Avast Premium Security: A Comprehensive Review of Its Features, Performance, and Value

Avast has long been recognized for its free antivirus software, with millions of users worldwide relying on its robust protection. However, as cyber threats continue to evolve, many individuals and businesses are considering upgrading to a paid solution. While some argue that Windows’ built-in defenses are adequate, Avast Premium Security offers several additional layers of protection that aren’t included with Windows Defender, nor are they found in many competing antivirus suites. In this article, we explore the features, performance, and value of Avast Premium Security to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your online security needs.

What Does Avast Premium Security Offer?

Avast Premium Security builds on the free version of Avast Antivirus, which already offers significant protection from a wide range of online threats. The paid version expands on this by adding enhanced defenses against various types of malware, ransomware, and other malicious attacks. With Avast Premium Security, users can expect advanced protection against online threats such as:

• Webcam Takeovers: Preventing unauthorized access to your webcam.
• Malicious Website Redirects: Protecting against DNS hijacking that can redirect you to fake websites.
• Network Intrusions: Blocking attempts to compromise your system via Windows’ remote desktop protocol.
• Sensitive Data Protection: Safeguarding your sensitive files, such as social security numbers and personal documents, from unauthorized access.
• Isolated Browsing: Running applications in isolated environments to keep them from spying on other software on your system.

One standout feature of Avast Premium Security is its Bank Mode, which isolates your web browser from the rest of your system, making online banking and shopping more secure by preventing other applications from tracking your activity.

A Closer Look at the Features

While Avast Premium Security offers excellent coverage for many common online threats, it does have a few limitations. Notably, it does not include a VPN or a password manager, which are essential for comprehensive online security. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, you may need to consider adding these features separately or explore other security suites that offer them as part of their package.

Nevertheless, Avast Premium Security excels in certain areas that set it apart from competitors. For example, it includes File Shredder, which allows you to securely delete files and folders from your hard drive using military-grade algorithms. This is particularly useful for individuals who want to ensure that sensitive data cannot be recovered.

Another feature is the Sandbox, which lets you run untrusted applications in an isolated environment to prevent them from interacting with your system. While this feature is not without its bugs, it can be a useful tool for keeping your PC secure when testing potentially harmful software.

Performance and Usability

Avast Premium Security boasts an easy-to-navigate interface, which makes managing its features straightforward. The application uses a dark theme, which some users may find less appealing, but the layout is clean, with large buttons and a logical grouping of features. The status screen provides an overview of your PC’s protection, with a prominent green button that starts a Smart Scan. The app also allows users to customize scan types, including Full Virus Scan, Targeted Scan, and Boot-Time Scan.

One area where Avast Premium Security stands out is its real-time protection. The software constantly monitors your PC for suspicious behavior, such as unusual activity from apps, files that are opened or added, and potential malware in emails. It also scans websites you visit to check for malware or attempts to redirect you to fraudulent sites.

However, it’s worth noting that Avast does not automatically set up scheduled scans during installation, which is a feature commonly found in other antivirus suites. To set up automatic scans, users must manually create custom scan schedules and select the desired frequency (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly).

Pricing and Subscription Plans

Avast Premium Security is available in two main subscription plans: a single-device plan for one PC, and a multi-device plan that covers up to 10 devices. The multi-device plan is particularly useful for families or small businesses, as it allows users to share a subscription across multiple devices (including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS).

Avast offers discounts for the first year of subscription, after which users will be charged at the standard rate. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee for purchases made directly through Avast’s website, along with automatic enrollment in autorenewal.

For those looking to save money, third-party retailers like Newegg offer lower prices for multi-device plans, making it more affordable than purchasing directly from Avast.

Performance Impact and System Resource Usage

In terms of performance, Avast Premium Security has minimal impact on system resources during normal use. Tests conducted in environments simulating web browsing, video chatting, gaming, and document editing showed that the software did not noticeably affect performance. Even when Avast’s Full Virus Scan was running in the background, there was only a minor dip in performance, averaging around a 10% reduction in benchmark scores.

However, Avast did have a more significant impact when scanning documents in Microsoft Office. When idle, Avast caused a slight drop in performance (about 11%), and during a Full Virus Scan, this dropped to 25%. Users working with large office documents may need to schedule scans during off-hours to minimize disruption.

Detection and Protection Tests

Avast Premium Security has performed well in independent security tests. In AV-Test’s evaluation for July and August 2024, Avast detected 100% of the threats and blocked more than 17,600 samples of malware. Similarly, Avast posted strong results in AV-Comparatives’ real-world protection tests, blocking 99.6% of threats with only 13 false positives.

Despite these strong results, Avast did show some room for improvement in more advanced threat protection. In AV-Comparatives’ October 2024 Advanced Threat Protection Test, Avast detected 12 out of 15 targeted threats, indicating that while it’s effective against many types of attacks, there is still room for improvement when it comes to more sophisticated, fileless attacks.

Conclusion: Is Avast Premium Security Worth It?

Avast Premium Security is a solid antivirus suite that offers great protection against a wide range of online threats. It excels in areas like real-time monitoring, web browsing protection, and file shredding. However, it lacks certain features—such as a built-in VPN and password manager—that would make it a more comprehensive security solution. For users who already have these services or are willing to seek them out elsewhere, Avast Premium Security remains a strong contender.

While the software may experience some bugs and performance issues, especially when running scans on less powerful PCs, its advanced protection features, including Bank Mode and Sandbox, make it a worthy choice for users seeking enhanced security. If you’re looking for an antivirus suite that covers the basics and offers additional protections without a hefty price tag, Avast Premium Security could be an excellent choice. Just be prepared to seek additional services for a complete security package.