Avast 2016

Since I had not already documented the changes in the current version, here goes:

The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=179855.0

AVAST 2016 (build number 2016.11.1.2245).  This version is focused on bug fixing.

What's new:

+ Added option to disable the email signature to Setttings-> General ( https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=179178.0 )
+ SafeZone browser now automatically imports bookmarks and passwords from old SafeZone
+ Added shortcut for SafeZone browser to systray menu
+ Passwords extension for Firefox is now signed
+ Added icons for scans
+ HTTPS scanning now supports SPDY protocol
+ Fixed problems with browsing on Windows XP
+ Fixed issues with expired certificates needed for HTTPS scanning
+ Update popup not shown when just checking for latest version ( https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=179633.0 )
+ Fixed missing option to delete custom scan
+ Fixed wrong displayed text in menu
+ Fixed problems with SecureDNS
+ Fixed missing Spanish language in Home network security

Seeing no problems on a [tertiary] XP computer, I'm going to install avast 2016 on my primary Win7 system.

I disabled and exited MBAM PRO first, as a precaution against any potential interference.   Can't say for sure that it was necessary, but I seem to recall running into major installation problems with previous versions of avast when I had MBAM running in real-time.

The procedure went the same as with XP... except that there were some additional modules offered [e.g., Avast Gadget] which I declined.   I was NOT offered NG/Virtual Machine (not that I wanted it).  The installation was much faster and smoother than in the past!   Nice improvement there.   Surprisingly, as with XP, there was no prompt to force a reboot, which really is necessary to complete the new installation.

As with XP, Firefox offered me the avast Safe Price add-on, which I declined again.

As for avast's Online Security add-ons, it appears that I still have the 2015 versions installed in IE and FF... I wonder if that means they didn't make a change for the new version?   Also, no avast add-ons were installed into PaleMoon.

That aside, so far, so good.

I'm running a COMPLETE system scan (while surfing).... 43 minutes for 409,500 files in 35,500 folders [126 Gig of data].

Excellent review, ky.

Avast! has come a long ways from its origins, when it was simple (and its GUI resembled a media player, or a UFO). Like most free AVs, it has expanded its complexity.  I've been partial to Panda Free AV and MSE in recent years, but will have to re-examine my options for a free AV for my latest Win 10 system.

Keep in mind my testing/implementation of Avast 2016 has been solely on 32-bit WinXP/SP3 and Win7x64SP1.   I have NOT tested it --- nor do I plan to test it --- on Win8.1/10.

The nice thing about avast is the custom installation, which allows you to choose only those modules that you want/need.   For example, everyone should choose the FILE shield and WEB shield.   And those who access their e-mail through a compatible e-mail client [Outlook, LiveMail, &etc] can use the MAIL shield.

Browser Cleanup [as opposed to the separate "Cleanup" module] offers a simple way to remove most browser addons/toolbars... so it couldn't hurt anything to have it around just in case.

Home Network Security scans your router for various vulnerabilities... probably a reasonable choice to include.

Remote Assistance can be great --- if you have out-of-town family/friends with avast... you can (with their permission) remotely take care of their systems, analyzing/fixing things for them while staying in the convenience of your home.

Rescue Disk has the potential to save you, in the event of a major crash that renders your O/S unbootable.   But I have never tested it to see if it really works.

As for the rest, they're debatable.  Browser Protection (Avast Online Security) is probably less effective than WOT --- but it does offer anti-phishing.   Software Updater is potentially useful --- but I much prefer Secunia's PSI.   My understanding is that Secure Line is a PAID feature... so I don't know why it's even listed in the FREE installer.   I believe Cleanup is the current name of what used to be called "Grime Fighter" --- either way, I wouldn't get near it.  

Finally, I have mixed feelings about their new Passwords module.   On the one hand, it supposedly offers a simple way to create and use very STRONG and DISTINCT passwords at each protected site you visit.   In theory, that's fantastic.   But what scares me is the thought of the catastrophe that could ensue if this module ever crashed, and wound-up locking me out of all those sites... unless I had a separate copy/listing of all those passwords --- which, if stored elsewhere on my PC, would potentially defeat the security/purpose of having the avast password module.

