Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
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.
Avast Antivirus Free- Protect your PC agaisnt viruses and other malware - Download Video Previews: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.
What's new in this version: Version 5.1.889 includes following updates:
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All versions:
4.5 starsout of 24,276 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 296 votes
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My rating:
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"In my opinion good, faster,and reliable"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Has improved standard, faster, and reliable
Cons
comfortable and reliable
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Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
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Cons
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Summary
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"Great AV program"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Intuitive GUI
Real time protectionCons
None that I am aware of.It's better than TrenMicro AV program.
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"A great and efficient program for the masses."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
This a great program, easy to use, maintain. Can be set for dummies or nerds. Oh, I'm somewhere In between. Most important it works!
Cons
None as far as I can tell, I have recommended it to all friends who will hear.
Summary
I can only reiterate What I've said in the pros.
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"Great, but..."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Great product, no slow down.
Cons
Supposed to be free? After a trial I started getting a nonstop stream of popups telling me to buy!!
I hate that crap. I would buy this product if they hadn't pissed me off.Summary
Why can't software companies be straight? Why is it so hard to find a product worth installing?
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"excellent program, the best"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
fully protects your computer, mointers all downloads and activiites
Cons
i have not detected any cons
Summary
the best anti virus program i have seen
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"Reliable for years and doesn't slow down ANY computer"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Works on ancient PCs (ie running Win 2K even)
FREE but NOT cheap or incomplete
Smooth performance, defaults to update every 4 hours
Engine is top notch, not even bested by expensive pay-for softwareCons
Having a backup ad/spyware service is smart--viruses are where this really shines
Likewise, have a separate firewall (simple ones are fine)Summary
I've used this for years now... have had it on raging fast game machines and old clunkers alike--right now am typing from the latter, and you can't even tell Avast is there, it's so unintrusive... that's even when (on a decade old beast with a mere 1Ghz speed and more critically half a gig RAM) I'm maxing out the computer's function, which doesn't take much when you have to "virtual memory" the fool out of it to run modern programs (my laptop got stolen, so this--which had, as its video card and sound card are still solid, pretty much been retired to a media machine--suddenly became the core performer for a while, at least til the recession stops making money a constant nervewrecker). In short, whether you've got several terabytes of drive space to supplement a solid state drive and a gig of DDR3 video memory (which I did, sigh) or... a modest netbook or worse, something that you can call old reliable while worrying every hour that name will be gone... Avast WILL deliver reliable, steady results that will not kill your machine or even upset it. It has very good manners. I wish all of them did. I've used--on work machines--Trend Micro (good but not free), all the Norton and McAfee stuff (ugh, talk about bloating and cramping!), and more, and I've also used Avira, AVG (which takes little room but even on a pretty little Thinkpad made it hang up often), and others... I'm glad there are lots of options, don't get me wrong, just like I'm glad Windows and Google and Apple all exist, but it doesn't mean I don't have a clear favorite and thankfully it doesn't mean I have to worry about such basic protection while I'm connected.
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"Very Effective with pretty interface."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Include all those features which are available in paid antivirus softwares.
Cons
Not found.
Summary
There are number solid reasons which make it a best antivirus for home users:
1. Very nice User Interface.
2. Include all those features which are available in paid antivirus softwares.
3. It do not consume much computer resources & has fast scanning speed.
4. Detection rate is very high.
5. Various types of shields which provide advance protection.
6. Low false positive rate.
7. Its updates are small & quick & so update its virus definitions several times in a day which is good for protection.
All these reasons make avast the WINNER of my trust. -
"Good program in general"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Seems like a very good anti-virus program in general but...
Cons
Since I installed this program it often makes Windows XP either freeze, get the blue screen of death (which is very rare with XP) or restart the computer by itself all at startup... My cousin had the same problem and now I can see it is true.
Summary
Very good program but may need to be checked for startup errors as they can be damaging to the computer.
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"more excellent than others"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 5.1.889.110120
Pros
Avast alerts users to updates and potentially harmful sites
Cons
it takes long time to do full scan
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