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Avast Security Pro for Mac
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Avast Free Mac Security
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The big friendly “You Are Protected” green checkmark on Avast Security Pro’s home screen is certainly a plausible statement. The software is a rare breath of fresh air in a sea of anti-virus products that haven’t worked hard enough to keep up to date with current threats, or haven’t updated the interface to meet modern expectations of presentation and usability.

Avast is danged good at catching malware. AV Comparables says Avast detected 99.9 percent of macOS malware and 100 percent of Windows malware. In spot testing, the app did splendidly. Immediately on decompression of macOS malware from an encrypted archive, Avast detected it, deleted it, and notified me. It did as well with malicious files on the web, though it didn’t detect some items at the WICAR test site that require active local components to be dangerous. Siccing it on drives loaded with other anti-virus products, Avast found test malware I’d downloaded that had wound up in cached files that the anti-virus software on those volumes missed.

Note: This review is part of our best antivirus roundup. Go there for details about competing products and how we tested them.

Avast’s browser component, Web Shield, doesn’t seem to rely on plug-ins (there are none to configure), but uses the program’s kernel extension to check at a low level. It can be managed from the Avast app, and settings apply to all browsers.

If you’re interested in ransomware monitoring, you need to buy the Pro version ($59.99 for one year/one Mac; $69.99 for one year/three Macs; $99.99 for one year/10 Macs), which relies on folder-based ransomware monitoring. It marks the user Documents and Pictures folders as protected by default, and you can add more folders. By default, Avast allows any Apple and App Store apps to manipulate items in those folders, although you can disable those options. Any other app that tries to modify or delete anything in the shielded folders is blocked, giving you an option to whitelist it.

This is an effective way to protect most users’ critical files, but we prefer Sophos’s active monitoring approach, which looks for patterns of behavior and keeps files from being deleted than one that requires anointing folders. Still, it worked well in testing, and most users keep their most precious documents in a few locations. (Avast could expand the list to include a few more locations by default, too.)

Outside of core anti-virus features, the Pro version also offers a Wi-Fi Inspector. This is unique among anti-virus software we tested, and it looks for devices on a network engaged in malicious behavior. Other anti-virus software packaged with network monitors either whitelist local network activity, or treat it the same as any malicious Internet attacks. This seems aimed at helping users understand if they’ve joined a network, such as at a coffeeshop, that has compromised or attacking devices on it.

One negative is the soft but distinct upsell of Avast, which is sensible in its Free version, but not necessarily in a Pro. A Tools item on the lefthand navigation bar mostly displays other available products, like VPN service. A one-time message at installation might be acceptable, but mingling features and items for sale is too heavy-handed in a security product.

While you can create an account at Avast Software, it’s optional. Once created, you can use it to add machines to log in from the software for a computer to join the account. Unfortunately, the account provides no remote mangement or configuration, just reporting.

Bottom line

If you’re looking for a free anti-virus program, Avast is the best choice, edging out Sophos by providing more parity between free and paid version.

While we gave Sophos Home Premium and Avast Security Pro the same 4.5 mice rating, Sophos has a slight edge. The combination of active ransomware scanning makes it somewhat more superior to the folder-based method in Avast, while central configuration and remote control in Sophos can help for a disparate set of family or small-business users. We like Avast’s unique Wi-Fi threat detection, and its native app interface, where Sophos leans heavily on the cloud.

Version 13.4

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Avast Security Pro for Mac
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Avast Free Mac Security
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Screenshots

Description

Protect your data and your privacy with a personal, secure VPN that hides your online activity so you can bank,shop,or simply browse,confident that no one is stealing your precious data.
-Hide your activity
Anyone with a little know-how can see what you do when you browse, and collect data on you. Avast SecureLine hides your online presence, so no one except you can see where you go, or what you do.
-Work from anywhere
At the cafe, or a friends house? Public or private, trusted or not, you can make any connection a safe one with SecureLine
-Set it up once, get privacy forever
Avast SecureLine can be activated with a single click, allowing you to go private at a moment’s notice.
-Go international
Access geo-locked content anywhere in the world so you can stream your favorite shows and movies no matter where you visit.
Try a FREE trial of Avast SecureLine now.
Then, upgrade to the full version for $38.99 a year, or 7.99 a month. Your subscription will automatically be renewed unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of your current subscription. Auto-renew may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase. However, you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period.
Carefree, private browsing is only a few short clicks away.
Privacy Policy available at https://www.avast.com/privacy-policy
Terms and Conditions info at https://www.avast.com/eula

What’s New

General bug fixes and optimizations to keep your VPN running smoothly.

10 Ratings

New Update Poor

I just updated my vpn on both my mac and iPhone and now won’t connect. Before the updates it would connect with no problems.

Possible Phishing App. Unclear if it works, Tech support BAD!

I downloaded the App after a friend said it protects you when you are on a publick Wifi and after calling Tech Support to inquire about a pop up that I would get asking for access to my Keychain every time I connected; I was told by the rep that they did not support Macs. After insisting that the Apple Store and Avast’s website say otherwise she asked me to generate a ticket online. I followed the steps and asked questions but could not get an immediate answer. I was asked to use the app to create a “support package” which was generated as a zip file from the app I decided to call Apple. I could not get a refund and still don’t know if it was working but WORSE than that I don’t know if the App was safe or if it got access to any of the info in my Keychain.
I don’t understand why any app would need access to the Keychain on my Mac. Anyone?

Developer Response,

VPN establishes an encrypted connection between your client and Avast gateway and routes all your internet traffic through this connection. The encryption is based on a pre-shared key stored by the application to the login keychain. When the Apple's Network extension framework is asked to setup the network configuration, it needs an access to be granted to this keychain item. Therefore the framework displays an alert 'neagent wants to access key 'com.avast.osx.secureline' in your keychain'. You can grant the access one-time or permanently.
Keychains work on the macOS the way that any application has access only to items it has created before. If it wants access to any other item, it needs to ask for its access individually. You don’t need to be afraid of a misusage.
Regarding the technical support, it is a long term issue we are aware of and it will need to be addressed by the company.

Works…Mostly

I wouldn’t recommend Avast. Yes it is easy to set up and use but god forbid you need any customer support. I wanted to upgrade my plan and add a mobile license but there getting my account info was a pain. I tried calling customer support (twice) and attempted to navigate their site for an hour and had zero resolution. They hang a sign that say customer support but honestly it’s just for show. I canceled my subscription and wouldn’t recommend them to anyone because when problems occur there’s no help to be held.

Information

Size

11.4 MB

Compatibility

macOS 10.12 or later, 64-bit processor