One of the most popular anti-virus software for Windows 11/10

Avast Free Antivirus

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Download Avast Free Antivirus 24.2.8918.0

Avast Free Antivirus

  -  204.8 KB  -  Freeware
  • Latest Version

    Avast Free Antivirus 24.2.8918.0 LATEST

  • Review by

    Michael Reynolds

  • Operating System

    Windows 7 / Windows 7 64 / Windows 8 / Windows 8 64 / Windows 10 / Windows 10 64 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    AVAST Software / External Link

  • Filename

    avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe

Avast Free Antivirus provides the essential security you need to protect your PC from hackers and thieves. In addition to the best antivirus and anti-malware protection possible, the new Home-Network Scanner scans your network for any issues, while Browser Cleanup lets you remove annoying plugins, and SmartScan allows for one-click scanning. Over 500 million users worldwide trust Avast to protect them!



For the first time ever, you can protect your home network devices, such as routers and wireless devices, from hacker attacks. Protect your Windows with the best free antivirus app on the market today.

6 layers of antivirus security

Smart Scan
Scans your device for hard-to-find vulnerabilities in hidden places.

CyberCapture
Automatically sends suspicious files for analysis in the Cloud, then pushes a cure to Avast users if needed.

Behavior Shield
Alerts you immediately if any of your apps start behaving suspiciously.

File Shield
Alerts you to any suspicious files — before you open them.

Rescue Disk
Scans your device while your system’s switched off, so you can safely remove malware.

Quarantine
Stores potentially harmful files and completely isolates them from the rest of your operating system.



It scans for security and performance issues and tells you how to fix things instantly. It protects you in real time by analyzing unknown files before they get to you. So relax: With Avast 2024, you’re running the most trusted antivirus out there. Packed with the largest threat-detection network, machine-learning virus protection, easy password management, and home network security that won’t slow down your Desktop.

The newest version of the most trusted security in the world is ready, and it’s completely free. Avast Free Antivirus for Windows 11/10 protects more than 500 million people, businesses, and mobile devices worldwide. It uses multiple layers of security to keep you safe from even the newest, never-before-seen threats.

Features and Highlights

Browser Cleanup
Remove annoying browser toolbars or extensions, and restore your hijacked search browser.

Software Updater
Easily update your important software to increase the overall security and condition of your PC.

Remote Assistance
Remote Assistance lets you help or is helped over the Internet.

Designed for effortless security
Just a click of a fresh, new, easy-to-use interface checks everything from your passwords to your home network security.

Game or movie time
It renamed Game Mode and taught it some new tricks. Now called Do Not Disturb Mode, it blocks distracting popups whether you’re gaming, watching movies, or presenting in fullscreen.

Introducing Behavior Shield
It doesn’t just check your applications for malware. It now keeps an eye on their behavior to make sure they don’t suddenly go rogue.

Intelligent Antivirus
Detect and block viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and phishing. It uses smart analytics to stop threats before they affect you.

CyberCapture
Automatically send suspicious files for analysis in the cloud, and push a cure to all Avast users if it's a threat.

Wi-Fi Inspector
Automatically detect weaknesses in your home Wi-Fi and strangers piggybacking on your network.

Smart Scan
Find all those cracks that allow malware to slip in, from unsafe settings and passwords to suspicious add-ons and out-of-date programs.

FAQ

Is Avast Free Antivirus 2024 really free?
Yes, Avast Free Antivirus 2024 is a completely FREE version of the software that offers basic protection against malware, viruses, and other security threats. However, there are also paid versions of Avast with additional features and functionality.

Does Avast slow down my PC?
Avast is designed to have minimal impact on system performance and should not noticeably slow down your PC. However, some users have reported performance issues in the past, so it's worth monitoring your computer's performance after installing the software.

How often should I update Avast?
Avast updates are released on a regular basis, so it's important to check for updates regularly and install them as soon as they become available. This will ensure that your computer is protected against the latest threats.

Does Avast work with Windows 11/10?
Yes, Avast is fully compatible with Windows 11/10 and can be installed and used on any PC running this operating system.

What kind of protection does Avast offer?
It offers protection against a wide range of security threats, including viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, and more. It also includes features such as real-time scanning, email protection, and web protection.

How do I install Avast on my PC?
To install Avast on your PC, simply download the software from the Avast website or FileHorse, run the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions. The installation process is quick and easy.

Does Avast offer customer support?
Yes, it offers customer support in the form of an online knowledge base, a community forum, and email support. Paid versions of the software also include phone support.

Can I customize the settings in Avast?
Yes, it offers a variety of customizable settings that allow you to tailor the software to your specific needs and preferences.

How often should I run a scan with Avast?
It's a good idea to run a full system scan with Avast at least once a week to ensure that your computer is free of viruses and malware. However, you can also run quick scans and custom scans as needed.

