Avast Internet Security

Popular programs in Suites

What is Avast Internet Security

While Avast leads the list of free Internet security suites available in the marketplace today, they make a paid version available, as well. Avast's paid version scores quite well against other higher priced Internet security suites in real world tests. In screens against known malicious software (aka malware) Avas's excellent database catches about 98 percent of all known malware, and 87 to 91 percent of unknown or so-called zero-day attacks.

Like other paid security software Avast's Internet Security suite for 2014 comes with a robust firewall, protection against scam email and phishing, and online banking security. Avast is competitively priced at $39.99 for one year of protection per computer.

Whether Avast's roughly 90 percent ability to detect and stop zero-day attacks meets any particular user’s needs depends on several factors. Internet security often comes down to a game of inches. For example, some higher priced software catches a shade more (99 percent) of all known malware and up to 98 to 99 percent of all zero day attacks.

This added capability comes at an additional cost in computer resources, especially overhead for continuous checking of all running processes and heuristic examination of all files, as well as, a much higher incidence of annoying false positives. By contrast, Avast Internet Security uses fewer resources and produces fewer false positives. In most cases, that means that Avast will correctly ignore legitimate programs, installers, and websites. Unfortunately, avoiding the sluggishness of a highly secure machine and the false positives that the most thorough security software generates also means that Avast will be wrong somewhat more often. Likewise, low resource use means that Avast Internet Service offers slower than average scan times.

PROS

• Free anti-virus evaluation
• Inexpensive
• Extremely user friendly and easy to use
• Excellent, low resource overhead
• Extensive database catches 98 percent of known attacks
• Catches about 90 percent of zero day attacks
• Compatible with most Windows operating systems
• Modern, simple, clear user interface
• Easy instructions and thorough help files
• Preset for novice users, but comes with advanced options
• Real time status monitors

CONS

• Middle of the road security
• Slower scan times
• Poor customer support
• Mediocre malware removal