What do you think of this recent test (july 2007) ?
http://forum.malekal.com/ftopic3528.php
sorry, it’s in french ;D
I must admit that it questionned me a lot… it could make me doubt of avast! that i’ve been using for 4 years now… 
Since I can’t read French to be able to check out the report (haven’t tried to translate it) all I can say is - You should base your decisions on your 4 years of practical experience of avast and its protection and continued development including the planned version 5 development and not on one report.
There are many who went to antivir and have come back to avast because antivir didn’t suit them or there needs and that is a practical decision.
Edit: Not to mention you can use a specialist anti-spyware which is likely to be better at detecting trojan droppers/downloaders, etc. increasing overall multi-level/application protection. Also your firewall should also be playing a part in providing protection unauthorised outbound Internet Connections. So any dropper/downloader/backdoor would effectively have to pass your firewall.
the main problem seems to be the lack of reactivity of vps toward new infections and the fact that webshield doesn’t completely stops infection even when malware is detected (some process are still alive after blocking )
That is something which they are working on to improve the reaction to submissions already reported in the forums. There is a process of new labs people hired but they take time to train and become effective. The plan to introduce a new submission system to make it easier to submit samples. Also being developed a means to automate analyse samples to help in the prioritising for action.
But these won’t happen overnight but I certainly won’t jump ship based on my personal experience as an avast user for three and a half years.
Well, I can read french and Malekal’s forum is a respected well-known French (slang french, I have to say!!!) malware fighter forum. Now I know north America is still balancing towards Avast and Europe towards Antivir. I’d say there is no reason. I surf the web with prudence and have Antivir + Bitdefender +ClamWin all installed since one month now and I cross fingers. I still think most Avast users and technicians are sitting on their behind thinking they’re the best. That’s how the Roman Empire fell 1500 years or so ago. We need facts. This should be read on by the Avast team and something must be done. Avira relies on the Avira Team, Avast seems to rely more on its users praises and slim contributions. Believe me, Avast should start worrying if I tell you Avast is no longer on my PC desktop! 8)
I agree (and the pro version vps is more often actualized) but, the scary thing is also (as i said previously) the “unefficiency” of the webshield evn when the malware is recognized…) : some process of the malware are still active and some malware files have been executed… :-\
If you like avast, stay with it, you can use Antivir as a backupscanner. Just install it without the AV-guard.
The Pro version gets more often updated than the free version?
yes, with “push iavs” 
@ gdiloren
Well I guess you mean me then since I’m the only one commenting on this in favour of avast and I base that on having three and a half years practical experience of avast and I haven’t had any problems. I don’t believe the ‘technicians’ are sitting on their backsides doing nothing, I would say nothing could be further from the truth.
I guess now you have switched away from avast it is doomed, much like SpywareTerminator and SuperAntiSpyware we must all follow you. I guess you will be looking for a new avatar as well. You surprise me though switching to avira as you had a False positive with them, having ditched other products for that reason, god luck with your new security set-up.
Newbie here… ;D
Love avast! I actually was on the internet for a very looooong time with no antivirus software.
Living quite dangerously with my test pc…did it on purpose. :o
I’ve been testing different products for a while now. I’m very happy with avast!
I agree with David…no one is sitting around being idle not taking care of business.
On the contrary…between the hackers and the amount of problems they create…the software designers at all companies are kept quite busy.
avast! will in time as all other antivirus companies get to the top of the chart and stay there…just a matter of time is all. I’m a very patient person. I’m hoping to be there when they do.
Well, it does not gives us information about how the Avast Team will react to the problem shown in the french forum (I’m french ;D). Today I’ve uninstalled Avast for Antivir, waiting for next informations before an eventual coming back to Avast (I’ve got Avast for more than 3 years).
What are your experiences in the three years you have had avast, does that count for nothing ?
David, The experiences may be good BUT as soon as the reactivity declines, it’s time for a change. Fast!
I personally don’t feel the decline that you mention, it is however your system and your choice, close the door on your way out.
I think avast is best.Look at 1st and 7th ;D ;D
http://blog.chip.de/0-security-blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/anti-virus-test-2007.png
Well, the Pro version isn’t really updated “more often” - it’s just that with Push iAVS function, you can get the update as soon as it’s released (provided you check for e-mails often enough), while normally you’d get it during the next periodic update check. And yes, I think it’s also possible to set the periodic update check to a lower value than in the Home version (though it’s probably not necessary).
I admit I didn’t check the page carefully (don’t speak French anyway), but I think the problem doesn’t have anything to do with WebShield not stopping the infection; it’s probably caused by the fact that avast! didn’t detect some component of the malware.
This is the problem with tests, and then users start to swap AV’s based on such tests. I think we have all done this and I have used Anti Vir in the past. However Avast is good, not the best, and if yoi layer it with something like GESWall you are very secure.
You are so very right. I’m the type of person that loves to test different products.
I am well aware of why they are done. I will only say this…everyone has to make up their own mind. I’ve tried Antivir…was not happy with it. To each his or her own. avast! works for me.
Remember…I said I was on the internet with no antivirus software…so…I was very lucky and had no problems. As so many others have stated…common sense has to figure into the equation as well.
Layers of protection keep your pc in total check. The tests are there to persuade people to change.
Think before you do this is all I’m saying.
Well said.
It conflicts with avast… the Antivir service messes avast installation. You need to manually change the Antivir service.
I don’t recommend it as a second, non-resident, scanner because of this.
BitDefender would do the job on a second opinion.
The lower value allowed to home version is 120 minutes.