I dont see anything from the website that indicates there is a difference between the Avast Free and Avast Pro/IS antivirus module.
Are there any difference in configuration settings, detections, etc? Im contemplating installing Avast IS with just the antivirus portion and file shield and going back to my old setup.
Hi whitedragon551: Not quite sure I understand what you are getting at. ??? To me there are obvious differences in components and function. Just to mention a few…For example, the Free version has no Script Shield while Pro version does. Obviously, neither has a firewall module and the Free version does not offer ‘Process Virtualization’ component. I appologize if I’m not understanding however your question seem a bit ambiguous… What was your previous “old setup”.
Thanks. 
Im only interested in differences in the main antivirus section of each. I dont need firewall or process virtualization or anything other than an on demand antivirus scanner.
On demand is not what modern AV is for, really. ClamWin still does this, I think?
This came up not too long ago, if you go back over recent forum history (last month or so?) someone from Avast! team mentioned you could run command line Avast! (ashquick.exe) from some kind of barebones install, I forget why the guy wanted to do it. But it was not really recommended. Avast! is designed for pro-active defense.
Hey Gargame1360: I’m still not clear on what the OP was meaning by his ‘old setup’ ??? Did you get that? :-\
Nope, I can only guess he used to have a strictly on-demand setup, as that would go along with how he wanted to setup Avast!.
avast! Pro/IS both use the same antivirus engine as avast! Free.
GG
Pro and IS versions allow you to set more frequent auto updates but that may not be an issue if you configure for on-demand only.
Hi Vladimyr: If I understood an earlier post on another thread that…yes you can ‘set for more frequent updates’ but there are only 2 (sometimes 3) updates a day…so you can have it set to check every (say) 120 or 240 minutes…you’re still only going to get the updates when they come out 2 times (3) a day…Correct :-\
Your assertion is absolutely correct but specifically equivocal. ;D
When/if the kind of situation should occur in which more than the “only 2 (sometimes 3) updates a day” were required, they are ulikely to be released at evenly spaced 2-hourly intervals. An FP correction especially, would hopefully closely follow the errant issue.
In other words, there is a greater chance to get newly released updates sooner with Avast Pro/IS, because of more frequent checks.
Right on guys…Very nice…I’m glad we all agree…very nice. lol 
@ whitedragon551,
Here is a comparisson chart of the Avast products: http://www.avast.com/comparison-chart. The antivirus “module” is the same for all the products except as mentioned the difference in the update timing. However if a Free user is getting updates less often than a paid user, they are still getting the same updates.
Let us know if you have any additional questions. Thank you.
The old setup consisted of all web browsers in a hardened sandbox through Sandboxie with an on demand virus scanner for downloaded files. Suspect files were also ran inside a hardened sandbox that doesnt allow internet access with Spyshelter Premium x64 real time in case of keyloggers. Sandboxie was auto set to delete contents on exit and only allow net access to programs I specified.
Are you looking for Avast to be resident AV (normal) or on-demand?
If you have any questions left, I can’t find them here…
asyn
Asyn, SafeSurf
I suspect whitedragon551 intends configuring avast! something like this: “Making Avast the lowest overhead AV available”
Im going to make it on demand as stated above. I just wanted to know if there were other options with the Avast Pro and Avast IS AV module that would make them a better choice over the free. I may just use my Avast IS key so I dont have to put up with the annoying ad.
It sounds like you are trying to self-configure Avast, and therefore I cannot help you with that. Avast developers and the Avast Team have tested each product prior to putting this out to the public to be most efficient and I cannot and suggest or encourage any self-configuration of this software.
Here is an Avast comparison chart http://www.avast.com/comparison-chart so you can see what each product has. All products contain the same AV protection, and you can change from the default settings although it is not recommended.