Features
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Popularity:
#3 in Antivirus Software (out of 292 products)
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License:
Free
- Editor's Rating:
- Average User Rating:
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Downloads:
29,171,611
- Requirements:
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista
- Limitations:
No limitations
- Date Added:
August 26, 2008
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Previous Versions:
Publisher's description of Avast Home Edition
From ALWIL Software:
Avast Home Edition is a complete ICSA & Checkmark certified antivirus, Checkmark certified anti-spyware & anti-rootkit package. Avast includes the following components: On demand scanner with skinnable simple interface, just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the Play button; On access scanner, special providers to protect the most of available e-mail clients; Instant messaging--ICQ, Miranda; Network traffic--intrusion detection, lightweight firewall; P2P protection for Kazaa, BitTorrent; Web shield--monitors and filters all HTTP traffic; NNTP scanner--scans all Usenet Newsgroup traffic and all operations with files on PC; Boot time scanner--scans disks in the same way and in the same time as Windows CHKDSK does.
Version 4.8.1229.80826 contains improvements in the anti-rootkit module.
Note: You'll have to register (free) on the publisher site to be able to continue using this program after 60 days.
Editor's review of Avast Home Edition
5.0 stars
- "Make viruses walk the plank"
This impressive software provides the same steadfast protection of well-known antivirus programs, yet it's surprisingly free.
Avast Home Edition guards your PC and the network with multiple shields that scan executables and files. You can select parameters for scanning, and even choose wildcards to exclude specific file types. You can adjust the sensitivity level for the program's detectors when it comes to scanning downloaded files, instant messages, e-mails, and a host of P2Ps. Its efficient interface opens up window after window to tweak its settings to your liking, for novice to advanced level protection.
Though it took quite some time to run, we're impressed with this application's boot-time antivirus scan. Fortunately, if you're in a pinch you can bypass it. If malicious contents are detected, Avast comes to the rescue with handy virus cleanup tools. Some decent PC controls are even handed out here. You can block certain URLs and file operations, such as writing to files or even renaming, deleting or formatting them.
With immediate real-time protection, clockwork updates, and much more, this free software is highly regarded in our book.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 7985 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 97 user reviewsSee all 97 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80826
Pros: Ease of downlaod
Free serviceCons: Nothing as yet
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Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80826
"Key every year and other annoyances"
Pros: It has a good interface, takes up a bit less memory than AVG.
Cons: USB Keyboards can't seem to input during pre-boot scan, this caused me to force my computer to restart manually. The annoying "get a free key every year" makes it like norton, which is not all that great of a program.
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Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80826
"A good and free anti-virus but annoying"
Pros: free and good, easy to use and skinnable interface and scans RAR archives
Cons: Whenever it comes upon a virus, it will produce a sound " deeeerrr...... deeeerrr.... deeeerrrr...... , caution, a virus has been detected" which is irritating
Summary: A good and free anti-virus but annoying
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Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80826
Pros: different user screens ease use by amateurs,and pros alike
Cons: be ready to get update prompts about once a day
the nature of the beast... -
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80826
Pros: Thorough, catches things avg, norton or bitdefender didn't.
Cons: nothing yet, works great!
Summary: best program I've used (free or purchased) will recommend! Have already recommended to my daughter and son.
- See all 97 user reviews Write review
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