Introducing Avast One Essential: Revolutionizing Free Antivirus Protection

For over 30 years, Avast has been a household name in the world of cybersecurity, providing top-notch antivirus protection to millions of users worldwide. With 20 years of offering free security solutions, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation and excellence. Now, Avast is taking its commitment to free security to the next level with the introduction of Avast One Essential, a game-changing product that redefines the concept of free antivirus protection.

What is Avast One Essential?

Avast One Essential is a brand-new product that incorporates the powerful virus-fighting technology that has made Avast famous, along with a plethora of features drawn from the feature-rich Avast One suite. This cutting-edge solution is available for use on all Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, ensuring that users can enjoy seamless protection across all their devices.

A New Era in Antivirus Protection

The Avast One product line is initially being released in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, with all of Avast’s existing products remaining available for download or purchase. However, with Avast One Essential offering unparalleled protection for free, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would opt for the older Avast Free Antivirus instead. The release of Avast One Essential is a significant development in the world of antivirus protection, and its impact is sure to be felt across the industry.

A Fresh New Look

One of the most striking aspects of Avast One Essential is its completely overhauled user interface. Gone are the dark gray backgrounds and rectangular buttons of yesteryear, replaced by a bright, airy, and almost cartoonish design that exudes a sense of friendliness and approachability. The new interface features rounded rectangles, illustrations in a line-drawing style with pastel colors, and happy people filling the larger images. The overall impression is one of a partner that’s dedicated to keeping users, their devices, and their data safe and happy.

Streamlined Navigation

The Avast One Essential main window is a masterclass in intuitive design, with a focus on showcasing what’s important at any given time. For example, after a scan confirms that no malware is present on the system, the interface switches to reporting on programs that may be slowing down the PC. A curly-tailed arrow labeled “Scroll to explore” brings up a page of shortcuts, launching different types of scans, opening the VPN, and accessing PC Speedup features. The menu item titled “Explore” at left brings up a completely different page, offering access to all the program’s features, divided into Device Protection, Online Privacy, and Smooth Performance.

Impressive Lab Results

Avast One Essential has just been released, but the lab results from the previous Avast antivirus engine are a testament to the product’s excellence. The four testing labs that regularly release public reports on their findings have consistently praised Avast’s performance, with the product earning excellent scores in most areas. The AV-Test Institute rates Avast with a perfect 18 points, while AV-Comparatives awards it Advanced and Advanced+ certifications. SE Labs certifies Avast with the highest AAA level, and MRG-Effitas awards it level 1 certification in the banking Trojans test.

Comparison with Other Antivirus Products

When comparing Avast One Essential with other antivirus products, it’s clear that it’s a top contender. With an aggregate lab score of 9.5 points, Avast is just behind Kaspersky Security Cloud Free (9.9 points) and Norton (9.6 points). AVG AntiVirus Free scores exactly the same as Avast in three tests but wasn’t tested by MRG-Effitas, which explains its 9.8-point aggregate score.

Comprehensive Protection with Avast: A Deep Dive into Scan Choices and Timing

When it comes to protecting your digital world from the ever-present threats of malware, viruses, and other cyber dangers, choosing the right antivirus software is crucial. Avast, a well-known and respected name in the cybersecurity arena, offers a robust suite of tools designed to keep your computer and personal data safe. One of the critical aspects of any antivirus software is its ability to scan for and detect malware. In this article, we’ll delve into the scan choices and timing offered by Avast, exploring how it works to provide you with comprehensive protection.

Immediate Protection with Smart Scan

Upon installation, Avast prompts you to run a Smart Scan, a feature that not only checks for malware but also assesses your browser’s security and identifies junk files and other areas that may need cleanup. This initial scan is a quick and effective way to ensure your system is free from immediate threats. If you follow Avast’s recommendation, the Smart Scan will run automatically once a month, providing ongoing protection. However, for a deeper level of security, especially after installation, it’s advisable to run a full, deep scan to root out any deeply embedded malware.

