Intro: Avast Review (Avast vs AVG)
You can find several Avast reviews as well as AVG reviews online. But when you actually conduct a detailed review of these two products, which one actually ends up being better for you?
Trojans and other viruses are a daily threat to your computer, mobile devices, and your home network.
You need a fast and reliable antivirus program that will not slow your computer down in the process.
The following is a comprehensive AVG versus Avast review which includes an overview of the expediency, effectiveness, and costs of these two software products.
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Avast vs AVG: What is AVG? (An AVG Review Intro)
AVG was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Amsterdam. With more than 1,000 employees across the globe, AVG works to protect computers using:
- Antivirus software
- Business security
- Mobile security
- PC performance
The company offers security for individuals and businesses including protecting computers, mobile devices, home networks, and automobile technology, such as your door locks. Hackers can infiltrate all aspects of your life if allowed access to your personal information and data.
The company holds awards such as the European IT and Software Excellence Award 2016, AV-Test Certified, Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, AV-Test Certified Windows, CDM: Hot Company in Cloud Security Solutions, and the CRN 20 Coolest Cloud Security Vendors, just to name a few.
AVG has offices in 11 countries and distributors throughout the world.
You can locate AVG offices in:
- United States
- Netherlands
- Czech Republic
- Israel
- France
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- Brazil
- Germany
- Switzerland
You can easily contact AVG with questions, concerns, or technical issues by completing an online support form or calling toll-free at 1-844-234-6038.
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Avast vs AVG: What is Avast? (An Avast Review Intro)
Avast protects 230 million people worldwide from malicious viruses and worms created by hackers to gain access to your personal information and data. The company was started unofficially in 1988 when Eduard Kucera and Pavel Baudis developed a program to remove the Vienna Virus. After the Czechoslovak independence from the Soviet Union, the duo was able to form a company, ALWIL Software, which would later become Avast.
The company has won awards for its antivirus software, including the near-unattainable VB100 award from Virus Bulletin magazine. The antivirus company also holds awards for the Czech Republic’s Best Employer of 2013, AV Comparatives, AV-TEST Product Review and Certification Reports, Dennis Technology Labs, and OPSWAT Silver, Bronze, and OPSWAT-Certified Partner, among others.
Currently, the company provides:
- Mobile Virtual Platform for businesses
- Wi-Fi Finder
- Home Network Security
- Secure DNS
- HTTPS Scanning
- Smart Scan
- SecureLine VPN for mobile
- GrimeFighter
- Ransomware Removal
Avast is now located in 10 global offices including the Czech Republic, United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The software has allowed Avast to remove over 2.3 trillion threats during a 30 day period. You can contact the company through a support forum, request help by completing an online form, or call Avast toll-free at 1-866-951-7679. The company even allows Skype calls for customer support.
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Avast vs AVG: How AVG Protects People and Businesses (AVG Review)
AVG offers three levels with increasing protection features. The following are a list of the services AVG offers to provide up-to-date protection:
- Antivirus software: the software program continues to stop and remove viruses, worms, and trojans. The program also prevents the spread of these malicious threats.
- Anti-malware and anti-rootkit: the program blocks malware as well as hackers from infecting and taking control of your computer.
- Email scanner: AVG reviews and keeps an eye on email attachments for threats and can work as a scanner for certain email accounts.
- In-the-cloud protection: the program automatically updates the antivirus software so you never have to worry about manually updating to a newer version.
- Community protection: when an individual encounters a threat, AVG reviews the virus and dispenses the antivirus software to the entire community network.
- LinkScanner: with AVG, you don’t have to worry about clicking on a questionable link during your search. The program scans the link and alerts you to any issues with the website.
- Social networking protection: just like with the LinkScanner above, AVG also scans your social network media links for malware and viruses.
- Online shield: AVG reviews files before you download new ones into your computer. According to AVG’s site, the program works as you are exchanging files using Yahoo, MSN, and ICQ.
- Outbreak detection: using real-time technology, AVG scans and identifies new threats to catch them before they have a chance to infect the community.
- Permanently deletes files: the antivirus software program shreds and deletes all files after they have been deleted from the recycle bin, ensuring the files cannot be recovered.
- Data safe: just like having a safe in your home for your valuables and important documents, AVG’s data safe provides you with a virtual lockbox.
- Game mode for players: lagging is an issue for players when your computer needs an update. This feature delays those updates while keeping hackers out.
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AVG vs Avast: Business Services (An AVG Review)
AVG offers business editions with more features: AVG FileServer, AVG Antivirus Business, and AVG Internet Security Business. You receive more features with a larger package. These business editions can include:
- Remote management: now you can work your devices and access your network whether at home or on the road.
- Customer phone support: when you purchase a business edition, you have access to phone support.
- Microsoft protection: file server security is used to protect your Microsoft File Servers as well as Windows Sharepoint Servers.
