Avast is a popular antivirus program for PCs. It provides protection against ransomware as well as other malware including bots, spyware and Trojans. It also includes a number useful tools, like a password manager, and VPN. It also has the feature known as Device Lock which can help you locate your lost devices while keeping your data secure from insecure access. It uses a behavioral analyzer to identify new threats and can perform a system scan in just one click.

The program’s malware detection is not perfect and it takes a bit of time to complete the system scans. This makes it less than ideal for those who are in a hurry. The program’s heuristic analysis isn’t as advanced as top software and may result in false positives. Its sandbox technology isn’t as effective as other competitors, either however, it works well enough to keep most malware from your computer.

Despite these issues, it still provides solid security for your files, Wi-Fi and ransomware security. You can modify your settings and add exceptions to scanning find more rules, while the application’s Scan Central and Online Security web extensions make it simple to access and manage the security features you have.

The upgrade to one of Avast’s paid plans gives you an array of additional features, including a heuristic scanner that runs your files in an isolated environment to catch more sophisticated threats, as well as a privacy advisor that lets you adjust your settings on Facebook, Reddit, Twitter and other websites to guard your privacy. Additionally, you’ll get a PC speed increase, a secure web browser, and a password manager.