Question about AVAST free

I need some simple explanation about the free vs paid avast.
What would i really miss in free that the paid version has ?
How important ( if any ) is that?
What is the best firewall it goes along with ? ( i have a paid OA and a Agnitum license , LookNStop FW License ) or Comodo Firewall?
Thanx in advance Gery

 

http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download

 

Well, their official side-by side is incorrect (unless I'm missing something) as it says Auto-Sandbox is only in paid, which it isn't. Other than that, you're looking at Anti-Spam, which your own web email/desktop email client should already be handling, a firewall, which you only need if you already have malware and don't want it calling home, or are anal about legitimate programs calling out, and last a "sandbox for browsing" which is totally up to you and can be provided by simply using Chrome or Sandboxie or anything like that.

 

I use Avast Free and LnS firewall with Phant0ms Ruleset. Its a very lightweight and unobtrusive setup once configured. Between the 2 Im using 67Mbs of Private Bytes and almost no I/O according to Process Hacker.

Thats with Avast scanning incoming and outgoing emails through Thunderbird.

 

I wouldn't bother with paid avast unless you want the extra protection of SafeZone. I believe it also has a sandbox for internet browsers. I don't think its the same as the Auto-sandbox.
As far as firewalls, that's up to your personal preference. I've used Comodo firewall for years with Avast and never had a problem. It also is light and Comodo firewall gives you D+ and now the whole virtual browser thing. OA has also been a favorite and what I'm currently using. I would recommend either OA or Comodo. Just my 2 cents.

 

I use the Comodo firewall along side Webroot SecureAnywhere. It works well, but I think it's important to take a little time when you first install it to learn about its many features and configure it to your liking. As to "paid" Avast I think there's benefit in having a suite where all the features are integrated. It eliminates possible conflicts between security programs and makes it easier to troubleshoot any issues that come up. If you're comfortable using more than one program then you can achieve a comparable level of security with free products.

 

Paid Avast has safe zone for online internet banking, a sandbox for programs like browsers (I prefer Sandboxie personnaly), virus definition pushed from the server as they are put on it otherwise the free version is very interesting and functionnal but has become unstable on most system due to incompatibility to your so called old AV (s) uninstallation registry (ies) remnants I guess!

 

Something similar to avast safezone is the free Quarri MyProtect. Basically creates a sandboxed browser for banking.

http://www.hotfrog.com/Companies/Quaresso/Free-Web-Browser-Security-Quarri-MyProtect-1062537

 

Have you used this app? Is it any different from using your browser with Sandboxie?

 

There is a difference between avast! Sandbox and avast! Auto Sandbox.

avast! Sandbox is a general on-demand sandbox that user can use to run risky programs in it on demand as needed. Only available in avast! Pro or IS. avast! Auto Sandbox however is available in all editions and is not exactly in control of the user. avast! logic automatically throws suspicious files in it and analyzes them inside. You can't permanently run programs inside Auto Sandbox. But you can in regular sandbox.

 

I'm not seeing an option to download MyProtect. How do you get it?

 

Very well explained.

 

I believe the paid version has Safezone and browser protection as several people have mentioned. I use it with OA free firewall with no problems at all.

 

SafeZone is another beast. It's a tightly controlled sandbox with fully separated environment. If you can run anything in the regular sandbox, you can ONLY run stuff that they have added to the SafeZone. That only includes a Chromium based browser which has been stripped out of all the privacy concerning features (basically it's avast! Browser, not Chromium anymore) and few tiny tools like Notepad and Calculator to help users do the banking. Keylogggers and screen capture don't work, clipboard is also controlled as far as i know, no other programs are allowed to run in it so exploits most likely won't work at all.
And SafeZone also includes protection against DNS poisoning and other bad things that might interfer with the secured communications.

You can get sort of similar thing if you use secure DNS services and set Sandboxie in a such restrictive way that only your browser can run in it and nothing else. Only for banking and stuff. It won't be nearly as secure as SafeZone, but it can help i guess.

 

The Free version also has "browser protection"
See "Figure IX. B" here (in the COMPONENTS):

https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1139

 

If your worried about sandboxing the browser why not go with Avast Free and SandboxIE?

 

i do have a sandboxie pro lifetime lic but not using at the moment.
So basically
OnlineArmor Paid
Avast free and MBAM pro

SBIE pro would be ok ?

 

If you use Avast Free, Sandboxie Free or Pro is OK!!!

 

I'm using OA paid, sandboxie paid and WSA. I haven't had any issues. I have used Avast free with that combo and I can say that it is a great setup.

 

I've used this service/app many times and it is nothing like Sandboxie or the OT; Avast.

 

Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I have used it. When you log in it gives different options on how much you want to lock down your browser. It uses IE or any other browser but it needs java for non-IE browsers. When active, a colored border appears around the browser.


The following link should clarify. It initially failed some tests but see post #12. It was updated and all tests passed. Some people did not like it.

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=280749

 

Well I gather that Avast's Firewall = Outpost's firewall ...[or at least important parts]...

Link here......
http://www.agnitum.com/news/2012-12-06-agnitum-firewall-technology-avast.php

Now, up until the end of this month [31 January 2013] , you can buy a lifetime licence of Outpost Firewall Pro for only $39.95
http://www.agnitum.com/purchase/outpost/

Sooo, I should imagine that Avast Free + Outpost Pro free [oooopss, $39.95] could / has the potential to be a perfect pigeon pair combo' [just like OA + EAM].

Anyone using that combo can give feedback??

- cheers,
feandur

 

I've seen in many sigs Avast Free used with Online Armor FW. So I imagine it's a good combo.

 

Just clarifying luciddream, do you mean Online Armor free or paid.

I've gotten the impression, some how, that it's best that the AV and FW both should not be free, as the paid one extends coverage that is lost/ absent if the other one is free.

eg: free Avast + OA paid; or paid Avast + OA free.

- cheers,
feandur