The main component in Avira’s free software suite that makes it stand out is the optional “in-the-cloud detection” feature called Protection Cloud.This scanning method lets Avira’s antivirus tool identify and stop threats before they get out of hand.

• Pros

  Certified by one independent testing lab. Speedy full scan. Excellent phishing protection for Chrome and Firefox. Network security scanner. Password manager. Website rating. Active Do Not Track. Free.

• Cons

  Poor phishing protection in Safari. Password manager includes only basic features.

• Bottom Line

  Avast Security (for Mac) delivers effective malware protection along with unusual bonus features. Phishing protection only works well in Chrome and Firefox, but this free utility is still worth a look.

For years, Mac users basked in the mystique of virus-free computing. It wasn't true, alas, and as time goes on we see more and more Mac-specific malware attacks. The situation may not be nearly as bad as for Window or Android, but prudence still dictates that you install antivirus protection on your Macs as well. Avast Security offers Macs protection against malware along with advanced features including a password manager and a network security scanner, all for a cost of exactly nothing.

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Installation went quickly, though I did find I had to separately activate the password manager and the Online Security browser extension from the Tools page. You'll also find Avast's SecureLine VPN on that page, but it's not free like the others. When you click to activate, you get a choice of signing up for $2.99 per month or starting a 30-day trial.

The product's spacious main window features a large status indicator centered in an otherwise-empty white region, with a menu down the left side. It's a very different appearance from Avast Free Antivirus on Windows, which uses pops of purple and green on a dark gray background.

Pricing and OS Support

Like Bitdefender and Kaspersky, Avast supports macOS versions back to 10.9 Mavericks. If you have an antique Mac that for some reason can't even run Mavericks, consider ESET Cyber Security (for Mac), ProtectWorks, or ClamXAV (for Mac) all of which support versions from 10.6 (Snow Leopard) on. At the other end of the spectrum, Avira, Trend Micro, and Symantec require macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or better.

Like Sophos and Avira, Avast offers full antivirus protection for free. Avast Security Pro (for Mac) costs $59.99 per year for one license or $69.99 for three. The Pro edition adds ransomware protection and real-time notification when new devices connect to your network. The free edition is strictly for non-commercial use; in a business setting, you must pay up.

Good Malware Protection Scores

When reviewing a Windows antivirus utility, I report how it scored with four independent antivirus testing labs. The very best products earn top scores from all four labs. But even if no test results exist, I can run my own hands-on tests using real-world malware and malware-hosting URLs.

It took years to develop my hands-on tools and tests for Windows. Most of them don't carry over to the macOS platform. Hence lab results become extremely important for my Mac antivirus reviews. Two of the labs I follow, AV-Test Institute and AV-Comparatives, test Mac antivirus, and Avast participates with one of them.

Experts at AV-Comparatives test Mac antivirus products using the latest macOS malware. They also evaluate each product's ability to detect Windows malware. Why? While a Trojan written for Windows wouldn't run on a Mac, the Mac could serve as a carrier.

Avast managed 99.9 percent protection against Mac malware. That's very good—better than most. However, Bitdefender and Kaspersky exhibited 100 percent protection. In the Windows malware test, Avast detected 100 percent of the samples. Most competing products also took 100 percent. However, Webroot only caught 75 percent, and Intego Mac Internet Security X9 got just 18 percent. Like most tested products, Avast received certification from AV-Comparatives for Mac antivirus protection.

Having one certification is good; having two is better. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Sophos are among the products that received certifications from both labs for Mac malware protection.

Scan Choices

Avast offers several scans to improve your Mac's security. A full scan on the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch that I use for testing took 14.5 minutes, just a hair over Intego's 14 minutes, and quicker than the 18 minutes required by Avira. The average for recent products is 24 minutes, so Avast proved quite speedy. Norton is the current speed champ, completing a full scan in 10 minutes.

There's a separate scan for removable volumes, though you can configure the full scan to include them. I scanned a thumb drive containing my Windows malware collection and found that it quarantined 85 percent of them. For comparison, Avira detected 82 percent of these, while Sophos Home (for Mac) wiped out every single one.

There's no predefined quick scan, which makes sense given the speed of the full scan. The custom scan settings confused me, though. As with the full scan, you can add file locations to exclude from scanning, and configure it to scan Time Machine backups. But the full scan's settings include those options, and also let you include removable volumes and network volumes, while the custom scan's settings do not. Puzzling.