Deep Scan: The First Line of Defense

The deep scan is a more thorough process that examines every nook and cranny of your system for any signs of malware. On a standard, clean test system, this process took approximately 34 minutes, which is notably less than the current average of 65 minutes for similar antivirus software. Interestingly, subsequent scans were even quicker, finishing in 17 minutes, indicating that Avast performs some level of optimization during the initial scan.

Targeted Scans and Boot-Time Scan

Avast also offers the option to run targeted scans on specific files and folders, providing flexibility in how you manage your system’s security. While the deep scan’s efficiency might make targeted scans seem less necessary, there are situations where focusing on particular areas can be beneficial. Another powerful tool is the Boot-Time Scan, which runs at the next system reboot, before Windows loads. This feature is particularly useful for detecting and removing malware that might be hiding deep within your system, as it acts before any malware can launch its self-defense mechanisms. It’s worth noting that installing “specialized antivirus definitions” before rebooting enables a more aggressive scan, though this is something you might not want to do on a daily basis.

Real-Time Protection and Malware Detection

Once the initial full scan is complete, Avast’s real-time protection kicks in, guarding against new attacks and malware attempts to infiltrate your system from the internet. Avast uses multiple layers of protection to prevent malware from slipping through. In testing, where malware samples were already present on the system (simulating a scenario where malware had bypassed initial defenses), Avast blocked 82% of the samples immediately upon launch. It also detected and blocked some additional samples during installation, though it did miss a few low-risk items.

Avast’s Detection Capabilities

In cases where Avast identifies a suspicious file, it flags the program and suspends its activity pending further analysis. This cautious approach ensures that both known malware and potentially malicious programs are handled appropriately. Avast correctly identified and blocked malware in our tests, while also correctly allowing legitimate, hand-coded test programs to pass. Overall, Avast detected 94% of the malware samples used in testing, earning it a score of 9.4 out of 10 possible points. While this is a solid performance, it’s worth noting that some other antivirus solutions scored higher, particularly in lab tests.

Comparison with Other Antivirus Solutions

When comparing Avast’s performance with other antivirus solutions, Microsoft Defender scored slightly better with 9.6 points. Solutions like Emsisoft, Webroot, McAfee, and Malwarebytes scored even higher, with the latter achieving a perfect 10 points. However, it’s essential to consider that these tests are conducted over time, and the ever-evolving nature of malware means that antivirus software must continually adapt.

Protection Against the Latest Malware

To assess how Avast handles the very latest malware threats, we use a feed of newly discovered malware-hosting URLs. Avast performed well in this test, blocking access to 81% of the dangerous URLs and protecting against an additional 17% by eliminating the malware download. This level of protection is significant, especially considering it operates below the browser level, requiring no browser extension and working seamlessly across different browsers.

Dangerous URL Detection: A Benchmark for Success

Avast One Essential has achieved an impressive score of 98% in detecting and blocking dangerous URLs, a feat shared with Malwarebytes. Although not the highest score, it is still an excellent result, with only G Data, Microsoft, and Sophos edging ahead with 99% detection rates. Bitdefender’s free antivirus and McAfee have achieved a perfect 100% detection rate, setting a high standard for the industry.

Phishing Protection: A Crucial Feature in the Fight Against Cybercrime

Phishing attacks have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters designing websites that mimic sensitive sites, such as PayPal or online banking platforms. These attacks target the most vulnerable component – the unsuspecting user. Avast One Essential has demonstrated superb phishing protection, blocking 99% of verified fraudulent URLs in testing. This result surpasses the detection rates of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, which were used as benchmarks in the test.

The testing process involved launching hundreds of reported phishing URLs in four browsers, with Avast One Essential protecting one browser, while the other three relied on their built-in phishing protection. The results showed that Avast One Essential outperformed the browsers, blocking 99% of phishing attacks, a rate matched by Bitdefender, Norton, and Webroot. F-Secure and McAfee achieved a perfect 100% detection rate, highlighting the importance of robust phishing protection in antivirus software.

