Avast Mobile Security for Android is a security app which secures mobile devices against unwanted phishing, malware, and spyware, as well as malicious viruses such as trojans. In addition, the embedded Anti-Theft feature allows you to locate and track your lost or stolen device on a map with our web-based mobile tracking that uses GPS and other triangulation methods.
This article answers common questions related to the features, settings, and general use of Avast Mobile Security for Android.
Download and InstallationWhat are the system requirements for Avast Mobile Security for Android?
You can install and run the latest version of Avast Mobile Security on any device running operating systems Google Android 5.0 (Lollipop, API 21) and higher.
Avast Mobile Security supports both Android phones and tablets. The app is compatible with all ARM Android devices. However, each vendor or manufacturer makes slight changes in their devices, so some features may behave unexpectedly or, in rare cases, not work. Please note that Avast cannot cover all vendor customizations to the OS. However, we gladly accept feedback if you experience any compatibility issues on your Android device.
If you are using a custom ROM, the app may not work as expected. Please report any feedback via Avast Support pages.
Avast Mobile Security for Android is:
How can I download and install Avast Mobile Security on Android?
Avast Mobile Security for Android devices is available for download from the Google Play Store.
Avast Mobile Security for Android is now installed and ready to use.
If you are experiencing issues with your current installation of Avast Mobile Security, we recommend that you fully uninstall the app and then reinstall Avast Mobile Security by repeating the steps above.
These steps can differ slightly depending on your device mode, Android version and vendor customizations. For more information, refer to the following article:
How can I uninstall Avast Mobile Security from Android?
Uninstall the app by searching for
Avast Mobile Security in the Google Play Store and tapping Uninstall from the app info screen.
If you are experiencing issues with uninstalling the app, ensure that you have deactivated the Device Administrators permission granted for the app in your Android Settings. To do this, open Settings from the main screen of your Android device, search for
Device Admin and untick Avast Mobile Security. To fully uninstall the app, follow these additional steps:
Avast Mobile Security is no longer installed on your Android device.
These steps can differ slightly depending on your device mode, Android version and vendor customizations. For more information, refer to the following article:
Main optionsWhat is the Scan option?
The Scan option enables you to scan all applications installed on your device and informs you about security risks caused by changes in default Android settings.
Avast For Android Mobile
The virus definitions used by the scan are updated automatically. To manually update them, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Updates ▸ Check for update.
Avast Mobile Security automatically scans newly installed applications the first time they are run. If the app detects malware on your device, the system offers to uninstall the application or to delete the file. If the app incorrectly identifies an application or file as malware, report the false-positive detection directly to Avast Threat Labs.
To schedule automatic scans, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Protection ▸ Scheduled scan.
What is the Boost RAM option?
Tap Boost RAM to kill any apps running in the background of your device. This action prevents your apps from slowing down your device and draining your battery. When complete, the amount of freed space and number of killed apps is displayed.
What is the Clean Junk option?
When you tap Clean Junk, Avast Mobile Security analyzes the space on your device and displays the amount of storage space that is being used by junk files. You can view the specific types of junk files that have been detected by tapping the Safe clean tile. Untick any items that you don't want to be cleaned, then free space on your device by tapping Clean.
This feature cleans three types of files:
To free up further space, install the Avast Cleanup app directly from the Safe clean results screen.
What is the Scan Wi-Fi option?
Scan Wi-Fi enables you to scan your network for problems with the router, encryption, Wi-Fi, and connection.
What is the Check Speed option?
Once the Wi-Fi network that you are currently connected to has already been scanned for problems using Scan Wi-Fi, the Scan Wi-Fi tile becomes Check Speed. When you tap Check Speed, the app measures and rates your network's current download and upload speeds.
FeaturesWhat is App Locking?
App Locking is a paid feature in Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android, which protects your sensitive apps with a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint. App Locking requires you to enable the Usage Access permission in the security settings of your device (on Android 5 and higher). If your device is configured to unlock the screen by using a fingerprint, you can also use this option for App Locking. To enable this feature, follow these steps:
Once App Locking is enabled, modify your App Locking settings by tapping
⋮ Menu (three dots) in the top-right corner of the App Locking menu. The following options are available:
App Locking is now configured and ready to use. To disable it, tap the slider at the top of the App Locking menu so it changes to OFF.
What is Anti-Theft?
Anti-Theft is designed to protect your private mobile data and help you recover your device in the case of loss or theft. You can configure Anti-Theft to automatically perform certain actions, for example, to sound an alarm if an untrusted SIM card is detected. To configure your settings for Anti-Theft, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Anti-Theft. When you upgrade to the paid version of Avast Mobile Security for Android, you can also use three additional options that help you protect and locate your lost or stolen device:
For more information about Anti-Theft, refer to the following article:
What is Photo Vault?
