Download and installation

1. Is Avast For Mac Worth It
2. Is Avast For Mac

What are the system requirements for Avast Security?

The system requirements for Avast Security and Avast Premium Security are:

• Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave), Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra), Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra), Apple Mac OS X 10.11.x (El Capitan), Apple Mac OS X 10.10.x (Yosemite).
• Intel based Mac computer with 64-bit processor.
• 512 MB RAM or above (1 GB RAM or higher preferred).
• 256 MB minimum hard disk free space.
• Internet connection (to download and register the product, for automatic updates of the program and virus database).
• Optimally standard screen resolution not less than 1024 x 768 pixels.

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How do I download and install Avast Security?

To download and install Avast Security or Avast Premium Security:

1. Click the link below to download the Avast Security setup file:
2. Double-click the downloaded file avast_security_online.dmg.
3. In the dialog that appears, double-click the Avast Security icon and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. When installation is complete, click Close.

For detailed installation instructions, refer to the following article:

If you have purchased Avast Premium Security, activate your subscription by going to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features and entering your activation code.

Do I need a subscription to use Avast Security?

No, a subscription is not necessary for the free version of Avast Security. After installation, Avast Security is ready to use. You can connect Avast Security to your Avast Account to benefit from the device management feature.

For additional features, upgrade to a paid subscription of Avast Premium Security. You must activate this product with a valid activation code.

How do I upgrade from Avast Security to Avast Premium Security?

To upgrade to Avast Premium Security:

Is Avast For Mac Worth It

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Click Upgrade on the main Avast Security screen.
3. Follow the on-screen purchase instructions.

After purchase, Avast Premium Security automatically activates. If necessary, you can manually activate the product by going to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features and entering your activation code.

How do I activate Avast Premium Security?

To manually activate Avast Premium Security:

1. Open the order confirmation email you received after purchasing Avast Premium Security.
2. Locate and copy the activation code from the confirmation email.
3. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
4. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Activate paid features.
5. Type or paste your activation code into the text box, then click Activate.

To view the duration of your subscription, go to ☰ Menu ▸ My subscriptions. For detailed activation instructions, refer to the following article:

How do I connect Avast Security to my Avast Account?

After you download and install Avast Security, you can connect the product to your Avast Account to benefit from the device management feature.

To connect Avast Security to your Avast Account:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Log in to Avast account.
3. Enter your Avast Account credentials, then click Log In.

For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:

What is the difference between Avast Security and Avast Premium Security?

Avast Security is a free product that does not require a paid subscription to use.

Avast Premium Security includes additional features and requires a paid subscription. The additional features include Ransomware Shield and Wi-Fi Inspector.

Features

What is File Shield?

File Shield is the main layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans programs and files saved on your Mac for malicious threats in real-time before allowing them to be opened, run, modified, or saved. If malware is detected, File Shield prevents the program or file from infecting your Mac.

What is Web Shield?

Web Shield is an additional layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans data that is transferred when you browse the internet in real-time to prevent malware, such as malicious scripts, from being downloaded and run on your Mac.

What is Email Shield?

Email Shield is an additional layer of active protection in Avast Security. It scans your incoming and outgoing email messages in real-time for malicious content such as viruses. Scanning applies only to messages sent or received using a mail management software (email clients, such as Mail, Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird). If you access your web based email account via an internet browser, your Mac is protected by other Avast Security shields.

What is Ransomware Shield?

Ransomware Shield, available in Avast Premium Security, secures your personal photos, documents, and files from being modified, deleted, or encrypted by ransomware attacks. This feature automatically secures your Pictures and Documents folders and allows you to specify which other folders you want to protect from untrusted applications. Additionally, you can specify which applications are allowed to modify the files in your protected folders.

What is Wi-Fi Inspector?

Wi-Fi Inspector, available in Avast Premium Security, is an active protection component which continuously monitors your network and connected devices for threats.

What is the Virus Chest?

The Virus Chest is a safe place for storing potentially harmful files, completely isolated from the rest of the operating system. Files inside the Virus Chest are not accessible to any outside process, software application, or virus.

