Free vs Pro

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I am getting a new computer that will be 64 bit and of course Windows 7. I am planning to use Avast as my AV. I assume there is no problem with Avast and 64 bit.

The problem is that the Home version is so good that I am not sure that the Pro version is a help.
I don’t understand what this difference means. Or how it does it.
“Lets you safely browse suspicious websites or applications”

I have a lifetime subscription to both Malwarebytes, and Super Anti Spyware.
What advantage would the Pro version offer if I ran Avast Home with MBAM running in real time? I understand that there is no difference in detection rates.

I am pleased to see than in the last 5 or so years Avast has advanced from a good AV to one of the best. It has always been one of the smoothest and least troublesome applications.

I am currently running Avast Home on both of my computers alongside MBAM and with the PC Tools Plus firewall. Everything is operating without a hitch.

Thanks,
Jerry

2

basically, pro adds “virtualization”, while IS adds a firewall.

3

The pic shows the added features.

avast! 5.0 comparison chart:
http://www.avast.com/en-ca/comparison-chart

4

i accidently signed up for a trial ( paid) version instead of the free - now it will expire in 5 days and I am having trouble downloading the free one - any help will be appreciated - thanks

5

What trial version, avast Pro or the Avast Internet Security suite ?

If avast pro - I don’t know how the pro trial version works, at the end of the trial period obviously you have to purchase or uninstall. I don’t know if there is a third option and that is of inputting a registration key for the free version (as I believe you were able to do in 4.8.) and that would down grade the pro trial to that of the free version with the loss of the pro features.

So you could test if that third option works by completing the off-line registration form and receiving an email with the registration key and trying that.

Off-line Registration also see support.avast knowledgebase article 459

6

Thanks, I read them,but am not smart enough to translate the added features in real world terms, and have no idea what “virtualization”, means.

"“Lets you safely browse suspicious websites or applications” In what manner does it do such?
What does it do that the Home plus MBAM doesn’t do?

Regards,
Jerry

7

Process Virtualization means that it uses a sandbox to isolate applications.

8

Thanks. A sandbox seems to be more and more of an added feature.

Regards,
Jerry

9

Yes, I don’t see how you could survive without a sandbox. OK, I’m kidding :wink:

10

+1, I don’t think either sandboxing is a must have …adding that it’s not very reliable yet (unstable)

11

Personally I would rather have a robust backup and recovery strategy, like running a hard disk imaging application (weekly in my case) than have the overhead of running anything sandboxed. That doesn’t just mean avast pro’s sandbox/virtualization but applications like Sandboxie or VMWare, etc.