Major differences: Avast Online Security and Avast Web Shield

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hello

I am looking to find out additional information about using both Avast Online Security and Avast Web Shield (part of Avast Antivirus).

  1. Are there any major differences?
  2. If AOS blocks a phishing site, can Web Shield do the same or does it target threats such as Malicious code only?
  3. Do they provide equivalent or different levels of protection?
  4. How well do they compliment one another?
  5. Are they backed by the same feeds (ie. CommunityIQ) or other server-based databases?

I have no plans to replace one with another, but would be great to find out the any major/minor differences between the two services.

Regards

2

With new version, they’ll move phishing protection to Web Shield. Also, to show webpage ratings and block trackers, you need browser integration because it cannot be done with a scanning layer like Web Shield.

And the reason why they use browser extension is to display warning within browser in the appropriate tab. If you block something with Web Shield, it’ll show the warning popup on desktop, but you’ll have no idea which tab was it if you have many open.

Though, I think some AV’s inject warnings into tab somehow without using browser extension. I’m gonna try asking devs about it…

3

A major difference is the webshield has the ability to scan HTTPS. It can detect malware in encrypted traffic.

4

Thank you for the information about Avast Online Privacy Security.

If Phishing protection is being moved to the Web Shield then;

  • will avast On.Sec. still provide phishing protection
  • will avast On.Sec. require avast Antivirus to be installed or remain as an independent extension

I am not keen on HTTPS scanning to be honest, it’s something I disable when I am trying new beta builds.

5

HTTPS sites can get infected too.

If you read polonus’s various security topics/posts you will see that many https sites are also using outdated security protocols.

6

I am aware, thanks for the help. :slight_smile: