Avast antivirus provides a full set of features packaged in a simple package. In my tests its malware engine, it earned an outstanding score. Its web protection was also efficient in identifying fake websites that slipped past the default detection capabilities of both Firefox and Chrome systems. And its performance scanner was effective in keeping its impact on system speed to an absolute minimum. In fact Avast’s performance scanner proved more efficient in reducing the CPU use than any other program I tried.
Apart from the malware protection feature and performance scan, Avast offers a host of other tools. These include a password manager as well as the VPN (exclusive to Avast One), a photo vault, and a data breach monitoring feature. The security toolkit also comes with an application sandbox and an internet scanner to look for vulnerabilities.
Avast offers a complete support website with a knowledge base if you run into problems. The search function makes finding the answers to frequently asked questions a breeze. If you’re unable to find the answer, Avast’s forum is a great way to get assistance from other users.
Avast might claim that it no longer sells data about its users, however the history of this practice is still popular in many people’s minds. PCMag and Motherboard reported in January of 2020 that Avast had sold personal information as well as location data of its users through its Jumpshot subsidiary. Avast has since stopped this practice and now asks users my blog to sign up for the service when they install new installations of its desktop AV software. In its privacy policy Avast states that all information provided by consumers is “stripped off and de-identified before being shared with a third party.”