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But the main reason I continue to keep avast --- besides very high ratings in the independent AV testing --- is the plethora of customized settings it allows.   Granted, some are harder to find now, with the newer GUI.   But I relish the ability to tweak its various settings, in particular, to allow ME decide how I want it to proceed whenever it finds a suspicious file --- I accept the responsibility to research and distinguish between a legitimate threat and a F/P.

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Having praised avast, I can't say that it's been a complete love-fest.   On numerous occasions, the avast service hasn't started.   Often, a reboot will fix that.    But sometimes, I've had to do a "repair" from the Control Panel.    Often, such a reboot/repair has resulted in a total loss of my customized settings :-(   Fortunately, I'm careful to back them up periodically, and have been successful in restoring them.   But I freely concede it can be quite aggravating.    I also have other strange issues that sometimes occur on my system, and suspect that avast might be the contributing factor, but have not been able to establish that definitively.

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As for Panda 2015, I use it (and have been using it) on several systems [XP / 7 / 8.1].   Many are computers I've set-up for other people... and of course, I have no control over what sites they surf.   Which is a strong indication to me that Panda [and/or perhaps some of the other security tools I opted to install] must be doing a good job of protecting them.  [I have NOT upgraded to Panda 2016 on any of these.]

Here's a good reference to the various avast "supplemental" modules... should give you a good idea what to look for, and what they do.

Caveat:   The article is about 6-months old, and is using the 2015 version.   But the ideas are still relevant.

https://www.winhelp.us/avast-free-antivirus-additional-protections.html

The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=182468.0

Avast is happy to announce new version AVAST 2016 (build number 2016.11.1.2253).
This version is focused on minor improvements and bug fixing.

What's new:
+ New firewall driver for Win8/10 - fixes issues with non working firewall

+ SecureLine start is faster - new OpenVPN method

+ Easier turning off email signatures

+ Faster loading of passwords list

+ Fixed installation of SafeZone browser

+ Extensions are now Firefox 64-bit compatible

+ SafeZone browser: Added security extension (phishing protection)

+ SafeZone browser: Fixed Pay mode crashes

+ SafeZone browser: Settings and bookmarks now synced to Pay mode (after browser restart)

+ Security fixes

How to install:

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

2. Or you can download and install [the free version] from here:

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe

The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=184616.0

Hi everyone,

It is my pleasure to inform you that SafeZone Browser is now available for all Avast users. It has been one of the key features of the premium (paid) versions of Avast for many years, and we've now made it available to our free users as well.

SafeZone is designed to be a fully fledged web browser. It can be used for everyday browsing and contains great features, including:

Pay Mode - SafeZone Browser takes the worry out of online banking and shopping. When SafeZone detects that a user has visited a banking website, it will automatically open the web page in an isolated session. This provides a secure connection where a user can proceed with financial transactions without the fear of his/her password or personal financial information being stolen. To further increase security, the browser provides an encrypted connection through Avast’s own DNS servers, protecting users who connect using an unsecured Wi-Fi network.

Ad Blocker - SafeZone Browser includes a built-in Ad Blocker that stops annoying ads using lists established by the community, and therefore improves the browsing experience by enabling faster website loading. Thus, the user can browse on websites or read online articles without viewing pages packed with banners, pop-ups and other bothersome ads.

Video downloader - This feature allows YouTube, Vimeo and other streaming websites’ fans to quickly and easily download videos to watch later, even when they are not connected to the Internet.

SafeZone is also designed to provide the ultimate online protection and protects users against potential attacks, malware and phishing schemes. Unwanted toolbars and add-ons have no chance to get into SafeZone and spy on you.

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Remark:   Many avast users were surprised... and often unhappy... to suddenly find the SafeZone browser had been automatically installed/added on their system:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=184577.0

The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185199.0

[We are] happy to announce new version AVAST 2016 (build number 2016.11.2.2260).
This update brings originally premium feature - SafeZone browser also to all free users.

What's new:

+ SafeZone browser is now included also in free version

+ Avast program updates are now automatic and silent by default - can be changed via Settings->Update

+ Faster computer startup

+ Fixed issues with Firewall on Windows 7

+ Fixed postpone function on restart dialog

+ Fixed starting Pay mode in SafeZone browser

+ Better notification about email signatures

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Remarks:   1) There appears to be some (a lot of) confusion here:   While the new avast program/build is "advertised" here as  2016.11.2.2260, the installation program [and several modules it installs] is/are identified as 11.2.2279 ... go figure!

