Why avast

It scans browser plugins, too, to find installs that have a poor reputation and may be malicious. The Behavior Shield feature keeps a constant eye on your applications to make sure they don't start to act differently, which could be a sign of a virus attempting to manipulate the software. The other shields include File, Web, and Mail, and each can be customized to your liking, like to block specific websites, scan files when they're being opened, scan inbound emails.

Wi-Fi Inspector scans your network to find vulnerabilities, such as identifying routers that are using default passwords and checking if your network is accessible from the internet.

A feature called Do Not Disturb Mode will block pop-ups and Windows updates while any program is in fullscreen mode. This is great so that you don't see update or virus alerts while presenting something or playing a live game.

Blocking apps is allowed to protect yourself from viruses they might have. Alternatively, you can stop the virus scanner from checking for threats in folders of your choice. If there are files you want the scanner to avoid, you can add those to the exclusions list, too.

A great way this program protects itself is by letting you set a program password. Doing so prevents other people from making changes like turning it off. Some other things we like are the options you can set for each virus scan type: full scans, targeted scans, File Explorer scans, and boot-time scans. For example, Avast can check for potentially unwanted programs, follow links during the scan, test the whole file for threats, scan removable media, find rootkits, look for viruses on DVDs and CDs, scan startup programs loaded in memory, scan archives, scan only risky file extensions like EXE and BAT , and turn off the computer automatically after a scan.

Some users have stated that Avast Free Antivirus is not free or that it's not a truly complete antivirus program. That's simply not true; it's a complete anti-malware tool.

So yes, Avast Free Antivirus provides constant virus protection, also called on-access or resident protection, for free. This means that it can completely replace antivirus software from companies like McAfee and Norton that charge for their software and for yearly access to updates. So when you use the free product, you will be told at registration and expiration time about the differences between the free and paid products. If you decide you need the extra capabilities, you can buy the product directly and seamlessly from us via our online store.

But, we are committed to making sure all of our users—paid and free—receive the best possible security protection. So that is the answer—it is the right thing to do and it allows us to cheaply and efficiently distribute our paid products.

And Brian, I do hope you have switched products as your free brotherly technical support for your old product has ceased. Sitemap Privacy policy. Why do you distribute avast! To activate the product on the new device, go to your Avast Account, and retrieve the activation code for Avast Premium Security Multi-Device. We all have some concept of hacking - but do you really know what it is? Read our full hacking definition here.

A computer virus is a type of malware that can spread quickly between computers and other devices. Learn how viruses work and how to protect against them. Have your computer and personal data been taken hostage? Find out how to remove ransomware from your Windows PC safely and recover your data. Learn how to remove malware from iOS devices and avoid future attacks. Looking for a definition of rootkits or rootkit removal advice?

Learn what rootkits are, what they do, and how to find and remove rootkits here. Ransomware is a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and even hospitals. Learn how ransomware works and block hackers from holding your files hostage. Doxing, or doxxing, is the release of someone's personal info without their consent. Find out how doxing works and how you can prevent it. Find out what graphics card you have and monitor its health on a Windows PC.

Learn how to check your graphics card in a few simple steps. Note : If your download did not start automatically, please click here. If you need to install Avast on a PC without an internet connection, you can download the offline installer here.

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Avast Free Antivirus for Windows is an essential security application that prevents viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats from infecting your PC. Avast Free Antivirus is now installed on your PC and ready to use, but some components may not fully function until you restart your PC. It is no longer necessary to register Avast Free Antivirus, as your initial free subscription automatically activates after installation.