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Avast Free Antivirus for Mac is Avast's answer to concerns about how to browse safely. The application is packaged with a brand-new, easy-to-understand graphical user interface, with access to all features available at single click.
The application's onscreen tools are well-organized, and its live graphics enhance the feeling of safety -- you can see that the antivirus software doesn't sleep and is always working to protect you from any viruses circulating on the Web. Avast's free software provides three shields to protect your computer: a file system shield, an e-mail shield, and a Web shield. With all three representing a door to your computer, Avast does a great job of watching these entrances.
However, this comes at a cost, and we don't mean money: as soon as you launch the app, you'll notice a slight drop in your computer's performance, which is due to Avast being at work scanning your entire computer for infected files. Secondly, it affects your browser's performance, as it also scans the pages you attempt to navigate to for viruses through the extensions it installs in Safari, Firefox, and Chrome browsers. We did find its notification feature handy, as it informs the user about its actions, so you'll always know what the software is up to.
Overall, Avast Antivirus for Mac is a nice addition to your Mac toolbox. It's free and very easy to use.
Publisher's Description
From AVAST Software:
Avast Free Antivirus for Mac offers three shields,on-demand scanning and WebRep clients which are automatically (optionally) installed to Safari, Chrome and Firefox browsers. Our Web Shield and Mail Shield combine to check the vast majority of incoming data from the Internet, while File Shield scans all programs stored and executed from your hard drive. Everything is packed in a brand new GUI.
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All versions:
4.5 starsout of 889 votes
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Current version:
4.6 starsout of 135 votes
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My rating:
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"Best free antivirus software out there!"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
fast, easy to use, low resource usage
Cons
no spyware or firewall protection in the free version
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"The best AV for Mac or PC that's FREE!"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
After much "Curious George "experimentation on my part ( opening attachments just to see what happens, going to places YOU wouldn't go) I found a product that works . It stops my stupidity in it's tracks with a BIG red page warning me it's at my own risk and I'd have to disable it to get there . Since I burned out my CD/DVD optic I'd have to go to Apple to reboot; I haven't been there in over a year now except buy iTunes cards .Really works ; wish I did as well .
Cons
It does slow down loading a homepage but with all the ads I could see why . On video I didn't notice it unless it was updating while I was watching .I have a 2006 MacBook Pro ; it's age and old processor are probably the reason I notice it at all .
Summary
I've tried almost all of the antivirus programs on both my Mac and a Sony Vaio and found this to work . After the subscription to Norton expires it starts to go rogue .Upon the reinstall of the operating system I deleted it and went straight here to cnet to download and install this as soon as I could connect . Then we updated the system and have been secure since .
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"Gets the job done...and how do you beat free."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Better than some software that I dropped several hundreds of dollars for.
Cons
Sometime overly protective.
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"Good program but with issues"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Seems to be best free AV for Mac. Perhaps the best overall, even considering the paid versions.
Reputable company.
Seems to be actively supported where other AV products for Macs only get attention when there is a big malware scare on the Mac platform.
Some small level of email support which is good given that it is free.Cons
Lots of bugs that don't get fixed:
I get "Internal error" on startup half the time.
Keeps on flagging files as being "ARJ archives" which they are not.
Has real problems with VMware files. Can exclude them in "File System Shield" (real-time) but not in "On-Demand" scans. Need to fix this or just add a universal exclusion.Summary
Pretty good program even though it is free. AVAST needs to fix the outstanding glaring bugs though. Presumably, they give this away to get users signed up in case they decide to charge in the future (if/when malware becomes more of a visible problem on Macs). It is hard to charge Mac users now given that there is a general perception that malware does not impact macs.
Ran into another problem with Avast for Mac. It seemed to be interacting with Adobe Reader when I tried to print a PDF file. I would see the print daemon and AVAST running at full CPU. So I just gave up on it and uninstalled it.
But if this perception changes, and there is a real market to make money selling Mac AV software, they want to have a good reputation to stay ahead of their competition. They could greatly improve that reputation now by fixing these glaring bugs now.
Updated on May 20, 2013 -
"Avast beats Mackeeper hands down, and it's free."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Finds problems which Mackeeper could not. Appears to work very well, which Mackeeper did not. Free, which Mackeeper was not. Don't need tech support to use it as I did with mackeeper (I had to reload Mackeeper three times before i just deleted it. It left my mac unprotected most of the time. It is an appallingly bad product)
Cons
Can't think of any - well, you can't schedule scans, or else I haven't found out how to do so yet. But it's free, so I can't complain.
Summary
If you were considering buying Mackeeper, don't. Get this instead. I really want you to know how bad Mackeeper is.
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"Works well but impacts performance slightly"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Drag and Drop individual files and folders is nice
Cons
Web extension for safari will reinstall itself every time you restart your computer for mac even if you have uninstalled it.
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"Fast, efficient. I'd highly recommend it."
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
1. Free
2. User-friendly
3. Fast - a full scan of over 600k files took less than 2 hrs
4. Minimum disruption to the other programs while runningCons
1. Adding a little intro video may be helpful to some users
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"Works, but impacts system performance"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Found all my virus test samples and identified a few that I had saved as suspected earlier.
Cons
Significantly impacts system performance. Falsely identifies and removes ClamAV as a virus, which is seriously anti-competitive and suspiciously virus-like behavior in itself.
Summary
Would recommend it for scanning in special cases installed on an external boot volume, but not for routine use.
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"Straightforward and easy to use"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
Easy to use, looks good, set it and forget it. Auto update.
Cons
Seems to do the job with no complaints noted.
Summary
Simple, peace of mind, feel protected without a lot of fanfare. Simple to set up. I like it.
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"Great product"
Version: Avast Free Antivirus 7.0.38501
Pros
This works much better than I thought it would for a free program.
Cons
I haven't found anything I don't like.
Summary
I am very happy to have discovered this program for my iMac. I was always fearful of getting a virus despite people telling me that the chances of my getting one is low.
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