For more information about the Virus Chest including how to send files to the Avast Threat Labs, refer to the following article:

How do I run a scan?

To run an Avast Security scan:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Click … (three dots) next to Run Mac Scan.
3. Click Run Mac Scan or Scan Now on the tile of the scan you want to run.

You can run a quick scan of the most vulnerable areas of your Mac, or a thorough scan of the whole system, or quickly scan a particular folder or removable drive, or create and schedule your own scans.

For more information about each type of scan as well as scan settings, refer to the following article:

General settings

How do I check which version of Avast Security is installed?

To check which version of Avast Security is installed on your Mac, go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the General tab. The version number is displayed at the top of the screen.

How do I exclude files or websites from scanning by the Core Shields?

To set an exclusion for a Core Shield:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the Core Shields tab.
3. Click Add Exceptions under the shield you want to set an exclusion for.
4. If you are adding an exclusion for File Shield, select the file and click Open. For Web Shield and Email Shield, specify the server and service, then click Add.

For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for Core Shields, refer to the following article:

How do I exclude files or folders from the pre-defined scans?

To set an exclusion for one of the pre-defined scans:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Go to ☰ Menu ▸ Settings and select the Scans tab.
3. Click Add Exceptions under the scan you want to set an exclusion for.
4. Select a file or folder, then click Open.

For detailed instructions on how to set exclusions for the pre-defined scans, refer to the following article:

Troubleshooting

What does the status message 'Unable to scan' mean in scan results?

The status message 'Unable to scan' means that the file could not be scanned, possibly due to an encrypted ZIP archive or because the files are currently in use. The status does not mean that there is anything wrong with the file, only that it is not available for scanning.

What does the status message 'You are in passive mode' mean?

If you see the status You are in passive mode, you need to manually allow Avast Software extensions on your Mac. For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:

What should I do if I'm unable to browse the web or use other software on my Mac?

Avast Security shields detect and block suspicious files, dangerous websites, and unauthorized connections. In some cases, a Core Shield may cause connectivity issues. If you are unable to use online software or browse certain sites, use the troubleshooting steps below to determine if a shield is causing the issue:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Click Core Shields.
3. Click the ON (green) slider above File Shield and perform your original action (for example, if you were unable to access a certain site, try to access the site again).
4. If the connectivity issue persists, click the OFF (red) slider to turn the shield on again, then repeat the above steps for each shield.

When you determine which shield is causing the connectivity issue, you can set an exclusion for a certain file, site, or mail server by using the steps in the following article:

How do I uninstall Avast Security?

Avast Security cannot be fully uninstalled by dragging the application to the Trash. To uninstall Avast Security:

1. In your Applications folder, double-click the Avast icon to open the application.
2. Click Avast in the menu bar, then select Uninstall Avast Security from the context menu.
3. Click Uninstall.

For detailed uninstallation instructions, refer to the following article:

• Avast Security 14.x for Mac
• Avast Premium Security 14.x for Mac

• Apple macOS 10.14.x (Mojave)
• Apple macOS 10.13.x (High Sierra)
• Apple macOS 10.12.x (Sierra)
• Apple Mac OS X 10.11.x (El Capitan)
• Apple Mac OS X 10.10.x (Yosemite)

(Last updated on April 20th, 2019)

Kaspersky or Avast, which antivirus software is a better option in 2019?

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First, let’s see the different products Kaspersky and Avast offer.

If you’re in a hurry and only want to see the summary of this detailed Kaspersky vs. Avast comparison, you can look at the infographic below that neatly summarizes the whole comparison.

Short Verdict

Avast offers more security-related features and extra utility tools in its security suites than Kaspersky. Independent tests prove that both software provide excellent protection against both widespread and zero-day malware, but Kaspersky is slightly better than Avast in terms of the impact on system performance.

Let’s start off the detailed comparison…

What’s Included in Kaspersky Antivirus Suites?

