Sprint: What can you do with 4G?
- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
- Date added: July 15, 2010
- Total Downloads: 104,397,072
- Downloads last week: 1,296,761
- Product Ranking: #2 in Antivirus Software
- See full specifications
- CNET Community
- This product is on 122 member lists. Add to my list Add to my Watch List
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 14377 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on January 18, 2010
Avast Free 5, an A-list freeware antivirus app, provides the same steadfast protection of well-known, pricier antivirus programs. Avast is remarkable for both its effectiveness and arguably providing the most complete free antivirus on the market.
Avast Free 5, formerly known as the Home Edition, protects you with multiple guards. The antivirus, antispyware, and heuristics engines form a security core that also includes multiple real-time shields. The adjustable mail and file system shields join the pre-existing behavior, network, instant messaging, peer-to-peer, and Web shields. The behavioral shield is a common-sense feature, as security software publishers leverage their large user bases to detect threats early and warn others. Other new features include a silent-gaming mode and an "intelligent scanner" that only looks at changed files after establishing a baseline. The biggest change in Avast 5, though, is the interface. Gone is the music player default look, which was skinnable but confusing. In its place is a sleek UI that new users should find far more manageable. It's also Aero-friendly, with Explorer-style navigation buttons in case you can't remember where you tweaked a particular setting.
Avast's recent independent third-party testing has been notably solid, able to hold its own against better-known programs from Symantec and Microsoft. Avast 5 Free lacks features in the paid upgrade including antispam measures, a testing sandbox, a Script shield, and a firewall. Even without those, Avast Free 5 is probably the strongest, free antivirus currently available.
Watch the CNET video review of Avast Free Antivirus:
Publisher's description
From AVAST Software:Avast Free Antivirus is based on multiple protective layers that work together to provide security. The product is designed for the average consumer who wants easy-to-use protection for basic email and web surfing. It is limited to home and non-commercial users. New features match top detection with increased efficiency. Computer memory requirements for the new antivirus and antispyware engine have been cut in half. Scanning is 40 percent faster, saving both time and computer resources. Complete rootkit protection includes real-time detection to ward off initial installation, on-demand scanning and boot-time scans. The user friendly 5.0 has a new interface with easy-to-adjust settings, a context-sensitive help menu and graphs showing ongoing protection activities. Users can set the time and conditions for complete scans, with avast even waking up their computer from hibernation for midnight scans before putting it back to bed. Multiple shields prevent the spread of malware via email by checking incoming and outgoing emails for suspect content, identify malware by its anticipated behavior or by looking out for unusual activity and attempts at system modifications.
What's new in this version:
- improved interaction with Windows System Restore; namely, avast now auto repairs itself when it detects a corrupted VPS due to a System Restore (or other reasons)
- aswSP.sys: solved a minor stability issue
- solved a problem related to inserting of the license files
- added the activation code feature
- solved a problem when avast was progressively slowing down (especially in conjunction with the screensaver)
- performance improvements in the Behavior ... see all new features
More popular Antivirus Software downloads
- 1,592,909 downloads 1. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
- 1,296,761 downloads 2. Avast Free Antivirus
- 606,264 downloads 3. Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus
- 48,600 downloads 4. Emsisoft Anti-Malware
- 39,880 downloads 5. Norton AntiVirus 2010
- See all Antivirus Software downloads
User reviews
- All versions: 4.5 starsout of 14377 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- Current version: 4.2 starsout of 351 votes
- 5 stars
- 4 stars
- 3 stars
- 2 stars
- 1 stars
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
1 stars
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"I hate it!"
Pros: It found all viruses and everything
Cons: When I wanted to delete the threats a window appeared "if you want to remove the threats from your computer please buy the full version"
Summary: IT IS NOT FREE AT ALL
-
3 stars
19 out of 26 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"okay and thats about it."
Pros: nice interface and options.
Cons: lacks good detection and prevention capabilities.
Summary: I tested it with 3 trojans and didn't catch none of them. Well it was Avira and Mbam to the rescue. It took a couple times, but we nailed it.
-
1 stars
18 out of 25 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"I have had nothing but trouble with avast! 5.0.5."
Pros: You don't have to update the VRDB separately - it is included in the daily update.
Cons: I have had to re-download avast! 5 three times in the last two weeks because of various problems. Now I can't send or receive any email because avast! wants to control my email security settings instead of my preferred local server - no way!!
Summary: I have never had any trouble with avast! before. It has been my preferred anti-virus program for several years. There is no way to download the older, more reliable version 4.8, which makes me wonder if I should start reading up on other, reliable, free anti-virus programs.
-
1 stars
14 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"Just uninstalled it"
Pros: Excellent software when you want it engaged.
Cons: Extremely difficult to shutdown.
Summary: Bottom line is this software is harder to shut down than some of the nastiest viruses out there. Even when shutting down all of it's services via right clicking it's icon, some parts of it still remains running. Not possible to shut down the software. Either through the task manager or through the program itself. At least no way I could find.
