The new version of avast! comes with a fresh installer that allows you to integrate it into your system as a second line of defense for an already available security product. The interface went through slight modifications.
The same real-time shields protect your system, with the menu showing the status and activity for all of them: file system, mail, web, P2P, IM, network, script and behavioral analysis. For each of them, there are graphs displaying the traffic and amount of items and events analyzed, as well as the number of infections detected.
Nothing has changed, as far as scan choices are concerned. You can run a quick scan to check the most sensitive areas of the computer (system drive and RAM), a full system scan for a thorough verification, and a custom scan, which lets you choose the areas that should be checked.
FileRep, the cloud-based reputation system, alerted us of suspicious downloads and recommended interrupting the connection. It is connected with the sandboxing feature, as files are run isolated from the system and analyzed for malicious behavior.
WebRep, on the other hand, is based on information received from the community, as far as website rating is concerned and, in some cases, the rating relies on a small number of votes. As a plus, the plugin has been updated to alert against phishing based on cloud information.
Boot-time scanning is also among avast!'s features. This comes in handy since it can search for malware before it becomes active.
For a free solution, it integrates a comprehensive suite of security layers. Automatic sandboxing, cloud-based updates and file reputation system, combined with behavioral analysis and traditional definitions make for a reliable antivirus.
Handling the application is easy, and you also get remote assistance possibilities, as well as online monitoring of all avast! installations linked to your account.