Permission-Based Ransomware Protection: An Additional Layer of Security

Ransomware attacks have the potential to cause irreversible harm, making it essential for antivirus software to include specific protection against these threats. Avast One Essential provides permission-based ransomware protection, which denies unauthorized programs access to sensitive files. By default, the software protects the Documents, Pictures, and Desktop folders for all active Windows accounts, with the option to add protection for additional folders.

The software also protects specific types of files, including archives, audio, database, disc, documents, pictures, and video. Users can add file extensions for unusual file types not included in the default list. Avast One Essential’s Ransomware Protection runs in Smart Mode, allowing known and trusted apps to manipulate protected files, while requiring explicit approval for unknown programs. The stricter Strict Mode bans access by all programs until approved by the user.

Real-World Testing: Avast One Essential in Action

In hands-on malware testing, Avast One Essential demonstrated its effectiveness in detecting and blocking ransomware attacks. A custom-coded text editor was used to test the software’s Ransomware Protection feature, which successfully blocked the program’s attempt to modify a protected file. The software’s suspicious file examination feature was triggered, and after passing the examination, the program was allowed to proceed after explicit approval from the user.

Unlocking the Potential of Firewall Protection

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is a top priority for individuals and organizations alike. One crucial aspect of protecting your online presence is firewall protection, which acts as a barrier against unauthorized connections and malicious activities. Windows has a built-in firewall that provides decent protection, but third-party firewalls can offer enhanced features and better control over your network connections. In this article, we’ll explore the basics of firewall protection, the limitations of the built-in Windows firewall, and the features of Avast One Essential, a popular antivirus suite that includes a firewall component.

Understanding Firewall Protection

Firewall protection is designed to prevent unauthorized access to your device or network from the internet or local network. When you connect to a new network, your firewall should ask you to define the network as public or trusted. If you choose public, the firewall will block all unsolicited incoming network traffic and attempts to connect with your device across the local network. This provides a basic level of protection against malicious activities. However, most third-party firewalls go beyond this basic protection by controlling how programs use your network connection.

Avast One Essential Firewall

Avast One Essential is a free antivirus suite that includes a firewall component. While it provides basic protection, it doesn’t go much beyond the built-in Windows firewall. When you connect to a new network, Avast asks you to define the network as public or trusted, similar to the Windows firewall. If you choose public, the firewall blocks all unsolicited incoming network traffic and attempts to connect with your device across the local network. However, Avast doesn’t provide advanced features like controlling program access to the network unless you dig into the settings manually.

Advanced Firewall Settings

On the firewall settings page, you can view a list of all apps that are using the network, along with the bandwidth they’ve used. You can also block an app’s network access with a click of a button. However, this feature requires manual intervention and can be complex for non-technical users. It’s also important to note that blocking certain system processes can cause issues with your device’s functionality. Avast doesn’t expose any Registry settings that would allow malicious programs to turn off the firewall, and attempting to terminate its running processes results in an access denied message.

Premium Protection Features

While Avast One Essential provides basic firewall protection, the advanced features require an upgrade to Avast One Premium. The premium version includes features like Sensitive Data Shield, Web Hijack Guard, and Webcam Protection, which are not available in the free version. These features provide enhanced protection against specific types of threats, such as sensitive data breaches and webcam hacking. However, the free version still provides decent protection against common threats.

Bandwidth-Limited VPN

Another important aspect of online security is Virtual Private Network (VPN) protection. A VPN creates a secure encrypted connection between your device and a hardened server managed by the VPN company, protecting your data from snooping and interception. Avast One Essential includes a bandwidth-limited VPN, which provides decent protection but has some limitations. The VPN uses recommended protocols and offers a widespread selection of servers, but its privacy policy gathers more data than necessary, and it doesn’t offer features beyond VPN.

Avast One Essential

In today’s digital landscape, online security and privacy are paramount. Avast One Essential, a comprehensive security suite, offers a range of features to protect users from various threats. One of its key components is the integrated Virtual Private Network (VPN), which provides a secure and encrypted connection to the internet. In this article, we will delve into the VPN settings and features of Avast One Essential, exploring its capabilities, limitations, and overall performance.

