Editing Avast (section)

==Products==
{{Main|Avast Antivirus|Avast SecureLine VPN|Avast Secure Browser}}
{{See also|AVG Technologies}}
Avast develops and markets business and consumer IT security products for servers, desktops, and mobile devices.<ref name="Avast 2017">{{cite web | title=Download Free Antivirus for PC, Mac & Android | website=Avast | date=9 August 2017 | url=https://www.avast.com | access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> The company sells both the Avast product line and the acquired AVG-branded products.<ref name="PCMagReview">{{cite web | last=Rubenking | first=Neil J. | title=Avast Free Antivirus 2017 | work=PC Magazine | date=23 February 2017 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2471522,00.asp | access-date=16 June 2017}}</ref> As of late 2017, the company had merged the AVG and Avast business product lines and were working to integrate the corporate departments from both companies.<ref name="Kuranda 2017">{{cite web | last=Kuranda | first=Sarah | title=Avast Launches New Business Portfolio And Partner Program, Combining Its Channel Forces With AVG | website=CRN | date=6 September 2017 | url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/300091581/avast-launches-new-business-portfolio-and-partner-program-combining-its-channel-forces-with-avg.htm | access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Avast has developed utility software products to improve battery life on mobile devices, cleanup unnecessary files on a hard drive, find secure wireless networks<ref name="Avast Free Mac Security 2017">{{cite web | title=Avast Main Page: For Home/For Business | url=https://www.avast.com/en-us/mac | access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> or create a VPN connection to the internet.<ref name="PCMAG 2017 VPN">{{cite web | title=Avast SecureLine VPN | website=PCMAG | date=7 August 2017 | url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420857,00.asp | access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>

Avast and AVG consumer security software are sold on a [[freemium]] model, where basic security features are free, but more advanced features require purchasing a premium version.<ref name="PCMagReview"/> The free version is also supported by ads.<ref name="PCWorld2009">{{cite news|title=Can You Trust Free Antivirus Protection?|first=Erik|last=Larkin|newspaper=PC World|date=October 2009|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/170587/free_antivirus_software.html|access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> Additionally, all Avast users provide data about their PC or mobile device to Avast, which is used to identify new security threats.<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/> Antivirus scanning, browser cleanup, a secure browser, password management, and network security features are provided for free, while firewall, anti-spam, and online banking features have to be purchased.<ref name="pcpro2015">{{cite news |date=April 2015 |title=Avast Free Antivirus |page=89 |newspaper=PC Pro}}</ref><ref name="Nadel 2017"/> About 3% of Avast's users pay for a premium version (10% in the US).<ref name="USA TODAY 2013"/>

The Avast business product family includes features for endpoint protection, Wi-Fi security, antivirus, identity protection, password management, and data protection.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> For example, the desktop product will look for vulnerabilities in the wi-fi network and run applications suspect of having malicious software in an isolated sandbox.<ref name="Williams 2017">{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|date=28 September 2017|title=Avast Business Antivirus review|url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/avast-business-antivirus|access-date=28 September 2017|website=TechRadar}}</ref> The Avast Business Managed Workplace monitors and manages desktops, and assesses on-site security protocols.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/> The company also sells management software for IT administrators to deploy and manage Avast installations.<ref name="Kuranda 2017"/>

===Reception===

In 2021, [[PCMag|''PC Magazine'']] gave Avast Free Antivirus software an overall score of 4 out of 5<ref>{{Cite web|title=Avast Free Antivirus Review|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/avast-free-antivirus|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|date=23 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and gave AVG, which was purchased by Avast in 2016, a score of 4, plus "AVG AntiVirus Free offers precisely the same virus protection engine as Avast Free Antivirus, but it lacks the impressive collection of additional features you get with Avast."<ref>{{Cite web|title=AVG AntiVirus Free Review|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/avg-antivirus-free|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|language=en}}</ref> In tests conducted by the [[AV-TEST]] Institute in August 2021, Avast and AVG received six out of six points for protection and usability, and six out of six points for performance.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Test Avast Free AntiVirus 21.5 & 21.6 for Windows 10 (211403)|url=https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/august-2021/avast-free-antivirus-21.5--21.6-211403/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.av-test.org|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Test antivirus software AVG|url=https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/manufacturer/avg/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=www.av-test.org|language=de}}</ref> A review in Tom's Guide says that the free Avast antivirus product has "good protection against malware" and takes up little space on the system. The review says that Avast has a competitive set of features for a free antivirus product, but the scans are sometimes not very fast.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nadel|first=Brian|date=2020-05-20|title=AVG AntiVirus Free review|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/avg-free-antivirus|access-date=2021-09-28|website=Tom's Guide|language=en}}</ref>

The Avast antivirus product for business users received 4 out of 5 by [[TechRadar]] in 2017.<ref name="Williams">{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Mike|date=2018-10-10|title=Avast Business Antivirus review|url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/avast-business-antivirus|access-date=2021-09-28|website=TechRadar|language=en}}</ref> The review said that the software had good features, protection, configuration and an "excellent interface", but it took up a lot of hard disk space and did not cover mobile devices.<ref name="Williams"/> According to Tom's Guide, the mobile version is inexpensive and packed with features. PC Magazine said that the mobile version "has almost all the security features you could want."<ref>{{Cite web|title=avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus (for Android) Review|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/avast-mobile-security-antivirus-for-android|access-date=2021-09-28|website=PCMAG|date=27 June 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

AVG has also generally performed well in lab tests. A review in Tom's Hardware gave the AVG software seven out of ten stars.<ref name="Nadel 2017">{{cite web | last=Nadel | first=Brian | title=AVG AntiVirus Free: Nearly the Best | website=Tom's Guide | date=3 August 2017 | url=https://www.tomsguide.com/us/avg-free-antivirus,review-2206.html | access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> The review highlighted that the software has a small system footprint and has good malware protection, but does not have a quick scan option and lacks many additional features.<ref name="Nadel 2017"/>