Reviews of avast! Free Antivirus

1. 
   TimHz

   Reviewing 7.0.1396 Beta (Feb 10, 2012)

   I have found Avast to be very difficult and problematic to uninstall: Avast is a virus!
2. 
   reddy.shyam

   Reviewing 7.0.1396 Beta (Feb 9, 2012)

   Just the best and yet got better. Same as Holly, installed over 6 runs seamlessly. Improved eye candy as well. Cloud services included.
3. 
   holy1661

   Reviewing 7.0.1396 Beta (Feb 8, 2012)

   Version 7 seems to be running as smoothly as version 6.
   
   This is my favorite free AV. Perhaps the prior reviewer missed the "No Thanks" link on the download page. There's no subterfuge on Avast's part, that's for sure.
   I can't imagine what could be better.
4. 
   asaenz

   Reviewing 7.0.1396 Beta (Feb 8, 2012)

   When I went to their site and clicked on download free version, a window popped up to offer Pro Version at discounted price and would not close unless I clicked on Yes for Pro Version ... pooor sales practice. Previous version Avast caused BSOD on my computer last time I tried it and I won't risk it for now.
   Update: no I didn't miss any obscure links ... there were 3 and 2 didn't function. I was able to install the current version (7) and reboot without a BSOD and I'm trying it out as I type. Would be nice if sandbox defaulted to 'ask' rather then 'automatic' because some things it doesn't recognize need to run with no interference. "Free" version requires registration which gives you approximately 366 days till expiration after which I suppose it converts into some type of "ramsonware" (pay or lose protection).
5. 
   unbidden16

   Reviewing 6.0.1367 (Dec 24, 2011)

   I had had the free version of Avast! for three years and it worked wonderfully for me, but when I got a new laptop I was coerced into purchasing CA Internet Security. It was the biggest mistake I ever made. My computer was overrun with viruses and had to pay out nearly $300 to get it completely cleaned. I am back to Avast! and have purchased the full version...I have never had a virus slow or cause problems with either of my computers with Avast!, free version or full. My father has also used the free version of Avast! for longer than I with no problems. (We only use our computers within the home for book/song downloads, writing, and a few internet searches when curious on specific topics or online shopping, so I do not know how well Avast! works for bigger internet users.) As far as I can see I'll continue using Avast! until it finally fails out against most viruses, spam, and fake AVs.

Discuss avast! Free Antivirus

1. Nov 21, 2010 - 7:54 PM
   jackolan

   Hi guys - newbe here. I have been using Avast 4.8 professional for yonks 4.8.1335 expiry 2018 and have found it el-stupendo. What's not documented about THIS edition is that when you run Malwarebytes manually, it handshakes with avast and they BOTH examine the files. Whats annoying lately is that although this is a legal registered and paid for edition, I have been getting these daily pop ups from Avast telling me my "free edition is about to run out so register now'. Firstly, I don't have a 'free' edition and it IS registered, I confirmed this by re-registering it and Avast sez 'OK' carry on. The a day later [ almost exactly] this stupid pop up appears again!!. It has not effected my upgrades nor any functionality at all but it is getting to be a pain having to just close the pop up and ignore it. What in the sam hill is causing this to happen AND regularly by time clock every 24 hours, no sooner or later.
   PS. my system clock and date is correct
2. Sep 9, 2010 - 9:45 AM
   sv800

   I downloaded the last version (1 week ago) I hadn't registered yet, what happen when 30 days expire. Does it still protect my PC?
3. Mar 15, 2010 - 3:29 PM
   Eddie1962

   Avast is signature based. Which means it has no heuristic scanning in the free version. It has it in e-mail. But what good is that when 9 out of 10 people use web based e-mail? When all you want to do is scan your machine avast will not "look" for certain behaviors. That's because it doesn't use heuristics when scanning files on your computer. Without heuristics your computer could be infected and avast will not detect it.
4. Mar 15, 2010 - 3:19 PM
   Eddie1962

   Avast is signature based. Which means it has no heuristic scanning in the free version. It has it in e-mail. But what good is that when 9 out of 10 people use web based e-mail? When all you want to do is scan your machine avast will not "look" for certain behaviors. That's because it doesn't use heuristics when scanning files on your computer. Without heuristics your computer could be infected and avast will not detect it.
5. Oct 15, 2009 - 6:21 PM
   Sativarg

   Might it be better to link to New beta refresh 5.0.167 as a home page for this reliece
   
   

   [Incomplete] change log:
   
   - improvements in the Explorer right-click scan
   - improvements in the localizations (French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Polish, Russian and Chinese localizations should now be complete)
   - Add and Submit commands in the virus chest now working
   - fixed a few memory leaks in the GUI process
   - boot-time scan logs now in the Scan logs folder (this feature is still unfinished)
   - added controls for actions on infected files inside archives
   - fixed the Block command in the Ask dialog
   - improvements in the silent installer
   - the program is now working under Windows 2000 (SP4 or higher)