Security → Which Avast! antivirus free do you think is/was the best?

Hi,

Which version of Avast! Antivirus free do you think is or was the best and which you would use it on a win 7 64 pc today?

Thanks,
Claudiu

Hi. Do you mean which version number of Avast free? If so, I would say version 7.0.1426. That version was running so smoothly on my desktop and laptop that I paid for a two year license for the Internet Security version. A few days later, they upgraded to a new version and as you can tell from the Avast forums, all kinds of problems started. My computers slowed significantly with the new versions and there are other small issues that you can read about on the Avast forums. It seems to be a bit of a mess at the moment. I think the protection may be a slight bit better with the new versions, but I have unloaded Avast and am experimenting with trial versions of other products. I suppose I will switch back to Avast 7.0.1426 when I am done experimenting and just wait for Avast to release a new version.

Also, I am running the 64 bit version of Windows 7. It can be hard to draw conclusions for your computer based on other people's experience, but it seems like quite a few people are really having trouble with the Avast versions past 7.0.1426.

I would have to say avast! Internet Security V 7.0.1456.

But for FREE V 7.0.1456.

every version of avast is the best! luckily we don't have the mp3 player skin anymore.

I use avast on all my desktops, but MSE on my main laptop. Avast is a great piece of software, coupled with MBAM pro, you are golden!

What about an older version, like 6?

None. This is the 2nd time I have had Avast screw up a computer.
I have removed it from all and switched to MSE.

Pre 7, too many popups now. 99% of the popups are useless information and/or begging me to do/buy something. I was using Avast since XP64 days, but is now no longer on my boxes.

V 7.0.1456 caused big problems on my Win7/64 laptop. Had to uninstall and reload .1426

I been thinking of getting rid of it on my machines. Lately it is to buggy. The avast web rep thingy doesn't work all the time on FF or IE. And for the last few weeks when it updates the definitions it lets me know twice.

Its a shame, because I thought highly of this program for a long time. But I am on the edge of uninstalling it due to repeated bugs.
(and not getting corrected)

Sad to say, this is the case for me also re: AVAST. However, it's not Avast's fault. It just doesn't want to play nicely with one of my other programs.

Don't know which is the best, but I'm using v.1456 on my Win7/64 Gateway laptop with no problems. At least so far....

Either v.4 or 5. Too much nagging to buy the paid product now.

I'd use MSE on a new 64-bit computer, but not alone.

Everyone who keeps speaks about "nagging"... is this do to specifically with the FREE version of Avast, or is it showing up in paid versions also?

The FREE, Dustyn.

I have 6 paid licenses and the only time they nag you is around renewal time.

I have found a solution to that,

Makes perfect sense, just checkin'.

»2011 Anti Virus Poll

No wonder no one uses it.

I had it screw up once, reinstalled 4 months later and all is well.
Newest version has fixed some sandbox issues.
Never cared for the Web Rep function, so it not working does not bother me at all.

I don't use WebRep.

Useless in my opinion.

Norton came in third. I use NIS 2011. Also favor MSE on XP.

Hmmm...where is 2012 poll?

Ovoiding the obvious, Mele20 , no one has done one as of yet on the site.

Never used Avast!, I've always used ESET Smart Security 5 (NOD32)

To try to get back on topic, if I were going to use Avast It would 6. Version 7.xxx has caused too many problems on my computers.
Keep in mind that the first defense against any malware is you the user. No software can protect you if you don't practice good security surfing.

Good man

Agreed. Caused me no end of grief. Alwil also lost my trust with their drive-by Chrome installation with V7. That really didn't impress me one bit. When your AV software itself acts as malware, that doesn't engender a great deal of confidence. If MSE gives me trouble at some point, might look at something else.

Well, I gave it another try and loaded the latest Avast! Internet Security on my laptop yesterday afternoon. It worked ok for about an hour and then all kinds of wackiness ensued. None of my browsers would work when running in the Avast sandbox, my boot time doubled, and my browsing slowed down noticeably.

This is very sad to me because Avast! is my favorite security product by far. It has a great combination of detection and usability.

As I mentioned earlier, on my computer, the last version of Avast! that worked well was 7.0.1426. If I had a copy of that complete version, I would load it immediately. I need to pay more attention in the future and seek out the complete version downloads and not just get the small installer files. I think you can find the old versions of the free Avast! antivirus so you should be able to try various ones and see which works for you. Maybe the latest would work fine.

.1456 done me in too.
Older versions can be found here:
»www.oldapps.com/avast_an ··· ast=7370

I went back to .1426 and all was well.

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