Is the browser plugin worth using or even needed for security purposes?
For the most part I just use the Google Chrome browser and it has security features built in so will the Avast browser plugin conflict or slow things down?
I’ve noticed the green checkmarks that are supposed to show next to listed search results don’t always work, you have to refresh the browser most of the time to see the checkmarks.
Any opinions would be most appreciated.
Whilst it is called the Avast Online Security add-on, it isn’t the main protection, that is the Web Shield.
It provides some features that aren’t directly related to malware as such, reputation of the site, anti-phishing, url correction, if you make a typo when typing a url. This could lead to typo squatting which could be used for fraud or worse still malware attack. If you open the AOS Settings (clicking the AOS icon in the browser) and you will see what it covers.
I don’t believe it has a noticeable slowdown on browsing.
Personally I don’t use it, but that choice has to be yours.
What are your opinions about this add-on?
Is this add-on useful for you?
I’m thinking whether to unistall it or not.
I can’t speak for you or other users, I don’t know what your browsing and security habits are.
That is also a pretty old topic you have breathed life into, at that time I also used WOT as a site reputation add-on and avast AOS does a similar task.
Currently I have AOS running on this system but not on my other one.
The thread is from november 2015 it isn’t that old. And i thought it would be better if I search and respond to an already open thread than create a new one for the same subject. It’s the normal procedure in forums.
Concerning the utility of AOS, in my case I don’t see it’s utility. Yes you can click and see what companies are trying to colect data about your visits, for ads and so on but for me today it’s almost impossible to be free of analysis in the internet. It also have the reputation function in the searches, yes maybe it have it’s utility but It’s rare that I see a link with a negative sign.
Still old in terms of security applications - avast version has changed, its components and the content of the AOS has also changed in that time.
That is also why you get a warning by the forum software when Opening (depending on forum settings) or Reply to a topic that is considered an old topic.
Which is why I said.
I can't speak for you or other users, I don't know what your browsing and security habits are.
Each user has to decide what is good for them. If you don’t feel you need it no problem.
The answer to the question of this thread is simply no.
There is no user in the world who need something like AOS, WOT or similar.
When it comes to security it starts with what the user knows/does.
Fact is that over (as they say) 99.9% of the users have no clue at all about security.
Some examples :
People are using a account with administrator right for daily use.
That is a huge security risk and there is no need at all to do so.
People believe a av is to protect their system(s).
They are wrong.
A av is just one of the many things that can help a user to protect their system(s).