You can schedule a daily, weekly, or monthly scan if desired. Settings for a scheduled scan include two additional choices. You can set it to skip scanning if your device is running on batteries, and you can have it wake from sleep if necessary, to perform its scheduled scan. Avira Free Antivirus for Mac not only offers scheduled scanning, it defaults to a weekly scan with no effort on your part. Sophos skips scheduled scanning, relying instead on real-time protection.

Network Security Scan

The final scan choice doesn't look for malware. Rather, it collects information about all the devices on your network and flags any security problems. On my own network, the scan finished in just under three minutes.

The scanner correctly reported that my main router has an open port that could theoretically become a point of attack. It's true that the port is open, as my ISP uses it to run remote diagnostics when necessary. But that function requires a key that only the ISP has.

More interestingly, it found serious problems with a network storage device (fortunately, one that I'm not currently using). Not only does this device have numerous open ports, it's vulnerable to a buffer overrun attack. Avast advised updating the firmware; I just unplugged it.

The report also serves as a list of everything that's connected to your network, identifying each by name and type. It's similar to the output of Bitdefender Home Scanner. With both products, I found devices with names like unknown6542990b6483—not much help! Bitdefender includes an option to edit the name and type, and it remembers your edits in subsequent scans. I'd like to see that ability in Avast.

Excellent Phishing Protection in Chrome and Firefox

In the Windows realm, one thing that differentiates Avast's premium product is better protection against phishing sites, those fraudulent sites that imitate secure sites and try to steal your login credentials. The free Windows edition scored very poorly, while the premium edition did an extremely good job. Based on initial round of testing, the Mac product's phishing protection, both free and Pro, seemed to match that of the free Windows product, meaning it's not very good.

I learned later that Avast's phishing protection is not fully functional in Safari. The developers are working on making it completely browser-independent. In the meantime, they advise using Chrome or Firefox. Norton was also having problems during my original test, so I tossed those results and started fresh.

My phishing protection test uses URLs reported as fraudulent, but not yet verified. Typically, these are only a few hours old. That's important, because phishing sites are ephemeral. Once they've been identified and blacklisted, the fraudsters just create new ones.

I simultaneously launch each URL in Safari on the Mac and in a browser protected by long-time antiphishing champ Symantec Norton Security Premium. I also launch each in Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, relying on the browser's built-in protection. If any of the five browsers throw an error message, I discard the URL. A true phishing fraud masquerades as a secure site and tries to capture your login credentials. Any URL that doesn't match that profile also gets junked.

I've written a Windows-based tool that handles launching URLs and capturing results. On the Mac, I copy and paste each URL into Safari and manually record the result. When I have enough data, I dump the five reports into Excel for comparison.

The malefactors that perpetrate these phishing frauds are clever. They're always devising new techniques to get past security software. That being the case, I report results not as hard figures but as the difference between the product under test and the others.

Tested using Safari's incomplete phishing protection, Avast's detection rate lagged Norton's by 32 percent, and Norton itself was having a bad day. All three browsers soundly drubbed Avast. When I retested using Chrome, Avast tied with Norton and beat the detection rates of the three browsers. That's impressive. Of the Mac security products I've tested, only Bitdefender did better, beating Norton by 5 percentage points.

While phishing is browser-agnostic, phishing protection is not. Bitdefender beat Norton by 5 percentage points, but its Windows cousin more than doubled that gap. Even Symantec Norton Security Deluxe (for Mac) didn't detect many frauds that its Windows edition caught.

Site Rating and Do Not Track

Like McAfee AntiVirus Plus (for Mac), Avira, Trend Micro, and several others, Avast marks up results in popular search engines with green for safe, red for dangerous, and gray for unknown. You can click to vote a page up or down. Simple!

Clicking the Online Safety toolbar button displays the status for the current page. It also lists all the elements on the site that can track your online activity, including analytics, social media, ad trackers, and more. By default, it doesn't do anything, but you're free to block any tracker or category. Websites are free to ignore the official Do Not Track header sent by your browser, but Avast's active Do Not Track feature has teeth. Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac offers a similar active Do Not Track feature.

