On the other end of the spectrum, Kaspersky consistently got zero, indicating a very well-tuned detection engine.įinally, Avast scored 98% overall in both of the last two quarterly rounds of 2019 evaluations by London-based SE Labs, which factors in false positives and how malware is handled after detection. In each half of 2019, Microsoft got 74 and 58, respectively, but suffered only five in February-March 2020 after AV-Comparatives turned off Microsoft's Smart Screen feature. In all 26 monthly tests carried out in 2018, 2019 and the first two months of 2020 by the German lab AV-Test, Avast (and AVG) spotted 100% of both 'widespread' known malware and 'zero-day' unknown malware 14 times, which is commendable.ĪV-Comparatives' tests elicited more false positives than AV-Test's, and Avast performed adequately, racking up only five in the first half of 2019, eight in the second half and five in February-March 2020. Third-party lab tests reveal that both deliver acceptable but mediocre malware protection. Avast Free Antivirus: Antivirus performanceĪvast shares its malware-scanning technology with its sister company, AVG. The Avast Online Security extensions for Chrome and Firefox block known malicious websites and web trackers and examine webmail attachments, but the extensions must be downloaded on their own. Avast Free Antivirus also scans USB flash drives for malware. Suspicious items are uploaded to Avast's lab for analysis, and new malware signatures are pushed out to Avast's 400 million users every few hours. Avast Free Antivirus: Antivirus protectionĪvast Free Antivirus' malware scanner compares files and programs to a database of known malware and looks for telltale signs of an infection. It includes unlimited versions of Avast's Cleanup, Passwords and SecureLine VPN programs, which would cost a total $130 if purchased separately. Avast's Ultimate program costs $100 yearly for a single PC.

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