Hello everyone,
there is a new beta version ready - build 26.11.11219.
Release notes
What is New
Antivirus and Protection
Hidden malware in game files: Avast now looks inside Ren’Py game archives and their script files. Attackers use these files to hide the RenEngine malware loader. Avast can now find it.
Cyber Capture message: The Cyber Capture notification now says a file was also sent to our Threat Labs only when that really happened.
Scan engine updates: Avast can now check the digital signature of Remote Desktop (.rdp) files. Large files need less memory when Avast verifies them. Scan exclusions are matched faster. Folder submissions now pick the right archive format.
Protection against local attacks: Other programs on your PC can no longer overload the Avast scan engine until it runs out of memory.
SafeZone browser: SafeZone now works for programs that run with limited trust. Avast used to reject them too early.
AI Agent Protection
Faster access checks: Agentic Safe Zone now checks your temporary “allow” decisions earlier. Access you already approved is granted faster.
Late answers still count: If an access prompt times out, your answer is still applied afterwards.
Network and VPN
More VPN apps recognised: Avast now spots many more VPN connections. This includes X-VPN, PureVPN, IPVanish, NordLayer, ZeroTier, Fortinet and Sophos. It also includes the Windows IKEv2, L2TP, SSTP and PPTP connections.
Secure DNS network memory: Secure DNS now recognises the same network every time. It no longer treats a known network as new and repeats its checks.
Cleanup
Delete locked files after restart: Files that Cleanup cannot delete right away, for example because they are in use, are now removed after your next restart. The app can also ask you to restart your PC.
AI Tools cleaning: Custom Clean has a new AI Tools category. It lists cleaning rules for AI apps such as Cursor. When you clean several rules for the same running AI app, the “Close these running programs?” box shows that app once.
Faster start: The main window opens faster. If you start the app a second time, it brings up the open window instead of a second one.
Software Remover: You can now cancel a software scan while it runs.
Steadier browser cleaning: Cleaning browser bookmarks and history no longer crashes the CCleaner service.
Installer and Updates
Uninstall without internet: Uninstall now finishes even when setup information for an add-on component is missing and cannot be downloaded. Before, the whole uninstall stopped.
CCleaner setup check: The CCleaner installer now checks that the Microsoft WebView2 component is really on your PC. This stops the “0x80070002” start-up error.
Cleaner updates: Updates remove old, unused interface files. This frees disk space.
Safer setup files: Setup now refuses to follow disguised file links when it saves its report files. This closes a way for other users on your PC to misuse it.
Clearer setup errors: Setup error reports now show the real cause, such as a full disk. A crash after uninstall no longer causes confusing errors either.
What Was Fixed
Antivirus and Protection
Virus definitions after System Restore: Avast now checks that the virus definitions folder is complete after a Windows System Restore. Before, a damaged folder could stop the scan service from starting.
Malicious registry entries: Avast now removes malicious multi-value registry entries it finds. The removal used to fail without any message.
Memory safety: We fixed four memory errors in Avast drivers and the scan engine. Specially crafted text or files could trigger them. We also fixed damaged entries in sandbox logs. A failed driver start-up step is no longer reported as a success.
File Reputation setting: A change to the File Reputation setting now applies at once. Before, it could take over a minute.
Smart Scan crash: Avast no longer crashes when you stop Smart Scan and start it again right away.
Shutdown hang: The Avast service no longer freezes when it shuts down, for example during a reinstall.
Blue screens when drivers stop: We fixed three blue-screen crashes that could happen when Avast drivers stopped or were updated. One affected 32-bit Windows 7 and 8.1.
Anti-rootkit on new Windows 11: Anti-rootkit now collects the information it needs on the newest Windows 11 build.
Fewer false alerts about Chrome: If the Avast service restarts while it repairs its engine, Avast now saves the details at once. This helps us find the cause of rare false alerts about Chrome. Avast also notes recent System Restore events.
Script Shield updates: We updated the data that Script Shield uses to watch scripts.
AI Agent Protection
Blocked folders and network paths: Agentic Safe Zone now blocks access to a protected folder when an AI agent reaches it by a network-style path such as \\localhost\C$. Before, this path got around the block.
Business Management
Firewall rules kept: Firewall rules you add on a PC stay in place when your console has rule management turned off. Before, they disappeared after a few minutes.
UI password: The “General program access” password option from your console works again in Avast 26.8 and newer. The password prompt now appears.