2)  As usual, the avast -forum thread cited above is LOADED with people complaining about problems they have encountered with the latest update.   Be advised that I have not yet updated my avast (still using x.2245), so I cannot offer any first-hand comments.   But it's certainly scary to read everything alleged there... that avast seems to be pushing quantity (new modules/features) without certifying quality of neither the new nor the already-existing modules.

avast build 2016.11.2.2261 released [bug fixes??], same despection as x.2260

I normally don't "push" a negative post made by one individual, but I think this one warrants an exception.

RejZoR is a long-time avast user, supporter, tester, bug reporter, and community helper --- for over 12 years --- with over 8000 posts at their forum.   He had been a strong avast advocate, and was even "famous" for compiling/publishing/automating his own set of personal "tweaks" for avast, so that "newbies" and anyone else interested could easily implement them.   For example, here's his setup for last year's (2015) configuration:   https://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-2015-protection-tweaks/

But he's become highly disenchanted with avast over the past year or two --- particularly with its NG module --- and has finally reached the point of resignation:  "after seeing [the] ongoing (current) trainwreck of broken product updates and functions, I'll just stop bothering with avast! entirely. The product is unreliable, immature with continually mediocre protection performance and protection features that you just can't rely on because their reliability is best described as 'random'".

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185331.0

I know, from reading elsewhere, that he has tried Panda... and has had a mixed reaction to that as well.   I don't know if he's still using Panda, or has moved on to something else.

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Again, stress this is just one person's opinion.   But a person who seems to be highly qualified to offer such an opinion.

As for me, I am currently still running avast (2016.11.1.2245) on 2 of my home systems (Win7, XP), with Panda on a third (8.1).

Thanks for posting the ongoing saga of Avast. If I remember correctly, some earlier version started to give me problems so I quit using it. Now have Panda Free AV on both machines, and it appears to do its job quickly and efficiently. Have always been tempted to take a peek at Avast again, but after reading that forum page I won't go anywhere near it again. Just like XP in your other thread, simple and easy to use while doing a good job was way better.

Dale,

No question that Panda is a much simpler product to use... even for those who (know how to and) access its settings, there are very few options/tweaks to consider.   (In my case, the primary tweak [at home] was to adjust Panda to ask me what I want to do in the event if finds a[n alleged] malware file... I still prefer to take the responsibility to analyze things, to determine if the threat is real, or merely a false positive.    But to let you know, I've installed Panda on several other systems [i.e., for OTHER people to use], without making this tweak, and it's running just fine that way... no one has complained to me.)

I am a creature of habit... I don't like to change something that's working.   But I will when something doesn't work.  For example, I had been successfully running last-year's Panda 2015 on my home XP system.   But when it finally automatically updated to 2016, I noticed that the Process Monitor was NOT monitoring online activity!   I tried uninstalling and reinstalling... including one or two subsequent updated versions... without success.   That's when I went back to avast on my XP system.    [I've had no such bad experience with Panda when running it on Win7.]

As I've always said, when it comes to security software, YMMV.

I've always appreciated simplicity (more so as I age!) and Panda Free AV works well for me. On my XP system, Panda  Free (currently, v. 16.0.2) works in all aspects, including the Process Monitor. Ditto for Win7, and Win10. About the only negative I have to say about Panda Free is the increase in the nag alerts to upgrade to the paid version, on all my systems. I can live with them.

Go figure ...

The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185928.0

Hi all,

I am happy to announce new version AVAST 2016 (build number 2016.11.2.2262).
This update fixes some critical crashes during installation and program update.

What's new:

+ fixed crashing installations

+ fixed critical crashes on some AMD processors

+ fixed problem with huge antispam logfile

+ fixed repeatedly adding SafeZone browser icon on desktop after avast update

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The following was copied/pasted from https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185871.msg1309733#msg1309733

Hi everyone,

After much reflection, we have decided to pull the NG technology from the client-side Avast for the being. The technology has a great potential, and it's delivering great results in our cloud-based systems - but these run in a fully controlled environment, which is much different from making it work on a myriad of Windows/PC configurations that are out there...

With that said, we have some bigger announcements to be made regarding NG and the whole engine, but I don't want to do that just now as this time, we really want to be sure there are real results that you can actually see and verify for yourself before we make any bold announcements...

The only thing I would say for now is that the whole team has been working theirs *** off to make a real difference...

Thanks
Vlk