How do I uninstall Avast from my PC?
To uninstall Avast from your PC, go to the Windows Control Panel, select "Programs and Features", and then locate Avast in the list of installed programs. Click on it and select "Uninstall" to remove it from your computer.

Alternatives

Malwarebytes: A trusted cybersecurity solution known for its expertise in malware detection and removal. It offers comprehensive protection against malware, ransomware, and other online threats.

Bitdefender Antivirus Free: Offers powerful protection with minimal impact on system resources. It provides real-time scanning, phishing protection, and automatic updates, all in a lightweight package.

AVG AntiVirus Free: A popular choice known for its comprehensive virus detection capabilities and advanced features like ransomware protection. It also includes a robust web shield to block malicious websites.

Avira Free Antivirus: Combines antivirus protection with additional tools like VPN, browser privacy, and system optimization. Avira offers reliable malware detection and a user-friendly interface.

System Requirements

All devices require an internet connection for automatic security and program updates. PC with Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, or 7 (both the 32 and 64-bit versions, excluding Starter and RT editions), 1 GB RAM, and 2 GB of hard disk space.

PROS
  • Robust Protection
  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Wide Range of Features
  • Fast Scanning Speed
  • Regular Updates
CONS
  • Advertisements in the Free Version
  • Limited Customer Support
Conclusion

Avast Free Antivirus is a popular free antivirus software that offers basic protection against malware, viruses, and other security threats. It provides features such as real-time scanning, email protection, and web protection, along with a variety of customizable options.

Overall, Avast Antivirus is a decent option for those who are looking for a basic level of protection without having to pay for a premium antivirus solution. It is user-friendly and easy to install, and it does a good job of keeping your computer safe from common threats. All recommendations for this excellent antivirus program from the FileHorse review team.

All in all, while Avast for PC is a good option for basic protection, it's important to keep in mind its limitations and potential downsides and consider other options if you require more advanced features or greater peace of mind.

Note: After 30 days Anti-virus requires free registration.

Also Available: Download Avast for Mac

  • Avast Free Antivirus 24.2.8918.0 Screenshots

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What's new in this version:

Avast Free Antivirus 24.2.8918.0
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 24.2.8904.0
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 24.1.8821.0
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 23.12.8700.0
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 23.11.8635.0
- New: New survey – We want to hear your voice! We’ve created a new survey within the product so you can tell us what we can improve on.
- New: Fake E-store Protection – Check out our new feature that protects you from fake online shops trying to pretend to be legitimate ones.
- Improved: Minor bug fixes - We continuously fix bugs to keep your protection going strong.


Avast Free Antivirus 23.10.8563.0
- Premium Sensitive Data Shield improved – You can now protect sensitive files on FATx disks
- Improved Firewall enhancements – We’ve improved our detection and customizations in settings so you can be better protected from network threats
- Important Please be aware that we are ending support of virus definitions for old client versions 9,10, 11
- other bugfixes and performance improvements mentioned in previous Beta reports


Avast Free Antivirus 23.9.8494.0
Major public announcement:
- PREMIUM You now can protect your microphone from strangers or apps trying to attempt access with enhanced Webcam shield on Windows 10 and 11
- PREMIUM Share your premium subscription to your devices directly from the dashboard.
- IMPORTANT Please be aware that we are ending support of virus definitions for old client versions 9,10, 11
- other bugfixes and performance improvements mentioned in Beta reports


Avast Free Antivirus 23.8.8416.0
Major public announcement:
- Improvement New Scan Smart detection capabilities - Smart Scan can now check for outdated drivers and any issues related to your identity online. Go ahead, give it a try now!
- Improvement Enhanced protection for your web browsing - We’ve introduced a new layer of detection with DNS scanning, focused on finding advanced malware in your device.


Avast Free Antivirus 23.7.8348.0
- NEW DNS traffic scan: We’ve improved our detection scan to monitor your network by filtering out malicious domains and patterns early on.
- Improvement Web Shield performance: Enjoy faster browsing and performance on the websites and streaming sites (e.g., Netflix) while staying protected.
- Improvement Minor bug fixes: We continuously fix bugs to keep your protection going strong.


