Avast antivirus packs a powerful set of features in a streamlined package. Its malware www.alvieprimaryschool.org.uk/avast-antivirus-general-information-about-the-program/ engine got an impressive score in my tests, and its web security was effective in identifying phishing sites that got past Chrome and Firefox’s default detection systems. Its performance scanner also performed admirably in keeping its impact on system’s performance to a minimum. In fact Avast’s performance scanning proved more efficient in cutting down on the CPU use than any other program I tried.
Besides the malware protection and performance scan, Avast offers a host of other tools. These include a password manager, a VPN (exclusive to Avast One), a photo vault, as well as a data breach monitoring feature. The security toolkit also has an application sandbox and a router scanner to check for vulnerabilities.
Avast has a comprehensive support website that includes a knowledge base in case you have issues. The search function makes finding the answers to frequently asked questions simple. If you’re not able to find the answer, Avast’s forums is a great source to get assistance from other users.
Although Avast claims that it no-longer sells user data however its history of doing this is fresh in the minds of many consumers. PCMag and Motherboard reported in January of 2020 that Avast had sold personal information and location data of its users via its Jumpshot subsidiary. Avast has since stopped this practice and now asks users to opt-in when they download new installs of its desktop AV software. The privacy policy of the company states that consumer data is “stripped and de-identified” before being shared with third-party.
