- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: June 24, 2009
- Total Downloads: 50,396,716
- Downloads last week: 659,833
- 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 11812 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on September 23, 2008
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 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 4.8.1335.90415 adds improvements in the setup procedures.
What's new in this version:
Version 4.8.1335.90414 features: Universal installer brings improvements in the setup experience.
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User reviews of Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 11812 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 22 user reviewsSee all 22 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
"Excellent product! Highly recommended!"
Pros: Reliable protection for both my laptops and our home PC. I appreciate the automatic updates and the audio notification. It found problems my old antivirus program didn't find!
Cons: I have found nothing I do not like about this product.
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
"Fast, unobtrusive and accurate."
Pros: Hasn't let any bad guys into my computing space since I started using it a year ago.
Updates at least once a day! Gives a pleasant voice announcement when it updates.
And, it's FREE!Cons: None that I've found.
Summary: It sure beats the bloated, overpriced stuff the big boys are selling!
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
Pros: It's free, easy to use and doesn't mess with other programs on my PC
Cons: Upgrading to Pro will give a lot more protection, but I'm not complaining about a free product
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1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
"Outstanding AV next to Avira"
Pros: Great real-time protection
Great for old computer
Ease to use
Easy to install
Boot-Time Scan
Great auto-updates
Great detection rate not so far behind Avira
Customizable interface
Great providers such as Network Shield,Standard Shield and Web ShieldCons: Default interface may be ugly and difficult to many users
Requires user to register for a License key (some users don't have much time for it)
Male voice may be disturbing to some users (Go to settings and disable sound)Summary: Read here to know good ways to keep yourself protected
Real time protection: Avast Home Edition
On Demand: A-Squared - Great detection rate & easy interface
Browser: Firefox with add-on such as WOT, NoScript, Adblock Plus with Ea... read more >> -
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Avast Home Edition 4.8.1335.90415
"The free version have served me so well in the past."
Pros: It's free, and I'm told it works on Win 7
Cons: I don't like Microsoft isn't recognising it.
- See all 22 user reviews Write review
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