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Avast 5 coming in October, beta testing in two weeks
What's new? For starters, the interface has received some obvious TLC - gone is the option of switching between the simple and enhanced UIs. Under the hood, Avast 5 now supports heuristics and will feature an improved and optimized detection engine. From the official blog post, "It may sound like a cliché, but it's a fact: the new engine can detect more viruses, while actually consuming less resources."
Version 5 also boasts detection of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) and a new code emulator that is better able to detect unknown malware packers. Avast has also tuned the program to minimize impact on startup and shutdown times.
Paid versions include a virtualization component as well, likely similar to the one used by Sunbelt in Vipre. As you can see in the screenshot, the new version of the Internet Security suite will also include a firewall and anti-spam module.
Here's some great news for current Avast users: the upgrade to version 5 will be free to anyone with a valid license. When was the last time you saw the big guys (Norton, McAfee) offering that?
Comments
11
Subscribe to commentsMattJul 21st 2009 11:36AM
You can use old Norton keys for 2009...
jfjbJul 21st 2009 12:09PM
why using old Norton keys?
(as a response, not as comment #3... kb error)
Drew GreenJul 21st 2009 12:54PM
Yea, you pay for the Norton subscription, not the piece of software itself. You're always entitled to the latest version.
rells009Jul 21st 2009 11:55AM
The UI looks much better to me.
jfjbJul 21st 2009 12:07PM
why?
jfjbJul 21st 2009 12:21PM
i went too fast about "why?" on the above Norton statement from Matt.
Not only because I slipped on my rubber keyboard (see GrandTec) but also because I dumped Norton firewall and anti-virus in the last century for the same with ZoneAlarm Pro.
When ZoneAlarm became as heavy on resources as Norton, I switched to Comodo and Avast, about 5-7 years ago.
Never complained surfing safe, fast, as well as figuratively and literally free of charge.
Rest my case.
216Jul 21st 2009 1:43PM
I used to actually do that too (i first tried to rely only Comodo's Full Security Suite, then I went to Comodo Firewall/Avast.) I eventually dropped Comodo because I found that Vista's built in Firewall gets the job done just fine (with WAY less pop-ups and questions). 7's firewall works the same way too, great, simple, and gets the job done (it will still pop up from time to time, which is good, but no where near as much as comodo)
216Jul 21st 2009 12:09PM
even tho MSE gets the job done...nice job Avast team...nice job
Andrew PollackJul 21st 2009 12:13PM
I may just spend the dollars to get the full version even though the free one works for what I need -- because these guys are doing such a great job and doing it so ethically.
Farseer (GDI)Jul 22nd 2009 11:42AM
I already pay for their home server-based product, and I totally agree with you. I might buy a family pack of the full version just to support the team and their commitment to quality software for the masses.
jfjbJul 21st 2009 3:11PM
@ 216
I'm still on XP Pro SP3, best fit for me right now.
Comodo firewall v10 misbehaves during 16-bit kernel calls -- Collins and Oxford dictionaries I use daily -- it actually refuses to let them load with an “Attempt to access invalid address” error message, leaving NTVDM inactive and in the process list for each call.
So I'm using v3.9 something. Apart from that, I have had no 'situation', and yes, some pop ups.
I wonder who can tell me or where I can find real data regarding the Avast firewall, no PR talk.