AVAST
Welcome to avast! – the world’s most popular antivirus software.
avast! now has over 100,000,000 registered users for a simple reason: it works and our satisfied users tell their friends.
From its beginning back in 1988, avast! soon developed a reputation with a group of computer geeks as a dependable, fast, antivirus program. Mainstream computer users then learned to appreciate the program’s low load and no sales-hassle approach. In the professional IT world, avast! earned a solid reputation through its high scores from testing organizations like VirusBulletin and AV Comparatives.
In addition to giving the program top ratings on major download sites such as CNET.com, avast! users keep spreading the news to their neighbors and co-workers. A majority – 68% – of new avast! users chose the brand because it was recommended to them. The results are clear: users like avast! – whether they are geeks, computer novices or professionals.
Independent testing organizations including VirusBulletin (January 2010) and AV Comparatives (November 2009) confirm that the antivirus and antispyware engine in avast! products is an industry leader in accuracy and speed.
This engine provides all avast! users with full-fledged malware protection.
The new paid Pro Antivirus and Internet Security products define top protection with features such as the Sandbox process virtualization and the Silent Firewall.
Put these elements together and you have avast!: Be free.
new! Heuristic engine
The new heuristic engine proactively detects malware undetectable with traditional definitions. The engine is fully able to detect both binary (executable) and script malware. Heuristic detection examines the potential behavior of a program before it is run rather than looking for a recognizable virus signature. To minimize the numbers of false positives, users can easily set avast!’s heuristic scanner at varying levels of sensitivity.
new! Potentially Unwanted Program detection
avast! can now detect PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) such as remote administration tools and commercial key loggers. By configuring the set of custom rules, users can easily define what programs should be allowed.
new! Updating enhancements
Virus database definitions and detection methods can now be updated “on-thefly” in version 5.0, helping to prevent boot-up delays and a sluggish response while obtaining updates. Usually, antivirus programs are burdened by large updates to an even larger database file or they have small, incremental updates that require that the database be unpacked and repacked to receive them. In avast! 5.0, the compressed updates do not require repacking of the database, allowing background auto-updates remain virtually unnoticeable. Antivirus is preset to receive virus updates every 4 hours.
new! Optimized for Intel’s new Core i7 chip
Critical elements in the avast! scanning engine have been fine-tuned to take advantage of speed increases available on Intel’s i7 hardware. Performancehungry users, including gamers, will find an extra ounce of speed.
new! Real-time rootkit protection
avast! is the only anti-virus scanner that detects rootkits in real-time, or “on access”, as they initially try to install themselves into a computer. This unique technology automatically checks for signs of rootkit behavior in all kernel-mode drivers that the operating system is loading –without the need for a signature. Malware unknowingly downloaded from websites are a common carrier of hidden rootkits.
Competing antivirus programs that offer only “on demand” scans have a dual handicap. They can only look for known rootkits based on a signature before rootkit installation. After a rootkit has installed and hidden itself, the rootkit can only be uncovered by an on-demand scan. These scans are usually limited to just one per day, regardless of how many updates have been received during this time.
new! File System Shield
The File System Shield (formerly known as the Standard Shield) monitors all programs as they start, open and close computer files. The Shield’s revised caching system is radically faster than the preceding 4.8 version. In addition, scans can now be automatically performed whenever a new device such as a memory stick is connected to the System.
new! Mail Shield
The Mail Shield scans all incoming and outgoing mails for infected content and malware. It now includes a special plug-in for MS Outlook, the most frequently used email client. The Mail Shield also includes a new feature for automatically detecting encrypted email. If encrypted mail is received, for example from Google’s gmail, the filter announces that the mail client must be reconfigured.
improved! Silent/Gaming Mode
Silent/Gaming Mode provides full protection while cutting out the distractions. Thanks to the optimized performance of 5.0 with its reduced system requirements, faster on-access scanner, and enhanced virus updates, there is no need to reduce protection while gaming. Switching on the Silent/Gaming Mode means continued full protection and virus database updates, but no distracting popups or audible alerts when running full-screen applications such as games, movies, and MS PowerPoint presentations. It’salso a money-saver as there is no reason to buy special gaming protection.
new! Wake-up for scan
With the “wake-up for scan” feature, users can schedule scans for when a computer is sleeping or in hibernation. avast! wakes up the computer, runs the scan then returns the computer back to the previous mode. This feature allows users to carry out full computer scans without interfering with their working tasks.
new!
new! Antivirus and anti-spyware engine
State of the art technology ensures reliable protection against viruses, spyware and other forms of malicious software. The new engine has been designed to provide robust protection without slowing users down. Its memory demands on computer systems have been slashed by approximately half.
A complete rewriting of the engine has resulted in scans that are 40% faster – yet more comprehensive than ever before. First, if a file is electronically signed by a trusted publisher, it won’t be scanned. Second, avast! remembers what files have been scanned and will not rescan them unless they have been changed. Third, the company maintains its own white list of over 50,000 safe applications. This list is consulted by the scanner to reduce scanning time.
new!
new! Multi-threaded design
Unique to avast, the new multi-threaded design enables scans of individual files, as well as processes, to be split between many threads, using all available CPU processor cores to run faster. This is an advantage for scanning large files, which previously would be assigned to a single core. As viruses are typically packed within layers of archived files to fool detectors, the multi-thread design supports faster malware detection.
new!
new! Code Emulator
The new code emulator lets avast! take a suspicious executable code discovered during either on-demand or on-access scanning and emulate it in an isolated environment. The code emulator uses dynamic translation, a much faster process than the traditional emulation methods, both for generic unpacking and in the heuristics engine.
new!
new! avast! Sandbox
avast! Process Virtualization or the avast! “Sandbox” allows users to safely run any program in an isolated, virtual environment, shielding the computer from potentially dangerous malware. The sandbox is frequently used to protect the web browser and related plug-ins as these are the most commonly attacked applications. This new feature runs both 32-bit and 64-bit operating system processes.