Privacy
Data breach monitoring crash: We fixed a crash that could happen while Avast read browser bookmarks.
AntiTrack log errors: AntiTrack no longer fills its log with errors when it closes browser windows.
Licensing
Modular license dates: The expiry date with grace period no longer overwrites the normal expiry date. A replaced subscription keeps its correct billing type.
Subscription buttons: For partner-managed subscriptions, “Resubscribe” and “See subscription options” now open the purchase page in your browser. They used to ask for a PIN.
Driver Updater
Cancelled updates: A cancelled update is no longer counted as an updated driver.
Automatic revert: When a driver update fails its check, automatic revert now restores your previous driver. Before, it installed the failed update again.
Restart needed state: Driver Updater now notices when you update a driver outside the app and Windows asks for a restart. It no longer shows the old update offer. One device waiting for a restart no longer blocks other actions.
Full disk: A full disk no longer makes Driver Updater ignore a good driver for good. You can free space and try again. Driver Updater also checks the space it needs before it downloads.
Cleanup
Release notes after update: Release notes now appear after an automatic update. You no longer need to restart the service.
Startup Manager names: Startup Manager now shows the correct program names. Before, some entries showed an unrelated name, for example Java’s updater under an audio plug-in.
Close browsers box: In Health Check, clicking a browser name in the “Close browsers” box now ticks its checkbox.
Safer saved data: CCleaner no longer saves data through disguised file links. This closes a way for other users on your PC to write to protected files.
Home screen cards: A card you dismissed no longer comes back. We also fixed a rare crash when the card list loads.
Software Updater
Apple downloads: Downloads for Apple software, such as iTunes, now work.
Software Updater crash: We fixed a crash that could happen when the updater closed while tasks were running.
Installer and Updates
Optional components: Components that your policy excludes are no longer installed with Avast or Norton. Add-ons installed later now use the matching beta or internal channel.
Failed add-on install: If an add-on fails to install, file changes that wait for a restart are no longer undone. Before, this could leave the product broken after a restart.
Uninstall survey: On Windows 7, the “Something else” screen in the AVG uninstall survey shows its text box at once. Submitting the survey no longer causes an error.
Move from AntiTrack to Avast: Moving from stand-alone AntiTrack to Avast no longer shows a Microsoft Edge error. Updating Avast also installs the AntiTrack module when stand-alone AntiTrack is present.
AntiTrack uninstall crash: The Avast window no longer crashes when you uninstall AntiTrack.
Move from older versions: Moving from the old setup to the new one keeps your web reputation setting. It also no longer shows backup file errors for AVG. Moving from Avast One Essential to Avast Free no longer logs a file-access error.
Setup timeouts and errors: Setup waits longer for components to stop. It no longer fills the log with errors when several setups run at once. It no longer crashes when many reports are waiting to be sent.
Business installer: The Avast Business installer shows the correct welcome page. It no longer mentions Scam Guardian, which Business does not include.
Avast Uninstall Tool: The Avast Uninstall Tool now removes all leftover files and folders.
Languages
Translations: Text in the Avast installer and CCleaner 7.12 was updated in 43 languages.
Look and Feel
Design updates: The colours, spacing and artwork in the app were updated to match our latest design system.
Maintenance
Internal tools: We updated build and security-scanning tools and removed old build files. This does not change how the product works.
Known Issues
AI Agent Protection
Blocked folders may still be readable [Critical]: In Agentic Safe Zone, an AI agent such as Claude can still read the contents of a folder you blocked. For now, do not rely on a blocked folder to keep sensitive files away from an AI agent.
Settings
Settings saved for the wrong user [Critical]: Some settings that belong to the signed-in user can be saved under the system service account. These settings may not apply to your Windows account.
App Interface
Avast window crash [Critical]: The Avast window can close unexpectedly because of a crash.
Web Shield
Slower HTTP/3 checks: Web Shield takes longer to check HTTP/3 (QUIC) connections than normal secure web connections. Some sites can load more slowly.
Privacy
Privacy Monitor results: Privacy Monitor can show old scan results and report success when it cannot save the guest scan information.
Firewall
Slow firewall rule changes: When many app rules change at once, the Firewall applies them one at a time. This can take longer than it should. A fix is in review.
Download links:
Avast Free
Avast Premium
Avast Clear
Enjoy this beta!
We are looking forward to your feedback.
AVAST Team