Avast Free Antivirus 23.6.6070.0
- Premium: Enhancing SANDBOX functionality - You're now protected from programs taking screenshots or video-recording your desktop.
- New: Easier access to Avast Account – You can now sign up or sign in directly from the dashboard
- Improved: We’ve modernized the folder dialog to make it easier for you to search and select files

Fixed:
- We’ve fixed minor performance issues related to shutting down or restarting the computer in Web Shield
- We are testing Icarus as new technology for installation of the AV


Avast Free Antivirus 23.5.6066.0
Fixed:
- Fixing deadlocks that appeared on some older windows
- Wi-Fi Inspector causing a long shutdown
- Crashes in installer
- Fixed issue with not working installation of Secure browser on W7 and W8
- We’ve adopted the new OpenSSL 3.1.0 to address additional security fixes

Improved:
- We’ve optimized Web Shield to scan based on DNS parameters to better protect you from wider online threats
- You’re now better protected from malware found in OneNote file attachments in phishing emails
- Support Tool improved configuration reporting for better analyses of support engineers


Avast Free Antivirus 23.4.6062.0
- FIX Rollback of CEF update that was causing Black UI issue (update will fix even the affected clients)
- Improvement Improved Sensitive Data Shield – We’ve enhanced the support of Sensitive Data Shield for all FATx-based hard drives
- Improvement Scanning and detection of MSI installers
- Improvement Support tool now gathers 3rd party application crash data that are only 7 days ol


Avast Free Antivirus 23.3.6058.0
- Improvement Communication - We’ve improved communication in certain areas to enhance education about possible risks. Education about the risks when adding an exception.
- Improvement Feedback - Your opinion matters! We’ve improved the feedback form so you can tell us about your experience in detail
- FIX NTFS MFT Cleanup support for shredder
- FIX Allow free volume space shredding for FAT drives


Avast Free Antivirus 23.2.6053.0
- Improvement Bank Mode - Be more secure while banking online with Bank Mode. It stops programs, like keyloggers, from stealing your personal info (e.g., bank login, passwords, and card details).
- Redesign Immediate detection in Network Inspector – Get notified right away of any network security issue, especially if you're connected to a suspicious Wi-Fi network. The notifications have a new look as well.
- Improvement Faster File Shield - We’ve improved the speed of File Shield by using Kernel EAs, so it can scan files and programs faster for any malicious threats.
- Bug fixes - fixed incompatibility with DxO PhotoLab and other software


Avast Free Antivirus 23.1.6049.0
- fixes to optimize your protection and increase the performance


Avast Free Antivirus 22.12.6044.0
- Mitigating the issues with driver on Win7SP1 without SHA-2 support
- Software Updater option added in geek:area
- Improved experience of  FW ask user when network changed
- Bug fixes - Minor fixes to optimize your protection


Avast Free Antivirus 22.11.6041.0
- Revamped Hardened Mode We've redesigned hardened mode for a smoother experience
- Bug fixes Minor fixes to optimize your protection


Avast Free Antivirus 22.10.6038.0
Major public announcement:
- WebShield Detection Dialog in Browser Get real-time threat alerts directly in your browser
- New Smartscan Step We’ve added a whole new step to check your operating system settings for any security issues
- New identity protection service Avast SecureIdentity will keep you safe from identity theft with 24/7 expert assistance
- Bug fixes Minor fixes to optimize your protection


Avast Free Antivirus 22.9.7554.0
Major public announcement:
- Bank Mode in UI Protect your banking details and login information whenever you’re online banking on Avast Secure Browser
- Email Guardian Google Login Just log in with your Google Account. It’s that easy.
- Self Defense detection dialog improvement We’ve redesigned the communication to create a smoother experience
- Firewall ask dialog Improved firewall ask dialog
- Bug fixes Minor fixes to optimize your protection


Avast Free Antivirus 22.8.7500.0
Major public announcement:
- WebCam Shield fixed and improved We solved functionality issues when using Windows Hello face authentication while WebCam Shield is active. This shield will prevent apps and malware from accessing your webcam without your consent.
- Auto-continue option added to Smart Scan You can automatically move to the next step when no threats are found in each stage
- Mail Protection improved in Mozilla Thunderbird The error messages about invalid email server certificates have been fixed
- Bug fixes Minor fixes to optimize your protection


Avast Free Antivirus 22.7.7403.0
Major public announcement:
- Windows Recovery Environment Scan Boot Time Scan now runs inside the Windows RE, on the Avast interface! Now it's easier to take action and see what the scan finds without having to reboot again.
- Check out our new UI Store We've created a store within the interface to help with easier access to other Avast applications

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Fixed an issue where Ransomware shield would not look after protected files properly
- TLS 1.3 enabled in Mailshield
- Other important issues and bugs squashed


Avast Free Antivirus 22.6.7355.0
Major public announcement:
- Web Shield Websocket protocol scanning Scanning for web threats just got better! Feel safer while browsing the web anytime, as we've addded Websocket protocol scanning to webshield
- Mailshield writing too much to disk We've fixed an issue where mailshield would start writing too much data to the disk

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Fixed an issue where VirtualBox would clash with our AV
- A big thanks to ccm582 for reporting an issue with Hide Folders 5, Lubos for identifying the underlying problem and to Petr, our release boss, for coming through with resolving the issue and making sure Hide Folders 5 are aware of it, awesome stuff!
- Other important issues and bugs squashed


Avast Free Antivirus 22.5.7263.0
Major public announcement:
- [Premium]Email Guardian Email Protection across all your devices, ensured by Avast's Email Guardian. Right now, it's compatible with all Office365 type accounts (outlook.com, hotmail.com, msn.com, etc.) as well as any IMAP enabled Email Service.
- [Geek Area]HW Acceleration We‘ve activated a new Hardware Acceleration Feature in the geek:area and inviting advanced users to play around with it. Feel free to share any feedback with us about it, we'd really appreciate it.