Photo Vault allows you to protect access to your photos with a PIN code. Photos that are moved to the Photo Vault are encrypted and hidden. Open Photo Vault by selecting
☰ Menu ▸ Photo Vault. To add a photo to the Photo Vault, tap Add (the plus icon) and select one of the following options:
If you want to remove photos from the Photo Vault, tick the photo(s) and tap the relevant icon at the top of the screen:
If you forget your PIN:
In the free version of Avast Mobile Security for Android, you can protect up to 50 photos. To secure an unlimited number of photos, upgrade to the paid version of Avast Mobile Security for Android.
What is Wi-Fi Security?
Wi-Fi Security allows you to scan your network for problems with the router, encryption, Wi-Fi, and connection. When this action is complete, the app advises you whether the network is safe and notifies you of potential threats. Wi-Fi Security describes the issue in detail and offers a solution. You can connect to a network from Wi-Fi Security and run a scan, or scan a network that your device is already connected to.
What is Wi-Fi Speed?
The Wi-Fi Speed option checks the download and upload speed of the Wi-Fi network that you are connected to.
What is Power Save?
Power Save allows you to adjust a range of settings that may reduce your device's battery consumption. Access power save by selecting
☰ Menu ▸ Power Save, then tap Activate Power Save to enable Power Save. Tap Power Save Settings to configure how your device behaves when Power Save is activated, alternatively you can use the default configuration.
If Avast Battery Saver is also installed on your device, manage your power-saving settings using this app.
What is Call Blocker?
Due to recent changes in the Google Play Developer Policy Center and Android policies, the Call Blocker feature will no longer be available in Avast Mobile Security on devices running Android 8 and higher.
Call Blocker enables you to block calls from blacklisted numbers. You can choose to blacklist calls from:
To access Call Blocker, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Call Blocker. When a call is blocked, the caller is automatically redirected to voice mail.
View a list of calls which have been blocked by tapping History in the Call Blocker menu.
What is App Permissions?
App Permissions allows you to view which permissions are required by each of your installed apps. App permissions determine what the app can do and which information it can access on your device. For example, an app may require permission to see your device contacts or location.
Access App Permissions by selecting
☰ Menu ▸ App Permissions. When you tap App Permissions, a list of all apps installed on your device appears. Tap any app to see the following information about the app:
You can also uninstall non-system apps from your device using this feature.
What is Firewall?
Firewall allows you to manage internet access for your installed apps. To access Firewall, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Firewall. The Firewall menu shows a list of apps installed on your device. Tap any app then select one of the following options:
To increase Firewall priority, select
⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings in the top-right corner of the screen, then tap the slider next to Take highest priority so that it changes to ON. This setting is useful if this component does not work on your device when a mobile data limit is enabled.
Firewall in Avast Mobile Security for Android only works on rooted devices.
What is Data Usage?
Data Usage monitors your data consumption and helps you avoid additional charges by notifying you when you approach the limit. To manage Data Usage, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Data Usage and specify or check the following:
Additionally, Data Usage can be set to display an alert each time you exceed the daily limit or reach the cycle limit, and to show you statistics about the current data usage cycle. To manage Data Usage alerts, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts and tap Data Usage alerts.
What is the Avast Account?
The Avast Account is a portal where you can manage all Avast subscriptions that are registered to your email address. These subscriptions can be for any Avast product across all of your devices. The Avast Account also allows you to use the Anti-Theft feature to control your mobile device remotely.
For more information, refer to the following article:
Subscription and ActivationWhat are the benefits of upgrading to Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android?
Avast Mobile Security for Android is available as both a free and paid version. When you upgrade to Avast Mobile Security Pro, you can take advantage of the following premium features and enhancements:
What features are included in the other paid versions of Avast Mobile Security for Android?
In addition to Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android, we also offer the following paid products:
How do I purchase and activate a paid version of Avast Mobile Security on Android?
The paid versions of Avast Mobile Security are available as an upgrade from the free version of Avast Mobile Security. To purchase and activate a paid version, follow these steps:
When the transaction completes, your paid version of Avast Mobile Security is automatically activated on your device. Your purchased subscription is valid across all devices which have Avast Mobile Security installed and are connected to your Google account.
The paid versions available for purchase may differ according to your region and certain regulatory restrictions. You may see some or all of the subscription packages offered by Avast.
Is my subscription for the paid version of Avast Mobile Security also valid for other paid Avast apps?
If you purchase Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android, your subscription is only valid for this app. Avast Mobile Pro Plus, Ultimate, and Ultimate Multi also include a subscription for other paid Avast apps.