Following the footsteps of its competitors, Kaspersky released its freeware, Kaspersky Free, in July last year. The entry-level product may look bare-bones but if you take a closer look, you’ll know it still offers more in terms of features and protection than its competitors’ free products.

It provides essential malware protection, checks emails for malicious content, protects against phishing attacks, and also blocks dangerous websites and downloads. Also, it automatically scans connected USB drives for malware.

Is Avast For Mac

Another useful feature in the freeware is an on-screen keyword; it helps protect your sensitive information, such as banking details, from keyloggers.

If your computer is so riddled with malware that it can’t run antivirus software, you can use Kaspersky’s free Rescue Disk to reset your computer.

If security is your top priority, and you want to enjoy premium security-related features and advanced malware protection, you must select any of the Kaspersky’s premium suites.

Next level up is Kaspersky Anti-Virus. In that, you’ll get all the features jammed into the company’s free offering, along with ransomware protection, a game mode to minimize interruptions, and a vulnerability scan option (checks for outdated software and other vulnerabilities in your operating system).

Another level up is Kaspersky Internet Security, the company’s most popular plan. It offers a great array of features, including a two-way firewall (actively monitors network traffic and prevents attacks), a SAFE MONEY hardened browser for secure shopping/banking experience, and also helps you remove potentially unwanted programs and web trackers.

Additionally, webcam and microphone protection and a basic-level parental control filter (enables you to block your kids from seeing objectionable content and manage their social media usage) are also included in the plan.

Kaspersky Total Security is the company’s full-blown suite, boasting nearly every feature you could think of. Along with all the features that are part of the ‘internet security’ plan, you get an unlimited password manager (securely stores all your passwords at one place), an automatic backup software with 2GB of online space from Dropbox, and file encryption and shredding capabilities.

Note: Both Internet Security and Total Security suites also allow you to protect all your devices (PC, Mac, and mobile) with a single subscription.

A limited free VPN with a maximum data limit of 200MB per day is included in all Kaspersky’s security suites, including the freeware. Interestingly, even the top-notch suites have the same data usage limits.

Now, let’s talk about what Kaspersky offers for macOS users.

Much like its Windows-only freeware, Kaspersky offers a free antivirus solution for Mac users too, called Virus Scanner for Mac. It includes an on-demand virus scanner (checks for viruses, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, and other forms of malware) and also provides detailed reporting on any threats it catches.

Also, the product automatically updates itself so you don’t have to worry about updating it every now and then.

The premium version of the solution, Virus Scanner Pro for Mac, adds a download scanner (automatically scans all the files in your ‘downloads’ folder for malware) and also gives you step-by-step instructions on how to remove various malware.

If you want to get proactive protection and advanced security-related features, you should upgrade to Kaspersky Internet Security or Kaspersky Total Security – both of which are compatible with Mac platform, too.

What’s Included in Avast Antivirus Suites?

First, let’s look the Avast’s security suites for Windows users.

Avast’s free security solution, called Avast Free Antivirus, is one of the most feature-rich free security solution available in the market. It not only boasts decent level of malware protection, but also includes several security-related tools and utilities that most companies only offer in their premium suites, including an unlimited password vault, a WiFi inspector (checks for vulnerabilities in your network), and a limited software updater (tells you about other software that needs updating).

A game mode feature for uninterrupted experience and a rescue disk utility are also available in the freeware. If you want to run Avast alongside any other antivirus application, it can happily go into the passive mode.

The two browser plugins that Avast offers are Online Security and SafePrice. The former steers you clear of dangerous websites and also stops phishing attacks, while the latter is price comparison and coupon finder tool that could help you find the best deals while shopping online.

Next up is Avast Antivirus Pro. It includes everything that comes as part of the free version plus Sandbox technology (lets you test suspicious files in a virtual environment so don’t damage your computer), a Real Site feature (prevents hackers from redirecting you to fake websites to steal your sensitive details), and premium customer support.

Another level up is Avast Internet Security, the company’s most popular suite. It adds an advanced firewall, an anti-spam filter (blocks junk and phishing emails), and extra protection against ransomware.

