Avira Free Security 1.1.116.3442

Avira Free Security is a free security and maintenance suite for Windows, with related versions for macOS, Android and iOS. It combines a malware scanner and real-time protection with a browser extension, a capped VPN, a password manager and a set of cleanup and update tools. On Windows it replaced the earlier Avira Free Antivirus and is the same product under a newer name. Paid upgrades, Avira Internet Security and Avira Prime, add further protection and remove some limits.

Malware scanning and real-time protection

Real-time protection runs in the background and checks files as they are opened or used. This can stop a threat before it runs. Detection combines local virus definitions, which update automatically, with cloud-based analysis. When Avira Free Security meets an unknown file, it can send it to the Protection Cloud for analysis. Detections found there are passed back to users’ devices.

Manual scans run in the foreground and come in several scopes:

• Quick scan checks the areas of the system most often targeted by malware.
• Full scan examines the whole device.
• Custom scan covers chosen files or folders.
• Scheduled scans repeat a chosen scan automatically.

Avira Free Security moves high-risk files to quarantine, which isolates them from the rest of the system. From the quarantine list the user can decide whether to restore each item, attempt a repair or delete it permanently.

Smart Scan as a single check

Smart Scan is the one-click starting point. Instead of looking only for malware, it also reports network threats, outdated software, tracking cookies and unnecessary files in one pass. The results lead into the matching tools, so a user can see in one list what Avira Free Security would fix.

Web protection in the browser

Browser Safety is a free browser extension. It blocks phishing pages and known harmful sites before they load. It stops potentially unwanted applications from hiding in downloads and filters ads, pop-ups and hidden trackers. It also helps prevent browser hijacking, where a program changes the home page or search engine without permission.

VPN with a data allowance

The built-in VPN, Avira Phantom VPN, encrypts traffic between the device and the VPN server and hides the user’s real IP address. In the free version the VPN has a data cap, monthly on Windows and Mac and daily on Android. Unlimited data requires Avira Prime or a separate Phantom VPN Pro subscription. The VPN is not offered in India.

Password storage

The Avira Password Manager creates long, unique passwords, stores them and syncs them across the user’s devices. Saved entries can be used for automatic logins on websites.

Updates, privacy and cleanup on Windows

A large share of Avira Free Security on Windows is maintenance rather than malware defense:

• Software Updater finds outdated or vulnerable third-party programs and updates them.
• Driver updater brings device drivers to the recommended versions.
• System privacy groups more than 200 Windows and app privacy settings in one place. This lets users reduce data sharing with Microsoft and app makers without searching through system menus.
• Cleaner removes junk files, traces of online activity and invalid registry entries.
• Duplicates finder locates duplicate photos and other files.
• Startup optimizer lets the user disable programs that launch with Windows but are not needed.
• File shredder deletes files permanently so they cannot be restored.

The Mac edition has a smaller set: antivirus with real-time protection and scheduling, Smart Scan, the VPN and Browser Safety. It also includes a Junk Cleaner that removes caches, logs, temporary files and duplicates.

Avira Free Security on phones

On Android, the free app scans for malware and ransomware. It also adds a Network Scanner that finds smart devices on the home network and checks them for weaknesses. Identity Safeguard checks whether the user’s email address appeared in a data breach. AppLock puts a PIN on selected apps, and anti-theft tools can locate and remotely lock a lost phone. Web protection and camera and microphone access control are Pro features. The iOS version offers mobile protection features together with the VPN.

Internet Security and Prime upgrades

The paid plans build on the same scanning technology rather than replacing it.

With Avira Free Security, the user applies software updates with one click. Automatic updating in the background is one of the main differences in the paid tiers.