Since any one of the five scanning options uses the same virus database – which is automatically updated on a regular basis to fight existing, new, and evolving threats – it doesn’t matter which is chosen, since any issues are certain to be detected and dealt with in effectively. This could be especially useful when tailoring the standard scans to your own needs, since this is the only part in the settings that may take longer to study and understand than normal. Even though each feature is self-explanatory, the software also comes with a built-in help guide that explains everything in great detail. The default antivirus scanning option is featured on the start screen with everything else categorized logically for quick access, meaning users can find core and additional functions with ease. If it does become necessary to make use of Avast’s on-demand features, then finding them won’t take too much time. In fact, with the exception of requiring confirmation that files proposed to send to quarantine are harmful, interacting with Avast’s interface isn’t necessary, because the four core shield features – which includes automated file scanning, blocking harmful email attachments, web monitoring, and the behavior shield – ensure continuous protection for the device that the antivirus is used on.

For starters, immediately after installing Avast – which is a breeze to do – it starts monitoring for suspicious activity in the background. FeaturesĪvast software is known for being intuitive and easy to use, and its antivirus solution clearly showcases that.

However, what makes Avast a must-have is that its antivirus features are just a part of the full equation: the software’s free version is equipped with extra solutions on top of the antivirus like a password manager or software updater, but it can also be upgraded with various other functions that, as a result, turn PCs, Macs, and even phones into impenetrable fortresses against wrongdoers. It includes several ways to scan the computer, from the convenient Smart Scan and ability to manually refine the scans for personal preference, to the active shields that run in the background.

Although Avast’s free antivirus has been through many changes, deep down it has always remained a simple and straightforward solution. There aren’t many software developers as widespread as Avast, but despite the various different avenues that it has branched out into since its founding in 1988, the company is still better known for Free Antivirus, the software that many users consider to be a lifesaver.

Avast taking too much cpu