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Fixed an issue with email shield detections
- Fixed an issue with booting Windows 10 (1607) where it wouldn't boot after AV installation
- Instup crash was fixed
- Other important issues and bugs squashed


Avast Free Antivirus 22.4.7175.0
Major public announcement:
- Improved Sensitive Data Shield You now get detailed results if Sensitive Data Shield has found anything suspicious in your files
- Manage your apps with ease You now have easier access to Blocked & Allowed apps settings for each shield feature. That way, if a suspicious app attempts to access your protected folders, webcam, or passwords, you'll get a notification and you can easily add this app to your list of blocked or allowed apps.

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Data Shredder now works properly after Premium update
- Firewall blocking rule in the UI fixed
- Other important issues and bugs squashed


Avast Free Antivirus 22.3.7108.0
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 22.2.7013.0
Major public announcement:
- Firewall Rules In Firewall you can once again create application rules manually without waiting for apps to connect to the internet
- Wi-Fi Inspector is now called Network Inspector To align the feature name with our other security apps, we've renamed Wi-Fi Inspector to Network Inspector. This change is also to remind you that it can scan both wired and wireless networks
- New look of the UI We've updated our design to give you friendlier, more rounded corners

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Sandbox UI now includes app list
- Fixed some issues where the UI would not be displayed properly under some resolution settings


Avast Free Antivirus 22.1.6921.0
- Wi-Fi Inspector Password Hints - Wi-Fi Inspector can now recommend more secure passwords for your home network
- Firewall improvements in the UI - We've re-ordered the Firewall Tabs inside the interface
- Boot Time Scan Results - You'll notice how from now on you get actual results from scans even after reboots


Avast Free Antivirus 21.11.6809
- deadlock in importing settings from file
- conflict between two internal security components making MS Internet Explorer unable to run


Avast Free Antivirus 21.10.2498
Major public announcement:
- Firewall We're fully launching our new firewall to the entire userbase
- DoH SecureDNS will now get DoH capabilities, improving privacy

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Fixed the BSOD issue on x86 Windows 7 installations
- Resolved issues with high contrast themes in Windows not displaying the UI properly


Avast Free Antivirus 21.9.2493
Major public announcement:
- Stronger Web Shield You're now better protected from malicious websites thanks to our scanning improvements
- Better Windows 11 compatibility You're protected on the newest version of Windows, too
- Improved Passive Mode When you turn on Passive Mode, our tray icon now changes colors to show this. And now even Webcam Shield and Password Protection features will also be disabled.

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Apps with similar protocol to HTTP no longer have conflicts with WebShield
- Remote Access Shield dialogue memory issue resolved
- Uninstall Survey - we've added an improved flow for the uninstall survey which will be enabled with this new release
- Firewall improvements - only visible to a small number of users, nevertheless, we've added some improvements, including better notifications


Avast Free Antivirus 21.8.2487
Major public announcement:
- A new logo for Avast! — As the digital world changes, we change with it. We’re proud to unveil a new expression of our identity, reflecting our continued commitment to protecting people’s digital freedom

Other notable improvements in the release:
- Sign in more securely — We're now using OpenID, a more secure sign-in standard, to sign you in to your Avast Account
- Improved exceptions — It's now possible to add exceptions solely for Behavior Shield
- Fixed a tray icon bug — Our system tray icon now shows the proper status of shields after a PC restart
- Password Protection update - we're now protecting newly created backup files of passwords stored in the browser
- Firewall tweaks - We're now blocking switching to public profile when RDP is used


Avast Free Antivirus 21.6.2474
- 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

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


Avast Free Antivirus 21.5.2470
- Fewer interruptions in fullscreen — When you’re running another app fullscreen, our antivirus will no longer open on top and interrupt you. We apologize if this happened to you! (And don’t worry, threat warnings will still appear, so you’ll always know about malware even while watching your favorite film)
- Introducing Webcam Shield reminders — If you’ve configured Webcam Shield to automatically block or allow apps, we’ll now remind you of this when an app tries to access your webcam so you don’t sit around wondering why your webcam isn’t working. (For Premium Security only)
- Updated privacy policies — We’ve updated our General Privacy Policy and other connected privacy policies