VPN Settings and Limitations

The VPN in Avast One Essential is not a separate product, but rather an integrated component that uses the same underlying technology as Avast’s standalone VPN. However, users who opt for the free version are subject to significant restrictions. For instance, they do not have the option to choose their server or server location, as the VPN automatically selects the best available option. Additionally, the free version limits the bandwidth to 5GB per week, which is relatively generous compared to other VPN providers.

To put this into perspective, the free edition of Hotspot Shield VPN allows 500MB of bandwidth per day, while TunnelBear VPN limits non-paying users to 500MB per month. On the other hand, ProtonVPN offers unlimited bandwidth for free. While Avast One Essential’s bandwidth limit may not be ideal for heavy internet users, it is sufficient for protecting interactive online activities, such as browsing, emailing, and social media usage. However, it is essential to note that leaving the VPN running while streaming videos or engaging in other high-bandwidth activities may quickly exhaust the allocated limit.

Configuring VPN Settings

Avast One Essential provides a few settings to help users get the most out of the VPN. By default, the VPN reminds users to turn on protection when connecting to an untrusted network. Users can choose to automatically turn on the VPN in such situations or disable the warning and manage the VPN connection manually. Given the bandwidth limit, it is recommended to avoid setting the VPN to turn on automatically.

Furthermore, users can request reminders to turn on the VPN in specific circumstances, such as when logging into a secure site, shopping online, banking online, or engaging in other sensitive activities. These reminders can be customized to ensure that users are protected when they need it most.

Limitations and Missing Features

While Avast One Essential’s VPN offers a good level of protection, it lacks some advanced features found in other VPN providers. For instance, it does not support split-tunneling, which allows users to send less-sensitive traffic outside the VPN’s protection. This feature is available in VPNs like CyberGhost VPN and SurfShark VPN. Additionally, Avast One Essential does not offer multi-hop VPN connections, static IP addresses, or a kill switch, which can be useful for added security and anonymity.

Other Privacy Features

In addition to the VPN, Avast One Essential offers other privacy features to enhance user security. The Clear Browsing Data feature allows users to remove browsing history, cache, cookies, and downloads from their browsers, making it more difficult for snoops to track their online activities. This feature is particularly useful, as browsers often store sensitive data that can be used to compromise user privacy.

On our test system, Avast One Essential automatically scanned for items needing cleanup and reported finding 63 items across multiple browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Firefox. While the built-in cleanup systems in these browsers offer finer control over what gets deleted, Avast One Essential’s feature provides a convenient and easy-to-use solution for removing sensitive data.

Compromised Passwords and Password Protection

Avast One Essential also includes a feature to check for compromised passwords, which can be accessed by clicking the Password Protection button. However, the feature to set up an ongoing monitor for new breaches is only available in the premium version. Additionally, the tabs to manage monitored emails and protect passwords in browsers are locked in the free edition.

Performance and Key Features

Avast One Essential’s performance features are designed to help users optimize their system’s performance and remove potential bottlenecks. The PC Speedup feature, accessible from the Explore page, lists apps that run in the background and can slow down the system, even when they are not actively in use. Users can optimize these apps to prevent them from consuming resources when idle or whitelist them to exclude them from the performance evaluation.

Performance Speedup on Windows

On our test system, Avast One Essential’s Performance Speedup feature worked seamlessly, identifying and optimizing resource-intensive applications. The built-in FAQ suggested that we would notice improvements in speedier reboots, and indeed, restarting the system seemed to go much quicker after optimization. Avast also checks popular programs for updates, allowing users to install them with a single click. Paying customers can enable automatic updates for even less effort. The Driver Updater feature works similarly, with premium-only automation.

The Disk Cleaner scan showed us things that could be cleaned up to make our system work more smoothly, finding over 600MB of junk files, broken shortcuts, and damaged Registry keys. However, cleaning up these issues requires an upgrade to the premium edition.

