► Software Publisher's DESCRIPTION: Avast is a complete ICSA certified antivirus software. It includes 'On Demand' scanner with two user interfaces. Skinnable simple interface - just select what do you want to scan in which way and press the 'Play' button. Enhanced user interface -Outlook like UI allows user to set any feature of Avast, prepare and run tasks, store and check task's results. 'On Access' scanner - special providers to protect: the most of available e-mail clients, Instant Messaging - ICQ or Miranda, Network traffic - lightweight firewall, P2P protection for Kazza, BitTorrent, Web shield - all HTTP traffic, Script Blocker. Avast is available in 26 languages.
The following table is a summary and comparison of two avast! versions: Home Edition and Professional Edition. It is not a complete list of all program features.
Feature
Antivirus kernel
High-performance antivirus engine
x
x
Multithreaded scanning
x
x
Scanning ZIP archives content
x
x
Scanning ARJ archives content
x
x
Scanning ARC archives content
x
x
Scanning ACE archives content
x
x
Scanning BZIP2 archives content
x
x
Scanning ZOO archives content
x
x
Scanning RAR archives content
x
x
Scanning CAB archives content
x
x
Scanning alternative NTFS streams
x
x
Scanning TAR archives content
x
x
Scanning GZIP archives content
x
x
Scanning inside packed executables
x
x
Scanning MIME format files
x
x
Scanning Outlook/MAPI format files (*.pst)
x
x
Scan of memory
x
x
Scan of auto-start items
x
x
ICSA certification
x
x
User interface
Simple User Interface
x
x
Enhanced User Interface
x
Windows Explorer integration
x
x
Antivirus screen-saver
x
x
Command-line scanner
x
Boot-time scan*
x
x
Skins (various program appearances)
x
x
Virus Chest
x
x
Log Viewer
x
x
iNews Viewer
x
x
Detailed program options settings
x
x
Working with tasks
Defining your own antivirus tasks
x
Working with the task results (actions on infected files)
x
Storing the scan results (history)
x
Updates
Incremental updates of virus database (VPS)
x
x
Incremental updates of the program
x
x
Automatic updater (requires Internet connection)
x
x
PUSH updates
x
Resident protection
Standard file system protection
x
x
Generic SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 scanner
x
x
MS Outlook plugin
x
x
E-mail providers heuristic
x
x
Script Blocker
x
Instant Messenger protection
x
x
P2P program protection
x
x
Repairing infected files
Direct macrovirus repairing
x
x
Integrated avast! Virus Cleaner
x
x
Repairing executable files using Virus Recovery Database (VRDB)
x
x
Automatic VRBD generating
x
x
Other features
Report files
x
x
Option to check diskettes and CDs on computer restart/shutdown
x
x
Virus notifications (global)
x
x
Virus notifications (task-based)
x
Sound signals
x
x
Log level setting
x
x
Task scheduler (running scheduled scans)
x
License
Freeware
x
Shareware
x
* Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 only.
► NK's RATING & NOTES: One of the best antivirus software programs around. It seems to be quite reliable with its regular automatic online updates of virus definitions (sometimes twice a day). I switched to Avast from Norton which took SIGNIFICANTLY more of my computer resources than this program and was EXTREMELY slow. Avast works very quickly. It has quite unusual but convenient interface (in pro edition you can switch to more conventional enhanced user interface). I have checked this app with several testing tools and it has passed all the exams. I have already been using Avast during 2 years and so far haven't noticed any cons.
NK
[Edited by Nikita Kobrin on January 1, 2007 9:39 AM] Attached file : avast.gif (39 KB - 2181 downloads)
Extreme Veteran Posts: 333 Joined: January 22, 2005 Location: Malaysia
(removed)
Avast! Ye Norton swab!
Nikita, I'm tempted. I'm now on my husband's laptop until I get another PC (Sigh! Hope it doesn't remain a dream) with Windows XP Home version. We have Norton Antivirus 2003. In another place, you had asked an Indian about hisremark that his Norton came with his Internet connection. Well, this is the way it is in India. Ask no questions and you'll get no fairy tales. For example, we have this anitvirus from the guy who sold us our computer. he installs all the add ons. Now, since the browser here was IE, I experienced the usual problems of hanging and error reports and at one point some trojan and other pests popped in to say hello. Norton seems to have fended them off but the other problems are an irritant: program not responding, etc. So I have downloaded Mozilla.
However, I cannot copy and paste links or even things from a word document. So in searching the posts here on Mozilla for info, I find this. Could I ask you to explain the part of your words about HDD ? I would like to try Avast to see if there are bugs to which Norton is turning a blind eye.
Originally written by Gita Madhu on May 6, 2005 5:52 AM
In another place, you had asked an Indian about hisremark that his Norton came with his Internet connection. Well, this is the way it is in India. Ask no questions and you'll get no fairy tales. For example, we have this antivirals from the guy who sold us our computer.
Ah, now I understand: your (and that guy's) antivirus came with your hardware (not Internet connection). This is a quite common thing.