What happens if I upgrade to Avast Mobile Pro Plus, Ultimate, or Ultimate Multi from my current subscription?
When you upgrade from one paid version of Avast Mobile Security to another (for example, from Avast Mobile Security Pro to Avast Mobile Ultimate), Google Play Store automatically calculates how much of your original subscription was unused. To compensate you for the value of this unused subscription, you receive free access to the new paid product for a limited time period. This means that you are not immediately charged when you activate your new paid subscription. The length of your free access period depends on how much of your original subscription was unused. When the free access period ends, your new paid subscription automatically begins and you are charged for your chosen subscription plan (1 year or 1 month). The date of your first payment is displayed during the subscription upgrade.
How can I activate my Avast Mobile Security subscription on other devices?
Your paid Avast Mobile Security subscription is automatically activated on your primary Android device during your subscription purchase. To activate Avast Mobile Security on other devices, follow these steps:
Find your activation code
Activate Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Mobile Security Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Cleanup Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Cleanup Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Find your activation code
Activate Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Mobile Security Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Cleanup Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Cleanup Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast SecureLine VPN for Android
If you previously activated Avast SecureLine VPN using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to Settings (the gear icon) ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Find your activation code
Activate Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Mobile Security Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Cleanup Pro for Android
If you previously activated Avast Cleanup Pro using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast SecureLine VPN for Android
If you previously activated Avast SecureLine VPN using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to Settings (the gear icon) ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast SecureLine VPN for iOS
If you previously activated Avast SecureLine VPN using a voucher or activation code linked to a different valid subscription, first go to Settings (the gear icon) ▸ Subscription, save your previous Activation code so you can transfer it to another device, and tap Unlink. Then follow the activation steps above.
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Premier for Windows
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Cleanup Premium for Windows
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast SecureLine VPN for Windows
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Security Pro for Mac
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
Activate Avast Cleanup Pro for Mac
For detailed instructions, refer to the following article:
Activate Avast SecureLine VPN for Mac
For detailed instructions, refer to the following articles:
How can I cancel my subscription for Avast Mobile Security on Android?
Uninstalling Avast Mobile Security Pro from your Android device does not cancel your subscription, and you will continue to be charged for the subscription until you cancel it. To cancel a subscription, ensure that you are signed into the Google account that you used to purchase the subscription, then follow these steps:
Google Play Store confirms the subscription is canceled. Your subscription is canceled and will stop at the end of the current billing cycle.
For more information, refer to the following article:
VPN FeatureWhat is the VPN feature in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
The VPN feature in Avast Mobile Security for Android allows you to connect to the internet via secure Avast VPN servers, using an encrypted tunnel to protect your online activity from eavesdropping. VPN in Avast Mobile Security for Android offers:
How can I add the VPN feature to Avast Mobile Security on Android?
The VPN feature in Avast Mobile Security is available for Android devices with an Avast Mobile Ultimate or Ultimate Multi subscription.
Can I use my subscription for Avast SecureLine VPN to activate the VPN feature in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
No. In this case you would continue to use Avast SecureLine VPN as a separate application. However, the activation code from an Avast Mobile Ultimate or Ultimate Multi subscription can be used to activate either the VPN feature in Avast Mobile Security or Avast SecureLine VPN (for use on up to 5 devices simultaneously).
SettingsHow do I change the Notifications I see in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
To access your settings for Notifications & alerts, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts. Notifications and alerts are divided into several sections:
How can I disable or customize Permanent notification?
To prevent Android from killing the Avast Mobile Security app and inhibiting the app's ability to protect your device, we recommend enabling Permanent notification. If you disable the notification through
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts ▸ Realtime protection ▸ Permanent notification, Avast Mobile Security may switch off automatically if too many energy-consuming apps are running on your device at once.
You can adjust the Permanent notification in the app settings. The following options are available:
When an action is required, the relevant widget changes to red. Tap the widget for further instructions. For example, when the Scan Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi icon) widget is red, tap it to scan your Wi-Fi for potential security issues. To prevent a widget from changing to the alert-state, disable the corresponding notification in
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts.
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How does the Charging screen optimize battery charging?
Charging screen is a feature that displays charging progress and optimizes the performance of your device by stopping all background tasks. When this screen is active, you can check what time your device will finish charging, view the percentage of battery charge and also try to use Boost RAM, Clean Junk, Wi-Fi Speed, or Photo Vault directly from the screen.
To enable this feature, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Charging screen then tap the slider so that it changes to ON.
