Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: REDACTED on August 16, 2014, 02:47:53 PM
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Hi All (and Avast folks),
I am a long time user of Avast Free Antivirus and have been pleased that I personally have not caught a virus on my computer since using it (together With Malwarebytes Antimalware Pro). I keep abreast of the testing done by the team at av-comparatives and have to admit that I was a bit shocked by the poor standing of Avast versus the competition for the latest set of testing results (March - June 2014) - http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/avc_prot_2014a_en.pdf
Not much more to say really other than I do hope this is a temporary glitch in the detection rate. Avast was always the best of the "free" bunch" in my opinion but it looks like some of the other one's are taking the title??
I appreciate that the Avira product used is the paid version as is bitdefender but nevertheless to see Avast so far behind Avira is a bit of a shock to say the least. The basic detection should not be vastly different between the Avira paid and free. Avast always used to be heads above Avira and especially AVG (which is consistently poor) but not it seems that even AVG has a better protection rate. To be below AVG is saying something.
Cheers,
Paul
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I rarely put much stock on the so-called tests. The only test that
matters to me is from my own experience. Infection free for several years. 8)
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Also in Avast 2015 (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=153511.0) there will be Dyna-Gen, NG Machine Technology, improved DeepScreen and something else they do not tell us yet in Beta 2, so Avast should be better in the next Version.
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I too take more heed of my own experience and I have not had a problem for 3 years or more. Then again - I have the following set-up:
Avast Free - Always latest version
MBAM Pro (realtime protection)
I can't really comment on my own situation as MBAM may well be picking up things that Avast misses (and vice versa of course).
av-comparatives is well respected for being a very good "real world test" however and one can't just ignore it completely.
Cheers,
Paul
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I'm not happy with these test results either...
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I'm not that concerned since each a/v goes up and then down and then back up again.
One time avast does great the next test not so great. It's cyclical from test to test.
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True..... (about being cyclical) the previous cycle of testing showed avast to be on top of AVG and Avira.
Still a bit of a concern for the Avast team though I would have thought. Would be nice to hear what their official take on the result for this quarter is.
Cheers,
Paul
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I have a feeling avast is concentrating on the new version v2015 beta 1.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=153511.msg1115934#msg1115934
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I'm not that concerned since each a/v goes up and then down and then back up again.
One time avast does great the next test not so great. It's cyclical from test to test.
When did you see avast! goes up in these tests?
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avast has been over 99% and lower than 97% in the past couple of years.
So my conclusion is...up and down the up and down.
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Latest tests show Avast is at about 96% and is now being consistently beaten by AVG Free, BD Free and Avira Free.
Seems to be pretty consistent now which is a real worry.
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Latest tests show Avast is at about 96% and is now being consistently beaten by AVG Free, BD Free and Avira Free.
Seems to be pretty consistent now which is a real worry.
In all honesty I can't get excited about these tests - some of the shield/s activity can't be replicated in on-demand scans.
I tend to go by my own personal experience of over ten years using avast without infection - whilst I'm pretty well covered by avast and mbam pro, I do have proactive measure also. But I still don't really get much in the way of alerts, other than when I go looking into sites (checking out things from the viruses and worms forum) that are likely to alert.
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Avira has always been famous for high detection rate. I'll not be surprised to see Avira tops together with BD/BD-OEM products in the tests.
However, take it easy. MBAM is a good addition to any Anti-virus software. A proactive software, e.g. OFP or Comodo, could add another layer of control (if you don't mind sometimes-too-many popup alerts).
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I won't even think about trusting the test from AV-comparatives. I have been using many antivirus programs some free some paid. Paid are: Norton, McAfee, and Trend Micro. Free are: Microsoft Security Essentials, Panda Free Antivirus, AVG Free, and Ad-Aware. All these antivirus software that I have used I have been using them on and off. Funny thing here is that I haven't mentioned about Avast! and this is where it gets funny :P
Not until my younger brother who found out about the very 1st version of Avast!7 via internet and about the cool new features and reading user experience and comments. He then introduced it to me. From that moment on till now my 100% complete trust is still on Avast! He and me installed avast on both of our laptops. Only for the desktop we have AVG 2015 Free installed.
