NEW Avast Version 21.6 (July 2021)

[slavo.benko]

Hi, all. Please welcome the newest version of Avast AV: 21.6 (21.6.2474)


Public announcements

• Useful Smart Scan notifications — We’ve fine-tuned the behavior of Smart Scan with improved initialization steps, and ensured that you receive proper notifications about scheduled scans.
• Better feature shortcuts — We’ve changed the main tile navigation so Avast Antivirus features are easier to distinguish from shortcuts to other Avast products.

Bug fixes and improvements for:

• The latest renderer version stopped supporting CPUs without SSE3, so we needed to add an install block and freeze users using this older pieces of HW on 21.4 version
• Fixed cases of infinite loader when turning off some of core shield via Settings
• Fixed support tool (collection logs and info for customer support and debugging) that was not properly grabbing AV status and subscription status in Rescue Disk, plus it now reports WSC status
• FYI: Virus Chest has been renamed to Quarantine
• Fixed removal of scheduled tasks
• Fixed a case when some of antivirus windows opened in the background (behind other full-screen app) even if this was not desired while interacting with it
• ...and a lot of security improvements we can't be more concrete about

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: 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: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
• Omni: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_omni_setup_offline.exe

[NON]

Thanks for the new release

Bug fixes and improvements for:

• The latest renderer version stopped supporting CPUs with SSE2, so we needed to add an install block and freeze users using this older pieces of HW on 21.4 version

Is it really with SSE2? IIRC support for non-SSE2 CPUs were stopped long time ago (v10.4 or so).

[DavidR]

Thanks for the new release

Bug fixes and improvements for:

• The latest renderer version stopped supporting CPUs with SSE2, so we needed to add an install block and freeze users using this older pieces of HW on 21.4 version

Is it really with SSE2? IIRC support for non-SSE2 CPUs were stopped long time ago (v10.4 or so).

Exactly what I was thinking.

Plus many CPUs still have SSE2 (and earlier instruction sets) plus SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, etc. etc.
Clarification is required as technically many CPUs still have SSE2.

[TheOwner]

Hi.

- virus chest was not renamed to guarantee if you right click to taskbar icon (CZ language).
- new GUI seems bit slower then before.
- Avast still not notify me about new version if "Ask when an update is available" is set.
- where is firewall in free version mentioned in beta?

[RejZoR]

First CPU's to support SSE3 (so, ones that would still run avast! no issues) were released back in 2004-2005, specifically Intel Pentium 4 using 90nm process (Prescott). This is actually far back unlike BS restrictions of Windows 11 that make 3 years old CPU's look useless for some dumb reason. Can't really be mad with this one as it's pretty reasonable decision.

[miguelgrado]

Hello

Free Firewall in Avast Free not displayed??

[Asyn]

Thanks for the new release

Bug fixes and improvements for:

• The latest renderer version stopped supporting CPUs with SSE2, so we needed to add an install block and freeze users using this older pieces of HW on 21.4 version

Is it really with SSE2? IIRC support for non-SSE2 CPUs were stopped long time ago (v10.4 or so).

Exactly what I was thinking.

Plus many CPUs still have SSE2 (and earlier instruction sets) plus SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, etc. etc.
Clarification is required as technically many CPUs still have SSE2.

Hi guys, the initial post has been edited.

The latest renderer version stopped supporting CPUs without SSE3, so we needed to add an install block and freeze users using this older pieces of HW on 21.4 version

[Asyn]

Hello

Free Firewall in Avast Free not displayed??

Hi, the firewall in Avast Free is currently only available on beta-channel.

[Asyn]

- virus chest was not renamed to guarantee if you right click to taskbar icon (CZ language).

Confirmed, same here (German).

[wahyushikifujin]

but i can't get it , its still locked and it says by aysn the firewall feature only works for beta at this time not for all users, there is a contradiction between your answer and aysn, please give a correct explanation ?

[slavo.benko]

Hi, Firewall is not yet enabled as a free feature with 21.6, it still needs a bit more testing. Plus roll-out, that will most probably start with the 21.7 version will be continuous and spread over several weeks - it won't be available to all free users at the same time.

[wahyushikifujin]

ok, well then, one more thing I suggest that anti phishing and fraud should be further improved in terms of performance and scope of detection because many fake websites are disguised very well, they look as if they are real websites.

[R R Mahmud]

THis UI degine is not Beautiful.previous UI degine was so fantastic.Performance should be improved lots.New UI fantastic degine should add this avast premium

[RejZoR]

Hi, Firewall is not yet enabled as a free feature with 21.6, it still needs a bit more testing. Plus roll-out, that will most probably start with the 21.7 version will be continuous and spread over several weeks - it won't be available to all free users at the same time.

Cool. Didn't think free version will get the firewall. What will be the limitations in the free version compared to firewall in paid versions?

[DavidR]

Hi, Firewall is not yet enabled as a free feature with 21.6, it still needs a bit more testing. Plus roll-out, that will most probably start with the 21.7 version will be continuous and spread over several weeks - it won't be available to all free users at the same time.

Cool. Didn't think free version will get the firewall. What will be the limitations in the free version compared to firewall in paid versions?

A better question would be what does it do that the windows firewall doesn't as essentially that is its 'free' competition