| One of the foremost providers of free antivirus | | | | to how to proceed. Incremental updates are made to |
| protection for home computers is Avast!, which | | | | this antivirus software including new information |
| offers its 4.7 Home Edition for personal computer use | | | | about virus threats. You may choose between |
| only for free. Other products available from ALWIL | | | | automatic or scheduled updates. Avast! 4 Home |
| Software include a paid antivirus software, "Avast | | | | Edition updates efficiently according to your internet |
| Professional for Microsoft Windows", a "Pro Family | | | | connection. It will only update when and if you are |
| Pack," which includes parental controls and antivirus | | | | already connected to the internet. This antivirus |
| software systems designed specifically for Linux and | | | | program offers a resident protection service that |
| MAC's. The Home Edition antivirus software is the | | | | uses standard shield to protect the file system, with |
| only one software product available for free. This | | | | a generic SMTP/POP3/IMAP4 scanner, specific MS |
| version of antivirus software is available for free | | | | Outlook plug-in and heuristic analysis in e-mail module. |
| because ALWIL believes that is it important to avoid | | | | Avast! features a powerful resident module that is |
| global virus spreading with software prevention | | | | able to detect a virus before it has any chance to |
| measures, but that many people are not able to or | | | | infect your computer through several different |
| do not want to pay for antivirus software. This | | | | systems. It includes a learning antivirus software |
| version of the Avast! Home Edition combines | | | | program that protects your email and computer from |
| technology available since 1998 with the latest | | | | the most recently released viruses. It also includes |
| antivirus scanning technology. Some key features of | | | | "net shield" and "web shield" which analyze network |
| this antivirus software include: antivirus kernel | | | | traffic and http web traffic to provide additional |
| detection, that is ICSA certified. Users of the avast! | | | | protection from viruses that may attempt to access |
| 4.7 Home Edition, can rely on the software's ability to | | | | your computer. It does this by scanning for malicious |
| detect In-the-Wild viruses, which is those already | | | | content as you surf the internet. It does not |
| spreading, as well as Trojan horses. In addition this | | | | interfere significantly with the use of the internet or |
| antivirus software scans for viruses hidden in data | | | | cause substantial page loading delays. Avast! has |
| streams. In order to get additional services such as | | | | been winning industry awards since 1993. Among |
| firewall, spyware of phishing protection, or parental | | | | these awards and recognition, Virus Bulletin has |
| locks a purchase of the more complete antivirus | | | | awarded avast! with a VB 100% award in both 2007 |
| software products available for purchase are required. | | | | and 2008 for virus detection. They've also earned the |
| It is very easy to install and configure the software | | | | coveted SC from Secure Computing magazine. This |
| from avast! After you choose your product and | | | | award comes from votes by customers who use |
| download the antivirus software a memory test will | | | | antivirus or other personal computing protection, |
| occur when you restart your computer. With the | | | | almost like a coveted People's Choice Award. Avast! |
| first scan you will then be taken through a mini | | | | is currently celebrating their 50 millionth user, and with |
| tutorial, which also indicates existing viruses and | | | | the award winning antivirus protection available within |
| malware that need to be removed as well as assists | | | | minutes of downloading, available for free, there is no |
| you in customizing your systems scans and | | | | longer any excuse for not updating, installing or |
| protection levels. With the detection of threats, you | | | | acquiring new antivirus software for your personal |
| are provided with a definition of the threat to your | | | | computer. |
| personal computer as well as the level of threat | | | | Lisa Carey is a contributing author for Identity Theft |
| involved. This software can scan your whole | | | | Secrets: prevention and protection. You can get tips |
| computer, select folders or files as well as disks. A | | | | on Identity theft protection, software, and |
| "Log Viewer" indicates the progress of the scan, | | | | monitoring your credit as well as learn more about |
| statistics, updates and removed threats as well as | | | | the secrets used by identity thieves at the Identity |
| those held in "quarantine," awaiting your decision as | | | | Theft Secrets blog. |