Avast Premier includes everything in the ‘Internet Security’ suite plus a file shredder, an automatic software updater, and webcam protection.

Avast Ultimate is the company’s top-of-the-line security suite, boasting almost all the features that you could name. It includes a cleanup utility, an unlimited VPN, and an enhanced version of Avast’s password manager, along with every feature that is jammed into the ‘Premier’ suite.

Now, let’s see the Avast’s plans that are compatible with Mac platform.

Avast Security is the company’s free offering for macOS users. Besides providing great protection against different kinds of malware threats, it has a WiFi security scanner (checks your network and connected devices for vulnerabilities), a web shield (protects you from online threats), and an email shield (blocks junk/phishing emails).

Avast Security Pro adds a useful Wi-Fi intruder alert feature (instantly notifies when someone connects to your network) and also includes protection against ransomware attacks.

Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Provides Better Malware Protection?

It’s part of the antivirus software’s job to provide top-notch protection against both known and unknown of malware threats.

Known malware (also referred to as ‘widespread malware’) is the type of malware which is already out there in the wild, and for which digital signatures are already available. Unknown malware (also called zero-day malware) exploits a previously unknown vulnerability and is much more difficult to detect as no previous signatures are available for it.

Usually, antivirus programs employ signature-based detection (checking the suspected files against a database of known malware samples) to catch known malware and heuristic monitoring (checking for behavioral attributes of suspected files) to detect unknown malware.

When a new malware sample is found, a prompt signature update is sent out to the community to make sure nobody else gets affected by it.

Now, let’s see how Kaspersky and Avast performed in the recent independent lab tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives – two well-known and respected companies that regularly test various security products on different criteria.

In the AV-Test’s most recent evaluations, various products – including Kaspersky and Avast – were put to test against 228 samples of zero-day malware and 4,887 samples of widespread malware in two-round tests conducted in January and February 2018.

Kaspersky and Avast both came up with perfect results; both blocked 100% of both types of malware samples in both months, receiving an excellent 6/6 rating from the security experts at AV-Test. (See this and this for detailed reports.)

Note: These tests were conducted on Windows 7 platform.

The results weren’t a lot different when the same tests were held on the Windows 10 platform, in November and December 2017, with both software once again receiving a maximum 6-star rating. This time around, however, the results weren’t as flawless as were in the Windows 7 evaluations.

Kaspersky’s protection rate against widespread malware was perfect, at 100%, in both months, but its effectiveness against zero-day malware was at 98.9% in November and 100% in December.

Other than a slightly lower 99.9% protection against widespread malware in November, Avast’s scores were perfect in evaluations held on Windows 10 platform.

Austrian lab AV-Comparatives conducts two major tests to measure the protection level of various antivirus products: Real World Protection Test and Malware Protection Test.

The former aims to rigorously challenge the participating products against ‘real-world’ conditions (as experienced by users) with their default settings in place, while the latter assesses the effectiveness of the security software’s on-demand/on-access scanning engines and behavioral detection capabilities.

AV-Comparatives’ most recent Real-World Protection Test report covered average results of the tests conducted consecutively over a period of five months, from July to November 2017). Both Kaspersky and Avast received their highest accolade — which is the “ADVANCED +” award — courtesy of their near-perfect overall protection rates of 99.7% and 99.6%, respectively. Avast registered 11 false positives (identifying legitimate software as malware) over the course of 5 months, while Kaspersky returned only 2.

In the AV-Comparatives’ Malware Protection Test, which most recently took place in September 2017, Avast’s protection rate was 99.99% with 9 false positives, while Kaspersky blocked 99.96% of the threats while returning 10 false alarms. Both software received an “ADVANCED +” award in this test.

So, it’s clear that both software provide a near-perfect level of protection against malware, and hence it’s a tie in this category.

Winner: It’s a tie

Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Puts Less Impact on System Performance?

Since it’s part of antivirus software’s job to shield you from threats in real-time, they have to continuously run in the background to do their job, meaning they consume some percentage of your system resources all the time.

