Tag Archives: PC @en

Avast

Avast 2016 protects your private information

Leave a comment

Avast simplifies how you protect your privacy with new products for 2016.

Avast 2016 has got your back

Avast 2016 introduces new products to protect your privacy

Count the number of devices you own. If you are like most modern digital-age people, you have a smartphone, half of you own a tablet, and most all of us have a desktop or laptop computer connected through a home router.

Now think about all the private information that you have on those devices. Bank account numbers, passwords, photos, messages and emails – all of them needing some form of protection to stay out of the wrong hands.

In a survey we did this year, 69% of you told us that your biggest fear is that the wrong person would see your personal information. In fact, Americans are so scared of having their financial information get into a bad guy’s possession, that 74% said they’d rather have nude photos of themselves leaked on the Internet! The problem is that most people are not doing anything to protect their privacy, for example, 40% of Americans don’t even lock their smartphones.

“While people are rightfully concerned about privacy, there is a disconnect between that concern and the steps they take to protect themselves,” said Vince Steckler, chief executive officer of Avast. “Users have a multitude of devices and passwords to keep track of, which can be overwhelming. When users feel overwhelmed, they tend to default to unsafe practices that put their privacy at risk.”

The new Avast 2016 for PC and Mac, the redesigned Avast Mobile Security, and the new kid on the block, Avast SecureMe, will all help reduce the complex task of protecting your private, personal information.

So time to face your fear and take steps to protect yourself. Here’s some tools that Avast is launching today to help you:

Avast Mobile Security

Protect personal information on your mobile devices

You probably use your Android mobile phone more than your laptop these days. Much of your life is on your mobile devices – banking information, private messages and photos. Protect all your data with the completely redesigned Avast Mobile Security – for free!

Here’s Avast Mobile Security features I want you to know about today:

Leading Mobile Malware Protection — Yes, malware is a threat but it works differently than classic PC viruses and Trojans. We’re on top of it, with the most advanced mobile malware protections available, now even faster with Avast’s cloud-scanning engine.

Privacy Advisor – Your apps, from mobile messengers to your bank, contain information that you want to protect. Privacy Advisor informs you about what data apps have access to and the ad networks that are included in the apps.

Wi-Fi Security – It’s not called mobile for nothing. You are out-and-about all the time, connecting to who-knows-what free Wi-Fi hotspot. We notify you when you connect to an unsecure router, so you can avoid bad guy’s eavesdropping and snooping on you.

Unlimited App Locking — Nosy kids, friends, and family members can be kept out of your business because we can password protect any apps on your device, providing another line of defense against prying eyes.

Protect personal information on your computer

The designers and engineers of the world’s most trusted antivirus got together with the mission to make your life easier. Avast 2016 sports a new simplified user interface with fewer buttons. It’s compatible with Windows 10, and it notifies you of Windows updates so you can easily keep software up-to-date and patched.

But it’s these two new features that we’re most excited about today:

Avast Passwords (for PC, iOS, Android) automatically generates extremely strong passwords that you don’t have to struggle to remember! All you do is set and remember one master password to access all your passwords. One password to rule them all!

SafeZone Browser (available with all premium versions of Avast) keeps all your banking and payment sites isolated in a protected space called Pay Mode, and if you run into suspicious sites, an isolated, virtual environment called Safe Mode will automatically open, so you don’t risk the safety of your machine and data. 

Free_2016_main_dashboard
Free-SmartScan
Free-SoftwareUpdater

Protect personal information on your iPhone and iPad

Wi-Fi Security – This is the same great feature that’s available in Avast Mobile Security. When you connect to an unsecure router you will be notified.

VPN – Avast SecureMe establishes a secure connection when you’re connected to open Wi-Fi.

Where do I get the new Avast security products?

  • Avast 2016 for PC and Mac is now available for download at www.avast.com.
  • Avast 2016’s Avast Passwords feature is now available for PC, Android and iOS, and will soon be available for Mac.
  • The new Avast Mobile Security app can be found in the Google Play Store.
  • Avast SecureMe will soon be available on the Apple App Store.

 

Follow Avast on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ where we keep you updated on cybersecurity news every day.

