Avast Premium Security: A Robust PC Shield, But With a Few Cracks

Avast has long been a household name in the world of antivirus software, primarily due to its widely used and highly praised free offering. Avast Premium Security takes that foundation and builds upon it, delivering a paid suite designed to fortify your PC against a wider range of threats. This approach focuses heavily on bolstering the security of your computer itself, making it a viable option for users who prioritize PC protection over extensive identity and privacy features. The trade-off, however, is the absence of integrated VPN and password manager services, requiring users to source these necessities independently. While Avast Premium Security offers a solid layer of defense, a couple of lingering bugs prevent it from achieving top-tier status in a competitive market.

Price and Value

Upgrading from Avast’s free antivirus to a paid suite like Premium Security might initially seem unnecessary. After all, the internet is rife with opinions claiming that Windows’ built-in security measures are adequate. While these claims aren’t entirely unfounded, a dedicated security suite like Avast Premium Security provides additional protections against online threats that are absent in Windows Defender. Some of these features are even unique, setting Avast apart from its competitors.

The suite distinguishes itself with a user-friendly and well-organized interface, simplifying the management of its various features and tools. Surprisingly, the software keeps its internal advertising to a minimum, which is a positive change in today’s software landscape.

However, it’s essential to recognize that Avast Premium Security doesn’t offer comprehensive coverage. The absence of a VPN and password manager is a significant drawback for users seeking an all-in-one security solution. Whether its PC protection is enough is a subjective question that depends on your priorities, but it’s the focus of this security product.

Enhanced PC Protection

Avast Premium Security builds upon the already impressive capabilities of Avast’s free antivirus and firewall, providing broad protection against a multitude of online threats. Malware, ransomware, network intrusions, compromised applications, and malicious websites are all blocked, and that’s just the beginning. The suite also includes features to safeguard against webcam takeovers, DNS hijacking, attacks through Windows’ Remote Desktop Protocol, and unauthorized access to sensitive data. Users can even run programs and browse online within isolated environments, preventing other applications from snooping on their activity.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Advanced Threat Protection: Going beyond basic antivirus, Premium Security offers specialized defenses against ransomware, webcam hacking, and other sophisticated threats.

• Firewall: Premium Security’s firewall replaces Windows’ built-in firewall, offering enhanced control over network traffic. It clearly displays which apps and services are online and which have requested internet access, making it easier to manage your network security.

• Ransomware Shield: This feature adds an extra layer of protection to folders often targeted by ransomware, preventing untrusted apps from modifying or deleting files in those locations. While not a replacement for regular backups, it provides an additional safeguard against data loss.

• Bank Mode: A unique feature, Bank Mode creates an isolated virtual environment for secure online banking and shopping. By running Chrome, Edge, or Firefox within this sandbox, you can prevent other applications from spying on your activity and stealing sensitive information.

• Data Shredder: This utility securely deletes files from hard drives by overwriting them with other data. While useful for permanently removing sensitive information, it should not be used on solid-state drives (SSDs), as it can shorten their lifespan.

• Sandbox: The Sandbox feature allows you to run untrusted applications in an isolated environment, preventing them from interacting with the rest of your system. This is useful for testing potentially malicious software or running programs from unknown sources.

• Sensitive Data Shield: This feature scans your PC for documents containing sensitive information, such as social security numbers and banking details, and restricts access to those files to prevent unauthorized access. However, its scanner is limited to specific file types and may not be entirely accurate.

• Hack Alerts: Avast Premium Security monitors the web for data breaches or leaks that contain your email address, notifying you if your information has been compromised.

User Interface and Experience

The user interface for Avast Premium Security is clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate. The main screen provides a clear overview of your PC’s protection status, with large buttons for initiating scans and accessing various features. The settings are well-organized and easy to customize, allowing you to tailor the software to your specific needs.

Performance Impact

Avast Premium Security generally has a minimal impact on system performance when idle in the background. However, during scans or when working with resource-intensive applications like Microsoft Office, you may experience a noticeable slowdown, especially on less powerful PCs. It’s recommended to schedule full system scans for off-hours to minimize disruption to your workflow.

Scan Configuration

The software doesn’t automatically schedule scans during installation, so you’ll need to manually configure this setting. The scheduling interface is easy enough to use, but it is strange that the scan options were buried a little from immediate detection. Once initiated, you can perform various types of scans, including Smart Scan, Full Virus Scan, Targeted Scan, and Boot-Time Scan. You can also create custom scans with specific parameters and sensitivity levels.

Support and Updates

Avast offers a support website and help forums for Premium Security, as well as phone, email, and chat support. Virus definitions and application updates are typically installed automatically in the background, ensuring that you always have the latest protection.

Independent Testing Results

Avast consistently performs well in independent tests conducted by leading security organizations. In AV-Test’s malware and zero-day attack evaluations, Avast detected nearly all of the threats. It also achieved high scores in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection tests and malware protection tests, demonstrating its ability to block a wide range of online threats.

Conclusion: A Solid Choice with Room for Improvement

Avast Premium Security is a robust antivirus suite that provides strong protection against online threats. Its focus on PC security, combined with its user-friendly interface and advanced features, makes it a viable option for users who prioritize safeguarding their computers. However, the absence of an integrated VPN and password manager, as well as a couple of lingering bugs, prevent it from reaching its full potential.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive security solution that includes VPN and password management capabilities, you may want to consider alternative options. But if your primary concern is PC protection and you don’t mind sourcing these additional services independently, Avast Premium Security is a solid choice that won’t leave you feeling vulnerable.

Pros:

• Excellent antivirus protection.
• User-friendly interface.
• Advanced features like Bank Mode and Ransomware Shield.
• Minimal impact on system performance when idle.

Cons:

• No integrated VPN or password manager.
• A couple of buggy features.
• Limited functionality for the Sensitive Data Shield.
• Performance impact can be noticeable during scans and when working with resource-intensive applications.