Avast Free Antivirus
Gen Digital Inc. (formerly Avast Software) • Security Privacy
Avast Free Antivirus delivers essential protection against viruses, malware, spyware, and phishing attacks without costing a dime. The security suite combines a powerful antivirus engine with anti-spyware, firewall, and antispam modules to guard your identity and block web-based threats in real time.
Automatic updates keep the threat database current, so you stay protected against the latest internet-distributed viruses and zero-day exploits. The lightweight installer sets up quickly on modern Windows versions, making it a practical choice for home users who want reliable, no-fuss security.
In This Post
Pro Tips
Configure Real-Time Shields for Maximum Protection
- Open Avast and go to Protection > Core Shields 2. Ensure all four shields (File, Behavior, Web, Mail) are toggled ON 3. Click the gear icon on File Shield > set Sensitivity to High 4. Enable Scan for potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) under File Shield settings 5. Under Behavior Shield, enable Monitor for suspicious behavior and Block exploits 6. Restart your browser to activate Web Shield’s HTTPS scanning
How This Would Help: High sensitivity and PUP detection catch threats that default settings might miss, while Behavior Shield’s exploit blocking stops fileless attacks and ransomware before they encrypt your files.
Schedule Automatic Smart Scans During Off-Hours
- Go to Protection > Virus Scans > Smart Scan 2. Click the clock icon (Schedule scan) 3. Set Frequency to Weekly, pick a day/time when the PC is on but idle (e.g., Sunday 2:00 AM) 4. Enable Wake the computer to run this task if your system sleeps 5. Under Advanced Settings, check Scan for performance issues and Scan for outdated software 6. Save and confirm the task appears in Windows Task Scheduler
How This Would Help: Automated weekly scans ensure malware, vulnerable apps, and system junk are caught regularly without relying on manual initiation — critical for non-technical users who forget to scan.
Harden Browser Protection with Avast Online Security Extension
- In Avast, navigate to Privacy > Browser Protection 2. Click Add to Chrome/Edge/Firefox for your default browser 3. Confirm installation of the Avast Online Security extension 4. Open the extension menu and enable: Phishing protection, Tracker blocking, and HTTPS enforcement 5. Optionally enable Show safety ratings in search results for Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo 6. Pin the extension to your toolbar for quick access to site reputation
How This Would Help: The browser extension adds a critical layer beyond the desktop Web Shield — it blocks trackers, rates search results, and prevents credential phishing on malicious sites that mimic legitimate login pages.
Download Avast Free Antivirus
File size: 245 MB
OS support: Windows
Windows
Download Avast Cleaner Free for Windows (Exe)
Download Avast Free Antivirus 26.9.11171 for Windows (Exe)
Download Avast Free Antivirus 26.9.11171 for Windows – Premium Trial (Exe)
Key Features
- Real-Time Virus Protection: Continuously scans files, emails, and web traffic to detect and block viruses, worms, trojans, and other malware before they can execute on your system.
- Anti-Spyware & Identity Theft Shield: Monitors for spyware, keyloggers, and tracking cookies that attempt to steal personal data, credentials, or financial information.
- Built-In Firewall: Monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic to prevent unauthorized access and stop malicious programs from communicating with external servers.
- Anti-Phishing & Web Shield: Blocks fraudulent websites and phishing schemes that mimic legitimate pages to harvest login credentials or payment details.
- Automatic Virus Definition Updates: Downloads and applies the latest threat signatures in the background, ensuring protection against emerging threats without manual intervention.
- Email & Antispam Filtering: Scans incoming and outgoing emails for malicious attachments and filters spam messages to keep your inbox clean and secure.
- Behavior Shield: Analyzes application behavior in real time to catch suspicious activities — such as unauthorized file encryption or system modifications — even from unknown threats.
- Smart Scan: Performs a comprehensive system check covering viruses, browser add-ons, outdated software, network issues, and performance problems with a single click.
Software Specifications
| Software Name | Avast Free Antivirus |
|---|---|
| Version | 26.9.11171 |
| License | Freeware |
| File Size | 245 MB |
| OS Support | Windows |
| Language | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and 30+ more |
| Developer | Gen Digital Inc. (formerly Avast Software) |
| Homepage | https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download |
| Changelogurl | https://www.avast.com/en-us/changelog |
| Last Updated | September 16, 2026 |
What’s New
- Updated virus definitions and detection engine improvements
- Enhanced Behavior Shield heuristics for ransomware and fileless attacks
- Improved Smart Scan performance and reduced scan times
- Bug fixes and stability improvements across all shields
- Updated UI translations for multiple languages
Installation Steps
Installation Steps
- Click the download button above to get the offline installer for Windows
- Locate the downloaded avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe and double-click to run it
- If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes to allow the installer to make changes
- Choose your preferred language and click Install to begin the standard setup
- Wait for the installation to complete — this may take several minutes depending on your system
- Launch Avast, run the initial Smart Scan, and follow any on-screen recommendations to secure your PC
Compatibility: Compatible with Windows 7 SP1 through Windows 11 (64-bit). Not supported on Windows XP, Vista, or ARM-based Windows devices. macOS and Linux users should download the dedicated Avast Security versions from the official site.
Common Questions
Is Avast Free Antivirus completely free to use?
u003cpu003eYes, the core antivirus protection is free for personal, non-commercial use. Avast offers paid upgrades (Premium Security, Ultimate) with additional features like a VPN, password manager, and advanced ransomware protection, but the free edition provides full real-time malware defense without time limits.u003c/pu003e
Does Avast Free Antivirus slow down my computer?
u003cpu003eModern versions are optimized for low resource usage. On systems meeting recommended specs, background scanning and real-time shields typically consume under 5% CPU and 200-300 MB RAM during idle. Smart Scan and full scans will temporarily increase load, but you can schedule them for off-hours.u003c/pu003e
Can I install Avast Free Antivirus alongside another antivirus?
u003cpu003eRunning two real-time antivirus engines simultaneously is not recommended — they can conflict, cause system instability, and reduce protection. Uninstall any existing antivirus before installing Avast. The included Avast Cleaner tool (avastclear.exe) helps remove stubborn remnants of previous security software.u003c/pu003e
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