Avast

Windows 10 security features consumers can look forward to

Leave a comment

Windows 10 will be launching in T-minus seven days and will be offered for free within its first year of availability to Windows 7 and 8 users. Not only will the beloved Start button be back in Windows 10, but Windows 10 will also include a personal assistant, Cortana. What’s more, the new operating system will introduce many promising security features and a new browser.

Image: TechRadar

Image: TechRadar

Hello there, Windows Hello and Passport!

Windows Hello is biometric authentication that either scans your face, iris or fingerprint to access your Windows 10 device – very secret agent-like security! By doing so, Windows Hello eliminates the chance of hackers stealing your password to access your device, simply because you will no longer have a password to begin with!

Windows Passport also eliminates the use of passwords to access your online accounts. For now, Microsoft will work with the Azure Active Directory and has joined the FIDO alliance to subsequently support password replacement for other consumer, financial and security services. Windows will verify that you are truly the one using your device through a PIN or via Windows Hello, and then it will authenticate Windows Passport so you can log in to websites and services without ever using a password. Combined use of Windows Hello and Windows Passport would mean that a hacker would not only have to physically steal your device, but also kidnap you to access your accounts.

You will, of course, need hardware that is capable of infrared scanning your face or iris, or that has a built-in fingerprint reader to use Windows Hello. Microsoft has already confirmed that all OEM systems with Intel® RealSense™ 3D Camera (F200) will support Windows Hello’s facial unlock features.

Bye-bye Patch Tuesday

Microsoft usually issues security patches on the second Tuesday of every month, which can leave users vulnerable until Patch Tuesday comes around. In Windows 10, Microsoft will regularly issue security patches and users will be forced to accept every update, meaning they will be immediately protected from zero-day bugs.

Forcing updates is a good move. It’s the same as with an antivirus – everyone wants to have an up-to-date database to protect their system as much as possible. – Jiri Sejtko, Director of Virus Lab Operations

More app developer security support

AMSI – Antimalware Scan Interface will help protect users from script-based malware by offering an interface standard that allows apps and services to integrate with antivirus programs on Windows 10 devices. App developers can have their application call the AMSI interface for additional scanning and analytical services. The interface will look for potentially malicious content such as obfuscation and evasion techniques used on Windows’ built-in scripting hosts. Antivirus vendors can implement support for AMSI so that their engine can gain deeper insight into the data that applications consider potentially malicious. Avast will be implementing AMSI in the near future.

Edge, the edgy new browser in town

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer doesn’t have the best reputation, which is probably why Microsoft is introducing the new Edge browser in Windows 10. Edge was created from the same core as Internet Explorer by removing many of the old outdated features that were kept for compatibility reasons, including support for binary extensions like Active X and Browser Helper Objects. Basically, Edge will not support any browser extensions in its initial release, but will add a Javascript/HTML model similar to that of Mozilla, Google, Apple and Opera later on to offer browser extensions. Flash will be built into the Edge browser as well as PDF rendering. Additionally, Edge will be deployed as a Universal Windows App, so users can update Edge from the Windows App Store rather than via Windows updates, and it will run in a sandbox, meaning it will have little to no access to the system and other apps running on your device.

Not supporting any extensions and running Edge inside Windows’ sandbox is very good from a security standpoint. Browser extensions can not only distract users, but they can slow down the browsing experience and can create a huge security risk if abused, as they can see everything you do within the browser, including on encrypted sites. – Lukas Rypacek, Director of Desktop Platform

Avast is already compatible with Windows 10

Avast has been compatible with Windows 10 since March.

No major changes were needed to make Avast compatible with Windows 10; we had to slightly change some components to make everything work as it should, but no changes were needed in terms of behavior and communication. What we are now doing is migrating users to the latest version of Avast to ensure a smooth Windows 10 upgrade. – Martin Zima, Senior Product Manager

Are you looking forward to Windows 10 and will you be upgrading? Let us know in the comments section :)

Follow Avast on Facebook where we keep you updated on cybersecurity news every day.

Avast

GrimeFighter is now Avast Cleanup

Leave a comment

Optimize your PC with Avast Cleanup’s advanced scanning features.

