Is the Free Antivirus completely cloud-based or does it work offline too?

[REDACTED]

Hi, I would like to know if the Free Antivirus works when the computer is offline and by that, I mean if the virus definitions are downloaded and saved locally.

I basically  want to know if it would be able to protect an offline device from malware.

I will look forward to a response.

[Eddy]

It can be used on a system that is not online, but protection will not be as good as it can (should) be.

[REDACTED]

Thanks for the reply. So if I understand properly, it does download the virus definitions. Is that correct?

[Eddy]

Ofcourse they are downloaded, but only if the system is online.
You can download them on another system and install them  on the off-line one.

But with the latest technologies the system needs to be online for the best protection.
avast does not only use definition files, but also streaming updates and other (on-line) technologies for best protection.

[REDACTED]

It's obvious that a network is required for  it to download the definitions, but I just wanted to know if it does download the definitions or not

I asked this because there are some antimalware that are completely cloud-based and so they don't work offline

It is nice to know that Avast Free provides offline protection. Thanks for your answer.

[Rednose]

There is no network required.

Simply download the vpsupd.exe file from here https://www.avast.com/download-update and put it on an USB stick for the offline system.

Greetz, Red.

[Pondus]

I asked this because there are some antimalware that are completely cloud-based and so they don't work offline

Which one is that?

[=Snake=]

There is no network required.

Simply download the vpsupd.exe file from here https://www.avast.com/download-update and put it on an USB stick for the offline system.

Greetz, Red.

Hi!

If I'm using a USB stick, which capacity should it have (min.)?

=Snake=

[Eddy]

Look at the site

About 200Mb will be enough unless there is a huge addition to the definitions.

[REDACTED]

I asked this because there are some antimalware that are completely cloud-based and so they don't work offline

Which one is that?

Zemana AntiMalware premium, and all the security products from Panda

I spoke to the  Panda Support and I was told that some cache gets downloaded that offers very basic levels of protection when the computer is offline

[REDACTED]

There is no network required.

Simply download the vpsupd.exe file from here https://www.avast.com/download-update and put it on an USB stick for the offline system.

Greetz, Red.

Well, thanks for that site but I think you misunderstood me. For someone to download the updates from there, a network is still required

[Eddy]

Both Zemana and Panda also work offline, but limited just as avast.

Ofcourse Internet is needed to get the latest definitions.
I already told so in reply #3.

[Pondus]

I asked this because there are some antimalware that are completely cloud-based and so they don't work offline

Which one is that?

Zemana AntiMalware premium, and all the security products from Panda

I spoke to the  Panda Support and I was told that some cache gets downloaded that offers very basic levels of protection when the computer is offline

This was posted in 2009, cloud features is further developed since then and today evryone use it it one way or another

Arguments against cloud-based antivirus
http://www.pandasecurity.com/mediacenter/malware/arguments-against-cloud-based-antivirus/

http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Insides-of-Panda-Cloud-Antivirus-111793.shtml

[REDACTED]

Both Zemana and Panda also work offline, but limited just as avast.

Ofcourse Internet is needed to get the latest definitions.
I already told so in reply #3.

I am afraid but that is not true. Both the Free and Premium versions of Zemana Antimalware can only detect malware when the computer is online.

I've been told by their support staff that they are planning to incorporate the offline scanning ability but presently, they don't have that.

Now talking about Panda's security software, like I said, some cache gets saved locally and they offer basic levels of security

[=Snake=]

Look at the site

About 200Mb will be enough unless there is a huge addition to the definitions.

Thx, Eddy.

=Snake=