Digging into the settings for Online Safety reveals a hidden gem: SiteCorrect. If you mistype a site name, this feature offers to change to the correct name. You can even set it to automatically make the fix, with no prompt. However, in testing, I couldn't tease it into action. I tried pyapal.com, pcmga.com, whitehous.gov, wallmart.com, and many others, with no reaction from SiteCorrect.

Basic Password Manager

Like Avast's Windows antivirus, this product includes a password manager. Where the Windows product invites you to install on Android, the Mac one suggests adding password management to your iPhone. On Windows, the password manager is integrated with the antivirus; under macOS, it's a separate app.

There's no limit on the number of devices, and you can sync your passwords between them all, macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Avast doesn't keep your passwords in the cloud. Rather, it uses your Avast account to authorize syncing data that's stored locally on your devices.

Once you've enabled syncing on a device, that device becomes an authenticator for adding more devices. The new device displays a numeric code, and the existing device gets a notification with the same code. If the numbers match, just click to approve. What if you lose all your devices? On installation, Avast sends an email with a recovery link; don't lose that email!

On each of your devices, you create a master password to protect the local password stash. The master passwords need not be the same, but who'd want the confusion of making them different? Avast offers advice on creating a strong password, with a color-coded line representing the strength of what you've typed. It's not easy to get all the way to green, but Avast doesn't require it. In fact, it accepted 'Password' as a master password.

Avast offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. When you log in to a site, the extension offers to save your credentials. If you come back to the site, it fills your saved credentials. Clicking the key icon in one of the fields brings up a menu showing all the credentials you've saved. And it handles two-page logins like what Google uses.

Avast doesn't use the typical menu of logins attached to its toolbar button. Rather, you click the button and launch the main application. Unlike the Windows edition, this is a separate app, not integrated with the main antivirus. Its main window is seriously tall and skinny, like something you'd find on a smartphone, and you have only limited control over its size. Clicking an item opens its details, with a link to open the site itself.

You can also use the password manager to sync and share secure notes between your devices. These are simple, unformatted text snippets, suitable for saving such things as locker combinations and non-digital passwords.

The left-rail menu offers simple icons to manage passwords and secure notes, and one to bring up the password generator. By default, it generates 18-character passwords using all character types. You can set the length anywhere from four to 30 characters using a slider.

Avast analyzes the strength of your master password when you first create it, but not when you update it. Avast Pro Antivirus on Windows can analyze your passwords, flagging any weak or duplicate ones. The free Windows edition used to include this feature, but it was recently enhanced and redefined as a Pro-only feature.

This password manager handles all the basic tasks and no more. Fancy features like secure sharing, two-factor authentication, and password inheritance aren't here. But you do get it along with the antivirus, at no charge, so if it does enough for you, go ahead and use it.

Worth a Look

AV-Comparatives certified Avast Security as an effective Mac antivirus. Impressively, it offers a network scanner and password manager, features often reserved for full security suites. On the other hand, the password manager handles basic functions only—nothing advanced. And while Avast earned great stores in my hands-on antiphishing test, that function currently works well in Chrome and Firefox, but not Safari. But the pros outweigh the cons. If you're looking for free Mac antivirus protection, give it a try, along with Sophos and Avira, and see which you like best.

For truly top-notch Mac security, you'll need to lay out some cash. Our Editors' Choice products in this realm are Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac. Both received certification from two labs. Both scored well in our hands-on antiphishing test. Bitdefender's AutoPilot mode means you can set it and forget it. And Kaspersky goes above and beyond feature-wise, with full-scale parental control, protection against webcam peeping, a network attack blocker, and more.

Bottom Line: Avast Security (for Mac) delivers effective malware protection along with unusual bonus features. Phishing protection only works well in Chrome and Firefox, but this free utility is still worth a look.

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Can't Seem To Schedule Avast Antivirus Free For Mac

System Requirements

What are the system requirements for Avast Antivirus?

For Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier), Avast Free Antivirus, and Avast Omni:

• Windows 10; Windows 8/8.1 except RT and Starter Edition (32 or 64-bit); Windows 7 SP1 or higher, any Edition (32 or 64-bit).
• Windows fully compatible PC with Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 processor or above (must support SSE2 instructions).
• 1 GB RAM or above.
• 2 GB free space on the hard disk.
• Internet connection to download, activate, and maintain program updates and antivirus database.
• Optimally standard screen resolution no less than 1024 x 768 pixels.

