Avast’s free software provides an effective foundation for protection against malware. The paid versions, especially Avast Premium Security, provide numerous additional features to ensure your device is secure. This includes the VPN service, Wi-Fi inspection and more. In AV-Comparatives Real World Protection Test, Avast scores among the best products on the market in this category.
During our tests, it was clear that we observed that Avast could detect many different threats quickly and efficiently. The scan was completed in 6 minutes and 50 seconds, which is impressive considering that it was able to scan more than 2 million files.
In terms of false positives, we were slightly shocked to learn that Avast was frequently flagging certain applications as dangerous. During our testing, the program flagged legitimate applications five times as such during system scans on Windows and Mac, which is two times higher than industry average. The positive side is that this only happens in rare cases, and you can easily send a file for examination to correct the issue when Avast wrongly flags it.
Avast offers a solid knowledge base that can provide assistance for the most common issues as well as direct support via email and phone options available. For those who want to add an extra level of security may choose the paid subscription option, which includes parental and password management controls to the program. Avast also offers a 30 day refund guarantee for its paid services, which makes it simple to test before you buy.