avast

More than two weeks behind schedule, Avast released today its password manager. Called EasyPass (download) and built on a core licensed from Roboform (download), Avast's password manager comes with Blowfish and AES-256 password encryption, and is basically the premium version of Roboform rebranded with Avast colors. EasyPass integrates with the major browsers.

No explanation for the delay was available at the time of writing.

In the statement announcing the program, Avast noted an interesting statistic: that out of 67,000 of its users surveyed, only 11.5 percent of them said that they used a password manager. That's … Read more

Avast, a maker of popular free security suites, has announced its purchase of mobile security company ITAgents, which makes the security app for Android and Symbian called Theft Aware. Theft Aware is notable for offering SMS remote control, being resistant to phone wiping, and offering features specifically for rooted phones, in addition to more traditional lost-device mobile security features.

Avast would not disclose a purchase price for the company, although since both are privately held companies, they're not obligated to.

The purchase does not contradict the company's plans to release its own Android security solution in the fourth … Read more

PRAGUE--Avast isn't content with merely 130 million active Windows users. In addition to expanding its security offerings for the PC, the company plans to move at least some of its threat definitions to the cloud, while introducing a personal VPN and debuting an Android app with some features only for rooted phones.

Avast Chief Technical Officer Ondrej Vlcek spoke to CNET during a recent tour of the company's virus lab about what the company had planned. Vlcek, who has been with Avast for 16 years and wrote the company's first Windows product, said that Avast looks to … Read more

Seemingly random names are embossed on the interior glass walls of the Avast offices and conference rooms in its Prague headquarters, and the June morning light illuminates them from behind. Written in black, these names and the orange-colored names of cities below them are, in fact, the forum nicknames of the people who use Avast and the cities they originate from. It appears there are Avast users on every continent, and that, said the company's CEO Vincent Steckler, is by design.

"Two-thirds of new users come from personal recommendations," he said. "Trying to get 35 million … Read more

An update rolled out yesterday to Avast's antivirus product contained a bug that flags legitimate Web sites as malware infected.

In a blog post late yesterday, Avast acknowledged the false positive glitch in an update known as 110411-1, which was automatically rolled out to Avast AV users earlier that day. The error has specifically affected versions 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x of Avast's antivirus software.

In an e-mail to CNET, an Avast spokesman said today that the update was downloaded by around 5 million users, mostly on the Western Hemisphere due to the time in which … Read more

New security features designed to keep its more than 110 million users safe debut in Avast 6, released today exclusively from CNET Download.com. They also have the added benefit of raising the competitive bar in computer security by pushing more and better free options to users. Avast Free Antivirus 6, Avast Pro Antivirus 6, and Avast Internet Security 6 all feature the new AutoSandbox and the WebRep browser add-on. (Click the links to get to the download page.)

The debut of the AutoSandbox makes Avast the second antivirus to offer a sandboxing tool for free. Comodo introduced a sandboxing … Read more

Free security suites have long been offering protection for Windows computers that has ranged from adequate to excellent. After using the Avast 6 beta for the past week, it looks like Avast 6 will land far closer to the high end of the spectrum thanks to its new WebRep browser add-on and sandbox environment, unique in the free antivirus marketplace.

The security suite is available in three forms: Free Antivirus, which replicates the features available in the upcoming Avast 6 Free; Pro Antivirus, which offers a 30-day trial for checking out Avast's first level of paid security; and Internet Security, … Read more

Uninstallation comes to every app, sooner or later. But like certain horror movie stalwarts, some software just doesn't want to say goodbye. Antivirus tools are among the most reluctant to be removed, and Avast! is no exception. While we've installed and uninstalled Avast! many times through the built-in Add/Remove Programs utility on the Control Panel with no problems, we sympathize with those who do experience issues. Avast! developer Alwil has provided a solution in the form of a free uninstaller, the Alwil Software Uninstall Utility, aka AswClear, which works in Safe Mode. Some folks will stop reading … Read more

Security vendor Avast takes a cue from its own name and a slightly aged Internet meme to bring you a pirate-themed approach to home computer protection. In honor of the upcoming annual "Talk like a pirate day" on September 19, Avast rebrands its main interface in pirate-speak for people who opt in to the feature through September 22. There's not a lot to the changes, but check out the our slideshow of the four newly rechristened pirate-themed windows in Avast.