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Avast - the world's most popular free antivirus - version 5.0 now available for download
As with previous versions of Avast, there are both free and pro versions - as well as a a full internet security suite. It's Alwil's first suite, and a relative bargain at $59.95 per year for three computers. Norton - still the big dog in paid antivirus - charges $69.99 for a single machine.
What's new in version 5? Like many other AV developers, Alwil has made the new version lighter on system resources. They've cut down the total number of system processes Avast creates and boosted scanning speeds. The new behavioral shield provides solid heuristic detection for threats not yet included in Avast's definitions.
The professional version also adds sandboxing - which you can leverage outside the antivirus program itself. Want to run your web browser in Avast's sandbox? Go right ahead. It's an excellent way to add another layer of protection to your system and it's not coming at a premium price -- Avast Pro goes for $39.95.
In AV Comparitives December 2009 rundown, they had this to say about Avast:
One other big change in v5? The default interface. Gone is the blue and gray, gone is the tape-deck styling. Take a look at our Avast 5 beta version gallery to see what the new version looks like!"This year, Avast! showed big improvements in its detection rates and reduced its number of false alarms. Its on-demand scanning speed is one of the fastest."
Once the v5 download links are live (and they should be after 8am EST today), you'll find the new free version on this page.
edit: It's up! As noted in the comments, you'll find Avast version 5 here:http://www.avast.com/free-
Comments
22
Subscribe to commentsStinky PetersonJan 19th 2010 8:39AM
Good to see it finally come out. It was about time they had a major update; it was a long time coming.
chucka-powerJan 20th 2010 8:09AM
yeah it's free....but you stillt have to register it after 90 days or so, right? -.-
chocholoJan 19th 2010 9:26AM
There is also new website launched with the version 5, link to the free version download page is http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
temptationJan 19th 2010 9:50AM
The link isn't working for me, are they just getting hit really hard or is it on my end? Using chrome I'm just getting 404 for the past half hour.
NiagaraUnivJan 19th 2010 9:34AM
Looks like chocholo's link is down? At least it is for me - using FF 3.5.7
NiagaraUnivJan 19th 2010 9:37AM
Looks like chocholo's link is down. At least it is for me, using FF 3.5.7.
der_tuxmanJan 19th 2010 11:40AM
Most popular? How? I thought Kaspersky and Symantec were "most popular"? However, I'll stick with NOD32 for now. avast! was disappointing when I tried it.
Lee MathewsJan 19th 2010 11:44AM
Uhh...they're also not free, bro...Avast is the most popular _free_ AV.
der_tuxmanJan 19th 2010 11:50AM
Ah. A free AV? Free means bad detection rates. Never saw a free AV with a good detection rate AND few false positives.
(However, Avira is the most popular FREE antivirus. Sucks in false positives, too.)
SchwinnJan 19th 2010 12:56PM
According to AV_Comparitives (http://www.av-comparatives.org) in the August 2009 test:
Detection rate / false positives / scan speed
NOD32 = 97.2% / few / average
Avira = 99.4% / many / fast
Avast = 98.0% / few / fast
AVG = 94.0% / few / slow
Looks to me like Avast is doing pretty well in detection rate and false positives (this was also Avast 4.8)...
der_tuxmanJan 19th 2010 12:58PM
They compared the paid versions.
chrisarozJan 19th 2010 2:23PM
I get more computers into my shop that are infected while "protected" by paid programs than free. Avast FREE outperforms almost every paid app out there.
Lee MathewsJan 19th 2010 2:25PM
Tux, there's no difference between the engines in Avast free and Pro. They're identical.
der_tuxmanJan 19th 2010 2:32PM
chrisaroz: This solely depends on its users.
Lee: avast Pro detects more. Spyware and rootkit protection is not included in the Free version, right?
Lee MathewsJan 19th 2010 2:33PM
That's not what Steckler (CEO) told me...he said it's the same beast.
kaiJan 19th 2010 3:41PM
@der_tuxman: Stop trolling, Avast Free and Pro have had the SAME detection for ages, they've said that many times in their blog. It's AVG Free that lacks rootkit detection.
About the popularity, they say Avast is the most popular free AV because they recently reached the 100 million registered users milestone.
TheOneAndOnlyJHJan 19th 2010 9:36PM
I'll take a look at the reviews on this when I reformat my computer. For now I'll stick to Comodo though. It's nice to have firewall and antivirus in one program with one control panel. Oh, and it has pretty good spyware protection as well (they call it Defense Plus). I've been clean and had no problems with it for a couple years. I also like how configurable it is.
But if the reviews on Avast are spectacular, it's worth another look later...
JamesJan 29th 2010 1:34PM
I used Avast from 2004-2007. I also installed it on all the computers for my friends and family that I am responsible for keeping running. The amount of system resources that real time protection take is just too much for me. I have gone without any protection for 2 years now and I have not been hit with a single virus. I also tried Microsoft Security Essentials. However, contrary to all the reviews, I found that it also used too many system resources.
If you use Adblock Plus along with something like W.O.T., and you don't click on any questionable links, (such as prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies, etc.) you will be just fine without Avast.
dXm99Jan 30th 2010 10:16AM
I also used Avast for cuple of months and switched to Comodo due Avasts high memory usage. Later on used Avira, tried Avast 5, tried Comodo 4 beta and returned to Avast5.
On 512 MB system:
Avira: 60MB (+ anoying ad pop ups)
Avast: 25MB !!!
Comodo 4 beta: 130 MB (it is still beta and it do provide more layers of protection but i have limited resources)
ALWIL did amazing job on biggest flaw of Avast.
c.reuterFeb 5th 2010 4:25AM
nunca te orvidares