Avast’s free antivirus software is powerful and has a an extensive range of features and tools that make it one of the best alternatives for those who are just starting out. Despite some significant controversies about the suite’s session and data-logging (and the subsequent selling of customer browsing habits through an affiliate) It still has an advantage over the majority of its competition in regards to malware detection. The initial scan that is part of the installation process is also a great feature. It prepares the suite to run its own tools.

All Avast plans include a generous 30 day refund guarantee. Upgrade to the premium package unlocks a range of additional tools, including an advanced firewall and anti-phishing protection. It also gives you a Rescue Disk, a secure browser for online transactions and banking, an advanced anti-tracking protection as well as a set of decent tools to optimize your system.

Avast smart scan is among the most effective tools. It is an efficient and quick method to inspect your system for problems. My tests showed that while it’s a useful tool, there were a few problems when it was scanning for certain types of ransomware, for example. This can lock selected files and require a fee to release them.

Avast also offers a web cleanup tool virusreviews.net that can be used to remove browsing history, caches and cookies from all major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera Brave, Edge and Internet Explorer. It’s a straightforward, effective feature, but it doesn’t offer as many customization options or privacy settings like other competitors.