Avast Premium Security 24.12.9694a

★ Winner of Best Antivirus in 2017 and 2014.

Overview:

When it comes to getting an antivirus for your computer, there are numerous available options. However, Avast Pro Antivirus 6.0 is among the best I have ever encountered. The program comes with good and quality features necessary for an effective security protection your computer needs. The antivirus is popular for its good interface and high rate of malware detection.

Installation:

The installation of this program is easy and simple just like its competing free antivirus software, AVG. However, when compared to paid antivirus such as Kaspersky and Norton, the installation seemed a little slow.

The program comes with some bundled up applications and tools such as Auto Sandbox and WebRep. During the installation, you can also easily uncheck the installation of bundled programs such as WebRep or the desktop gadget. However, once you have installed these programs, the process of uninstalling these tools is a little complicated requiring more than simply unchecking the boxes. Due to this reason, the auto install seemed a tad furtive to me.

One good thing about the installation of Avast is that it does not require you to reboot the computer. And when you plan to install it, you will not be able to find any remaining entries of the antivirus in the registry.

Interface:

The new and improved interface which you can see in 6.0 was first introduced in 5.0. However, there’s one major change apart from the slight change in the color scheme. The interface for 6.0 lacks the Windows Explorer type forward and backward keys. To me, those keys were convenient as they allowed you to find your way back. The grey and orange color scheme of Avast is pretty attractive. The tab styled navigation system on left side of the window also makes navigation easier. The tabs include a shield status tab, an auto updates tab and silent/gaming mode.

Pros:

• Real-time shields
• Plugins such as WebRep and Auto Sandbox
• Gaming mode
• Access to automatic updates
• Easy scheduling of scans
• Detection of malware designed to compromise the computer registry entries

Cons:

• WebRep works only for IE and Firefox
• Scans are a little slow

Alternatives

Its alternatives include Simple Machine Protect, an open-source portable antivirus solution which can easily fit into the USB. As compared to Avast, Simple Machine Protect is easy and convenient and provides users with tips to tweak their Windows so as to get better safety and security for the computer. As compared to Avast, it scans fast and also scans the memory.

AVG Antivirus is free and perfect for personal usage. Although, the software is free, it comes with many dedicated features allowing you to protect the computer from spam, antiviruses and other malicious attacks. It also comes with a LinkScanner which checks the search results and the websites to ensure their safety.

Conclusion:

In terms of security for the computer, Avast Pro Antivirus is good with its simple and attractive interface and security features which are in much need. However, when compared with its free version, the program has little to offer in terms of value for money. However, it is still worth downloading as it is light on PC resources.