Should be able to right click and exit the software. Other than that, it's the best out there, but I won't be using it as I can't stand any software that that's difficult to disengage and shut down. Unacceptable. -
1 stars
15 out of 21 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"looks good but not at all effective"
Pros: I liked the overall looks of this product but it isn't at all helpful at removing anything that has to do with a virus or malicious software.The looks were the only thing about the software that where good.
Cons: while its scans where quick the software was extremely ineffective when it came to protection of any type and totally unhelpful when it came to any type of solution to the problems, it makes me wonder if its like that because they want it that way .
Summary: I felt it was just a fluff program giving people a very false sense of protection, while at the same time leaving people vulnerable to attacks of just about every type. this was one of the most worthless programs I've had the unfortunate opertunity to use. While I did recieve it while I was having troubles with attacks honestly it should have at the very least acknowledged there where attacks present. I also found out while I was manually removing the effects of the attack I also found out that more ports where open than when I started with this particular program.
-
1 stars
17 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"4.8 version great; New 5.08 version is a nightmare."
Pros: It does catch lots of malicious spyware and offer a lot of protection for free
Cons: Trashed my compter. (Software would not open)
Could not get it to accept my internet connection
Tech support repaired after about 1 week
They should let you roll back to 4.8 version which is much more stable.Summary: Loved all versions up until version 5 came out. Avast would not allow you to renew and keep version 4.8. It was a nightmare to go through their uninstall and reinstall to make version 5 work and then it trashed my computer. When I would click to open a program the computer did not know where to go. Windows Media Player stopped working. Tech support took a week to repair. Also would not recognize my internet connection even though I was on the internert. Don't do it until they let you go back to 4.8 or fix all the issues.
-
2 stars
13 out of 18 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"Avast disconnects your internet!"
Pros: Easy to use, and very informative of what it is doing. Also uses comparitively little memory resources compared to the competition.
Cons: Avast 5 installation, from Avast 4, however, has now cocked up the wireless interconnection on one of my most used PCs, and I can no longer connect to the internet. Problem and issue remains unsolved
Summary: Easy to use, and very informative of what it is doing. Also uses comparitively little memory resources compared to the competition. Avast 5 installation, from Avast 4, however, has now cocked up the wireless interconnection on one of my most used PCs, and I can no longer connect to the internet. Problem and issue remains unsolved. I have downloaded the tool from Avast to remove all of their antivirus programs, too. But again, no internet. Very disappointed. Avast 5 works OK on the laptop and I have recommended to others, with good comments coming back, but, not being able to use the PC without internet connection, or being able to solve the issue dispite surfing for help and assistance is really bugging me, big time, as well as costing me money in lost business.
-
1 stars
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"New Version VERY BAD!"
Pros: It still monitors in real time and doesn't really slow me down that much? Not really sure if it's stopping any viruses seeing as it keeps stopping Internet connection. I really liked the older version AND WANT OPTION TO USE!!!
Cons: Updated Version SUCKS! version installed on my Puter n those I installed on serval friends,KICKS out Internet Connection,disables restore points,Stops componants, kicks out critical componants.
Summary: I Loved the Older Version of Avast. The one with the Blue spinning Ball was GR8! However,as the updates started coming so did the problems! Most noticably with the Avast 5. I have spent countless hours having to remove every part of Avast including hidden parts from mine as well aas several friends. It has caused loss of Internet discovery, Unable to get updates from important sorces like Adobe, Microsoft, Java, to name a few. I have had to do everything from removing the software to erasing a few hard drives several times over. The New Avast has decided what IT Wants to recognize on these computers and doesn't give a crap what you think about it. I was really Ticked when it got rid of ALL prior Restore points making this once wonderful FREE product seem more like a VERY NASTY VIRUS! I WANT to be able to choose the older version or they need to fix this HUGE Problem that THEY at Avast have created!!! Oh, still trying to figure out if it is true that after one year of FREE use if Consumers are going to have to pay. Anybody know about this??? If this is the case and the problems don't get fixed, I will be finding a New Favorite FREE Anti-Virus! Chop Chop you Ppl @ Avast!!! It Wasn't Broke in the first Place Son Why Did You Mess it Up?? Please Cater to us; Your Loyal Users and just Give Us Back That Which You Took.from use!! Thanx I Guess?
-
1 stars
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"NO!!!!!!!!"
Pros: Supposedly free, however....
Cons: NOT FREE. NOT FREE.
Summary: I've used the product before, when I downloaded it this time, the product did not allow me to register. I talked with tech support and I was shocked to discover that the company only allows one download per mac address. According to Gagan, a manager at tech support, the company will not allow the use of the product for a second year unless you purchase the product.
-
1 stars
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.0.594.100712
"Update deleted old AVAST on laptop. Now cannot install."
Pros: Cannot install or run , so cannot say anything positive about new AV program.Hugely disappointing
Cons: old program wiped out, cannot install new one: IT guys say "we've seen this before" but can also do nothing about installing., Possibly to do with Windows 7?
Summary: As above. Cannot install, so had to move to alternative AV program. Would have liked to be able to allocate zero stars.
- Write review
Submit your review
- See more CNET content tagged:
- Avast,
- Real-Time,
- anti-spyware,
- antivirus,
- shield
Previous Versions:
