Simplify your laptop buying- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: June 12, 2008
- 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 a complete ICSA & Checkmark certified antivirus, Checkmark certified anti-spyware & anti-rootkit package. Avast includes the following components: On demand scanner with skinnable simple interface, just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the Play button; On access scanner, special providers to protect the most of available e-mail clients; Instant messaging--ICQ, Miranda; Network traffic--intrusion detection, lightweight firewall; P2P protection for Kazaa, BitTorrent; Web shield--monitors and filter all HTTP traffic; NNTP scanner--scans all Usenet Newsgroup traffic and all operations with files on PC; Boot time scanner--scans disks in the same way and in the same time as Windows CHKDSK does.
Version 4.8.1201.80611 contains improvements in spyware and rootkit detection.
Note: You'll have to register (free) on the publisher site to be able to continue using this program after 60 days.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.8.1201.80611 contains improvements in spyware and rootkit detection.
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User reviews of Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 11810 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 306 user reviewsSee all 306 user reviews
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15 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
"The Anti-Virus protection - The Choice"
Pros: YES it is a great tool and is always online checking all of your active files. When other programs check the system, this program is also checking the files as each of them are scanned. After the installation, it takes a long time to do the first scan to check all of the files in the system, but it is worth the time for the viruses it seems to find. It always seems to find what Norton, McAfee, and AVG do not. AVG is not terrible, but Avast is much better and less intrusive. The updates are seemless and that goes for both data and program. You do not need to download anything or install anything after the initial installation.
Avast is effective and a great tool for protection.
Whatever you do make sure you register the program to get your free license number and then copy it into the license key field. This is required to make sure it continues to run after the initial trial period. There is no charge for the key.
Cons: My only complaints are the length of time for initial scan, and the program skin as it is awkward. NOTE: You almost never use the program interface as it takes care of itself most of the time.
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2 out of 7 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
Pros: everything it free and works well on vista pick up alot of virus and now spyware and rootkit as well
Cons: the spyware part can pick more also pick up more unknown virus and spyware that all
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
"Was the Best, and Still The Best"
Pros: The Resident Shields, the scans, Free E-mail Technical Support, and fast automatic updates of database and program.
Also, seems to be light on resources, since it doesn't take up as much space as AVG Free.
Cons: NONE!!
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12 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
Pros: It keeps itself updated, runs smoothly and is FREE
Cons: There seems to be a confict with NitroPDFPrinterMonitor.exe as the antivirus prevents it from loading. In settings I had to delay the loading after other services to stop getting the error. Other than that, the rotating icon in the tray is distracting (can also be turned off) and also detects keygens and cracks as viruses which is not true.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1201.80611
"The BEST Anti-Virus on the Market"
Pros: Everything. Avast has come to my rescue many times. I have tried many different Anti-virus software , and have always come back to Avast. As far as i know it is the only Anti-virus that can perform a boot scan, which gives it access to all locked files.In some cases this is where viruses can hide!Other Anti-virus software cannot do this. So to me Avast is no1 and will remain so.
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