Avast Free Antivirus 21.4.6266
Major public announcements:
- Improved Wi-Fi Inspector — We now scan for even more types of threats, and our improved results screen allows you to better understand what we’ve found thanks to clearer explanations, better organization, and improved tips for resolving detected problems
- No more popups in streams — Good news, Windows 10 users! Our antivirus popups will no longer appear in your screen recordings and streams
- Enhanced exceptions — Exceptions for scans and shields are now easier to add, customize, and maintain
- More installation options — You now have more installation options when activating subscriptions that contain multiple apps


Other notable improvements and new functionalities:
- Family Sharing — Premium Security (Multi-device) users can now share their subscriptions with their family members. Subscriptions can be shared across Windows and Android devices (Mac and iOS to come later)
- We now recognize available (but not activated) products — We’ll no longer show offers for apps that users bought but haven’t yet installed
- We’ve added Detection IDs to Behavior Shield dialogs — Other shields have already had this, but now Behavior Shield also gets a unique ID so our Support and Thread Labs teams can better identify reported threats from screenshots that customers send us
- Added Sandbox and backend analysis parallelization to CyberCapture to minimize interruptions to our users while they interact with suspicious apps
- We’re now applying formatting (time, calendar, etc.) of Windows regional settings in our UI


Fixed:
- Web content opened in the app-cart instead of browser
- Rescue Disks that booted in Windows Preinstall Environment triggered a restart [Win7]
- Sensitive Data Shield was not active after leaving Passive Mode through Settings
- The last file from the multi-selection was omitted
- Manually invoked Passive Mode did not require restart, caused some components (like CyberCapture) to misbehave
- Web Shield samples were not detected after the URL was removed from the exceptions
- ...and many others


Avast Free Antivirus 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:
- 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.)


Avast Free Antivirus 21.2.2455
- Introducing Hack Alerts — From now on, we’ll warn you if any passwords linked to your email address were compromised in a hack or a leak. (Just sign in to Avast Account within antivirus)
- New performance report tool — If you encounter any performance issues on your PC and you suspect we're the culprit, you can now send us a report so we can investigate the issue (Just go to Settings > Troubleshooting > Record a performance problem)

Fixed and improved:
- AV DNS finally no longer conflicts with our VPN solution
- Fixed product toasters that stole window’s focus
- Arranged for the proper order of dialogs in various alert-dialog flows (for reporting false positives, when the main UI is open, etc.)
- Fixed an issue where Passwords Protection (a Premium feature) was turned off for some users
- Fixed some rare cases where user settings weren’t stored properly during product updates
- Fixed rare problems with WebShield and HTTP/2 HPACK compression


Avast Free Antivirus 21.1.2449
- This time we put a lot of care into our detections and alerts:
- More informative threat alerts — If you get an alert, click ‘See details’ to see what type of threat it is (e.g., adware, ransomware, scam, etc.) and a brief description
- Tidier threat alerts — If you ever run into multiple threats at once, you'll no longer be bombarded with one alert after another. Instead, we've combined these into a single alert according to the shield that detected them
- New detection category — You can now choose to detect or ignore ‘Tools’ like coinminers, game cheats, and key generators as a separate category in your virus scans and core shields
- Alert ID — Every threat alert now includes a unique ID in the bottom-left corner. If you ever share a screenshot with our support team, this ID will help them to identify your problem
- Improved PUP detections— We're now even better at identifying PUPs (potentially unwanted programs that often come bundled with other apps), so we've enabled PUP detection by default. (This will be rolled out continuously and not everyone will have it on straight away - so if you want to be in control yourself just go to Settings > Basic protection > Detections.)

Bug-fix highlights for hardcore fans:
- Patched Sandbox escape method (along with silent updates to previous AV versions)
- Fixed some unwanted merging of old / default avast5.ini configuration
- Fixed a rare bug that closed the UI when you changed the AV language
- Silenced some background network scans in case they weren't required
- Arranged for a more thorough uninstall (BugReport file is no longer left over)
- Implemented Remote Access Shield conflict warnings in Passive Mode
- Fixed an issue where detection dialogs were stuck behind the main UI when opened
- ...and many other fixes and improvements


Avast Free Antivirus 20.10.5824
New:
- Expanded Password Protection - We now protect your passwords in the beta versions of browsers, too. (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and AVG Secure Browser - Premium Security Only)
- Rescue Disk improvements - Windows 7 users can celebrate knowing this feature works for them again, and we've improved its performance and made sure it properly cleans up related .DLLs for all users
- Bug stomping - Just the usual bug fixes that keep your antivirus going strong

Here are some examples of the bugs we stomped:
- Restart PC dialogue no longer ignores the "Next century" reminder. (Just wait and see…)
- Fixed driver incompatibility with HVCI (AV installation now works when Windows Core Integrity memory isolation is on)
- Cleaned our code to remove obsolete pre-alpha and legacy licensing components
- UI now opens properly on scan results after an Explorer scan finishes (was not behaving properly with UI minimized)
- Fixed a crash that happened in log viewer when logs were too large
- Improved service stability by properly terminating some thread-hooks
- We now allow removing services without exe/dll file (fileless service)
- Got rid of unnecessary reboot required after specific types of detections


