Avast antivirus packs a powerful collection of features that come in a streamlined package. Its malware engine scored a perfect score in my tests and its web security was effective at catching phishing sites that got past Chrome and Firefox’s default detection systems. And its performance scanner did a good job of keeping its impact on system speed to minimal. Avast’s performance scanner was more efficient than other programs in reducing CPU usage.
Avast also offers a range of other tools. These include a password manager, an VPN (exclusive to Avast One), a photo vault as well as a breach monitoring feature. The security toolkit it offers is quite extensive, with the ability to run programs in, as well as a router security scanner that checks for possible vulnerabilities.
If you ever run into difficulties, Avast’s support site provides a complete knowledge base. Its search function makes it easy to find answers to frequently asked questions. If you’re not able to find an answer you can use the Avast forum is a solid resource for getting help from other users.
While Avast claims that it no-longer sells user information, its history of doing this is still fresh in the minds of many consumers. PCMag and Motherboard reported in January 2020 that Avast had sold personal information as well as location data of its customers through its Jumpshot subsidiary. Avast has stopped this practice, and now asks for users to sign up during the installation of its desktop antivirus software. In its privacy policies, Avast states that all information provided by consumers is “stripped off and de-identified before being shared with a third party.”