Since the installation of Avast!7 - current when ever we want to scan our downloaded files from our friend's computer and transfer it to our laptop and we scan it, it detects real threats and detects false alarms Avast! always does the "P" job= "PERFECT" job :) As long as we don't go to malicious sites, download dodgy software/program, download pirated games, and etc like me and my brother do. Your laptop/computer will stay malware free. In addition to that we both have including our desktop MBAM FREE and SAS. Stay safe everyone :)
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Avast! performance was pretty poor for my point of view.I am hoping to see better with 2015 version.They improved their reaction times alot over this month so we will see what happens with ahead versions.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/avc_factsheet2014_08.pdf
The results are based on 669 live test cases
669?? but there is more than 50,0000 malware coming out everyday.This is like a drop in the bucket!! So we have like millions and billions of samples for like 1 month and they are testing against a few hundreds for 1 month when 669 or even a few thousands for just 1 day test wont be enough.
If you want to go to suspicious sites, just prepare to be infected anyway and make the precautions as backups and not storing anything even moderately sensitive on your machine.
I have mentioned some flaws about these tests earlier on.The usual points about static testing are:
a) the tests are carried long after the real infection took place, so it's kind of useless from today's point of view
b) the tests are carried without any context state information. Such information - if there is file named "document.doc .exe" in email, this is enough to ban the execution
c) the proactive tests are carried only with the signature engines - they don't test the other generic protection engines the products may have
d) the tests don't know anything about the relationship of the samples. If you detect the dropper, you don't have to detect the dropped binary.
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After years with MSE + MBAM, I dumped MSE and am now using Avast! + MBAM (Premium) and MBAE. I also get a "second opinion scan" frequently with SuperAntiSpyware.
I also just did another scan with Norton Power Eraser, which found 1 file that it considered "dangerous" -- it got rid of it. I highly recommend NPE for a "deep cleaning."
If I am going to download a dubious program, I'll put it in the Sandbox.
I clean my machine with CCleaner every evening. I have a clean machine. :) [Sounds like the lyrics from a Beetles song.]
Louis
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Unless you're an expert at cleaning the registry I wouldn't recommend any program
to the average computer user to do that job. Deep scanning for viruses can be done with
avast but is best done under supervision of a Malware Removal expert.
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As many here I've been an Avast user for a while and as for the AV-Tests not really interested in them.I've learned to trust my own personal experience....Like many here I'm using Avast Free alongside Malwarebytes Premium,Comodo's Firewall takes Firewall defense.I use MC Shield whenever using USB and quickly on occasion to update ang scan drives. I'd thought Malwarebytes would be the one to flag most website threats but Avast has ruled there completely and has done a fine job so far.I've been clean on this system for 6 long years many thanks to Avast there!
With false positives Avast seems to be doing good....I'm getting the few detections that are the "Gen" type on files that I know are clean but of course these files should have been an alert to the average user for sure.
All said very happy so far and from what I've seen on this topic...overall looks like Avast has passed. Just hope it continues improving so I can be a happy user for long to come. :)
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I would rate Avast free as the best. It gives all the shield thro which virus rootkit or any PUP attack a computer. I always use AVast . The test may take in to account the common items found in Avs. But there are special items , in which I think that Avast surpasses all the AVs.
I had this stops suspicious url , suspicious mails, dangerous sites from attacking the computer. Of course, there may be still bugs in this program, but comparing the free version, i rate Avast as the best. If it contains the internet security or add on to the free program, then this is the best, as per my rateings are concerned. I used all the AVS including mcafee, norton, avg etc etc, but the real protection, other than some sophisticated malwares, this is the best free program.
Hope to get the internet firewall in AVG 2015. I also would like the programmers to include firefox as a default inclusion in Windows Firewall, which will give best browsing experience
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@jraju
You're mixing 2 products. it's avast! 2015 that will soon (?) be released. I really don't care about the other av. product. :)
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Hi, I am not mixing the product. Some free av contain firewall of their own. So far avast not included in free version. If this is included, please tell me
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Hi, I am not mixing the product. Some free av contain firewall of their own. So far avast not included in free version. If this is included, please tell me
You neglected to mention which FREE AV includes a firewall?