I used Norton during several years and I should say that I was quite satisfied with the app as I find it to be quite reliable and convenient. I still frequently use Norton SystemWorks. I can name only two drawbacks of Norton antivirus:
1) it's a great resource hog
2) there's no free version
Originally written by Gita Madhu on May 6, 2005 5:52 AM
Could I ask you to explain the part of your words about HDD?
Oh, that is very simple: I meant that scanning of your HDD with Avast! (I think you know that you should scan your computer for viruses once in a while) is quite slow in my opinion and takes much time. That's it.
Originally written by Gita Madhu
I would like to try Avast to see if there are bugs to which Norton is turning a blind eye.
Gita, if you mean under "bugs" computer viruses, antivirus apps should help. But if you mean under a "bug" an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program that prevents it from working correctly or produces an incorrect result I'm afraid none of antivirus proggies can be of any real use.
Extreme Veteran Posts: 333 Joined: January 22, 2005 Location: Malaysia
(removed)
RE: Avast! Home Edition: your reliable guard
Actually, antivirus is provided by some of our Internet providers. I had my Norton deleted and McAfee installed by one of the providers. They do that to save their own networks apparently.
Thanks for the advice. I suppose I'll stick with Norton then.
Mother tongue: English Joined: January 7, 2004 Location: Germany
RE: Avast! Home Edition: your reliable guard
Phew, Gita!
I thought you meant "Avast, me".
I used to have McAfee, then Norton, and now use McAfee Antivirus & Firewall packages that originally came ready-installed. I can echo Nikita's experience about hogging resources, but was extremely satisfied with both.
Deinstalling antivirus software and replacing it with software from a competing manufacturer is nothing for the faint-hearted, particularly firewalls.
I also favour your conclusion, 'stick with what you've got' for that reason.
Elite Veteran Mother tongue: French Posts: 847 Joined: January 20, 2003 Location: France
RE: Just another land lubber
Oh... I almost forgot...
As far as antivirus apps are concerned, go with Avast, you can't go wrong. It's easy on the resources, yet much more efficient in detecting and preventing infections that even the latest Norton versions.
The Home version is just fine if you don't use IE or any IE based browser (Maxthon and the like), but if you do, then use the Professional version. Its web script analyzer will help to secure this abyss of security holes that IE is.
Veteran Mother tongue: Swedish Posts: 100 Joined: April 27, 2006 Location: United Kingdom
RE: PC Protection Softwares
Hi everyone!
At Martha's Web you can find some articles on Computer Safety and reviews of some antivirus softwares.
I have AntiVir Personal Edition, which is good. I've tested McAffee (got it from my ISP), it didn't find anything, so I figured it was useless. I've had much more problem with ad/spyware, dialers, hijackers and trojans.
I've also tested Norton (came with my laptop), but it has a "subscription-fee", and so many say it takes too much space.
I've also tested Spybot Search & Destroy (?), it took ages to scan with, and the constant reminder of IE's security hole was irritating.
I've tested some others also, like PC Doc, but not worth mentioning I guess, as I can't even remember them....
I have NoAdware, which doesn't cost much, and updating is free. It is good, but if you have the habit of deleting cookies, it will hopefully not find much (or else it is serious stuff!!). I have the problem of a bug that keeps returning, though, and I still don't know if it's NoAdware's inability to delete it or it keeps getting downloaded, because of regular visits to some site... It's called IMesh and is a file (NoAdware says "severe" problem)
I also have HijackThis, which is good if you have good computer knowledge. I accidently removed my language bar, which, of course, was VERY irritating. Chatting in Swedish without å, ä, ö can be funny...
I have cwshredder, but it has never found anything (hey, I won't even download google's or msn's search bars, I got rid of AOL's too, when I was with them). Does anyone here have the beta version of IE 7? How is that with the included search bar? For some reason, I just hate msn search...
Elite Veteran Mother tongue: French Posts: 847 Joined: January 20, 2003 Location: France
RE: Denis, um...
Originally written by Arthur Borges on May 6, 2005 12:06 PM
...is it worth switching from BitDefender? ...with humble thanks in advance!
Hi Arthur,
Sorry for not seing your post sooner!
BidDefender is quite a nice antivirus. I would say it is slightly less sensitive to new threats than Avast or Kaspersky, but a good antivirus nonetheless. So, if you're happy with it, just keep it. What I do like with Avast is that it is quite light on ressources and leaves you with no noticeable slowdown.
Now, a new generation of antiviruses like GData have appeared and are really efficient (in fact, GData combines 2 very well known detection engines, those of Kaspersky and Avast), but at the cost of CPU ressources.
As long as you're not using a sieve like Norton 360 or earlier and as long you're not using any IE-based browser, you should be reasonnably safe.
Expert Mother tongue: English Posts: 7093 Joined: August 12, 2002 Location: China
Thanx Denis
I switched to Avast months ago when an IT wizard said it detected more viruses -- it seems virus creators on McAffee and Norton before releasing them onto the Internet:
It seems to have picked up everything so far, and as you say, it doesn't hog RAM.
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