Change is good, especially when it pushes us forward and encourages us to improve. We’ve recently made a change that will benefit our users and make their experience using our products even better. Our PC optimization product formerly known as GrimeFighter has now emerged as Avast Cleanup. In addition to the name change, there’s more to this transition that Avast users can be excited about. In Avast Cleanup, we’ve got a bunch of great benefits for you to enjoy:

  • Rid your PC of up to 5x more junk. Avast Cleanup continues to search for junk files, unnecessary app processes and system settings that slow down your PC’s performance. The amount of issues detected by Avast Cleanup have been improved fivefold, ensuring that your PC is cleaned as thoroughly as possible.
  • Keep it clean, keep it fast. Avast Cleanup’s quick and easy scan is 10x faster, now capable of transforming your PC in minutes or even seconds. As always, exact scan times may vary due to Internet connection or amount of issues found.
  • Win precious space back with new, advanced scanning features. Even a new PC can be loaded with unnecessary apps. Avast Cleanup checks when you update a program or uninstall an app, ensuring that any unnecessary leftover files don’t take up space on your PC. Since you’re immediately informed if unneeded files are discovered, you can save more space on your device than ever before.
  • Organize Avast Cleanup to work around your agenda. You can schedule a daily clean, select which programs you want to load upon startup, and choose what you clean in a scan. What’s more, Avast Cleanup discreetly runs in the background while you go about your daily activities.

Avast Cleanup helps you store more of what you actually want and to accomplish it in just a few minutes. Don’t let your PC become a test of your patience — try Cleanup for yourself. Here’s how:

  • For licensed users, all you need to do is install the latest version of Avast. Your GrimeFighter will then be automatically updated to Avast Cleanup. You’ll receive a notification letting you know that the update was successful.
  • For users who have updated to the latest Avast version but haven’t yet purchased Avast Cleanup, you can do so either from our website or, better yet, directly through the program by navigating to the store link on left menu of the interface.
  • For users who haven’t updated, you can also buy Cleanup within Avast. For now, you’ll still see it as GrimeFighter and you’ll need to do an update to the latest version of Avast in order for it to work.

Avast

PCs require antivirus. Smartphones don’t. Right?

Leave a comment
Woman using smartphone

That smartphone means a lot to her. Protect it from hackers and thieves with Avast Mobile Security.

It’s very common to find people concerned about Windows viruses and malware that say, “Oh, my PC is protected by Avast Antivirus, but we don’t need it for our smartphones and tablets.”

With more than 230 million Avast Antivirus customers, we see “only” 60 million or so Android users of Avast Mobile Security. Many more mobile devices are sold every second than desktops and notebooks together. Why are people not as concerned about the security of their smartphone as their desktop?

The AV-Comparatives survey that we wrote about yesterday  in Avast Mobile Security is the #1 choice for Android users says that Android users in North America protect their phones more than anywhere else in the world with 31 percent of respondents reporting they have protection. South America, Asia, and Europe are much lower at 17 percent.

What about the rest of the Android users?

– Do you realize that mobile malware is increasing?

– Do you realize that you (most probably) have much more personal info in your smartphone than your PC? Like photos, selfies, contacts, videos, and also banking and financial information.

– What if one of your apps is using your personal info against you like the Dubsmash 2 app we just discovered?

Your Android device needs protection

Avast Mobile Security is a complete suite for Android protection. It is completely focused on security and privacy features.

Maybe you have a friend or your girlfriend that should be reading this… Take this opportunity to introduce them to Avast Mobile Security and teach them some tips about mobile security. Maybe we’ll see a better protected world if we reduce the number of unprotected devices and the cybercrooks have more work to steal from innocents. Download Avast Mobile Security for free on Google Play.

Earn free Avast Mobile Premium

In the latest update of Avast Mobile Security, we added a referral program, so you can recommend Avast Mobile Security to your friends and family. Not only can you recommend the best mobile security app available on Google Play, but you will be rewarded for doing so; you can earn up to three months of Avast Mobile Premium for free!

Here is how it works: For every five friends you send an SMS to recommending Avast, you get one free month of Avast Mobile Premium. Cool, huh?

Do your good action today: Tell someone you care about that smartphones and tablets need to have a security app installed and updated..