Using Microsoft Windows operating systems without the latest Service Pack may not be supported. For details, refer to the documentation on Microsoft's website:

Download and Installation

How do I download Avast Antivirus?

Download your preferred Avast Antivirus product using the direct links below:

Latest Avst Antivirus products:

• Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) | Avast Free Antivirus

Older Avast Antivirus products:

• Avast Internet Security | Avast Pro Antivirus

How do I install Avast Antivirus?

For instructions to download and install your Avast Antivirus product, refer to the following articles:

• Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) | Avast Free Antivirus | Avast Omni

To install an older version of Avast Antivirus, refer to the links below:

• Avast Internet Security | Avast Pro Antivirus

How do I update my current Avast Antivirus program version to the latest version?

For detailed instructions to update Avast Antivirus to the latest program version, refer to the following article:

Is it necessary to uninstall a previous version of Avast Antivirus before installing a new version?

If you have Avast 7.x or later, you do not need to uninstall your previous version because Avast Antivirus setup automatically detects and upgrades the existing installation.

If you have Avast 6.x or older, you need to uninstall your version of Avast using the Avast Uninstall Utility, then install Avast Antivirus by following the instructions in the relevant article below:

• Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) | Avast Omni | Avast Free Antivirus

To install an older version of Avast Antivirus, refer to the links below:

• Avast Internet Security | Avast Pro Antivirus

How do I uninstall Avast Antivirus?

For detailed instructions to uninstall your Avast Antivirus product, refer to the following article:

Subscription and registration

How do I activate my subscription for Avast Premium Security or Avast Omni?

You can purchase a subscription for Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) or Avast Omni via the Avast Store. To activate your product:

1. Open your Avast order confirmation email and copy the activation code.
2. Right-click the Avast icon in the system tray and select Subscription information from the context menu.
3. On the My Subscriptions screen, click Enter a valid activation code.
4. Enter your activation code and click Enter.

For detailed instructions, refer to the relevant article below:

• Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) | Avast Omni

For detailed instructions to activate an older version of Avast Antivirus, refer to the relevant article below:

• Avast Internet Security | Avast Pro Antivirus

How do I register Avast Free Antivirus?

It is no longer necessary to register your Avast Free Antivirus, as your initial free subscription automatically activates after installation. When your free subscription expires, you can let the program automatically renew the subscription. Alternatively, you can manually activate your 1-year subscription by following these steps:

1. Open the Avast user interface and go to ☰Menu ▸ My Subscriptions.
2. Click the Upgrade now button next to Avast Free Antivirus in the list located under Subscriptions on this PC.
3. Click Select in the Avast Free Antivirus column.
4. Click the X icon on the new screen that appears to return to the My Subscriptions screen.

For details, refer to the following article:

What is the 30-day money back guarantee?

Avast offers a 30 day, money-back guarantee from the date of purchase for most products.

To request a refund for an Avast product for Windows or Mac, contact Avast Support and provide your name, order number, and the reason for your refund request.

For more information visit Orders, Subscriptions, and Refunds FAQs

What should I do if Avast Antivirus does not accept my purchased subscription?

If you face issues activating Avast Antivirus, use the Avast webform to resend your subscription to the email address used for your purchase, then try to activate the program again. If activation is unsuccessful, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Uninstall Avast Antivirus using the Avast Uninstall Utility and restart your computer.
2. Download and install the version of Avast Antivirus connected to the purchased subscription.
3. Try to activate Avast Antivirus again.

Can I get a copy of my purchased subscription?

If you did not receive your purchased subscription, you can request it via our webform using the email address provided for your purchase.

You can also find your activation code in your Avast Account. For more information, refer to the following article:

Can I transfer a subscription to another device?

Yes. You can activate an Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) or Avast Omni subscription on up to 10 devices across multiple platforms, and easily transfer your protection from one device or platform to another.

You can activate an Avast Premium Security(Single-Device) subscription on one device at a time, and transfer this subscription to another device on the same platform. For more information, refer to the following article:

Check your Avast Account or a confirmation email to confirm which subscription type you purchased.

Can I use my subscription on different platforms?

