabilities even looks for weak passwords and junk files.
When it's finished, clicking 'Resolve all' allows you to review the results and fix whatever the program has found.
The previous Avast Free Antivirus extended the package with a new password manager. This generates strong passwords on demand, stores and fills them locally, and syncs them with free iOS and Android apps.
The network security scanner detects more router vulnerabilities and displays extra details.
WebShield has switched to a smarter and more compatible system of HTTPS scanning, as used in Firefox, Chrome and Opera.
The interface has been optimised and improved.
Verdict:
A solid antivirus engine with a good range of features, made even better by the new password manager.
Powerful anti-malware solution delivered in a user-friendly and free package, featuring multiple scanning modes and extra tools to ensure all-round PC safety
What's new in Avast Free Antivirus 21.7.2476 Beta:
- What's new:
- Added simple dual-panel file manager to Rescue Disk
- What was fixed:
The antivirus solution from developer AVAST Software comes in many flavors and most users opt for the free edition for obvious reasons. This does not make it any less reliable, however. The program features intuitive, advanced and customizable scanning methods along with other modules dedicated to computer safety.
Complete and customizable installation package
The installer is completely configurable when it comes to shields (for files, emails and web), security tools and preferred languages. Since it is ad-supported, the utility offers to install unnecessary third-party components but they can be skipped.
The security tools include browser protection and cleanup (e.g. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox), software updater for other programs installed, remote assistance for access on other computers, SecureLine for connection encryption agsinst spyware via VPN, GrimeFighter for system cleanup and maintenance, Rescue Disk for worst case scenarios with malware-crippled PCs, and a simple management connector that reports the Avast status to COM monitoring software.
Modern and attractive interface
Avast is wrapped in a pleasant and easy-to-use interface which provides fast access to the av status, scanning methods, tools, portable devices with Avast installed for remote control (smartphones, tablets), statistics (real-time and historical data, component status), as well as the rich configuration area, and animated tray icon based on different events.
Various scan modes with user-defined settings
It is possible to perform a quick scan in areas where malware is known to hide, complete by taking into account the entire computer, in removable drives only, custom directories, or at every Windows boot in autostart processes and services.
It is not necessary to change any settings, since Avast has a pretty decent default configuration. But advanced users have the possibility to fiddle with options regarding rootkits, file types, the exact scan areas, heuristics, PUP and suspicious files, archive formats, action on malware detection, scan priority, reports, exclusions, and scan scheduling.
Unconfirmed suspected infections sent to the quarantine may be investigated to decide whether to keep or eliminate them, while reports with scan activities may be examined in logs.
Other security tools
The software updater automatically finds updates available for other programs, SecureLine must be purchased before it can be used, the browser cleanup component removes toolbars and resets browser settings to default if necessary, AccessAnywhere requires an Avast account (free) to control the PC from remote locations, and Rescue Disk creates a bootable USB or CD drive with the latest virus definitions to use for offline scanning and cleaning.
Performance and conclusion
System resources can be hogged or spared, depending on how fast users want the scans to finish. It is possible to disable the file system, mail or web shield with one click and customize settings for each one of them. As far as virus detection ratio is concerned, Avast Free Antivirus delivers very good results, which places it among the top-rated antivirus solutions on the current market.
The utility's virus signatures can be kept up-to-date with Avast Virus Definitions. Those looking for enhanced security features can test and/or purchase Avast Premier, Avast Internet Security or Avast Pro Antivirus.
Avast Free Antivirus Video Guide
Filed under
- What's new:
- Added simple dual-panel file manager to Rescue Disk
- What was fixed:
The antivirus solution from developer AVAST Software comes in many flavors and most users opt for the free edition for obvious reasons. This does not make it any less reliable, however. The program features intuitive, advanced and customizable scanning methods along with other modules dedicated to computer safety.
Complete and customizable installation package
The installer is completely configurable when it comes to shields (for files, emails and web), security tools and preferred languages. Since it is ad-supported, the utility offers to install unnecessary third-party components but they can be skipped.
The security tools include browser protection and cleanup (e.g. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox), software updater for other programs installed, remote assistance for access on other computers, SecureLine for connection encryption agsinst spyware via VPN, GrimeFighter for system cleanup and maintenance, Rescue Disk for worst case scenarios with malware-crippled PCs, and a simple management connector that reports the Avast status to COM monitoring software.
Modern and attractive interface
Avast is wrapped in a pleasant and easy-to-use interface which provides fast access to the av status, scanning methods, tools, portable devices with Avast installed for remote control (smartphones, tablets), statistics (real-time and historical data, component status), as well as the rich configuration area, and animated tray icon based on different events.
Various scan modes with user-defined settings
It is possible to perform a quick scan in areas where malware is known to hide, complete by taking into account the entire computer, in removable drives only, custom directories, or at every Windows boot in autostart processes and services.
It is not necessary to change any settings, since Avast has a pretty decent default configuration. But advanced users have the possibility to fiddle with options regarding rootkits, file types, the exact scan areas, heuristics, PUP and suspicious files, archive formats, action on malware detection, scan priority, reports, exclusions, and scan scheduling.
Unconfirmed suspected infections sent to the quarantine may be investigated to decide whether to keep or eliminate them, while reports with scan activities may be examined in logs.
Other security tools
The software updater automatically finds updates available for other programs, SecureLine must be purchased before it can be used, the browser cleanup component removes toolbars and resets browser settings to default if necessary, AccessAnywhere requires an Avast account (free) to control the PC from remote locations, and Rescue Disk creates a bootable USB or CD drive with the latest virus definitions to use for offline scanning and cleaning.
Performance and conclusion
System resources can be hogged or spared, depending on how fast users want the scans to finish. It is possible to disable the file system, mail or web shield with one click and customize settings for each one of them. As far as virus detection ratio is concerned, Avast Free Antivirus delivers very good results, which places it among the top-rated antivirus solutions on the current market.
The utility's virus signatures can be kept up-to-date with Avast Virus Definitions. Those looking for enhanced security features can test and/or purchase Avast Premier, Avast Internet Security or Avast Pro Antivirus.
Avast Free Antivirus Video Guide
Filed under
Avast Definition
Download Hubs
Avast Free Antivirus is part of these download collections: Scan For Viruses, Free Antivirus, Spyware Remover, Backdoor Detector
Avast Free Antivirus was reviewed by Elena Opris- No firewall included
- Real Site - disabled
- Sandbox - disabled
- Data Shredder - disabled
- SecureLine VPN - you can try it for 7 days
- Ransomware Shield - disabled (for Internet Security and Premier)
- SSE2 capable CPU (Intel Pentium 4, AMD Athlon 64 or above)
- 1 GB RAM or above
- 2GB free space on the hard disk
- nternet connection (to download, activate and maintain updates of the program and antivirus database).
- Optimally standard screen resolution not less than 1024 x 768 pixels.
Avast Free Antivirus 21.6.2474 / 21.7.2476 Beta
Avast Download
Softpedia Editor's Pickadd to watchlistsend us an update- runs on:
- Windows 10 32/64 bit
Windows 8 32/64 bit
Windows 7 32/64 bit - file size:
- 220 KB
- filename:
- avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
- main category:
- Antivirus
- developer:
- visit homepage
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