When you enable the Charging screen, you can specify the following settings:
If Avast Battery Saver is installed on your device, you need to manage your charging screen settings in Avast Battery Saver. Otherwise, you can manage this feature in your Mobile Security settings.
How do I enable or disable the Charging screen?
To enable the Charging screen feature, follow these steps:
To disable the Charging screen follow the above steps and tap the slider so that it changes to OFF.
While the Charging screen is active, you can swipe right at the bottom of the screen to exit, or tap Settings (the gear icon) to access Charging screen settings.
How can I customize shields in the Protection settings?
Protection components observe and scan the device to detect suspicious activity and protect against malware and viruses.
Go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Protection to access the following options:
What is the PIN & pattern section?
The PIN & pattern section is linked to the App Locking feature. Go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ App Locking to set a PIN code or a pattern to protect access to your apps with App Locking. If your device is configured to unlock the screen by using a fingerprint, you can also use this option for App Locking.
How can I change App Locking timeout settings?
To specify when apps are being locked with the App Locking feature, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ App Locking and tap App Locking timeout. The following options are available:
When this or another app managed by App Locking is launched within the selected timeout, the countdown stops and restarts. Regardless of the timeout settings, App Locking always locks your apps when your screen turns off.
When one app is unlocked, all other apps managed by App Locking are also automatically unlocked so you can access all your apps within the timeout period.
How do I find out which virus definitions version my app is using?
Access Updates by selecting
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Updates. The Updates menu displays the Virus definitions version and allows you to update virus definitions manually by tapping Check For Update. To prevent Avast Mobile Security from updating when you are using mobile data to connect to the internet, tap the slider next to Update over Wi-Fi only so that it changes to ON. We do not recommend keeping this setting enabled.
Where can I find the app's Activity Log?
The Activity Log is available in
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Activity log.
The Activity Log allows you to see all activity by Avast Mobile Security for Android. This mainly includes updates and scans. Clear the Activity Log by tapping the trash icon.
How can I control what data I share in Personal Privacy?
The Personal Privacy section helps us to understand your needs better and to improve our product based on the data that you agree to share with us.
If you do not want to participate in the collection of anonymous data, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Personal Privacy then tap the slider so it changes to OFF next to the following options:
What is Clipboard Cleaner?
Clipboard Cleaner is a feature that clears your clipboard to prevent possible privacy leaks. If you are not interested in using Clipboard Cleaner, you can disable it by selecting
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts ▸ Realtime protection ▸ Clipboard cleaner notification.
TroubleshootingWhat if my paid subscription does not work in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
If Avast Mobile Security does not detect your valid subscription and the app displays the subscription not found message when you try to restore your subscription, refer to the following article:
Why does Avast show ads in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
Avast offers both a free version and the paid Avast Mobile Security Pro for Android. Avast Mobile Security Pro is ad-free and includes a range of additional premium features and benefits. To support the ongoing development of the app, the free version includes advertisements which do not interfere with app usage.
How can I disable third-party ads in Avast Mobile Security for Android?
Upgrade to the paid version of Avast Mobile Security to remove ads. To upgrade, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Remove ads and select a subscription plan. After upgrading, ads for third-party products and services no longer appear in the app. Information about other Avast products will still appear unless you disable these notifications. To disable notifications about other Avast products, select ☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Notifications & alerts and tap the slider next to Avast promotions so it changes to OFF.
What should I do if the Accessibility permission is disabled repeatedly?
To improve performance, some Android devices force apps to stop when your device screen turns off. This often causes apps with the Accessibility permission to lose this permission. In this case, you need to manually re-enable the permission to maintain full functionality of the app.
To re-enable the Accessibility permission, open Settings from the main screen of your Android device, select Accessibility, then grant the permission to Avast Mobile Security.
On Huawei, Lenovo, Asus and Sony Xperia devices, you can change the system settings to prevent the app from losing the permission. Follow the relevant steps for your device:
How can I stop App Locking from repeatedly asking for a PIN?
Ensure that the Permanent notification is enabled. When this notification is disabled, Android may cause issues with App Locking or kill the Avast Mobile Security process.
How can I reset the PIN for App Locking?
If you forget your App Locking PIN, reset it by following these steps:
What should I do if Avast Mobile Security for Android crashes or stops running?
Try one of the following options:
How does Avast Mobile Security protect my Android device?
When configured correctly, Avast Mobile Security protects your Android device from known malware and threats, and monitors data going in and out according to your preferences. We do our best to protect your device against all possible threats, but no solution is 100% effective.
Like all products on the Android market, it is subject to limitations imposed by the operating system version which is running on the device. It cannot protect against exploits targeting specific vulnerabilities in the OS kernel, the network stack and other fundamental parts of the system. However, we take our role in the security industry seriously, and continuously work with Android vendors to develop future solutions to minimize the risk of attacks.