Protection for macOS

Avast One on macOS looks similar to the Windows edition, with a slightly less extensive list of features on the Explore page. Despite this, it still goes well beyond mere Mac antivirus, offering excellent test scores from independent antivirus labs and 99% detection in our hands-on phishing protection test. Ransomware protection, browser data cleanup, checking for data breaches, and VPN protection work almost exactly as they do under Windows.

The Smooth Performance feature group in Windows includes PC Speedup, Software Updater, Disk Cleaner, and Driver Updater, all accessible in the free edition with some limitations. On the Mac, this group consists of Disk Cleaner, App Uninstaller, and Photo Cleaner, all of which are locked, requiring an upgrade.

Android Protection

When installing Avast One Essential on an Android device, users get almost all the features that a paying customer would receive. The app requires several permissions, which are requested when accessing associated features. The Smart Scan feature checks the device for malware, junk files, and “advanced issues.” A separate notification advises securing the device from threats, launching a scan that found actual advanced issues, such as leaving USB Debugging turned on.

The app offers Quick Scan and Deep Scan options, both of which finished in seconds. There’s also a Wi-Fi scan that checks for security problems on the network. VPN on Android is integrated into the app, with a limit of 5GB bandwidth per week. Users can check if their email address has appeared in data dumps resulting from security breaches and receive advice on changing affected passwords.

Android Performance Features

Avast One Essential for Android comes with a Smart Scan feature that identifies junk files that can be deleted to improve device performance. Additionally, the Performance Scan option allows you to search for apps running in the background and offers to close them, which can help optimize your device’s performance. While these features are useful, they are relatively basic compared to other Android security products.

What’s Missing in Avast One Essential for Android

Avast Premium Security, on the other hand, offers more advanced features, including anti-theft capabilities, app permission monitoring, and battery usage tracking. These features are not available in Avast One Essential, even in its premium edition. For instance, the ability to lock a smartphone on SIM card removal, a feature offered by Bitdefender, ESET, and Kaspersky, is not present in Avast One Essential. Moreover, the app does not provide features like call and text blocking, contact backup, or social media security checks, which are available in other security suites.

The Biggest Hole in Avast One Essential for Android

The most significant omission in Avast One Essential for Android is the lack of an anti-theft system. For many users, this feature is as important as antivirus protection, if not more so. Without it, Avast One Essential may not be the best choice for users who require comprehensive Android security.

Limited Protection on iOS Devices

As is typical with iOS devices, the protection offered by Avast One Essential is limited. Apple’s built-in security features restrict the capabilities of both malware and security apps. The Avast One Essential app for iOS is not optimized for the iPad, resulting in an iPhone-sized window floating on a black background. However, the app does provide Web Shield protection against malicious and fraudulent websites, using local VPN technology.

Avast One Essential iPadOS Feature

One unique feature available on iOS is the Photo Vault, which allows you to lock sensitive photos behind a second-level PIN. You can import photos, delete the originals, and even snap photos directly into the vault, bypassing the gallery. The free edition has a limit of 40 photos, while the premium edition has no such limit. It is essential to note that you must export your files from the Photo Vault before uninstalling Avast to avoid losing them forever.

Best Feature-Packed and Free Version

Avast One Essential offers totally free protection for your Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. The free edition includes all the core security features, omitting some less essential features like webcam protection. The suite includes a VPN with a generous bandwidth limit, along with a collection of privacy and performance components. If you’re considering the non-free Avast One suite, you might want to try the excellent free one first.

Conclusion

Avast One Essential is a game-changer in the world of antivirus protection, offering unparalleled security features and a user-friendly interface that’s both approachable and intuitive. With its impressive lab results and commitment to providing top-notch protection for free, Avast One Essential is an absolute must-have for anyone looking to safeguard their devices and data. Whether you’re a seasoned cybersecurity expert or just looking for a reliable antivirus solution, Avast One Essential is an excellent choice that’s sure to exceed your expectations.