I used to love Avast, used it for years, moved to Emsisoft a couple years ago. Avast is too bloated now,Grimefighter...are you kidding me. And get rid of your support team, all they want to do is take your money, lots of complaints about these guys. Seems like Avast went for the money a couple years ago, Chrome, Grimefighter, maintenance tools, updaters etc, instead of providing a simple effective AV.
Thanks vlk for your question. I have used Avast IS, off and on, for several years. In the set up, I simply select what I want or need and that's it. I don't have any pop ups or irritations. I tweak the program some plus use Harden Mode (aggressive) and that's it. Now the free version may have the pop ups and that is unfortunate. I wish it ran a little lighter but on Windows 10, it is faster! I am anxious to see the soon to be released (I hope) Windows 10 test results (AV-Test and others) and see how Avast compares...I know it has been moving up the last 3-4 months. I will continue to keep a license. I would recommend it depending on what the client wants. Sorry I couldn't be more negative like the crowd seems to be. I run most of the current internet security suites regularly and they all have some issues...none perfect, free or paid. Cheers!
Is this a product you would consider using (or are using)? Yes, used it off and on for years, recommended it to many; however, I won't be using it now (I stopped using it, wife will stop using it after rebuild in a few days). I stopped using it when a patch blew up VirtualBox; that was the tipping point for me. I couldn't tell you what else that led up to that. For wife, it's popups and false-positives (on things that shouldn't be FP, like Windows 7 updates, Chrome, popular stuff. It this a product you would recommend to your friend? If yes/no, why? I don't recommend it to friends primarily for the registration requirement. I don't mind it at all whatsoever but people are negligent and won't renew and will let it lapse. What are the things you like about it? Configurability Detection rates Forum staff The web dashboard, tools, map, etc. is the Bee's Knees On the flip side, what do you not like about it? Ads Hangs (unzip an archive with a few dozen malware samples) Bloat False positives (as of late) Detections rates (should be better given the downsides) UI can use some work but it isn't near the crime against humanity most AV UIs are. Gamification Any other comments/opinions? Avast is my go-to default product, in spite of this; it's what I use as my baseline in evaluating other products. I can see, with some improvement, switching everything back to Avast (incl. Android)
When people ask me what free AV would I recommend, my answer is always invariably Avira and Avast. Why? Because They are companies that are reliable in terms of detection and support, Avast is also huge according to most statistics. I have been using Avira for a long time only because of their excellent detection throughout the years overall. I think Avast, like others pointed out, should be simpler and put all its energy into improving their detection rate, which is good as it is for the average user, but a top score is always a very convincing argument when choosing an AV.
Good Morning! Always enjoyed using Avast...decent detection rates...and runs light and nimble on my humble system. I've always used Custom install and eliminated all the Bloat Burgers...but have always enabled Safe Money...for Banking it's a Must Have...even though it's wrapped with a Google Browser. I would recommend the Product...for it's Detection Alone. And that's all Folks. Vlk! Tell the Folks in Marketing...that Less is More! Sincerely...Securon
Hi Vlk. The following is what comes to mind. Currently using Avast Pro on my main computer and Avast free on my backup computer. Using Avast android antivirus on my phone as well as the tablets I bought for my parents. Probably not. No. Not anymore. Please see, "On the flip side, what do you not like about it?" 1. Custom install 2. Plenty of advanced settings 3. Additional features 4. No slowdowns 5. Nice GUI 6. Speed of scan 7. I don't have any more problems with avast than with an other antivirus. At least, no serious problems. The other antivirus I was using had some serious problems that weren't fixed in a timely manner so I went back with Avast on my main computer. 1. The fact that new technology is released prematurely. How long is it going to take HIPS to be fully functional? 2. Do something about the reputation destroying 3rd party support. Numerous complaints on this. 3. Get rid of the yearly registration. (free version) 4. Constant renewal nagging. Everytime I would turn on my computer, around renewal time, there would appear a large popup in the middle of my monitor. Seriously, I understood the point the first ten times. I want to be able to turn this off. This almost ended my relationship with avast. (Avast Pro and Internet Security) 5. Don't be so intrusive and irritating when it comes to reminders, upgrades, Chrome, etc. 6. Improve technology in the paid versions. Improve SafeZone and the sandbox please. It's pretty lame to see you deliver new technology in the free and paid versions when existing things in the paid version do not show signs of improvement. 7. Improve detection/protection. A consistent above average score at the testing agencies would be nice. 8. What happened to NG that was previously installed on my laptop and now is nowhere to be seen? Please be consistent otherwise people will believe the installation may have failed. The question was asked at your forum, messages sent, but nobody has bothered to answer the question. 9. Engage in conversation at your forum on occasion. You know, like the good old days. 10. I dislike the SafeZone shortcut. Very rough looking at my monitor resolution (1366x76. The fact that it was reported in beta last year, reported this year and has not been replaced with a higher quality icon isn't making me very happy. It may be no big deal to you but to me it should have never passed quality control. see attached It's good for me.
Thanks guys, this is great. I appreciate the honesty and understand most of the concerns. Let's see what we can do. Vlk
I have two different experiences when using Avast. My family is using free version of Avast and they don't have any problems using it. I didn't install components that are IMO not necessary and I usually update it when new version is released. So we have had no problems using it. At work, we were using Pro version and were also selling it to our customers. After version 4.8 we have had a lot of problems after each upgrade. New components (Sandbox, Deepscreen) started to block our applications which were "unknown" to AV. We got a lot of support requests after each major version update. Sometimes during those updates new version installed components that were intentionally not installed or enabled options that were previously disabled. New versions also usually redesigned GUI and we had troubles to find specific settings in newly released versions. For a while we have had more problems with Avast than with viruses. Recently our company decided to switch AV and we also started to offer new AV to our customers.