- Firewall: this AVG feature prevents, detects, defends, and removes threats including trojans, viruses, malware, and worms.
- Privacy protection: AVG protects your company’s files from hackers trying to infiltrate your network.
- Email security and protection: AVG reviews and scans your email attachments to protect you from hackers and clear your email of junk mail.
AVG vs Avast: How Avast Services Protect You and Your Home (Avast Review)
Image Source: BigStock
Avast also offers three levels of protection. The list of services Avast offers consumers and businesses provide a wide range of protection to block threats and clean systems.
The following is a list of Avast services:
- Antivirus: Avast reviews suspicious files and redirects them to avoid infecting your computer and home network.
- Multiple antivirus security: Avast provides Avast Pro, Avast Free, and Avast Free Mac to protect you from malware, viruses, and hackers.
- SecureLine: the program ensures your privacy on any network, allowing you to surf the web at your local coffee shop without worrying about hackers.
- Performance: Avast helps to quickly clean your computer’s system, increasing speed and performance.
- One password: with Avast, you can consolidate all of your passwords into one secure area, accessible by one unbreakable password.
- Browser cleanup: the program removes unwanted toolbars, extensions, and stops hijacked searches.
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Avast vs AVG: Business Services (An Avast Review)
If you are shopping around for an antivirus software program for your business, Avast offers Endpoint Protection, Endpoint Protection Plus, Endpoint Protection Suite, and Endpoint Protection Suite Plus. Depending on the edition you choose, you may receive the following services:
- Boot-time scans: the scans locate malware during the startup process automatically.
- Sandbox: when you run suspicious apps, you risk infecting your computer; however, this feature allows you to run those apps without harming your PC.
- Safezone: this feature protects your online banking, bill paying, and other financial transactions.
- Silent firewall: this feature works like a brick wall to stop hackers in their tracks from infecting your company’s computers and network.
- Anti-spam: now you have the ability to fight email phishing and avoid junk mail while working.
Avast Free vs AVG Free: (Determining Which Is Better: AVG or Avast)
One of the easiest ways to determine if antivirus software performs as it should is to test it. AVG Free vs Avast Free can give you an idea of what to expect from each software program before committing to a premium plan or business edition.
With Avast Free, you can expect antivirus security, one unbreakable password to store all of your important passwords under, and browser cleanup. You can download the free version on the Avast website with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP SP3 capabilities for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
AVG Free is available for PC, Mac, and Android devices. You can download the free version from the company’s website and have access to the antivirus software, one dashboard for all devices, remote protection from your mobile device, and link protection on all devices.
You can also observe Avast vs AVG Free tests online. The PC Security Channel runs complete tests to compare the quickness and effectiveness of the programs. A recent test conducted in 2015 by The PC Security Channel showed a 76.4 percent detection rate for AVG Free and a 92.36 percent detection rate for Avast Free when confronted with 1,441 malware and virus programs on a PC. The great news is that after the detected viruses, malware, and adware were removed or dealt with, the second opinion scanners used showed cleaned systems with both Avast and AVG.
The Avast Free was much quicker in detecting threats than AVG Free. According to the test, Avast Free took only seconds while AVG Free took about 20 minutes to run the scan.
AVG vs Avast: The Price of Premium Editions
If you try Avast Free vs AVG Free and choose to upgrade to the premium edition to have access to the extra features, you will find the cost increases as the packages include more features. This is true with both companies.
As of 2016, AVG offers AVG Antivirus for one PC for $39.99 and the AVG Protection Pro for unlimited PCs for $59.99. Both plans, as well as the business service editions, offer a free trial download.
While testing out Avast vs AVG, if you decide you would like to upgrade your Avast account, you can purchase one of the following antivirus programs:
- Avast Premier $49.99 per year
- Avast Internet Security $39.99 per year
- Avast Pro Antivirus $34.99 per year
- SecureLine for Windows or Mac $59.99 per year
- Passwords $9.99 per year
- Cleanup $34.99 per year
- Total Support $179.99 per year
You can also purchase Avast SecureLine Mobile for $19.99 per year.
The Avast Business Endpoint Series increases in price as you add features. As of 2016, the costs for the business editions are:
- Endpoint Protection $39.99 per year
- Endpoint Protection Plus $49.99 per year
- Endpoint Protection Suite $174.95 per year
- File Server Security $399.99 per year
- Email Server Security $249.99 per year
If your company uses a Linux system, Avast offers business editions ranging in cost from $199.99 per year to $299.99 per year.
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AVG vs Avast: Try Out Avast Free vs AVG Free
While trying to decide which antivirus program is better, consider trying the free versions of each to assess how well each one performs with your network and server. Research and compare the different premium editions and base your final decision on the features you really need at home or to run your business. In the end, both Avast and AVG are high quality, award-winning programs created to protect you, your family, and your business.
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