Avast! Anti-Virus Software Scanner
Download, Install and Scan your Computer for Antivirus Protection
Avast! anti-virus home edition is a free antivirus software that is compatible with Windows XP and Vista.
The wonders of the Internet are many. You can find practically anything you have an interest in somewhere online. All you need is an open connection to the World Wide Web. But connecting to the Internet leaves your computer vulnerable to attacks from viruses, Trojans, and other malware. Anti-virus programs protect your computer while you are online. Avast anti-virus is a program developed by Alwil software to provide the ultimate in protection against viruses, Trojans and other malware. And, the Avast anti-virus home edition is completely free.
Other anti-virus programs may offer free 30-day trials after which you have to pay for continued protection. And more offer a free software download but still require payment for the virus definition updates (quite possibly the most important part of an antivirus program). But, Avast is completely free. The software can be downloaded for free at the Avast website. And, the virus definition updates are provided free of charge. Also, any updates to the program itself are provided freely.
Installation:
Once you have downloaded Avast anit-virus home edition either directly from Avast or from Downloads.com you will need to install the software. Avast installs through an installation wizard to help guide you through this process. It is recommended that you keep all default settings throughout the installation process.
After installation you will be prompted to restart your computer and allow Avast to run a boot-time scan of your computer. This scan will take a while to complete so you may wish to restart your computer later and postpone the scan for a time you will not need to use your computer. If Avast finds any viruses during the boot-time scan you will be prompted to either ignore, quarantine or delete the infected files. Quarantining the files is the best initial reaction to these prompts. This will isolate the infected files from the rest of your computer files to stop any spreading of the virus. Also, you can retrieve the file from the “virus chest” should its removal impact the operation of your computer.
Running Avast for the first time:
To run the Avast anti-virus program later, simply use the desktop icon or go through the Start menu. Avast will perform a system memory check before opening. This check can be skipped by clicking on the “Stop memory test” button. Avast will open along with the “Simple User Interface” window. This window provides first-time users with an explanation of the Avast graphical user interface along with tips and tutorial information on how to use the program. After you have familiarized yourself with this information, check off the box at the bottom next to the line “Don’t show this window next time” to prevent this window from opening each time you run Avast.
Explanation of Icons on the Avast Simple User Interface:
The Avast Simple User Interface is a sleek, simple tool. You may notice that as you point to the icons with your mouse that brief explanations are provided. In the upper left corner of the Avast tool you will find the menu button. This button will open a menu listing of all of Avast’s functions including updating virus definitions, scheduling a boot-time scan, performing a regular virus scan, changing the settings and accessing the virus chest. In the upper right corner you will find the help, minimize and close buttons.
The two primary virus scan controls are found on the left of the Avast tool. The start scan button looks like a normal play button you associate with DVD and CD players. The stop scan button resembles the normal stop button also associated with other tools.
The text provided in the center of the Avast tool shows information regarding your computers virus definitions, date of last scan and automatic updates. To the left of this information you will find the icons for accessing the virus chest, setting the sensitivity of Avast’s scans, and updating the virus definitions. To the right you will find the icons for selecting the areas of your computer to be scanned.
Scanning your computer:
Before beginning a scan it is important to set the sensitivity of the scan as well as the areas to be scanned. For the first scan or, if a good bit of time has past between scans, the sensitivity should be set to high and all local and removable drives on your computer should be scanned. Once this information has been set, begin the scan. If a virus is found Avast will prompt you to either ignore, quarantine or delete the infected file. If you are unsure it is best to quarantine rather than delete.
After the scan, if Avast has quarantined infected files you should restart your computer. This will allow you to ensure that no system files required for your computer’s daily operation were in the quarantine list. Should your computer not run properly due to quarantined files, restore the files by accessing Avast’s virus chest making note of the virus name provided by Avast’s logs. Research the virus to determine the best method of removing the virus without affecting your computer’s operation.
Other Avast editions:
Alwil software does provide Avast Professional and Server editions for a fee.