Avast Free Antivirus 20.9.5758
New:
- CyberCapture results - Miss a notification? Now in your notification center, you can see all results for suspicious files you’ve sent to our Threat Labs
- More versatile Password Protection - Along with Chrome and Opera, we now support Microsoft Edge and, our personal favorite, Avast Secure Browser (Premium Security only)
- Vote for features - Vote for your favorite premium features, or submit your ideas for new ones. Simply go to Menu > About and let us know your preference (Premium Security only)
- Performance improvements - Your antivirus components should now load even faster thanks to simultaneous loading of our main service and VPS

Improvements:
- Moved Do Not Disturb module to separate “tools” service for better performance
- Minor accessibility adjustments (e.g., added tray shortcuts, improved confirmation dialogs when disabling shields, etc.)
- Corrected some issues with Sensitive Data Shield on x86 systems
- Sensitive Data Shield also now protects manually added files without having to restart your PC
- Fixed minor bug so Behavior Shield doesn’t duplicate detections already covered by File Shield
- Fixed a rare case where Firewall would trigger an ask dialog for already stopped processes
- Fixed a rare case where switching languages could fail
- Fixed some licensing hiccups with Cleanup and VPN wallet keys when being activated by AV
- Optimized scanning of QUIC connections
- ...and about 100 others


Avast Free Antivirus 20.8.5684
Improvements:
- Improved accessibility - Our interface is now better suited for impaired users
- Safer web browsing - Web Shield now supports scanning for threats in Google’s QUIC protocol
- Friendlier CyberCapture - If you stumble upon a file we can’t identify, CyberCapture can send it to our ThreatLabs for a detailed analysis. We’ve updated this entire process to make it easier than ever
- Better Remote Access Shield - Not only do we now support Windows’ Samba protocol, we’ve also added logs to show all remote connection attempts to your computer. (Avast Premium Security only)
- Firewall recognizes VPNs - Firewall now knows when you’re using our VPN and won’t classify this as an unknown network. (Avast Premium Security only)


Avast Free Antivirus 20.8.5653
- Improved accessibility - Our interface is now better suited for impaired users
- Safer web browsing - Web Shield now supports scanning for threats in Google’s QUIC protocol
- Friendlier CyberCapture - If you stumble upon a file we can’t identify, CyberCapture can send it to our ThreatLabs for a detailed analysis. We’ve updated this entire process to make it easier than ever
- Better Remote Access Shield - Not only do we now support Windows’ Samba protocol, we’ve also added logs to show all remote connection attempts to your computer. (Avast Premium Security only)
- Firewall recognizes VPNs - Firewall now knows when you’re using our VPN and won’t classify this as an unknown network. (Avast Premium Security only)


Avast Free Antivirus 20.7.5568
- Signing in via Google or Facebook - If you choose one of these to sign in, we’ll now redirect you to their websites instead of doing it inside of our app
- Fixed shield statuses - The on/off statuses for Password Protection and Remote Access Shield are now properly reflected in your UI. (Avast Premium Security only)
- Improved performance - Your antivirus now runs even smoother thanks to tighter integrations with the Windows registry and boot optimizations


Avast Free Antivirus 20.6.5495
New:
- Simplified privacy settings - We've updated our privacy settings to make it easier to manage your privacy
- Payment notification - If for any reason your payment fails during an automatic subscription renewal, we’ll now let you know on the main dashboard

Fixed:
- Malfunctioned Chrome distribution upon install
- Nasty Passive mode error (frozen UI, disabled service)
- Some more rare Rescue Disk creation failures
- IDP incorrectly stating that detection can/can't be removed
- Handle leak
- Heap corruption fix
- UI issues when Remote Access Shield or Real Site were disabled as custom install components
- Tray icon misbehavior when enabling/disabling components
- Disabling confusing Firewall toaster on Unidentified network


Avast Free Antivirus 20.5.5410
New:
- Introducing Remote Access Shield - Enjoy even stronger protection against hackers. This new feature lets you choose who can remotely access your computer and lets you block the rest. (Premium Security users only)
- Ransomware Shield is now free - We’re now offering this feature to Avast Free Antivirus users to maximize their ransomware protection
- Easier USB drive protection - We’ll now ask you to scan USB drives when you plug them into your computer. (You can also turn this off in your notification settings)
- Improved taskbar icon - There’s no need to keep your antivirus open during scans. You can now see your scan progress from the Avast taskbar icon
- Better botnet protection - Web Shield is even better about stopping malware from connecting to malicious servers

