Is Avast a Virus itself?

Are you looking for a free antivirus solution?

Or, you are having second thoughts about Avast Antivirus.

Avast is a famous company known for its free antivirus program. Besides, it makes more tools like driver updater, secure browser, cleanup program, and much more. With a user base of 400 million customers, Avast still faces much criticism.

Thus, it can be challenging to make a proper judgment about the program if you are a beginner.

Therefore, dig deep into the internet and tested some of its products to answer the question, “Is Avast a Virus?”

So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

What is a Virus?

A virus is a malicious file that usually corrupts files on your computer. Besides, it can replicate itself and transfer from one device to another with human intervention. It is worth mentioning that most of the viruses are in .exe format. That is, it runs as an installation file on windows computer.

A virus has some noticeable effects on your system. For instance, it slows down or even freezes your device from time to time. Also, you can find some suspicious files on your device in various folders. You might also notice that you can not open some files that were working a few days ago.

A virus is a specific term used for programs that shows the behaviors mentioned above. There are also other rogue programs like worms and trojans that shows similar effects but are slightly different than a virus. A broader term, malware, is used for all malicious software in general.

Is Avast a Virus?

Short answer, no. Avast can not be a virus because it can not replicate itself from one device to another. Also, it does not damage your files.

However, many users have mentioned unusual behavior when they install Avast products on their devices. It includes slowing down the computer, occasional freezing, and many more effects. These are the elements that affect your system performance. Besides that, Avast products also use some shady tactics like false alarms and irritating pop-ups to promote its paid products. We won’t say it is harmful to your computer, but you can consider it unethical.

We noticed that the paid versions of Avast products do not show such issues. However, this is a problem with the free versions. It can be a bug or a marketing strategy. Still, no one expects such behavior from a security solution, at least.

If you are still concerned, why not opt for MalwareFox or Bitdefender for that matter.

Is Avast Secure Browser a Virus?

Avast takes some significant steps to protect your system from online threats. One of its tools is the Avast Secure Browser.

Some people think it as a virus for a variety of reasons. It does show some suspicious behavior, but we can assure you that Avast Secure Browser is not a virus.

The product is a Chromium-based browser made explicitly for secure online browsing. It restricts you from visiting malicious websites and also checks your email for notorious attachments. Using the Avast extension, you can also use these benefits on a standard browser like Chrome and Firefox.

Still, people have second thoughts about this product. And, there are some valid points for that. For instance, when you install Avast Premium Antivirus, it also introduces the Secure Browser by default. Some people might find it abrupt if a program promotes more apps on your system. However, to clear your doubts, Avast allows you to opt-out of the secure browser before initiating the installation.

Additionally, the Chromium browser is infamous for its vulnerability. It is an open-source sibling of Google Chrome. Many unethical developers use this browser to distribute malicious programs. Thus, you might hear similar comments for Avast Secure Browser as well.

Does Avast Store User Data?

A few months ago, Avast faced controversy about selling user data to tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and many more. Yes, multiple sources confirmed these accusations. However, Avast never officially validated the allegations. Moreover, they dump the subsidiary company, Jumpshot, soon after the controversy. 

That said, Avast openly states that it collects data for personal research. However, you can opt-out of the terms by accessing it in the settings. In reality, many tech companies collect user data. You can say only those who get caught have to face the consequences.

Conclusion: Is Avast a Virus

Avast is a major company in the field of security solutions. The main product of the company is Avast Antivirus. However, it is previously involved in some unethical stuff that we do not expect from an antivirus like collecting user data. Besides that, Avast is not a virus, although it can slow down your computer if you are using an older machine.