AVAST Launches avast! Free Antivirus 7 Security and Remote Access Solution

AVAST Software has launched avast! Free Antivirus 7 solution, enabling users to receive faster information from the cloud regarding new and emerging threats. The security program is designed to make security fast and easier for users, and new Remote Access and Account features enable family and friends to help solve others' IT issues easily.

The latest version of the free antivirus software harnesses cloud technologies to provide users streaming updates and better distinguish between malicious and clean files. avast! 7 users also receive daily virus database updates, and the software streams updates to users to give them faster warnings about new malware.

“avast! Free Antivirus is our flagship product," said Vince Steckler, CEO of AVAST Software in a release. "This means that for every new generation of avast!, we provide more features in the free product than we had in the previous premium versions. avast! 7 is no exception to this rule, even though the last product refresh was only a year ago.”

“With avast! 7, our users have a security app that is ready for the challenges of today – and tomorrow,” added Steckler. "avast! 7 is Windows 8 Beta compatible and includes specific features for Windows 8 such as the Early-Load Antimalware Driver (ELAM) against system-level rootkits and bootkits."

A new FileRep feature offers faster threat identification by sorting new and potentially dangerous files from known safe files. Hundreds of millions of executables files are already available in the avast! cloud-based database, which helps FileRep to categorize all files on the web. The database is sourced from the CommunityIQ sensor network to help avast! decide when questionable files must be placed in the AutoSandbox.

avast! users can also connect to the computer of a second user easily, allowing them to help with any computer issues without needing an additional remote assistance program. The connection tool is routed through AVAST servers, offering a safe and secure way to remotely help others.

Account users can also see information on the avast! installed on each listed computer in their network, as well as the operational status and health of each machine. An improved WebRep browser plugin now also detects counterfeit sites as well as detecting phishing attempts and fake/planted SSL certificates that are used to "authenticate" malicious sites.

“Remote Assistance lets a geeky friend help others solve their computer problems,” said Ondrej Vlcek, CTO of AVAST Software. “With the avast! Account, we’ve made a one-place setting for the family IT geek to take care of their family’s security needs. We’ve added phishing data from our Virus Lab to user-submitted votes on site reliability to provide all users with a more complete package of information.”