Fixed:
- corner cases when Firewall was consuming too much CPU in correlation with VPS requests
- Cleanup install detection upon switching to x64 version (Congrats to Cleanup team and sorry when the app was being offered to you even if you had it already)
- bugs in protecting passwords stored in Firefox and Chrome that were installed after Avast AV
- some RescueDisk failures when being created on USB
- UI glitches for enabling/disabling shield in Protection section


Avast Free Antivirus 20.4.5312
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 20.3.5200
- SecureDNS now fully works after upgrade from Free to Premium without restart
- Firewall now fully works after upgrade from Free to Premium without restart
- Two application crashes under specific conditions related to SecureDNS and Webshield components
- Firewall blocks Microsoft Wireless Display feature


Avast Free Antivirus 20.2.5130
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 20.1.5069
- Browser extensions: improve your browsing with our latest extensions (just open Menu > Browser extensions)
- Fewer popups: if you already have Avast Cleanup Premium, you’ll no longer see offers for it (sorry about that!)
- Improved statuses: the status messages you see on the main screen are now easier to understand
- Fixed Rescue Disk: you can now use Rescue Disk again to restore your PC from advanced attacks
- Other bug fixes: we’ve stomped dozens of other bugs to keep everything running smoothly
- Fixed problem with logs not correctly rotating (logs had hundreds of MB in some cases)
- Fixed issues in Smart scan that performance scan does not find any problems
- Fixed issue with stuck Smart scan


Avast Free Antivirus 19.8.4793
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 19.7.4674
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 19.6.4546
- A smarter Smart Scan: we've redesigned our Smart Scan to be better than ever, and you can now even schedule it
- Improved performance: we've reduced the amount of disk and CPU usage our antivirus needs during the installation of other apps
- Improved stability: we've unified some headers across the app for greater stability
- A cleaner goodbye: if you ever uninstall us (gasp!), we now do a better job of removing all our files
- Bug stomping: sensitive Data Shield scans no longer finish prematurely, and Mail Shield no longer blocks connections if it can't connect to an IPv6 address
- Game on: we're now more compatible with games that use anti-cheating measures (e.g., League of Legends)


Avast Free Antivirus 19.5.4444
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 19.4.4318

New:
- We're migrating all our SafeZone users to the new Avast Secure Browser

Fixed:
- AvLaunch won't show up twice in the Startup menu anymore
- HTTPS scanning now works with the latest versions of Firefox
- We'll now link you to a specific help article when Wi-Fi Inspector finds a vulnerability


Avast Free Antivirus 19.3.4241

New:
- We’ve set our VPN free: SecureLine VPN is no longer attached to your antivirus. It’s now a separate product
- A safer UEFI: Anti-rootkit scan now protects your UEFI (unified extensible firmware interface)

Fixed:
- When installing Avast Ultimate, all products in the bundle will be installed in one go
- Fixed our boot-time scan
- Made sure our UI loads correctly ("white UI" problem)
- Fixed a bug for our users in Russia where Passive Mode sometimes turned on for no reason


Avast Free Antivirus 19.2.4186

New:
- Custom love: We’ve updated the look of our Custom Scans screen
- Geek-ster egg: We’ve hidden some new advanced settings for our geek fans — just search for ‘geek:area’ in your settings

Fixed:
- Improved the syncing speed of our tray icon
- Made our Outlook plugin work again on x86 systems
- Thawed out an annoying UI freeze some of you were experiencing


Avast Free Antivirus 19.1.4142
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.8.4084
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.7.4041
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.6.3983
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.5.2342
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.4.3895
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.3.2333
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 18.2.3827
- Fixed problems with rescue disk creation
- Fixed crashes reported by users


Avast Free Antivirus 18.1.3800
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 17.9.2322

New:
- Now you can send feedback and bug reports from Settings > About
- Recycle Bin content can now be shredded via Windows contextual menu (Avast Premier only)
- Redesigned Scan & Shields screens in the Protection menu for easier navigation
- Redesigned Avast Passwords UI for easier use
- More detailed status reporting to Windows Security Center in Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
- Nested virtualization support for AMD CPUs
- Better proxy detection by setup and update from Windows settings

Fixed:
- Fixed a problem with white UI (you might see more processes AvastUI.exe now, but that's OK)
- Sensitive Data Shield now works with Windows XP and Vista
- Anti-Phishing Protection in Web Shield now works with Windows XP
- Clicking Scan Details in the Notification Center no longer starts another scan
- Fixed Avast service crash when a license expires
- Fixed performance scan in Performance > Cleanup Premium
- Fixed issue where Behavior Shield sometimes cut off a user’s Internet connection
- False positives can now be reported directly from threat detection warnings (File Shield)
- Fixed boot issue on Windows XP when Virtual PC driver is installed
- Fixed BSOD caused by conflict between DELL percsas3 and Avast Self-defense drivers


Avast Free Antivirus 17.8.2318
Fixed Bugs:
- Erasing malware detected and removed by Behavioral Shield from the chest when other malware was restored
- Adding custom folder to be protected by the Antiransomware Shield


