Avast Secure Browser is a web browser for Windows that combines everyday browsing with controls for ads, tracking, harmful websites and sensitive browsing sessions. Avast also offers macOS, Android and iOS editions, whose features differ. On Windows, the Security & Privacy Center brings the browser’s protection switches, browsing modes and privacy tools into one place.
Privacy Guard
Privacy Guard decides which advertising and tracking content a page can load by comparing its scripts against filter lists. Its blocking levels let you choose how much content to filter. Basic targets intrusive ads and known trackers, while Balanced also blocks social-media advertising.
Strict adds broader tracker blocking, push-notification blocking and protection against browser fingerprinting. Fingerprinting uses details such as browser settings, installed add-ons and screen characteristics to recognize a device. Blocking it can interfere with websites that use those details: a bank’s option to remember your device may stop working. Strict filtering can also prevent parts of a page from loading, so Avast Secure Browser lets you disable filtering for individual sites.
The browser also includes a Cookie Consent Manager that detects cookie banners and handles them according to its automation rules, such as rejecting optional cookies. Some banner designs are not recognized or handled correctly, so this feature does not ensure that every tracking cookie is rejected.
Web Shield
Web Shield checks browsing activity for harmful websites and phishing attempts and blocks potentially malicious downloads. The Security Check view shows counts of blocked threats and offers recommended actions when it finds a security issue. Extension Guard addresses another route into the browser by preventing untrusted add-ons from being installed.
HTTPS Encryption uses an encrypted connection when the website supports one. This encrypts data exchanged between the browser and the site.
Browsing modes for sensitive tasks
Bank Mode opens a virtual desktop within Windows for activities such as accessing a banking website. It separates that session from the ordinary desktop to help protect entered information against keyloggers and network eavesdropping. Avast Antivirus must be installed and running for Bank Mode to work.
Avast Secure Browser has other modes for different kinds of exposure. Private Mode keeps browsing history from being saved and deletes tracking cookies and cached content from that session. Screen Sharing Mode hides personal browser details, including bookmarks, search suggestions and extensions, when the browser is being shown to other people.
Data cleanup and breach checks
Privacy Cleaner removes stored browsing information. You can choose a time range and the types of data to delete, including history, cookies and cached images, with Basic and Advanced selections controlling the available choices.
Hack Check takes an email address and checks whether it has been involved in a data breach.
For links you send to other people, URL Cleaner copies a cleaned address to the clipboard. It removes tracking elements such as UTM parameters and advertising IDs while preserving the link’s destination.
Profiles, data import and Avast Sync
Separate profiles keep different sets of bookmarks, extensions and browsing histories. This allows work and personal browsing, or different people’s browsing, to use distinct browser environments.
Avast Secure Browser can import information such as bookmarks, history and saved passwords from other desktop browsers. Avast Sync shares bookmarks and browsing history between devices using end-to-end encryption.
Resource-saving options
Memory Saver suspends inactive tabs to reduce their use of computer memory. The tabs remain in the tab strip, and their content can be reloaded when you return to them. An exceptions list keeps selected websites active when suspending them would interrupt their purpose.
On laptops, Energy Saver reduces image capture activity and background tasks. You can choose whether it starts when the device is unplugged or when the battery is low.
Avast Secure Browser PRO
Avast Secure Browser PRO is the paid edition. It adds a VPN for the desktop browser’s traffic, with selectable server locations, automatic connection options and a kill switch that can block internet access if the VPN connection drops.
This desktop VPN covers traffic from Avast Secure Browser. Protecting traffic from other desktop applications requires a separate solution. PRO also adds stricter filtering of search-engine advertising through Strict Blocking PRO, which also turns off search personalization.
