Verdict
Avast ’s now part of a bigger antivirus troupe , but Avast One Essential remains our go - to liberal antivirus , and it still supports Windows 7 and 8
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Avast is a long - standing favourite in the populace of innocent malware defense . It ’s recently merged with erstwhile rival NortonLifeLock to form a new company call Gen Digital , but everything ’s maintain its original name for the import .
Like stablemateAVG , which uses the same detection engine , Avast also offers more feature - packed pay off - for subscriptions for household and business . However , detached malware defence is what Avast is best lie with for .
But is Avast One Essential one of the best free antivirus option ? Or are you better off with the likes ofMicrosoft Defender Antivirusinstead ? Here are my thoughts .
Malware detection performance
Avast is one of the few detective work engines to have protected against all malicious software in recent tests by three research laboratory . It achieved perfect scores in AV - Test ’s latest substantial - man exposure and reference file - scanning tests , with no false positive identifications of legitimate software package .
It block all malicious content in AV Comparatives ’ real - world tribute tests , with two false positive and one logical software designation at a potential terror that expect user intervention .
And SELabs find that it protected against 100 % of malware , but it misidentified samples of benign software , giving it a lawful accuracy musical score of 96 % .
Despite this , Avast is well worth using , as one of the few antivirus suites that actually blank out all malware during this trial run menses .
Features
installment is quiet and simple , and you are n’t guilt - tripped about opting for the free version , although an initial CAT scan will detect “ modern effect ” that can be work by get a premium subscription , even on a freshly - installed PC .
The free version is partially funded by advertising , so you ’ll be invited to instal partner package such as Google Chrome , but this is well-heeled to correct if you do n’t want it . There are no longer prominent ad for the paid version of Avast spread out around the port , although a figure of features are still pock with a lock icon , indicate that they ’re only available to premium user .
You ’re advance to create an Avast story , but this is n’t required to use most of Avast ’s feature . However , account holder can signalise up for alerts that ’ll inform you if your e-mail name and address look in any breach . You also get special gimmick management that leave you to give chase lose or stolen Android devices connect with the account , but there ’s nothing really essential here if you do n’t want yet another account .
The core malware tribute features of Avast One Essential are much as you ’d bear : on - need and scheduled malware scanning , real - time protection , ransomware protection , electronic mail and WWW protection , a elementary firewall front - end that allows you to grant per - app access , and a selection of concealment and scheme optimisation tools .
You also get access to a generous 5 GB per week free grade on Avast ’s SecureLine VPN service . This is particularly notable as 5 GB per calendar week with no responsibility to create an account is outstandingly good – you could get a more generous standalonefree VPN(it’sProtonVPN ) , but not without make an account .
While it does n’t detract from the softwares ’s great features , I ’m not only impressed by the Modern Avast One Essential interface . There ’s plenty of white space , but it feels like efforts to minimise the number of choice being force in users ’ face have also led to some useful pecker being bury .
The home page does allow you cursorily run CAT scan and turn on the VPN , and there are shortcut to a couple of not - particularly - utilitarian organization optimization tools if you want that for any reason , but the Brobdingnagian legal age of Avast ’s features are cram into the Explore tablet .
While this does mean that you do n’t have to wonder where to find any given feature , it feel cluttered . In addition , the grey - on - white schoolbook is n’t specially friendly to those act at a distance from the cover or with afflicted vision .
Finally , you could get an overview of Avast ’s options via a push in the Account tab , where you could configure deportment , notifications , alert sound and app exceptions and limitation . If you want to enable silent modality , this is done either in configurations or the right on - click menu on the notice area icon .
Best Offers
Should you buy it?
Avast One Essential is the elbow room to go if you want to support your microcomputer running on either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 , since Microsoft no longer supports those weapons platform .
Avast actually performed a bit proficient than Windows ’ integratedMicrosoft Defenderantivirus in late trial , but the two are normally on a equivalence . Avast does a little good in system impact and performance tests , so is a honest selection for down in the mouth - specification PC .
Final Thoughts
Avast consistently as good if not better thanDefender , so if you want third - company antivirus at no price , this should be your first larboard of call .
Trusted Score
How we test
We use every antivirus suite ourselves so we can condition out their various feature film , from read options to incorporate duplicate such as paternal control .
The results we utilise to evaluate malware detection public presentation amount from reputable testing sign include AV - run , AV Comparatives and SE Labs .
FAQs
Yes , Avast can remove viruses and forestall malware from effect your PC in the futurity .
Avast Free Antivirus uses adverts to make money , while also offering a premium grade with extra feature film .
