• Security
  • Avast
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Avast Free is an antivirus created by the company Avast Software (formerly Alwil Software) founded in 1988.
Currently, 230 million users trust Avast and the latest version of Avast (2016) is also compatible with Windows 10.

The advantage with Avast is that the paid features tend to become free over time.

  1. Installation
  2. Register
  3. Scans
    1. Smart Scan
    2. Scan for viruses
    3. Scan for browser add-ons
    4. Scan for outdated software (Software Updater)
    5. Scan for network threats (Sécurité du réseau domestique)
    6. Scan for performance issues (Cleanup/GrimeFighter)
  4. Tools
  5. Passwords manager
  6. Avast Online Security extension for your web browsers
  7. Site Blocking
  8. Exclusions
  9. Avast account

1. Installation

At the beginning of the installation, Avast offer to install the web browser "Google Chrome" (at bottom of the window).
Uncheck the 2 boxes at the bottom if you don't want to install Google Chrome, then click "Customize" below the "Install" button.

As you can see, Avast comes with lots of features :

  • File Shield : to scan files on your computer and detect viruses through real-time protection.
  • Web Shield : real-time protection against malicious sites. Can also block a virus when you download a virus on Internet.
  • Mail Shield : real-time protection to block viruses received or sent through an email client (eg Outlook, Thunderbird, ...)
  • Browser protection : an extension that is installed in your web browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer) to protect you against malicious sites and tracking.
  • Software Updater : keeps known programs and plugins up to date. You are notified when an update is available for your programs.
  • Remote assistance : allows you to help a person, having Avast also through a remote control solution as Teamviewer.
  • SecureLine : paid option (requires subscription) that allows you to secure your connection. Useful if you often connect on open wifi or public wifi.
  • Cleanup (formerly : GrimeFighter) : paid option (requires subscription) allowing you to optimize your system. Similar to CCleaner.
  • Rescue Disk : lets you create a bootable CD Avast to perform an antivirus scan on a PC that will not boot.
  • Browser Cleanup : allows you to analyze your installed extensions in different web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, ...) to detect any malicious extensions.
  • Desktop agent : Displays the status of the antivirus on the desktop.
  • Home Network Security : allows you to analyze your local network to detect security problems.
  • Passwords : secure password manager. We recommend using "KeePass" which has the advantage of being multi-platforms and protects you from being tied to a specific antivirus.

In summary, given that some features are not free, uncheck the following features :

  • SecureLine
  • Cleanup

These options are useless :

  • Desktop agent
  • Passwords

Avast is installed.

It is possible that avast offers his free antivirus "Mobile Security & Antivirus" for Android smartphones and tablets.
If you don't have an antivirus installed on your smartphone or tablet, install it. It's free.

Otherwise, click on the link "No, I don't want to protect my Android phone".

Avast Free is displayed.

2. Register

As you can see at the top of the program, there is a button "REGISTER".
To use Avast Free for one year for free, you have to register for free.
Click this button and select the standard protection (or essential or free, depending on what is proposed).

Enter your e-mail address and click on "Register".
Note : as shown in the image below, you can renew your free license as many times as you want. This means that every year, Avast will warn you that your version of Avast is about to expire and you will only need to renew it for free.

Avast invites you to switch to the paid version, but there is always a button or a link to stay with the basic protection (or standard, essential, free, ...)
Here, click "No thank you. Keep my basic protection".

Now, Avast is registered and will work for one year.
After this period, you will need to renew it for free.

3. Scans

Avast Free Antivirus offers various types of scans :

3.1. Smart Scan

3.2. Scan for viruses

For the scan of viruses, you have several types of scans :

  • Quick Scan : scans files potentially infected (system files, registry, ...)
  • Full system scan : scans the computer completely (all hard drives, registry, ...)
  • Removable media scan : scans the CD/DVD, USB keys, ... connected to the computer
  • Select folder to scan : allows you to scan a partition or a specific folder.
  • Boot-time scan : allows you to run a a scan at the computer boot. Useful for removing viruses that Avast is not able to remove at this time. For example : if the virus is currently running, and that Avast is not able to stop it.

3.2.1 Quick Scan

3.2.2 Select folder to scan

and click on "Start" to select the folder to scan and start antivirus scan.

3.2.3. Boot-time scan

To perform a boot-time scan, select the "Boot-time scan" option and click the "Start" button to schedule it at the next computer startup.

Avast will display a warning.
Click "Yes" to reboot now.

At next startup, you will see the Windows logo, and the scan Avast will appear before you reach the Windows sessions screen.

Once the scan is complete, you will find the report at the location "C:\ProgramData\AVAS Software\Avast\report\aswBoot.txt" as indicated previously.

3.3. Scan for browser add-ons

Avast will scan all extensions installed in your web browsers to detect malicious extensions.

If no malicious extension is installed in your web browser, the message "Your browser appear to be free from add-ons that have poor reputation".

3.4. Scan for outdated software (Software Updater)

Software Updater is a free and very useful feature that allows you to keep your programs and plugins known up to date.
Among the supported programs and plugins you will find :

3.5. Scan for network threats (Home Network Security)

Avast can analyze network computers (if possible), and the router to which your computer is connected.

Avast will display the IP address and the name of each PC + the IP address and the name of the router.
Note : As you can see, the PC on which is installed Avast Free is named "Seven-PC" and the router to which it is connected is a NETGEAR router.

By clicking on "Details", you can have information for each computer :

  • Name
  • Mac : the mac address of the computer in the format : xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx
  • Services : known ports that are open on the concerned PC. HTTP (80), HTTPS (443), ...
  • Interfaces : name of the NIC + Mac address of the network card + v4 and v6 IP address of the computer for this network adapter
  • Type : computer
  • Vendor : PC Manufacturer
  • DNS name : the name of the computer in a workgroup or the full name if your computer is connected to an Active Directory.

By clicking on "Details", you can have the information about the router that you are connected :

  • Nom : name of the router (if available)
  • Mac : Router MAC address
  • Services : open ports on the router. Including HTTP (80) for the web interface for managing the router, ...
  • Interfaces : IP address and MAC address of the router.
  • Type : Router
  • Vendor : router manufacturer
  • Model : Router model

3.6. Scan for performance issues (Cleanup/GrimeFighter)

If you install all features of Avast, you will also have 2 paid features including : CleanUp (formerly GrimeFighter) and SecureLine.
Cleanup is supposed to help you to optimize your computer.

But, as you can see, this feature is not free.

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