New-ish to avast!, I have some noob questions before I sign up. TIA

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
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Hello. I am new to the use of avast!, tho I have liked what I have seen and read thus far. I am considering which version(s) will be right
for myself and possibly others. Any help would be appreciated. Please note that I am a NOT computer savvy, so many common
terms/computer jargon often leave me confused. I need a bit more of an explanation than the usual computer user. I have seen the charts
that compare the different packages side by side, and read the elaborations, but even those leave me making presumptions in order to
make sense of what I am reading. Thanks In Advance for any help clarifying my questions…

I am considering using the free/Home Edition on my computer, but I am also considering a paid-for version. I don’t really understand the
difference between the Pro and Home versions, other than a few less options? I also don’t understand what the Pro-Family Pack includes.
(I am not a tech-head; the terms are foreign to me. Yes I saw the similar post shortly before mine; but being sent to a table, with terms
I don’t understand, won’t help me.) Please bear with me as I ask my most noobish of questions. I just want to understand before I sign up.

Home vs Pro…

Enhanced User Interface:
I understand that this means there are more interface options, but I want to know specifically what they all are. In particular, do these
options include the level/depth to set the scan at? I think that was the only customization option I ever used during my trial period.

Simple User Interface:
If I use the less customizable Home Edition, does it still have the option to scan at maximum? If not, what are the default settings?
I really don’t care how long it takes to run, so long as it does a good job (as thorough as possible) of doing what I trust it to do.

Edit: removed other querries, as per Logos’ suggestion.

Pro vs Family Pack…

I saw that Pro Family Pack offers,“10 licenses for avast! Professional Edition,” and,“1 license for avast! Windows Home Server Edition.”
Does this mean that with the purchase of the Pro-Family Pack I can protect up to 10 computers in one household, for personal and/or
business use? (Three computers in this house truly qualify for the free/home edition. Two handle some not-yet-profitable business items.)
It just seems too good to be true, that I can protect every computer in this house for the same cost of protecting just one? If so…
Golly gosh gee… I think I’ll talk the household into ordering this together! (There are four full-time residents in this community house.)

v4.8 vs v5

When does v5 come out? When does support for 4.8 end? Should I wait to purchase v5, and stick to the Free Edition for now?

THANKS for reading/responding to my questions/noob novel…

I was really pleased with my trial run. I look forward to seeing version 5, tho I may be a bit sad to see the interface changed.
I don’t care what some others have said, I liked the,“media-like,” interface (including the metallic grey colour). I also really like
the mech-voice announcing updates. I especially liked that it ran well, and that I felt able to trust the program (thanx to many
reviews and the recommendation of a trusted Geek site).

Also, I saw an article and subsequent comments regarding a premature avast! beta v5 update. I find the ordeal and it’s subsequent
handling to be admirable. I want to rely on folks that can be open and honest with their customers. I also am glad to hear that the
issue is now less likely to ever repeat itself. Lesson Learned + Effective Changes Made = Better Product! Thanks for your honesty,
and your prompt and informative responses to minimize the after-issues. Thanks also to VLK, for your post on that Geek site.

Thanks in advance for your answers to my questions…
~Nom (A new fan of your avast! anti-virus software)

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Oooo, almost forgot…
Do I need to uninstall my Pro-trial version before installing the Free/Home version?

I really ought to have something running while I debate which package to get.
I am hoping that the Pro-Family Pack will work for our household. Crossing Fingers

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hi,

so ;D

1 you should start one question per thread, nobody here will answer several questions in a same thread, sorry, that’s how most forums work :wink:

2 version 4 of avast will probably be supported for some yet undefined amount of time after the release of V5… in a couple of weeks from now, so, the question is, do you really need to investigate about all these details concerning V4 ? it’s up to you :wink:

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Fair enough, I suppose. I just thought that less threads would be better than several by one poster.

Since v5 comes out in a couple of weeks, I will wait for that version.

I still need to know if the Pro-Family Pack will in fact cover all the computers in this house,
in order to convince my housemates to switch to avast!

I suppose that also raises another question… will there be a version5 Pro-Family Pack?
If not, then what options for Internet Security on multiple computers in one household?

I may try another AV program in the meantime, but I do look forward to the v5 release.
I am particularly interested in the firewall, I have not been 100% pleased with Comodo.

