SecureLine is a separate purchase, even in the Pro antivirus. Clicking that button gets you…pricing information. Clicking it gets you a warning that your connection isn't private, along with a Go Private button. On the Privacy page, you'll find a button to invoke the SecureLine VPN. This is a separate desktop that's isolated from malware, keyloggers, and other unwanted hangers-on. The hardened SafeZone browser kicks into Bank Mode when you visit a financial site. The SafePrice extension perks up when it sees you shopping and searches for better deals on your selections. It warns you away from unsafe links in search results, actively blocks ad trackers, and even corrects your URL typos.
Other bonus features show up when you install the Online Security browser extension.
There's even a password manager, albeit a simple one. You can create a bootable rescue disk in case aggressive malware makes the system unbootable.
Its Software Updater looks for browsers and other software targets that are missing important security patches. The Wi-Fi Inspector component performs the unusual task of scanning your network (wired or wireless) for security problems. It's quite amazing how much security goodness Avast packs into its free antivirus. See How We Test Security Software Shared Bonus Features Its detection rate was just 2 percent below that of antiphishing champ Symantec Norton AntiVirus Basic (29.99 3 devices / 1 year – 50% off at Bitdefender), and it scored significantly better than the protection built into Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. However, Comodo, PC Matic, and Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus (29.99 3 devices / 1 year – 50% off at Bitdefender) all earned a perfect 10 points.Īfter I got past an initial kerfuffle involving an incompatibility between Avast and my antiphishing test tool, the antiphishing component did excellent work. In my hands-on malware protection test, Avast detected 97 percent of the samples and earned 9.7 of 10 possible points, a very good score. Kaspersky Anti-Virus (29.99 3 devices / 1 year – 50% off at Bitdefender) owns this test, with a near-perfect 9.8 points. My aggregate lab score calculation assigns Avast 8.7 of 10 possible points. I would characterize its results as good, but not quite great. First, though, I'll review the shared features.Īll five of the independent antivirus labs that I follow include Avast in their testing. Rather than repeat myself, I'll direct you to read that review, so I can focus here on what's special about pro. Read Our AVG Internet Security - Unlimited (2017) Review Shared Antivirus FeaturesĪs mention, this product includes all of the features found in Avast Free Antivirus 2017 (29.99 3 devices / 1 year – 50% off at Bitdefender), and that's saying a lot. You'd think being so generous with the free version would cut into sales, but this model seems to work for Avast. And unlike many vendors, Avast doesn't prohibit use of the free edition in a commercial setting. However, the vast majority of this product's advanced features also come with the free edition. When you click Protection in the menu, though, you'll notice a couple of items freed from the padlock icons they displayed in the free edition. It has the same slate-gray background and left-rail menu, with a few buttons and panels in green and purple.
Were it not for "Pro" in the title bar, you'd be hard pressed to distinguish this product's main window from that of the free edition. The fifth, McAfee, costs $59.99 per year, but it lets you install protection on an unlimited number of Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices. Four of my Editors' Choice antivirus products come in at this level: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2017 (29.99 3 devices / 1 year – 50% off at Bitdefender), Kaspersky, Norton, and Webroot. Among many other impressive bonus features, it includes a basic password manager and an unusual tool that checks the security of your entire network.Īlmost half of the commercial antivirus products that I've reviewed cost about the same as Avast-$39.99 per year for one license. Some products go way beyond the basics Avast Pro Antivirus 2017 is one such.