Of course marketing and revenue are what keeps thriving businesses running. If you want a great product that you are willing to pay for then yes money is needed.This is the main acumen of most of our global businesses. Avast offers a good free service to its users so i dont see the psychology of bringing financial assets into the spectrum of free products from the user end point of view.
Thanks VLK for asking about this. Avast Free used to be the only antivirus I installed on either my computers or my customers'. However, since your scores on independent tests have been disappointing over the last couple of years, your marketing has become much more aggressive (popups and bundled software), and there are better alternatives, Panda Free is now my go-to program. While my customers sometimes sometimes find the annual registration confusing, I can live with it. However, although I've never personally encountered them, I am very, very disappointed you use crooks for your customer support.
It's horrible. Annoying stuff all over the interface. Yes, it's free, but isn't Comodo free as well? What about Qihoo 360? I guess that Symantec boy is responsible.
Is this a product you would consider using (or are using)? I have used avast! free, avast! internet security & avast! mobile in the past. It this a product you would recommend to your friend? If yes/no, why? Probably not What are the things you like about it? The UI is better than some other anti-virus/internet security apps I have used Scans are speedy Didn't seem to slow down my system I must admit that in the time I used avast!, I never had a single malware infection On the flip side, what do you not like about it? It really has become bloated over the years The offerings of 3rd party software with the install. Your marketing has gone way, way too far in its aggressive approach. The interaction between users and staff in your support forum has deteriorated. The reputation of the 3rd party outfit you use for support The constant renewal nagging and the fact you can't renew without triggering auto-renewal. This one really aggravates me. I want to buy/renew a security product, not give you permission to make a manual deduction from my credit card ad infinitum! I let my subscription to avast! internet security run out over this. The fact you cut features out of your free mobile product. Any other comments/opinions? I really would like to use avast! again in the future if these issues get addressed.
Is this a product you would consider using (or are using)? Not anymore It this a product you would recommend to your friend? Not anymore If yes/no, why? Bloatware, instability, new features that don't work What are the things you like about it? It used to be simple, fast, reliable, light on resources, good detections, few FP's On the flip side, what do you not like about it? Unwanted junk software tries to install, too much advertising, frequent crashes/freezes, horrible 3rd party customer support, growing number of FP's Any other comments/opinions? I used it for about 10 years, finally gave up on it about 2 years ago and installed MSE instead because of constant crashes and freezes with Avast Free, even after clean reinstalls.
Is this a product you would consider using (or are using)? No It this a product you would recommend to your friend? Not anymore. If yes/no, why? Extremely crash-happy (frequent BSODs), several instances where the product rendered friends' pcs unbootable, BSODs, performance issues, (did I mention the BSODs?) What are the things you like about it? The UI is really nice On the flip side, what do you not like about it? I don't like that a good number of protection components seem to be perpetually in a beta/nonworking state. Too many promises that "it'll get better once xyz feature is active". The amount of crashes, stuff bundled w/the installer, how the product expands the size of shadow copy storage without informing the user (this is especially annoying on space constrained systems with small-ish SSDs) Any other comments/opinions? The official support forums are often hostile towards criticism of Avast, even if it's well-intentioned, productive criticism.
used to use it maybe 4 years ago and then the interface was dumbed down for i guess the average user. also with the cloud nonsense and sending up my info without the chance to say no iirc - just had the feeling that Avast was collecting profile data on me and snooping on me so i said goodbye.
While I still use Avast Free it has been a problem since adding all these *fancy features*. Too much bloat and therefore when needed do a custom install to avoid all that bloat. Most users as you well will know will do a regular install and that's what you're counting on. Remove the bloat! Too many False Positives lately. Why the yearly registration? Not necessary in my opinion. Drop it! Concentrate on being the best antivirus out there and people will once again flock back to Avast! Even now when used to the UI screens I find it still difficult to remember where all the options are located. Simplify as it is just way too complicated for the average user! This is written by a user who used Avast since its GUI was what looked like a portable radio. I used to recommend Avast to others but don't anymore. I've been looking and still looking at a more simple antivirus from your competitors.
Anyone spotted the trend? Most of people here wouldn't recommend avast! anymore to other people. How quickly things change when you seem to be entirely focused on making more money instead of happier users...
I agree with you. The majority of us used to recommend avast to our friends/family/clients years ago but that is not the case anymore. In my mind, avast had a significant amount of the free AV marketshare and legitimately and over the years they decided to push the needle too far when it comes to bundling junk and so on. It's unfortunate because avast has had so much potential and they decided to not listen to their users here. Considering the obvious trend, I have a feeling that @vlk will ensure that we are heard. We are the many who have stood behind them over all of these years. There must be a reason why they are asking now and I assume that they are seeing the trend as well now and it must be hitting them in the pockets, potentially. I do sincerely hope that they are able to earn our respect back and hope that they do well again.
I hope so too. Avast 4.8 was the greatest AV ever. I miss that, lol http://pre10.deviantart.net/0f6b/th/pre/i/2014/031/a/e/in_the_memory_of_avast__antivirus_v4_6_4_7_4_8_by_angry_french_kid-d74ha5l.png
It's high time that Avast made some drastic improvements on the competence of it's product and with equal emphasis on improving User Experience ! With more and more competent Free AVs on the market, the downward trend is not going to change on it's own. I think Avast is starting to realize this fact now and as they say "It's better late than never !"
Avast also once was my Free antivirus to install and recommend, but not anymore because of all the ad pop-ups, opt-out bundled installers trying to sneak in, yearly reregistering etc. I could make a long post of it, but RejZoR's post is pretty much spot on. In addition to that, a browser extension that blocks 3rd party tracking but then tracks you itself is a major no, especially coming from a security company.
