Avast claims to be protecting 435 million devices with its award-winning software for over 30 www.nathan-collier.com/board-management-software-use-cases-for-better-meetings years. The free software from the company has limited capabilities. However its premium offerings, such as Avast Ultimate are quite comprehensive. The suite includes antivirus software, VPN services, password managers, and Cleanup utilities to help users manage their passwords, remain secure online, and enhance their device.

Avast Ultimate is simple to use, and has simple design that clearly outlines the various tools it offers. Its malware engine performed well in independent lab testing and detected numerous threats that are typically ignored by other security systems. Its web protection is efficient, catching a variety of websites that are phishing and slip through Chrome and Firefox’s default security features.

Other tools include an app lock, RAM boost, and a network scanner that looks for weaknesses. The program’s ransomware security prevents third-party software from altering the way you store, delete, or lock your data until you pay. The program offers mobile applications for Android as well as iOS. Apple’s restrictions have led to the Android version more feature-rich, however both versions contain key security elements like malware scanning and web coverage.

Avast’s biggest flaw is that it stores and sends your personal data to its analytics company, Jumpshot. In 2020, this information was revealed by a PCMag and Motherboard investigative report. However, it is possible to turn off this feature by navigating to the settings menu. If you’re still concerned about it, Avast allows you to set a password that you must enter before the software is able to share your IP address or other information with third-party companies.