What can I do when Avast Mobile Security for Android cannot remove malware?
In some cases, Avast Mobile Security for Android detects malware but cannot uninstall it. This is usually caused by the level of permissions granted to the suspicious app or by the app being installed as a system app (for example on rooted devices). For more details, refer to the following article:
How can I report a false positive detection to Avast Threat Labs?
In some cases, Avast Mobile Security for Android may detect and mark a clean file as malware. You can report false detections to Avast Threat Labs directly from the scan results screen:
How can I disable sound alerts for background notifications from Avast Mobile Security?
On certain Honor or Huawei devices, a sound plays each time you receive a notification from Avast Mobile Security. To prevent this, follow the steps below on your Honor or Huawei device:
A sound no longer plays each time you receive a notification from Avast Mobile Security.
GeneralHow can I check if my virus definitions are updated?
Virus definitions are updated automatically. Go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ Updates to check the virus definitions version and the date when it was installed. You can also tap Check For Update to make sure that you have the latest version installed or tap Update over Wi-Fi only to prevent updating when the device uses mobile data transfer.
How do I find out which version of Avast Mobile Security is installed on my Android device?
To see this information, go to
☰ Menu ▸ Settings ▸ About. The version number is displayed under Avast Mobile Security.
Why does Avast Mobile Security for Android need so many permissions?
Avast Mobile Security for Android requires many permissions that may seem unnecessary at first glance.
This is because permission classifications in Android are assigned a name based on the most common use case, but does not describe all the kinds of processes that require the permission.
For example the Directly call phone numbers permission is needed to implement the Call Blocker feature, not to make any phone calls. Another example is that full internet access permission is required to receive updates to malware definitions. Scan and Web Shield need permission to read phone data so the data can be scanned for threats.
We take your privacy very seriously. The permissions requested are the minimum set that are needed to implement the functionality of Avast Mobile Security for Android.
How much battery does Avast Mobile Security for Android use?Avast Mobile Scan Failed Code
Avast Mobile Security for Android is designed to have minimal impact on battery life.
Testing across multiple devices shows that all services by this app generally take up less than 5% of battery consumption. (By comparison, the Launcher can take up about 15% and Gmail about 8%.) During a few operations, Avast Mobile Security can reach, at maximum, 20% of battery use at the peak of CPU use (about 30-60 seconds).
Why doesn't the Firewall feature work on my device?
If Firewall does not work on your Android device, you may be using an unrooted device. Unfortunately, the Firewall included in Avast Mobile Security for Android is only available on rooted devices running operating systems Android 4.0.3 or higher. The Firewall's functionality depends on access to several system features which require root privileges.
Do I have to 'root' my Android device to use Avast Mobile Security?
Rooting is a process which allows Android users to attain privileged control of their devices (known as root access) within the Android system. Rooting allows the user to override limitations set by carriers and hardware manufacturers. This makes it possible to alter or replace system applications and settings, and run specialized apps that require administrator-level permissions.
For most of the functionality within Avast Mobile Security rooting is NOT required. In fact, a rooted device is generally not as secure and therefore rooting is not recommended. Users who choose to root their devices are exposed to higher risks, and that is why we include features to provide additional protection.
The main advantage of a root installation is the Firewall feature in Avast Mobile Security for Android, which allows you to control network access on a per-app basis. This improves security, blocks unwanted advertisements, and even preserves battery life. Unfortunately, this feature is not available for non-rooted devices due to some limitations of the Android platform.
How is Avast Mobile Security for Android different from Avast Antivirus for desktop computers?
Scan and Shields included in Avast Mobile Security for Android use different definitions than the ones used in our antivirus software for PCs. The application is customized to run on mobile devices, and so the definitions are specific to malware which attacks mobile platforms. This saves your device from being overloaded by our PC antivirus engine, which includes an enormous amount of malware data which is not relevant to your mobile device.
How can I report an issue to Avast Support?
We offer many self-help articles on Avast Support pages. However, some issues may require deeper investigation by Avast Support.
Report any issues to our support department as described in the following article:
How can I provide feedback about the app?
Please report any issues to our support department, as described in the following article:
If you want to provide feedback or show appreciation and support for Avast mobile products, you can:
What other mobile apps does Avast offer?
Avast has created the following apps to improve the security and performance of your mobile device, and protect you from hackers and thieves:
(Last updated on April 18th, 2019)
Norton or Avast, which antivirus software is a better choice in 2019?
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During the past few months, we evaluated and reviewed over 50 antivirus suites from the biggest names in cybersecurity, so you can confidently choose the best antivirus software to protect your data and privacy.
