It seems logical that free antivirus protection should satisfy only basic needs. However, in fact, many free antiviruses include impressive sets of additional components. Avast Free Antivirus 2017 provides more features than many paid products. In addition to high-quality anti-virus protection, you get a network security scanner, a password manager, a secure browser and other functions.
Perhaps you've already heard that last year Avast bought out AVG, which also produced a free antivirus. Fans of both antiviruses can be calm - the company refused to combine them into one product. Nevertheless, the best security technologies from both companies were introduced in both product lines.
The main window of Avast Free Antivirus 2017 seriously differs from the version of 2016. The interface of the previous version of the program was dominated by white and orange colors, and the menu with icons was displayed at the top of the window. Avast in 2017 received a dark gray background image, and the navigation menu is now on the left. By default, the system status tab is displayed, and the menu organizes quick access to the "Protection", "Privacy" and "Speed" pages. These pages include icons with all the features of the Avast product line, and the lock icon indicates features not available in Avast Free Antivirus. You can download this antivirus from this source https://bestwinsoft.com/security/free-antivirus-software/avast-free-antivirus for free.
Avast Free Antivirus 2017 Review - Core Components
During the installation, Avast offers to install the Google Chrome browser and the Google Toolbar into other browsers. If you do not disable this option, then the toolbar will make Google the default search engine, but will not override the home page. In addition, during installation Avast explains in detail the policy for processing impersonal data, but the user can disable the collection of this data if desired.
One of Avast's new features is invisible. If you install another antivirus on the system with Avast, it will automatically go into passive mode. In this mode, real-time protection and other active protection are disabled to avoid potential conflicts. However, at any time you can start the anti-virus scanner manually. A similar mode is used by Windows Defender.
Good results in laboratories
All traceable PCMag independent laboratories include Avast in the testing program. In addition, Avast received certification from West Coast Labs. In the test, Reactive and Proactive from Virus Bulletin, the product showed an above average result.
AV-Comparatives: Dynamic testing of antivirus software: July-November 2016: General results
In four AV-Comparatives tests, Avast received two maximum Advanced + ratings and two Advanced ratings, to a level below the maximum. Based on the results of the comprehensive AV-Test assessment, Avast received 15.5 points. And for protection and ease of use, the product received a maximum of 6 points, and for productivity - only 3.5 points.
In complex dynamic testing from SE Labs, which uses hidden downloads and other types of web attacks, Avast received a rating of AA, a step below the maximum rating. Of the two MRG-Effitas tests, Avast was able to pass only one.
Thus, the aggregate result of Avast is 8.7 points, which is higher than the AVG score, equal to 8.4 points. The leader is Kaspersky, which earned 9.8 points, Norton fell only one tenth. The third place belongs to Avira - 9.5 points.
Good Threat Blocking
The malware blocking test uses a collection of malware collected manually. Many products begin to delete samples immediately after opening the folder, while others are waiting for the object to be selected. Just like AVG and McAfee AntiVirus Plus, Avast does not start a real-time scanner until the process tries to start.
Avast Free Antivirus Review 2017 - Good Threat Blocking
The test collection contains various types of thunderstorms - from trojans to encryptors to annoying potentially unwanted programs. Therefore, before the start of the test, the detection of the PNP was turned on. Avast users are advised to do the same.
Avast found 97 percent of the samples, repeating the result of Norton and AVG AntiVirus Free. Most threats were blocked when trying to execute. For the cleaning the product received 9.7 points, although AVG earned only 9.5 points.
Every time an attempt was made to launch a malicious program, Avast recommended that you perform a scan when the computer boots. All right, because such a check excludes the intervention of malicious programs.
If in the test for malware blocking the same samples are used for several months, the test for blocking malicious downloads uses the latest links from MRG-Effitas. For each working link, the antivirus response is tested: blocking access at the network level, eliminating the payload when downloading, or ignoring the threat.