- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: January 07, 2005
- Total Downloads: 37,065,053
- Downloads last week: 447,605
- See full specifications
A newer version of Avast Home Edition is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 11810 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Watch the CNET video review of Avast Home Edition:
Publisher's description
From Alwil Software :avast! Home Edition is an antivirus software for home noncommercial use. It scans for viruses, worms and Trojans. avast! scans on demand--with skinnable simple interface, during boot time and on access. It protects e-mail, ICQ, mIRC, Kazaa. It maintains Virus Chest. True incremental updates based on iAVS technology update virus definition at least twice a week. avast! Now features added intrusion detection, transparent email (SMTP/POP3/IMAP4) scanner, support for new P2P and IM programs, and adds new languages.
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User reviews of Avast Home Edition 4.5
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 11810 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 275 user reviewsSee all 275 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
32 out of 36 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.5
Pros: I recently had to change of antivirus software. After trying nine evaluation versions of different AV products, my conclusion is that Avast is the best. Actually, I should say that no other AV even compare, except Panda. Not only Avast is efficient, it has also great graphics and several interesting options like decide your own warning sounds. And most of all, it remains stable and can cope with almost any software. Something that a lot of people don't understand is that when their computer starts acting weird, it's very often linked to the antivirus they install, because a lot of AV software take way too much control and/or use too much resources.
Cons: I can't think of one bad aspect, except maybe I didn't find it earlier... And it's funny that I tried it last! I'll instead tell you the problems with the eight others I tried : 1) McAfee - nopt so reliable to detect even with full options on, allergic to certain software to the point it crashes your PC, 2) PC-cillin - uses too much resources and scan in the background randomly for nothing even with heuristics and other options off, 3) Norton - the worse regarding eating resources, 4) AVG - too unstable, as one of the AV tasks stop responding for no reason every 30 minutes, 5) Antivir - big problems coping around many software, and everything becomes slow and unstable, 6) Kaspersky - poor interface, almost no options, extremely slow update downloads, 7) F-Prot - my old favorite, reliable enough, but interface needs an update since years, and finally the only one I found good to compete with Avast, 8) Panda, which also integrates spyware detection, but unfortunately slows down the Internet connexion too much if you use a modem.
So in short, if you can read this, don't waste one week like me and choose Avast.
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3 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.5
Pros: Good virus protection, regular updates, cool display...
Can't beat the price!
Cons: Scan seems to get stuck on certain objects...
This is good for prevention, clean-up I don't know about...
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Version: Avast Home Edition 4.5
Pros: My PC's not been infected since I've used Avast - 3-4months - and I surf 3-4 hrs everyday.
Excellent autoupdate feature- the free home version also gets all the virus definiton updates. Does NOT nag for registration. Gets updates from the site automatically every day - if you connect to the net everyday - Scans thoroughly.
Cons: pro version is better
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1 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.5
Pros: I've been using Avast Home Edition for over a year & I'm completely 'SATISFIED'. Absolute peace of mind & protection from top to bottom. This's 'BY FAR' the 'BEST' antivirus program anywhere in the 'WORLD' - 'FREE' or 'OTHERWISE'. Thanks Alwil!
Cons: Absolutely 'ZERO' complaints!
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2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.5
Pros: A quality antivirus software at a price you can afford i.e zero. Avast provides similar reliable protection against viruses and trojans as both Norton and McAfee with regular automatic definition updates. Had this installed for over a year and my PC is more stable now than ever. If a virus is detected it will tell you and present you with options eg delete, quarantine, etc so you have full control and a reasonable idea at what frequency viruses creep into your system and where they can hide, unlike Norton or McAfee. The delete option completely erases the virus. This in my opinion is one of the best freeware downloads you can get and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Cons: No cons I can see at all. Does what it says.
- See all 275 user reviews Write review
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