Overall, Bitdefender is our top antivirus recommendation for 2019, because of how well it performed in the recent independent lab tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives. Right now, we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package available in the market. Besides providing excellent malware protection, it offers all the advanced premium features and utilities that must be there in a high-end package - and best of all, it offers excellent value for money. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, and smartphones) with a single license of this suite. If you have more than five devices in your household, we recommend Bitdefender Family Pack 2019. With a single license of this suite, you can install Bitdefender Total Security suite on an unlimited number of devices.
Before delving into details, let’s look at different security suites Avast and Norton offer.
If you’re in a rush and only want to see the final summary of this ultimate Norton vs. Avast comparison, see this infographic:
Short Verdict
Avast is a better choice as it offers more security-related features and extra utilities in its security suites than Norton. Independent tests prove that both software provide excellent malware protection with minimal impact on system performance, but Norton returns too many false positives.
Our recommendations: Overall, after examining over 50 antivirus suites from different companies, we think that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus package you can buy in 2019. You can protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, or smartphones) with a single license of this suite.
If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 might be the best option for you. If you're looking for a security solution for Mac, we recommend Bitdefender Antivirus for Mac 2019 for maximum peace of mind and great value for money.
Let’s begin with the detailed comparison…
What is Included in Avast’s Antivirus Suites?
Avast Free Antivirus is one of most comprehensive (and popular) free security solution available in the market. It not only provides all the essential security-related features but also includes several bonus utility tools that most other antivirus companies charge for, such as WiFi Inspector (checks for vulnerabilities in your home network), Silent Mode for interruption-free experience, and a password manager.
It will also allow you to create a rescue disk to crush hard-to-remove malicious infections and also has a browser plugin cleanup option.
Software Updater, which is also part of Avast’s freeware, tells you which of your software are outdated, but you’ll have to update them yourself. Email and web browsing protection are also incorporated in the free plan.
With Avast Antivirus Pro, you get everything in the free plan plus Sandbox (lets you test and play with potentially dangerous files in an environment separate from your PC), a Real Site feature (protects against fake websites and hackers), premium customer support.
Next up isAvast Internet Security — the company’s most popular suite. It includes an advanced firewall, an Anti-spam filter to provide safety against phishing and junk emails, an extra layer of protection against ransomware, along with all the features included in the “pro” plan.
Avast Premier adds webcam protection (prevent hackers from spying on you), Data Shredder for permanent deletion of sensitive files so no one can recover them, and automatic apps update feature.
Avast Ultimate includes everything in the ‘Premier’ plan plus Cleanup Premium (lets you speed-up your system performance by cleaning junk files), a VPN, and Avast Passwords Premium.
Note: All the Avast utility tools are available as separate downloads and can be purchased separately. You can also avail the free trial versions of all utilities.
Each member of the Avast family will allow you to run the following scans: full scan, smart scan, file/folder specific scan, and boot-time scan (checks for malware before the Windows loads up).
Avast also offers two browser plugins: Online Security and SafePrice. The former warns you about dangerous websites and blocks those involved in phishing while the latter is an online price comparison and coupon code finder tool.
Note that all of the above suites only work with Windows. Avast offers two separate antivirus products for Mac platform: Avast Security and Avast Security Pro.
Much like Avast Free Antivirus, which only works on Windows, Avast Security has more or less the same features and is completely free, too. It allows you to run different types of scans, and also offers web shield (blocks dangerous downloads and prevents malware infections), email shield (protects against malware-infected email attachments), and a WiFi scanner.
Avast Security Pro exposes WiFi intruders and adds a ransomware shield to make sure that none of your personal files and folders can be encrypted.
What is Included in Norton’s Antivirus Suites?
Unlike Avast, Norton doesn’t offer a freeware. Instead, it offers Norton AntiVirus Basic, which includes protection against spyware, viruses, identity theft, and other online threats. It effortlessly removes hard-to-remove malicious infections and also protects you on social media sites.
But note that Norton AntiVirus Basic is only available for Windows platform.
Norton Security Standard takes protection to the next level; it includes a smart firewall to police your home network, premium support, and a 100% refund guarantee if Norton experts fail to “keep your device(s) virus-free.” With a single subscription, this plan protects one PC and one Mac or mobile device.
With Norton Security Deluxe, you get everything in the ‘standard’ plan plus a web portal to manage all of your devices at one place and protection for up to 5 devices (that can be PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices). Other useful features included in this plan are a disk optimizer, a file cleanup tool, and a startup manager (lets you manage which files run at the computer startup).
