Why is Avast! so bad compared to other freeware solutions

[schmidthouse]

however in the bigger picture that's not going to reach many buyers.

Very true. A perfect reason why Avast needs to continue the excellent protection
it has provided it's customers and additionally strive to achieve a perfect or near perfect test score
from those that publish test scores.
Scoring high marks on both fronts is the only way to continue to grow a user base which is the bread and butter of any company.

Absolutely Bob, and I would add ''Much Better Tech Support" when needed.

[Lisandro]

So in my humble opinion I believe that I can be confident

Well, after all these years, not so humble eh?

Anyway, AV-Comparatives is a serious company and the tests are rational and follow a technical procedure.
If we say we got AV-Comparatives awards (see blog, for instance) a lot of times, we should perform good in these tests.
I understand if we fail in one. Although it would be good to see a technical (and official) information about it.
I won't bash the tests. By the way, a very good (technical and independent) way to decide about your antivirus.

[Pondus]

To those of you that only use Avast and can never see anything wrong. If Avast is the only AV you have used in years how do you know you are not infected? Just because Avast didn't catch something that piece of malware might still be on your computer and you would never know it. AV tests should and do mean something to me as well as other PC users. Avast has been slipping in those tests. You might be infected and have no idea because you have relied on a product that is continually going down hill.

you can say that about any AV as no AV have 100% detection
and how do you know that the file missed in the test was not detected with next VPS release

shadow server Three Year Stats   https://www.shadowserver.org/wiki/pmwiki.php/AV/VirusThreeYearStats

anyway, why do you care, you dont use avast any more and have moved on        or have you?

[robhammond]

For over 15 years I have been building and repairing both my own pc's, and have done the same for many friends. I have tried both the paid for AV's and the free ones and Avast always does it for me. I do not use synthetic tests, I always use real world tests... yes I do scan with other applications occasionally, and I always recommend an ad-ware scanner ( despite the built in Microsoft protection) but I also warn against too many scanners as they often are at odds with each other.  For me Avast surpasses many others and I will continue to use, recommend, and install on others systems.

[schmidthouse]

For over 15 years I have been building and repairing both my own pc's, and have done the same for many friends. I have tried both the paid for AV's and the free ones and Avast always does it for me. I do not use synthetic tests, I always use real world tests... yes I do scan with other applications occasionally, and I always recommend an ad-ware scanner ( despite the built in Microsoft protection) but I also warn against too many scanners as they often are at odds with each other.  For me Avast surpasses many others and I will continue to use, recommend, and install on others systems.

Yes good point about "scan with other applications occasionally".
imho,Always a prudent part of Security Knowledgeable protocol.
I make a point of scanning with 2 other online scanners other then the AV I'm running once a week.

[bob3160]

I may depend on Avast but I also follow a golden rule:
Trust but Verify. It's the verify that allows me to make the statement
I posted earlier.