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wooo…lost of questions…phuuu

Start with this

avast! User Guides and Manuals http://www.avast.com/eng/download-user-guides-and-manual.html
avast! 4 FAQs http://www.avast.com/eng/faq-avast-4-home-professional.html

Register your free product http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php
How to insert activation key http://www.avast.com/files/tutorials/insert_key.htm

avast’s Top 5 Hidden Gems http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/17/avast’s-top-5-hidden-gems/
So, When is Version 5 Coming Out? http://blog.avast.com/2009/11/30/so-when-is-version-5-coming-out/
avast! 5 is coming… soon! http://blog.avast.com/2009/07/20/avast-5-is-coming-soon/#more-354

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The funny thing is, that if it were in different threads, the OP would most likely be told to stick to one…

Anyway…

Hello NomDeKeyz, welcome to the forum :slight_smile:

Basically, at the moment, the main differences between th paid/free versions are more user friendly things, such as automated actions etc. (as well as the script blocker)

The way it is done is that you are getting almost all of the protection that you would get, but would not have things like the automated actions in scans, as opposed to offering less protection to you in the free version…

As said, this will be lost in V5, so this may not be very relevant, but it allows you to go into more detail when using avast! It allows for you to explore the settings more and set up things like automated actions, sheduled scans etc.

Simple User Interface: If I use the less customizable Home Edition, does it still have the option to scan at maximum? If not, what are the default settings? I really don't care how long it takes to run, so long as it does a good job (as thorough as possible) of doing what I trust it to do.
Yes, you can still set the scan levels. When you open the media player interface, click on hard disk (near the right) and a slider pops up, allowing you to choose the scan levels (image 1)
Script Blocker: I have no clue what this does; I am assuming that it monitors what is going on in the background while I am online? Sounds good to me.
It is part of the pro version, and basically it monitors all scripts run on the machine...another layer of protection
PUSH Updates: I assume that this means I am always as updated as possible, whereas with the Home Edition, I would have to manually check for the most recent update? So, to be as updated with the Home Edition, I would have to check for updates first thing, every time I go online?
with the pro version, the updates are sent (pushed) to you, so you get them as soon as released. With the home version, they are not sent, but avast! will check on startup, and every 4 hours (I think that is the default) for a new version and download it.
Command Line Scanner: "Scanning can be controlled by many arguments and switches; to use as a pipe filter; and a special STDIN/STDOUT mode is available. The module is intended to be used in BATCH programs. Its output is the same as the output from the Enhanced User Interface tasks." *Confused* I doubt I would ever use these options, so I doubt I really need to know what they are?
Basically, you use the cmd prompt window to scan, but I imagine that you would have no use for it...

Asn for which version to get, and which ones to buy, I am not sure. It all depends on your needs, and I think the best option for you would be to take a look at the price calculator
http://www.avast.com/eng/calculator.html

And/Or send an email to sales(@)avast(.)com as they will be better suited to finding the right package…

If you buy the pro version, you will be upgraded to V5 when it arrives, and the license will last as long as you have bought it for.
Whether to wait for a while before getting avast5, is your choice, you don’t have to get it straight away.

If you do downgrade to the free version, just register (for FREE) here: http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php

And enter the license key, it will revert to the home version.

-Scott-

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The funny thing is, that if it were in different threads, the OP would most likely be told to stick to one...

no … depending on how relevant to each other the questions are.

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spg SCOTT
Thank You for the Welcome! And Thank you for your substantial response.

I did send an email, but I am anxious to have something to sway my housemates with before the holidays take over their schedules.

That’s Great!
I am still wondering, however, if Pro-Family pack will cover my household and if there will be a Pro-Family Pack/similar option for v5?

~Nom

Logos
I apologize for not coinciding with your posting notions, and any irreverence that my post inadvertently presented.
I have edited my post on the G2G forum to have only one question, as per your suggestion, and I have removed my
less pertinent querries in the above post so as to not bore future readers. I hope my post refocus is adequate. ~Nom

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I think it would cover it, but not having used it, I wouldn’t know about it…I imagine that the sales team will know the most about it…

I am not too sure…I imagine that it may be there, but I think I am right in saying that the pricing structure may change a little with the release of V5, but I don’t know how…

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spg SCOTT

Fair enough, and thanks again.
I have decided that I definitely want to replace my Comodo firewall with something else.
I like the idea of using a firewall that comes with my AV, so I will be getting a Pro Pack.
I will wait for the sales team to clarify my last question, and that will decide which Pack.

I am so glad you happened by my post. Thanks for offering the clarity I was looking for.

~Nom …Warm Winter to You and Yours and anyone who bothered with my ‘novel’ post…