An Avast Premium Security(Single-Device) subscription protects on one device. The following Avast Premium Security (Single-Device) subscriptions are available:

• Avast Premium Security (for PC)
• Avast Premium Security (for Mac)
• Avast Mobile Security Premium (for Android)
• Avast Mobile Security Premium (for iOS)

An Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) or Avast Omni subscription protects up to 10 devices regardless of platform, and allows you to freely transfer your subscription from one device or platform to another.

How do I activate my Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device) product on another platform?

After purchasing Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device), you can activate Avast Premium Security on your Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS devices using a valid activation code, or using your Avast Account credentials linked to the email provided during purchase.

For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:

Can I use my subscription for Avast Antivirus to activate Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast Cleanup Premium?

No. Avast SecureLine VPN and Avast Cleanup Premium are integrated into the Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni user interface, but require separate, paid subscriptions to use. You can purchase a subscription for either product from the Avast Store.

How do I cancel my continuous subscription?

For instructions to disable your continuous Avast software subscription, refer to one of the following articles according to the distributor from which you purchased the subscription:

To cancel continuous subscriptions purchased via Allsoft (Softline Group company), AstroPay, or Cleverbridge, use the following form:

Features and Settings

What features are included in the different versions of Avast Antivirus?

You can check the features available in each version of Avast Antivirus on our product comparison chart.

• Avast Free Antivirus: includes our intelligent antivirus features that detect viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, phishing, and other threats in real-time. Avast Free Antivirus also includes extra free features such as Software Updater and Passwords.
• Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier): comes with all the features included in Avast Free Antivirus, and additionally includes; Ransomware Shield, Real Site, Sandbox, Firewall, Sensitive Data Shield, Anti-spam, Webcam Shield, and Data Shredder.
• Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device): comes with all the features included in Avast Premium Security, and additionally includes Avast Premium Security solutions for Mac, Android, and iOS.
• Avast Omni: comes with all features included in Avast Premium Security (Multi-Device), and additionally includes home network security for all of the connected devices in your home.

Features available in older Avast Antivirus products:

• Avast Pro Antivirus: comes with all features included in Avast Free Antivirus, and additionally includes Real Site and Sandbox.
• Avast Internet Security: comes with all features included in Avast Pro Antivirus, and additionally includes Firewall, Ransomware Shield, Sensitive Data Shield, and Anti-spam.

What is Smart Scan?

Smart Scan is a comprehensive scan that detects the following:

• Viruses: files containing malicious code which may impact the security and performance of your PC.
• Vulnerable software: out-of-date software which hackers can use to access your system.
• Bad browser add-ons: browser extensions that are usually installed without your knowledge and affect the performance of your system.
• Poor search engines: default search providers that may offer poor search results or endanger your privacy.
• Network issues: vulnerabilities in your network that may lead to attacks on your router and network devices.
• Performance issues: items such as junk files and unnecessary apps, or settings issues that may interfere with the operation of your PC.

To run a Smart Scan, open the Avast user interface and go to Protection ▸ Virus Scans, then click Run Smart Scan.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What are Core Shields?

Core Shields displays the main protection components in Avast Antivirus. By default, all Core Shields are enabled to provide optional protection. The Core Shields are: File Shield, Behavior Shield, Web Shield, and Mail Shield.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Virus Chest?

Virus Chest is an isolated space where you can safely store potentially dangerous files or send them to the Avast Threat Lab for analysis. Files in the Virus Chest cannot run or access your system and data, so any malicious code contained within a file is unable to harm your PC.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is CyberCapture?

CyberCapture is a feature that detects and analyzes rare, suspicious files. If you attempt to run such a file, CyberCapture locks the file from your PC and sends it to the Avast Threat Lab where it is analyzed in a safe, virtual environment.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Rescue Disk?

Rescue Disk is a feature which allows you to create a bootable version of the Avast Antvirus scanner on a USB or CD.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Firewall?

Firewall is a feature available in Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni. Firewall monitors all network traffic between your PC and the outside world to protect you from unauthorized communication and intrusions. Firewall can prevent sensitive data from leaving your PC and can block attempted intrusions by hackers.

You can also set the application rules to control network and internet communication for specific software applications. Firewall applies these rules whenever a particular application tries to establish a connection to the internet or with another network.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Real Site?

Real Site, formerly known as Secure DNS, is a feature in Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni. Real Site secures you against DNS (Domain Name System) hijacking. Some malicious programs can stealthily redirect you from an authentic URL to an inauthentic website to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details.