Avast Free Antivirus 17.7.3660
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 17.7.3631

- SafeZone Browser is not installed with clean AV installation anymore
- Several bug-fixes

Known issues:
- Setup: Cleanup component cannot be uninstalled via modify installation or from UI
- Setup: Passive mode is not activated when another Antivirus solution is already installed
- Game Mode: All game mode rules are turned off by default (this setting is reloaded after restart)
- Affects both clean installation and update
- Sensitive Data Shield: When protected documents are modified, such documents are no longer protected
- Sensitive Data Shield: When protected document is stored on device which is unplugged and plugged back to the computer, such documents are no longer protected
- Sensitive Data Shield: Changing rule allow/block in settings are not saved (the rule cannot be changed due to this)


Avast Free Antivirus 17.6.3625
- We found bug in licensing, so we just released new version with fix


Avast Free Antivirus 17.5.2303
- This version contains fixes under the hood, mainly for SMB customers


Avast Free Antivirus 17.5.2302.0
- New feature: Ransomware Shield (for Internet Security and Premier)
- New warning system on dashboard
- Warnings added to notification center
- Redesigned some popups
- Notification counter added to tray icon
- Fixed issues with public profile in Firewall


Avast Free Antivirus 17.4.3482.0

New:
- updated GUI engine
- fixed notification of finished Smart Scan, now it correctly shows the results instead of starting the scan again
- fixed several crashes in Web Shield (including corruption of large downloaded files)
- fixed crashing during update of virus definitions on 32-bit OS
- viruses detected by File Shield are now correctly moved to quarantine
- firewall profile is correctly recognized also when you connect via different network adapters
- fixed problem with empty windows profile on Windows 10 after avast update
- right-click explorer scan now runs in main window


Avast Free Antivirus 17.3.3443.0
- 2291: Fixes crash in installer


Avast Free Antivirus 17.3.3442.0
Fixed:
- Firewall: Fixed internet connectivity not working after update (until restart) on Win XP, Vista and 7 - should now always work immediately
- HNS: Fixed incorrectly displayed vulnerabilities - vulnerability info is now correct
- Web Shield: Fixed SSL scanning issue on some sites - sites now load correctly
- Issues with login to roaming profile after update
- Passwords: Fixed issues with self-authorization and import from Easy Pass
- Issue with installation on Braswell CPUs
- Network problems after update on Vista
- Numerous crashes fixed


Avast Free Antivirus 17.2.2288
Fixed:
- not working User interface after update
- problems on Windows Vista after update
- issues with SecureLine license after update
- conflict with Comodo firewall
- installation of web extensions on 64-bit version of Firefox
- problems with opening Avast UI after installation
- security issue in SafeZone browser banking mode


Avast Free Antivirus 17.1.2286
- Improved user interface - simplified navigation, new brand colors, notification center
- Behavior Shield - better protects you against ransomware by monitoring running programs for suspicious behavior
- Game mode - helps reduce distractions and lag times by automatically prioritizing your game’s performance and suspending all unnecessary background notifications and processes while you play
- Free version no longer requires email registration
- Performance improvements - faster webpage loading and app launching thanks to optimized hashing algorithms
- Wi-Fi Inspector - previously called Home Network Security, this feature now detects even more problems and vulnerabilities on both home and public networks
- Passwords - faster UI and improved browser integration
- Real Site - our new name for SecureDNS, which prevents DNS hijacking to help you avoid visiting fake websites


Avast Free Antivirus 12.3.2280
Fixed:
- Slowing down computer during installation
- Unavailability to select other language during installation


Avast Internet Security 2016 12.3.2279

New:
- Passive mode - new compatibility mode, which should solve compatibility issues, when Avast is being installed on a pc, where other AV is installed (and registred to WSC), Most of the shields are turned off, Avast should be updatable.
- Added SafeZone browser, Security browser extension and SafePrice extension to Settings->Components for better management

Fixed:
- BSOD for Skylake processor running Windows 10 Anniversary Update
- Randomly opening Avast UI bug
- SafePrice browser extension component is not installed during update when Browser extension was not installed in the previous version
- Compatibility problems with PICO(Bash) processes on Windows 10 Anniversary Update
- Incorrectly displaying firewall network profile notification
- Avast is correctly recognized in Windows Security Center after upgrade to Windows Anniversary Update
- Showing all passwords as reused in passwords list

Avast Free Antivirus 12.2.2276
- Regular monthly program updates - automatic and silent, configurable via Settings
- Fully compatible with Windows 10 Anniversary Update
- The new Components menu in program Settings - an easier way to control which components are installed and running


Avast Free Antivirus 12.1.3076
- Change log not available for this version


Avast Free Antivirus 11.2.2738
- Change log not available for this version

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