Avast should be avoided completely.
They have truly lost their way and have become more of a privacy/security risk than anything.<p>Did you know that Avast has a “confidential collaborator” known as Psafe that has an antivirus/cleaner app on Google Play called DFNDR that has been tricking users into installing their bogus app through scareware popunder fake virus warnings for over 8 years straight.<p>The DFNDR app was funded by the Chinese Qihoo and early versions of the app used to harvest users social media data and send data to Chinese servers.
DFNDR also was not forthcoming with AV-test about it’s antivirus detectction engine.<p>It uses Avast’s detection engine and when AV-test found out the DFNDR app was no longer included in its testing.<p>The app itself is filled with trackers and several advertising SDK’s which take over the users device.<p>I have communicated with Psafe in private emails to show them the source of the fake virus warnings so that they could be stopped.
Psafe requested I not go public with my findings for 30 days which I granted.<p>The fake virus warnings never stopped, not even on the sites I gave Psafe as examples.<p>Avast for it’s part banned me for life from their forums without warning.<p>Look at the user reviews of the DFNDR app on the Play Store to see for yourself.<p>Avast is nothing bat data harvesting ad agency at this point.