Avast antivirus offers a comprehensive set of features packed into a compact package. Its malware engine scored an excellent score in my tests read here and its web security was effective in identifying sites that were phishing that slipped through Chrome and Firefox’s default detection systems. Its performance scanner also did an excellent job of keeping its impact on system’s speed to a minimum. Avast’s performance scanner was more effective than any other program in the reduction of CPU usage.
Apart from the malware protection and performance scan, Avast offers a host of other tools. Avast One is the only one that has a VPN and photo vaults, as well as a data breach monitoring tool. Its security toolkit includes the sandbox to run applications and the ability to scan routers for weaknesses.
If you ever encounter trouble, Avast’s support website has a comprehensive knowledge base. Its search function makes it easy to find answers to frequently asked questions. If you can’t find the answer then the Avast forum is a solid source for assistance from other users.
Avast may claim that it has stopped selling data about its customers, but the past of this practice remains fresh in many consumers‘ minds. In January of 2020, PCMag and Motherboard revealed that Avast sold the location and other personal information of its users to third party companies via its Jumpshot subsidiary. Avast has ended this practice, and now requests users to sign up when installing its desktop antivirus software. The privacy policy of the company says that information about consumers is „stripped and de-identified“ before being shared with third-party.