Avast! Pro Antivirus 5.0 Review

Avast! Pro Antivirus is very good antivirus software. Their free version is one of the most popular free antivirus applications, and the paid Pro edition is actually quite good. Avast! combines a healthy dose of features with effective security for a pretty comprehensive antivirus software. This year’s edition brings a dramatic shift to the interface and several new features to add to their arsenal of malware protection.

Scope of Protection:

Avast! Pro Antivirus uses several layers of protection, keeping your PC and resources safe from several angles. With built-in protection from spyware, rootkits, Trojans and more, the software is equipped for most common security threats. The program includes protection from malware spread through email (scanning both inbound and outbound messages), and also has an integrated IM shield. Furthermore, Avast includes specific protection for several popular P2P file sharing applications.

One new feature worth noting is the heuristic scanning engine. This technology allows the software to proactively detect malware that tries to bypass traditional virus scanners. While the files may look harmless, if they show malware-like behavior the heuristic scanning engine can stop them.

Effectiveness:

This is certainly an effective antivirus software, and one of the best. Virus Bulletin not only certified the software with a VB100% (caught 100% of in-the-wild viruses), but also found the software’s proactive and reactive scanners to be quite effective, with impressive scores to prove it.

AV Comparatives also agrees that Avast is top-notch, with a very high virus detection rate, one of the best in the industry. AV Comparatives deemed the software as one of the best overall solutions, earning an Advanced A+ rating.

Ease of Installation:

Avast! Pro Antivirus is easy to install and set up. Before installation the software even creates a restore point just in case. After the program is installed, you are encouraged to run a preemptive scan that will help locate and remove any deep-rooted viruses that could interfere with setup. The whole process of installing the software is pretty straightforward and easy, and doesn’t require much additional setup.

Avast has one of the most effective antivirus scanning engines, but it doesn’t mean it’s the slowest. In fact, the antivirus software is remarkably efficient with resources and is a speedy program. The new Intelligent Scanner significantly reduces scan times by only scanning files that have changed, so you don’t waste time rescanning safe files.

Ease of Use:

The software is designed to do most of the work behind-the-scenes, keeping your computer protected without much user interaction. Files are scanned in real-time, on access (every time they’re opened) and you won’t even notice it. The new interface is straightforward and pretty easy to use once you get it down. Everything is effectively organized and easy to get to.

Avast! 5.0 now includes an automatic gaming mode. If you’re running a full-screen game, the silent gaming mode will disable alerts and pop-ups from interrupting you. This also comes in handy for other full-screen applications like watching movies or viewing presentations.

The software works on all the common Windows operating systems, and is optimized to run efficiently with computers using the newest Intel Core i7 chips. It also uses multi-core processors to its advantage for speed and effective resource management.

Features:

This antivirus software has all the essential features and more. Two new features worth mentioning are the avast! Sandbox and code emulator. The sandbox works with both 32 and 64-bit systems, and essentially lets your web browser run in a virtual environment where the software can keep tabs on file behavior. You can also run any software or application you think might be risky in the virtualized environment, and no damage will transfer from the secure sandbox to your actual computer. It should be mentioned that this sandbox technology is one of the impressive features that is available in the paid Pro version and not the free version.

The similar code emulator is used on risky executable files, and runs them in a test environment. If the suspicious application behaves like malware, the software can detect it and block it accordingly.

Updates:

Timely updates are a key element in effective antivirus protection, and Avast doesn’t disappoint. Regular virus signature updates are delivered on a daily basis (or can be checked for manually). This newest version of the software actually has a new format for virus definition files, specifically designed for faster, more efficient updates that will keep you more protected without sacrificing computer power.

Help & Support:

Avast has decent support in-program and online, but they’re a bit lacking. Online you can find answers to questions with the user guide, knowledgebase, or support forum. Specific questions can be directed to the support department via email, but only after registering. There are several devoted avast! users, so the forum is a great place to start. The company now also offers toll-free phone support provided by iYogi to help you with installing or trouble-shooting.

Summary:

Overall, the new 5.0 version of Avast Pro Antivirus is a great choice, and certainly one of the best antivirus software available. The software is not only one of the most effective, but also one of the most efficient. We liked the redesigned interface and the new features. And while we would have liked to see a few more features and better product support, we can definitely recommend Avast Pro Antivirus.[source]