14 DAY TRIAL // Avast just launched the stable version for avast! 2014 product line, which includes Free Antivirus, Internet Security, Pro Antivirus and Premier Antivirus.
The most noticeable change is the interface, which should increase usability on both desktop devices as well as on touch screens.
The new products feature a new protection mode, called Hardened Mode, designed especially for novice users. It relies on Avast’s file reputation service (Community IQ), which crowd-sources information from the almost 200 million devices currently protected by Avast products.
Hardened Mode is a very restrictive measure that makes sure only safe files run on the system; these are either files with good reputation or already whitelisted by Avast.
Rescue Disk is a new feature that extends the functionality of the security package by creating a bootable media that can be used for offline scanning and cleaning infected systems. It relies on threat signatures so it is advisable to be created just before use, on a clean machine.
Starting this release, users should benefit from updates every five or six minutes (about 250/day). At this rate the updates are delivered almost in real time.
The old AutoSandbox component has turned into DeepScreen, a better variant for sandboxed analysis that, according to the developer, can see behind the obfuscating code and check the binary level commands. All findings are shared with the community.
avast! Online Security browser plugin has been awarded more importance, as it includes Do Not Track function.
The difference from the option available in browsers is that Avast’s component does not rely on HTTP DNT headers but proprietary technology that cannot be overridden by servers.
Download Avast! Free Antivirus (reviewed here)
Download Avast! Internet Security
Download Avast! Pro Antivirus
Download Avast! Premier Antivirus