Avast Antivirus Info

Features

Screenshot of avast! home edition with the aVist skin created by Sasha-Z-Creations

Screenshot of avast! home edition without any skins

• Standard Shield — Real-time protection
• IM shield — Instant Messenger protection
• P2P shield — P2P protection
• Internet Mail — E-mail protection
• Outlook/Exchange — Microsoft Outlook/Exchange protection
• Web Shield — HTTP protection (localtransparent proxy)
• Script blocker — script checker (Pro version only)
• Network Shield — basic protection against well-known network worms. Acts as a lightweight Intrusion Detection System
• Audible alarms — vocal warnings such as "Caution, a virus has been detected!"
• Boot-time scan — through the program interface, a user can schedule a boot-time scan to remove viruses that load during Windows startup and are therefore difficult to remove. A very important feature especially for viruses written to shut-down the virus protection as soon as Windows starts.

Virus Chest

Screenshot of avast! Virus Chest

The avast! Virus Chest is a folder where infected files can be stored when detected. Placing them in the chest causes the files' usage to be disabled and prevents them from causing any harm. The virus chest also stores vital system files to prevent them from virus damage. They still can be run, but the access to the file by any source or other program is blocked until it is removed from the chest.

Automatic update

avast! Antivirus normally updates itself freely for the first 14 months of usage as long as the using computer is connected to the Internet. After each 14 month period, the user of the software must re-register to receive a new free license key. Unless upgrading to the pay version, registration currently remains free.

Other uses

avast! is compatible with various archiving software (including WinRAR) and IM applications, because of its tool, ashquick.exe which scans for viruses using a minimalist interface.

Skinnable

All avast! Editions have a completely skinnable GUI/Interface and free downloadable skins from their website.

Versions

It is currently in version 4.8 and it is available for varying OSes including Windows (from 95 onwards), Linux and Mac OS. Windows Server versions are also available.

Editions

• avast! 4 Home Edition (freeware for personal and non-commercial use, both conditions should be met) - a fully featured antivirus package for home computers running Windows.
• avast! 4 Professional Edition (shareware) - antivirus package with additional options for workstations.
• avast! 4 Server Edition (shareware) - antivirus package intended to use on servers, may be extended by modules (protection of SMTP server, Exchange server, ISA server, SharePoint server, ...)
• avast! U3 Edition (shareware) - antivirus designed to protect U3 smart drives from viruses and other forms of malware.
• avast! NetClient - Professional/Server product manageable over network from avast! management server^{[citation needed]}
• avast! 4 Small Business Server Edition (shareware) - complete antivirus solution for Microsoft Small Business Server, including Exchange server or ISA server.
• avast! for Linux/Unix Servers
• avast! Linux Home Edition - (freeware for personal and non-commercial use, both conditions should be met) - antivirus solution intended for use on Linux workstations.
• avast! for Kerio (shareware)
• avast! 4 PDA Edition (shareware)
• avast! 7.7 for DOS (freeware)^{[citation needed]}
• avast! Mac Edition

Virus definitions

Despite being freeware, avast! 4 Home updates its virus definitions on a regular basis (sometimes multiple times a day), and this process is automated by default.

Awards

• VB100 certification.

• SC Awards 2006 Finalist

• Review Centre Award 2006 for Best Anti-Virus software.