Avast’s free antivirus software is incredibly powerful, and comes with a an extensive set of tools and features that make it one of the best options for beginners. Despite some significant controversies about the suite’s session and data-logging (and the subsequent sale of user browsing habits via a subsidiary) however, it has an edge over most of its competition in regards to malware detection. The initial scan that is part of the installation procedure is a fantastic feature. It prepares the suite to work with its own tools.
All Avast plans are available for Windows, macOS, and Android All plans include a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Upgrade to one of the premium suites unlocks a host of additional tools like an advanced firewall, anti-phishing security, and an automatic VPN. You also receive an Rescue Disk and a secure browser that allows you to use online banking and shopping. It also comes with advanced anti-tracking and system optimization tools.
One of the most useful tools is Avast’s smart scan, which is a more thorough and quicker alternative for checking your computer for any issues. My tests showed that while it’s a reliable tool, it has some glitches when searching for specific types like ransomware. This can lock selected files and demand a payment to return them.
Avast also provides a website cleanup tool that can be used to clear browsing history, caches and cookies from all major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera Brave, Edge and Internet Explorer. This is a great, simple feature that does its job very well, even though it doesn’t have as many customization and privacy settings as some of the more flexible rivals.