Every time you enter the URL (address) of a website, such as www.example.com, into the address bar of your browser, the URL is translated to the IP address (Internet Protocol address) of the web server where the web page that you want to access is stored. Real Site provides an encrypted connection between your web browser and Avast's own DNS server to ensure that the displayed website is the authentic one.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Ransomware Shield?

Ransomware Shield is available in the latest version of Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni. Ransomware Shield secures your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. This feature scans for and automatically secures folders which may contain personal data and allows you to specify which other folders you want to protect from untrusted applications. Additionally, you can specify which applications are allowed to modify the files in your folders and which applications are always blocked.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Sensitive Data Shield?

Sensitive Data Shield, available in the latest version of Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni, scans and protects your personal sensitive documents against unauthorized access and malware. The files considered sensitive contain your personal information which, if revealed, can compromise your privacy and identity. Sensitive Data Shield controls which applications and users have access to your files to secure your private data.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Webcam Shield?

Webcam Shield, available in the latest version of Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni, prevents applications and malware from accessing your PC's webcam without your consent. With Webcam Shield enabled, untrusted applications cannot capture images or videos and send the content outside of your PC to compromise your privacy.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Wi-Fi Inspector?

Wi-Fi Inspector, formerly known as Home Network Security, scans your network for vulnerabilities and identifies potential security issues that open the door to threats. This feature checks the status of your network, devices connected to the network, and router settings. Wi-Fi Inspector helps you secure your network to prevent attackers from accessing it and misusing your personal data.

What is Passive Mode?

Passive Mode disables all active protection, such as Shields and Firewall, so that you can use more than one antivirus program at a time without interfering with the performance of your PC or the reliability of antivirus detections. In Passive Mode, Avast Antivirus receives all virus definition and program updates which allows you to manually run scans to check for issues on your PC, however, Avast does not actively protect you.

• All third party antivirus programs are uninstalled.
• The main screen of Avast indicates You're protected.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Software Updater?

Software Updater is a feature in Avast Antivirus that keeps commonly used third party software up to date to eliminate potential security risks. Malicious threats or attackers often use leaks in outdated software to access your PC. Software Updater displays the most popular programs installed on your PC and allows you to easily update them.

For more information, refer to the following article:

What is Sandbox?

Sandbox is available in Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni. Sandbox is a virtualization tool which allows you to browse the web or run an application in a completely isolated, safe environment. When you run an application in Sandbox, your activity and web content is contained, which prevents damage to your PC. This is useful when you want to run suspicious or untrusted applications without risk.

What is Data Shredder?

Data Shredder is a feature in Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni that allows you to irreversibly erase your files or whole drives, so that there is no way for anyone to restore and misuse your data.

When you erase a hard drive, or delete a file using standard tools, only a reference to its data is removed from the file system. Simply deleting sensitive files, such as user data or licensed software, may not be safe as there are tools capable of restoring deleted files. Data Shredder overwrites files with meaningless data multiple times before deleting them which prevents data from being recovered. Data Shredder is especially useful when selling/donating your computers or hard drives.

What is Anti-spam?

Anti-spam is an additional installable component available in Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni. Anti-spam ensures that the inbox in your mail management software is free from unwanted spam and junk emails. This feature applies to mail clients installed on your PC, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird.

What is Do Not Disturb Mode?

Do Not Disturb Mode is a new feature in Avast Antivirus, and an upgrade to the previous Game Mode feature. Do Not Disturb Mode works to silence unnecessary notifications while you run almost any application in fullscreen. Each time you open an application in fullscreen, Do Not Disturb Mode automatically detects it and adds it to a list of applications. When you run applications from this list of entries, Do Not Disturb Mode automatically launches to silence notifications from Windows, Avast Antivirus, and other applications. In the Do Not Disturb Mode applications list, you can also select the … icon (three dots) next to the relevant application, then tick the Maximize performance box, which will allow the applicatio to run at highest priority and boost the performance of your PC.

For more information, refer to the article below:

What is Browser Cleanup?

Browser Cleanup is a feature now integrated into Smart Scan and Avast Cleanup Premium.

When you run Smart Scan, your PC is scanned for various elements, including poorly rated browser add-ons. If such add-ons are detected, you can follow on-screen instructions to remove them.