Norton Security Premium suite adds Family Premier (enables you to set different parental control features for your children), automatic backup of selected files from up to 5 family devices, and a 25 GB cloud storage.
Note: Norton utility tools, such as Family Premier, Online 25GB Backup, Computer Tune-up, WiFi Privacy, are all available as separate downloads, and can be purchased separately. You can also avail the free trials of most utilities.
Norton Boot Recovery tool (available as a free separate download) allows you to create a rescue media to crush malware that prevents computer start-up. Norton also offers a silent mode that suspends signature updates and notifications.
Out of the four extensions that Norton offers, only two of them are handy — Identity Safe, which is a free password manager, and Security Toolbar (protects against scam websites and identity theft).
Surprisingly, none of the Norton security suites include tools that have become common in antivirus products like a home-network scanner, a file shredder, a software updater, a hardened web browser, or VPN. Also, Norton doesn’t offer webcam protection in any of its plans.
So, it’s clear that Avast provides more security-related features and extra utility tools than Norton if you do a side-by-side comparison of all the four security suites both companies offer.
Norton vs Avast: Which Software Provides Better Protection?
Like most of the other antivirus software, Avast and Norton also use signature-match detection, which checks files against a huge database of known malware, and heuristic monitoring (checks for behavioral attributes of software) to detect all sorts of known and unknown malware. Anything that seems suspicious is sent to cloud servers and is added to the malware library if found to be dangerous upon further examination.
Usually, all the security suites of antivirus products use the same detection engine to detect and sniff out malware.
To see which of the two software provides better protection, I’ll look at their performance in the recent independent lab tests conducted by AV-Test and AV-Comparatives – two reputable institutes that regularly test the performance of various antivirus on different levels.
According to AV-Test most recent tests, which were conducted on Windows 10 platform in September and October 2017, Avast and Norton both received perfect results; they both blocked 100% of the attacks when tested against 202 samples of zero-day malware and 9,797 samples widespread malware in both months – earning an “excellent” 6/6 star rating from the security experts. (See this and this for detailed reports.)
Similar tests when conducted on Windows 7 in July and August in 2017, Avast blocked 99.0% of zero-day malware in July and 100% in August when tested against 198 samples in both months. Against widespread malware, it protected against 99.9% and 100% of the 10,973 samples in both months respectively. Norton, on the other hand, scored a perfect 100% in both months against both types of malware samples. Both products received 6/6 rating in these tests. (See this and this for detailed reports.)
Now, let’s see how both products fared in AV-Comparatives’ tests.
In AV-Comparatives most recent real-world protection test, which tested various antivirus products against real-world conditions, Avast received an excellent “ADVANCED +” award because of its great protection rate of 99.6 and a low wrongly blocked score (which was calculated based on how many times the software wrongly blocked clean files/websites) of 11.
Norton, however, didn’t qualify for the top status. Its protection rate was near perfect at 99.9% but its wrongly blocked score was higher, at 20, which means it secured a slightly lower “ADVANCED” status in the real-world protection test.
In AV-Comparatives’ malware protection test, Avast once again received “ADVANCED +” award as its protection rate was 99.99%, only returned 9 false positives (i.e. wrongly identifying clean software as malware).
On the other hand, Norton’s results in this test were poor. Its protection rate was great, at 99.99%, but it returned 275 false positives, a remarkably high number. It received the lowest “TESTED” status in the malware protection test.
So, it’s evident that Avast not only detects malware at a great efficiency but also returns very few false positives.
Norton vs Avast: Which Product Puts Less Impact on System?
It is imperative that antivirus should not only provide great protection against malware but also shouldn’t eat up too much of system resources.
Back in the day, Norton was known for making computers sluggish, but that’s not the case anymore.
AV-Test’s recent “performance” study looked at the average influence of different antivirus products on computer performance by carrying out common tasks like launching websites, installing and downloading applications, copying of files, and more.
Norton received a great overall rating of 5.5/6 stars. (The results are expressed in terms of percentage slow-down on a standard and a high-end computer).
And here’re the results of the same study with Avast installed.
Note: These tests were conducted in Sep-Oct 2017 on Windows 10. The same tests when conducted on Windows 7 platform in July-Aug last year saw similar results.
AV-Comparatives also conducted a similar study where they tested the impact of different antivirus solutions by carrying out different tasks like file copying, archiving/unarchiving, installing/uninstalling apps, launching apps, browsing websites, and more.
Avast’s impact score was 8.9, while Norton touched a slightly better 8.7 mark. Both software were awarded “ADVANCED +” rating in this test.
So, it’s clear that neither Avast nor Norton will significantly slowdown your computer, but it has to be said Norton is slightly better in terms impacting the system.
