CNET Editors' review
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 AVAST 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 filters 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 4.8.1335.90319 brings improvements in the rootkit scanner as well as performance optimizations.
What's new in this version: Version 4.8.1335.90319 brings improvements in the rootkit scanner as well as performance optimizations.
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All versions:
4.6 starsout of 22,716 votes
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Current version:
4.6 starsout of 296 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Excellent!!"
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Works great!
Cons
Can't think of any.
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"More user friendly than others."
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Works great with Windows XP
Cons
Found none
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"Good and unobtrusive virus checker"
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Have used Avast for some time now and am very pleased with as it works unobtrusively with no discernible impact on performance. Highly recommended.
Cons
Can't think of any!
Summary
Does what it says on the tin!
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"After many AV progs I tried, Avast is the best"
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Easy to configure and comprehensive in the protection it gives me. Small memory footprint, never causes any conflicts or slow downs. Unobtrusive.
Cons
Can't think of any
Summary
It was easy to install and very simple and logical to configure. It runs quietly in the background, but is efficient. It saved my neck a few times, that's for sure. Yes it's a free version, but I've used free AV progs all the time and I am sticking with Avast because I love it.
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"It's good."
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Good features.
Cons
Nothing at all.
Summary
Use it.
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"Have recommened to all my friends"
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
everything
Cons
have none nothing else to say
Summary
best ever
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"Seems to be a great program."
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
I love the interface. It was easy to set up. I also like the way it talks to you when it updates. And the skins are great. This program came highly recommended from someone who has used it for a year or so and loves it.
Cons
Nothing wrong with it so far.
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"avast is very nice to use in your home."
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
I like it just for it's effectivily pretect your pc and you can use it free.
Cons
not many, maybe some pretction serve can't be used free, and you have to re-regist every sometimes.
Summary
just like what I said above.
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"Read my Pros, below."
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90408 is the best edition yet; download it, install it, run it, and see for yourself.
Cons
There are None.
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"Excellent FREE AV program"
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90319
Pros
I've repaired several of my friends who had virus infected computers with the free version of Avast Home Edition. This is a great product and it is FREE!
Cons
I don't have any cons for this free version. One just has to remember to run the antivirus program at least once a week.
Summary
My friends' computers had the viruses, trojan & malware; not my friends ;-))
Updated on Apr 14, 2009
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