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Hi, I am not mixing the product. Some free av contain firewall of their own. So far avast not included in free version. If this is included, please tell me
Obviously you are mixing products since this is Avast and not AVG as you stated below, if avast included a firewall in the free version then how are they to make money from the paid versions ::)
Hope to get the internet firewall in AVG 2015. I also would like the programmers to include firefox as a default inclusion in Windows Firewall, which will give best browsing experience
I don't understand what you mean by default inclusion of Firefox into the Windows firewall ??? If you want Firefox then install it yourself.
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some vendors have stopped including firewalls and use the OS firewall instead as it is more then good enough for home users
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I rarely put much stock on the so-called tests.
Except when they show positive results. Then they're toted all around. This is sour grapes, sorry.
The only test that matters to me is from my own experience. Infection free for several years. 8)
Which could mean sheer luck, or it could mean you have been infected for years but haven't known it, since your AV is not detecting the infection. Another reason to use a second and even third AV on demand regularly.
No AV is perfect, but we all want an AV that scores at or near the top of these independent tests. AVAST used to, it doesn't anymore and hasn't in awhile.
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I rarely put much stock on the so-called tests.
Except when they show positive results. Then they're toted all around. This is sour grapes, sorry.
The only test that matters to me is from my own experience. Infection free for several years. 8)
Which could mean sheer luck, or it could mean you have been infected for years but haven't known it, since your AV is not detecting the infection.
OR...... it could mean nothing having to do with "sheer luck" or being "unknowingly infected"
It could mean the AV has done its job reliably and effectively!! ;D
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OR...... it could mean nothing having to do with "sheer luck" or being "unknowingly infected"
It could mean the AV has done its job reliably and effectively!! ;D
+1 8)
Check my signature. :)
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Hi, GraigB,
It is a typo error. I meant Avast as I always use Avast
I found, when i see the Allowable Programs by Windows Firewall, most of the important programs are there. But Avast is not there, and i have to include by choosing change the settings and then add the avast. But lesser important exes were found there. I think AV is one program that should find place in the Windows Firewall and so I made this request of finding the avast in the Windows Firewall. I know that Avast does not have free firewall.
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I run a computer shop and have been installing Avast Free for over 5 years.
Infection comes and goes in waves and effects every AV differently, some weeks all I see in here are those running Norton next week McAfee and so on.
Avast is a great free product and I personally install on 300-500 machines yearly.
As an overall average I see Norton and McAfee in here the most, MSE comes and goes throughout the year, then Kasperskyi and Webroot.
Avast and AVG are the ones I see in here less that 20-30 times each a year and I work on 800+ computers yearly.
So unless they test these AV 6 times or more and Average them over a years time, I will stick with my own results.
Keep up the Great work Avast!
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I run a computer shop and have been installing Avast Free for over 5 years.
Infection comes and goes in waves and effects every AV differently, some weeks all I see in here are those running Norton next week McAfee and so on.
Avast is a great free product and I personally install on 300-500 machines yearly.
As an overall average I see Norton and McAfee in here the most, MSE comes and goes throughout the year, then Kasperskyi and Webroot.
Avast and AVG are the ones I see in here less that 20-30 times each a year and I work on 800+ computers yearly.
So unless they test these AV 6 times or more and Average them over a years time, I will stick with my own results.
Keep up the Great work Avast!
Welcome to the forum TrapperX.
Nothing more reliable than real world usage and experience.
Just ask a lab rat. :)
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Hi, GraigB,
It is a typo error. I meant Avast as I always use Avast
I found, when i see the Allowable Programs by Windows Firewall, most of the important programs are there. But Avast is not there, and i have to include by choosing change the settings and then add the avast. But lesser important exes were found there. I think AV is one program that should find place in the Windows Firewall and so I made this request of finding the avast in the Windows Firewall. I know that Avast does not have free firewall.
The only time avast should have to be placed in the windows firewall is if you have activated the outbound protection, on standard installations outbound isn't turned on and avast doesn't require permissions from the windows firewall.