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PCMag UK

avast! Internet Security 8

Neil J. Rubenking
 & Neil J. Rubenking Principal Writer, Security

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
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65 EXPERTS
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41,500+ REVIEWS
Avast Internet Security adds a decent firewall and a substandard spam filter to the standalone antivirus's feature set. It does cost less than most suites, but it's worth paying a bit more for top-notch protection. - avast! Internet Security 8
3.0 Average

The Bottom Line

avast! Internet Security 8 adds spam filtering, firewall, and a powerful sandboxing engine to the same antivirus protection found in avast!'s free suite. Overall, though, you can get better protection for the same price (or less).

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Pros & Cons

    • SafeZone sandbox lets you surf or run unknown programs safely.
    • Web Reputation plug-in rates websites.
    • Firewall effective against exploits.
    • Simple spam filter integrates with Outlook.
    • Installation on infested systems required hours of remote-control support.
    • Antivirus component scores good, not great.
    • Antiphishing accuracy low.
    • Firewall has Achilles' heel.
    • Spam filter discarded too much valid mail.

avast! Internet Security 8 Specs

OS Compatibility: Windows 7
OS Compatibility: Windows Vista
OS Compatibility: Windows XP
Tech Support: and free phone support for US.
Tech Support: Forum
Tech Support: social sites
Tech Support: support web site
Type: Business
Type: Personal
Type: Professional
All Specs

The typical security suite integrates, antivirus, firewall, and antispam, often accompanied by additional features like encryption or parental control. Avast Internet Security sticks with the basics, simply adding antispam and firewall protection to the features of Avast's standalone antivirus. The firewall is decent, but the spam filter failed to impress.

At $39.99 per year or $59.99 for three licenses, Avast's price is on the low end. It has come down in price since last year, when it cost $49.99 for one license and $69.99 for three. Both of our Editors' Choice security suites cost $20 more per year for three licenses. Based on my testing, that's $20 well spent.

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Final Thoughts

Avast Internet Security adds a decent firewall and a substandard spam filter to the standalone antivirus's feature set. It does cost less than most suites, but it's worth paying a bit more for top-notch protection. - avast! Internet Security 8

avast! Internet Security 8

3.0 Average

avast! Internet Security 8 adds spam filtering, firewall, and a powerful sandboxing engine to the same antivirus protection found in avast!'s free suite. Overall, though, you can get better protection for the same price (or less).

Get It Now

Buy It Now

About Our Expert

Neil J. Rubenking

Neil J. Rubenking

Principal Writer, Security

My Experience

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that fateful meeting, I’ve become PCMag’s expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces.

Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Along the way, I wrote more than 40 utility articles, as well as Delphi Programming for Dummies and six other books covering DOS, Windows, and programming. I also reviewed thousands of products of all kinds, ranging from early Sierra Online adventure games to AOL’s precursor Q-Link.

In the early 2000s, I turned my focus to security and the growing antivirus industry. After years of working with antivirus, I’m known throughout the security industry as an expert on evaluating antivirus tools. I serve as an advisory board member for the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO), an international nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating and improving testing of anti-malware solutions.

The Technology I Use

Much of the testing I do, particularly testing with real-world ransomware, is just plain dangerous. To perform such tests safely, I sequester them inside virtual machines managed by VMWare Workstation. For cross-platform testing, I use a MacBook Air, a Google Pixel 4, and a 6th-generation iPad.

I rely on my Delphi coding skills to create and maintain small applications. These include programs to check whether an antivirus correctly handled the malware it detected, launch dangerous URLs and record the security program’s reaction, and analyze the malware that I collect for use in testing. I also wrote a tiny browser and text editor for use in testing security apps that have predefined reactions for known products.

I do my writing and research on a Dell OptiPlex desktop, relying on Microsoft Word (my fingers know all the shortcuts). Many of my articles include charts and analysis; Excel is my go-to for those. When work hours end, though, I escape the bounds of Microsoft and Windows. There’s an iPhone in my pocket, I relax with my oversized iPad, and my Kindle Oasis is always loaded with the best science fiction and fantasy.

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