If you use Avast Cleanup Premium, the Clean option scans for and identifies poorly rated browser add-ons. You can select which add-ons to remove, as well as view reputable add-ons.

What is Passwords?

Passwords is a password manager that allows you to use one Master Password to quickly and safely log into your online accounts and complete web forms. Passwords encrypts and securely stores your sensitive information, and enables you to synchronize your data across all your devices.

For details, refer to the following article:

Avast

What is SecureLine VPN?

SecureLine VPN is a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN functions as a private tunnel through the internet which encrypts your data and secures your connection when using public Wi-Fi connections such as those in cafes or airports. SecureLine VPN has servers in several locations which means you can bypass geolocation restrictions as well as access your favorite content while traveling.

SecureLine VPN is integrated into the Avast user interface, but requires a separate, paid license to use. For more information about SecureLine VPN, refer to the following article:

What is Cleanup Premium?

Cleanup Premium scans for unnecessary items and performance issues to create space on your PC and improve the speed of your system. After a scan, Avast offers to remove or resolve any found issues.

For details, refer to the following article:

Miscellaneous

How will the launch of Avast Premium Security affect my current Avast products?

With the launch of Avast Premium Security, we have made changes to some existing Avast products. Refer to the information below according to your Antivirus product:

• Avast Premier: This product continues as Avast Premium Security.
• Avast Pro Antivirus and Avast Internet Security: These products are no longer sold from the Avast website. We are in the process of discontinuing them and upgrading existing users to Avast Premium Security.

For more information about the change to Avast Premium Security, refer to the article below:

If you use Avast Pro Antivirus or Avast Internet Security, you can manually upgrade your application to Avast Premium Security by clicking ☰Menu ▸ Settings ▸ General ▸ Update ▸ Update Now.

Can I set Software Updater to automatically update my applications?

Avast Antivirus informs you when Software Updater detects updates for third-party applications. In Avast Premium Security and Avast Omni, you can configure Software Updater to perform updates automatically.

In Avast Free Antivirus, you can maintain updates manually by clicking the Update Now button next to each application.

Does my PC's performance slow down during an Avast scan?

Avast Antivirus comes with several pre-defined scans as well as the option to create your own custom scans. Generally, running a scan does not noticeably affect system performance. However, performance may be affected somewhat depending on your system configurations, especially if you execute multiple scans simultaneously.

Does Avast Antivirus scan webmail accounts?

If you use a web based email account, such as Yahoo or Gmail, Avast does not directly scan your emails. However, Web Shield and File Shield actively protect your PC from malware which could be contained in your email messages.

If you use a mail management software, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, Mail Shield scans for threats in your incoming and outgoing email messages.

Can I adjust the sensitivity of Anti-spam?

Yes. If you want to adjust the sensitivity of the Anti-spam filter go to Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Privacy ▸ Anti-spam. The following sensitivity options are available:

• Relaxed: use this setting if too many legitimate emails are being marked as spam.
• Strict (default and recommended setting): keep this setting enabled to maintain optimal spam filtering.
• No mercy: use this setting if too many spam emails are getting into your inbox.

Can I turn off the Microsoft Windows Firewall when using the Firewall in Avast Premium Security or Avast Omni?

Yes. Avast Premium Security (previously Avast Premier) and Avast Omni include a built-in firewall. The Avast Firewall monitors all communication between your PC and outside networks and blocks unauthorized communication. It is highly recommended to keep all Avast protection components enabled at all times for reliable PC protection.

Can I turn off the antivirus protection?

Yes, but we do not recommend doing this permanently. If you need to disable Avast Antivirus, right click the Avast icon in the system tray and select Avast shields control. Select one of the following options:

• Disable for 10 minutes
• Disable for 1 hour
• Disable until computer is restarted
• Disable permanently (not recommended)

• Avast Premium Security 19.x
• Avast Free Antivirus 19.x
• Avast Omni 1.x
• Avast Premier 19.x
• Avast Internet Security 19.x
• Avast Pro Antivirus 19.x

• Microsoft Windows 10 Home / Pro / Enterprise / Education - 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 8 / Pro / Enterprise - 32 / 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic / Home Premium / Professional / Enterprise / Ultimate - Service Pack 1, 32 / 64-bit