Norton vs Avast: Which Products Provides Better User Experience?
Norton’s clean and bright user interface hasn’t changed in the recent years. When everything is okay, you’ll see “you’re protected” written next to a green check mark, which quickly changes to a red cross when you’re under threat.
It has four tabs arranged in a horizontal menu – Security, Identity, Performance, and More Norton. There’re links to Report Card (gives you an overview of Norton’s activities), Setting, and Help in the top bar. At the bottom, there’s information about your subscription status, with a link to subscribe.
Security tab, which is the default window, lets you run different types of scans, update malware definitions, access protection history, and turn on/turn off advanced options. Identity covers web protection features, identity safe vault, and a password generator.
Performance tab contains features like disk optimizer, startup manager, system graph and a file cleanup option, while More Norton enables you to manage your devices and add more features.
Avast’s dark interface looks modern and elegant, but it may come across as a little more complicated and overwhelming when you compare it with Norton’s interface.
It has a vertical menu on the left that has the following tabs: Status, Protection, Privacy, and Performance tabs.
Status, which is the default home page, shows protection status, with the green color representing “everything is fine” and the red color signaling a problem. The other three tabs neatly open submenus that contain relevant features associated with each tab.
At the bottom-left, there’s a link which takes you to the settings page, and on top of that lies an “Upgrade” button.
If you’re using the free version, you’ll see that many premium features are locked. Also, Avast shows unobtrusive ads in its free plan.
Overall, Norton’s product provides a better (and cleaner) user experience than Avast’s.
Norton vs Avast: Which Software is Less Expensive?
First, let’s see the prices of Norton’s security suites.
Now, let’s look at the prices of Avast’s solutions.
Avast’s security suites are a touch expensive than Norton’s. Also, you can protect multiple devices with a single license of Norton Security Deluxe and Norton Security Premium.
Norton vs Avast: Which is More Popular?
Avast claims to have a user base of 400 million, but it includes AVG users too since they both belong to the same company. On the other hand, Norton’s community is speculated to be just over 50 million — considerably lower that Avast’s.
OPSWAT’s most recent antivirus market share report shows that Avast leads the overall market share by 19%, followed by ESET and Malwarebytes with 14.03% and 12.73% respectively. Norton, interestingly, didn’t make it to the list of top 10 antivirus products in terms of market share.
Another way to judge which of the two products is more popular is to look at the social numbers. Avast has 4.1 million Facebook fans while Norton’s numbers are just over 1.3 million. On Twitter, Avast has 182K followers as opposed to Norton’s 157K.
So, it’s clear that Avast not captures a bigger market share but is also more popular.
Final Thoughts
In the modern, technology-driven world, we store a large part of our life on our computers, so it makes sense to say that you should never take your security and privacy for granted.
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Our recommendations: After reviewing over 50 antivirus suites from some of the biggest names in the cybersecurity landscape, we believe that Bitdefender Total Security 2019 (currently at 50% off) is the best antivirus suite for 2019 in terms of value for money. A single subscription of the suites lets you protect up to five devices (PCs, Macs, and smartphones) in any combination.
Plus, it comes with premium customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you have more than five devices, Bitdefender Family Pack 2019 is the best option for you. Related Comparisons
Avast vs AVG
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Using your anti-virus scanner manually is risky because of the possibility of user error: forgetting even one scan can lead to a dangerous situation. Running an anti-virus program, such as Avast, on a regular basis helps ensure that your computer is free of harmful viruses that can infect your personal and business files. Avast enables you to schedule a scan on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. After scheduling the scan, Avast will automatically scan your computer for viruses at the scheduled time. You can schedule a scan on both the free and paid versions of Avast.
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Click 'Antivirus.' Click 'Scan Now' if the window does not open by default.
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Click 'Create Custom Scan' in the bottom right corner of the window.
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Click 'Scheduling.' Click the box next to 'Schedule this scan.'
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Select the frequency of the scan from the Schedule Type drop-down menu and any options for the scan in the Scan Scheduler section.
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Select the time and day of the scan in the Schedule section.
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About the Author
Joshua Phillips has done it all when it comes to video games: strategy guides, previews, reviews, in-depth interviews with developers and extensive public relations work. He has written for websites such as Hardcore Gaming 101 and MyInsideGamer.
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Phillips, Joshua. 'How to Set Avast to Auto-scan.' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/set-avast-autoscan-63285.html. Accessed 02 July 2019.
Phillips, Joshua. (n.d.). How to Set Avast to Auto-scan. Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/set-avast-autoscan-63285.html
Phillips, Joshua. 'How to Set Avast to Auto-scan' accessed July 02, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/set-avast-autoscan-63285.html
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