NEW Avast Version 21.3 (April 2021)

[slavo.benko]

Hi, all. Please welcome the newest version of Avast AV: 21.3 (21.3.2459)

Major public announcements

• Better scan performance — We’ve made a lot of small performance improvements to various security components (running on background)
• Improved Rescue Disk — We’ve added a portable web browser to our Rescue Disk so you can search the web even when Windows isn’t working
• Fewer distractions — We no longer show pop-up messages when your antivirus is open
• Passive Mode fix — We’ve fixed a bug that would sometimes disable Passive Mode soon after it was turned on

Bug-fix and improvement highlights for hardcore fans:

• Because of an expiring MS certificate for signing drivers, we had to block updates and installations of users with outdated/unpatched versions of Win7 (up to KB3033929). Unless they update their OS, they will stay on 21.2 version.
• Implemented Countdown (auto-close) of Cyber Capture dialogs
• Additional Rescue Disk improvements (postponing toolkit installation until MSI installation finishes, adding retries to downloading RCD files, etc.)
• Fixed cases when both our Firewall and Windows firewall were running simultaneously
• Fixed issue where the restart dialog didn’t appear in Silent Mode
• Fixed issues where our uninstall survey was not displayed
• Fixed issue when the UI didn’t show the correct state of IDP (Behavioral Shield) features
• Some of those scan optimizations mentioned in our public release notes include: Startup, registry callbacks, behavioral events, on-exec DLLs scanning, identified opportunities to skip some scans, etc.)

As usual a big thanks goes to the team for yet another successful release!

How to install:

1. Update from your existing Avast version via Settings -> Update -> Update program

2. Or you can download and install files:

Online installers (recommended):

• Free: https://bits.avcdn.net/insttype_FREE
• Premium Security (formerly Premier): https://bits.avcdn.net/insttype_APR
• Omni: https://bits.avcdn.net/insttype_OMNI

Offline installers:

• Free: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
• Premium Security (formerly Premier): https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
• Omni: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_omni_setup_offline.exe

[Asyn]

Thanks Slavo, spreading the news...

[bob3160]

The button to restart the computer after the update did not work. (Omni)
I had to restart the computer myself using the Windows restart feature.

[DavidR]

Thanks, just about to do a manual update.

[TheOwner]

Hello,
what is new still running service wsc_proxy.exe? Thank you.

[rocksteady]

Problem with new Rescue Disk browser feature not launching in this version.
Reported here:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=260288.0

[antopreggo]

Hello since the new avast update cant connect to specific game server .First time this happens with avast .When i disable shields it works fine .The version its  the free avast.

[Spec8472]

Hello,
what is new still running service wsc_proxy.exe? Thank you.

Hello TheOwner, wsc_proxy.exe is component responsible for communication with Windows Security Center / Action Center. It was a service process (with automatic startup) on Windows 10 only. Now, it is service process for all supported operating systems. This change was necessary because of the expiration of MS cross signing certificates. This process executable must fulfill special signature requirements to be able to register/communicate with Windows Security Center.

[Asyn]

Hello since the new avast update cant connect to specific game server .First time this happens with avast .When i disable shields it works fine .The version its  the free avast.

Start a new topic and provide details there.

[loungehake]

I still see the occasional popup message but they are fewer and fewer is definitely better.  They can occur when the Avast GUI is not open.

Avast software is nonetheless in a very good place and I think that I have justifiable confidence in its continued protection.  I can put up with the occasional popup as long as I not am not continually assailed with warnings about my camera possible being hijacked.  I put a handmade plastic cover over the thing.

[NON]

Thanks for the new release

[RejZoR]

Good to see performance optimizations. We rarely see those.

[loungehake]

"Fewer distractions — We no longer show pop-up messages when your antivirus is open"

What does this mean? Pop-up messages still seem to occur as frequently as previously.

[Pierogi]

• Because of an expiring MS certificate for signing drivers, we had to block updates and installations of users with outdated/unpatched versions of Win7 (up to KB3033929). Unless they update their OS, they will stay on 21.2 version.

Does this also apply to virus definitions or just the application version?

[bob3160]

• Because of an expiring MS certificate for signing drivers, we had to block updates and installations of users with outdated/unpatched versions of Win7 (up to KB3033929). Unless they update their OS, they will stay on 21.2 version.

Does this also apply to virus definitions or just the application version?

Application, you'll still received virus definition updates.