How Good Is Avast: Pros, Cons And Verdict

How Good Is Avast: Pros, Cons And Verdict

For online gaming enthusiasts, there is no greater drag than when malware enters the picture and infests your PC, affecting its performance. If you have done research to see what antivirus programs are available to keep your system protected while gaming, you have probably come across Avast. There are varying trains of thought regarding how good is Avast in fighting malware.

To identify how good is Avast to meet your gaming needs, you need to first understand what this antivirus software is and what it does. For all this information and more, keep reading the following guide.

What Is Avast?


If you are wondering how good is Avast, you should know it is considered one of the top antivirus software programs currently available for free download. It offers comprehensive malware protection from viruses that creep through your email, the internet, local files, instant messages, P2P connections, and many other vulnerable areas.

How good is Avast is demonstrated in its operational heuristics, anti-spyware, and antivirus components. It offers malware protection in real-time monitoring of your email, files, internet searches, P2P transfers, instant messaging, or any suspicious activity. It also scans the plugins in your browser to search for downloads that are known to be vulnerable and have the potential to be malicious.

The Home Network Security aspect also shows how good is Avast, as it checks your network for potential viruses and susceptibilities. For instance, if you have routers associated with default passwords, Avast will monitor them closely to ensure it does not infect them. Avast will also look for things like whether your network can be reached from the open web, making it vulnerable to hackers and malicious software.

You can see for yourself how good is Avast if you have Vista, XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10. You will have to register annually to use the free software program, but this is because Avast continuously revises their malware guidelines to stay up-to-date with new virus threats.

What’s Included and What’s Not

If you are wondering how good is Avast, it is crucial to know what is included in the free malware protection software and what is not. The elements we mentioned are all part of the free package, but additional features like a file shredder, file encryption, or firewalls require a purchased upgrade.

Avast offers a firewall and ransomware protection that copies important files in the event of a virus invasion. The price for these features is $60 annually for one PC, but could cost as much as $500 for 3 years of protection on 10 PCs.

The Premier version of Avast costs $70 annually, which guards your PC against webcam spying and features a handy file shredder to ensure your privacy. Avast’s Ultimate version combines Premier with an ongoing subscription to their SecureLine VPN, along with a password manager featuring identify protection software and a system optimizer. Avast’s Ultimate package is $120 for 1 PC.

Antivirus Elements

Now that you know about some of the fun add-ons you can enjoy from Avast, it is time to delve into the elements and performance of the free version. If you want to know how good is Avast, the great news is that the free program offers signature scanning where it checks files against potential malware.

This is the initial layer of Avast’s malware protection. The next layer involves monitoring PC activity and codes to identify potential signs of a virus attack. If Avast picks anything up at either of these stages, it transfers the potential malware to the Avast cloud lab. If it shows malware present, an updated malware signature goes out to Avast’s 400 million members.

How good is Avast is also revealed in their free browser add-ons for Firefox and Chrome that keep you away from webpages prone to malware. Avast looks at email attachments to check for malicious software too.

Is Avast Really Free?

The Short Answer

A debate that has sprung up amongst gamers regarding whether the software is truly free. Rumors have spread throughout the gaming community that the software is in fact not free. The short answer is yes, it is absolutely, 100% free.

Avast is a comprehensive malware protection program, not an incomplete one as some users have claimed. Avast Free Antivirus offers total virus protection software to fortify your PC from malicious attacks. While you can upgrade to the other packages we mentioned previously, this is not required.

You could enjoy firewall, spam protection, and privacy features from upgrades like the Pro Antivirus or Internet Security packages, but you can secure those components from different software programs completely free too.

In short, if you want to know how good is Avast, consider that it is a complete program, constantly scanning for and protecting your PC from pesky viruses. This is known as resident or on-access protection, all totally free. In fact, other companies like Norton or McAfee who have a yearly fee for their antivirus software and updates may not stand a chance against Avast Free Antivirus in the long run.

What You Need to Know

When installing Avast Free Antivirus, the software might prompt you to install the IE toolbar and Google Chrome. You do not have to make these installations if you do not wish to, so just uncheck the prompt boxes if so. If you decide to add them on, it will still be completely free.

If you want to use Avast for longer than 30 days, you need to register. Registering for Avast Free Antivirus is free and fairly straightforward. Remember, you will have to register again annually to renew your membership and ensure you receive comprehensive anti-malware updates, but this is also 100% free.

How Good Is Avast?

When You’re Gaming

The first thing you need to know if you are wondering how good is Avast, is that this program is an excellent option for online gamers. When gaming online, you frequently go on sites and programs that are vulnerable to malware.

One of the most attractive features for online gamers is Avast’s gaming mode. It puts your regular gaming websites on its approved list, meaning that gamer mode will switch on faster the next time around.

Gamer mode is also helpful because it spots certain PC functionalities and turns them off temporarily during the game. This means you have sufficient system resources at your disposal without slowing your gaming speed.

If you would like to know how good is Avast, you should also know that this program blocks pop-ups that could slow down your game time or impede your focus. At the same time, the anti-malware component keeps going in the background to shut out any viruses trying to creep through.

Installation Process

How good is Avast is displayed in the software program’s easy and user-friendly installation process. There is an accessible dashboard with the tools, settings, and features you require. Plus, it is free, which makes it all the more attractive.

Malware Detection Capabilities

Avast is somewhat different from other antivirus software providers. If Avast senses a virus threat, it sends pop-up messages to your PC that will show up outside of the browser you are playing in.

This means that it does not show malicious threats in browser warning pop-ups like most other software programs, but outside pop-up screens. However, these messages are vigilant, so even if you close out of one it will pop up again to make sure it notified you of the malware.

One other thing to be aware of when considering how good is Avast is the way it handles malware threats. Avast does not block in-browser threats or stop malicious software from downloading. Instead, Avast bides its time and grabs the threat once it has finished downloading.

If this makes you concerned that the malware could harm your computer in that short span of time, you need not worry. Avast tags and grabs malware as soon as it downloads before it can spread anywhere on your PC.


If you are on the fence about how good is Avast, consider the key components it delivers with its free software program. While it does not have all the extra bells and whistles other programs do, it has a strong vulnerability scanner and gaming mode that keeps your PC secure at all times.

Plus, if you want added features like personal firewalls, password managers, phishing filters, spam filters, or parental controls, you can always upgrade to one of their premium programs down the line or download those free from another program.

In the meantime, Avast Free Antivirus is a comprehensive malware-fighting program that offers constant scanning capabilities. Its heuristics engine to identify new threats, silent mode to minimize alerts during game time, and straightforward installation process show exactly just how good is Avast.

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