It is imperative that an antivirus program shouldn’t just provide great malware protection, but also must not significantly degrade system performance by slowing it down.

Once against, let’s see how Kaspersky and Avast fared in the independent performance tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives.

AV-Test’s performance test measured the impact of various antivirus programs in terms of system slowdown; they executed few common computer operations — such as downloading, installing and launching applications, copying files, launching websites — and measured the slowdown each software caused on a standard and a high-end PC.

Here’re the results of the test with Kaspersky installed:

As you can see, Kaspersky received a perfect 6/6 star rating in the ‘protection’ category.

Avast, however, was found to be a little more resource-intensive than Kaspersky; it received a slightly lower but still acceptable 5.5/6 star rating from the experts at AV-Test.

Note: These tests were conducted on Window 7 platform in January and February 2018. The same tests when held on Windows 10 platform in November and December last year saw both products receive exactly the same results.

AV-Comparatives does a similar study to calculate the impact of different antivirus software on computer performance. They also executed few common computer operations, like file copying, installing/uninstalling applications, browsing websites, and more, to gauge the impact each product puts on system performance

Kaspersky once against came up with better results than Avast; it received a slightly lower impact score of 8.1 as opposed to the Avast’s 8.9. However, both software were awarded the highest “ADVANCED +” accolade.

Winner: Kaspersky

Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software Offers a Better User Interface?

I think you’ll agree with me when I say everyone prefers a cleaner, easy-to-use interface than a clunky, old-fashioned one.

First, let’s dive into the Kaspersky’s interface…

Kaspersky interface looks light, bright, and simple. The homepage has a lot of features and useful links but yet it seems clean and uncluttered. It has six different modules: Scan, Database Update, Safe Money, Privacy Protection, Parental Control, and Protection for all devices. Each one of them contains relevant features and their settings.

Clicking the ‘More Tools’ button on the main window takes you to the advanced security features and their settings.

At the top, there’s a green banner that changes to red when the software detects an issue that needs your attention. A horizontal menu with links to news, settings, support, and more.

If you’re using the free version, you’ll see that most premium features are greyed out, meaning you have to upgrade to a premium plan to get them.

Now, let’s look at the Avast’s interface…

Avast interface follows a dark, modern-styled theme and looks neat and well-organized. The first thing you’ll when you open the software is a reassuring “you’re protected” message with a checkmark provided your PC’s health is okay. Just below the message is a button to run a useful ‘smart scan’.

Along the left, there’s a vertical menu comprising Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance tabs. Each tab when clicked elegantly opens relevant modules and their settings in a horizontal roll-out manner. Settings and Upgrade buttons are self-explanatory.

If you’re using the freeware, you’ll not have access to the premium features. Also, an unobtrusive banner advising an upgrade is also there at the bottom for free customers.

Overall, it can be said that both software offer a user-friendly interface.

Winner: It’s a tie

Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software is Less Expensive?

First, let’s look at the prices of Kaspersky’s security suites.

Now, let’s look at the pricing of Avast’s security suites.

It’s clear that Kaspersky’s suites are not only less expensive but also cover more devices.

Winner: Kaspersky

Kaspersky vs Avast: Which Software is More Popular?

It is not an easy task to decide which of the two software is more popular among the antivirus community as both Kaspersky and Avast claim to have a community of 400 million users.

To decide a winner in this category, I will look the independent market share statistics and the total numbers of downloads of each software on CNET’s download.com.

According to OPSWAT – a company that releases monthly reports on the market share of leading antivirus companies – Avast leads the table with a dominating 19.64% of the total antivirus market share, followed by ESET (13.31%) and Malwarebytes (12.9%). Kaspersky Lab is last on the list, with only 3.86% of the market share.

On download.com – which is the world’s most popular software download portal – Avast has remarkably more overall total downloads than Kaspersky.

So, Avast is the clear winner in this category.

Winner: Avast

Final Verdict

The world we live in is becoming increasingly complex with every single day, and it makes sense to say that a premium antivirus suite has become more of a requirement rather than a choice.

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