Free Avira AntiVir V9 Released - Now Includes AntiSpyware

Avira have just released the latest version 9 of their class leading AntiVir program.

The big news is the free version now includes anti-spyware capabilities, a feature previously only available in paid versions.

This is breaking news and we have have not yet tested the new free version. However if it is as good as the previous version AND has anti-malware capabilities then it's going to be a winner.

Website: http://www.free-av.com/

Cnet review: http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10198484-12.html?tag=contentBody;ph...

Here's the official Avira Press Release.  Note that not all the features listed may be offered in the free version.

"Faster, easier, more secure! Highlights of the ninth generation of Avira AntiVir include and enhanced scan engine, parental control and support for netbooks.

Fresh from the laboratory, we present Avira AntiVir Personal, Avira AntiVir Premium and Avira Premium Security Suite. Programmers at the German high-tech security powerhouse have given the user interface a facelift and improved user guidance. A configuration assistant takes the user by the hand and helps them to adapt the configuration quickly and easily to their personal needs. What’s inside is important, too: multi-processor and multi-core systems support allows the anti-virus solution to be up to 20 % faster.

Avira Premium Security Suite now provides parents with parental control that is uncomplicated to use: simply assign ready-made profiles for children, teenagers and adults to your Windows user accounts – and you and your children will no longer be faced with unsuitable content when surfing. Administrators can create their own profiles and specify sites that are always allowed or prohibited, regardless of the chosen profile. Another bonus is WebGuard now features a “Fraud” category, which filters out fraudulent sites. Avira is cooperating with consumer protection agencies to maintain an extensive list of websites that involve subscription payments and fraudulent information.

Dealing with viruses is now child’s play. The Avira designers have modified the virus protection so that the user is no longer asked how to proceed each time malware is discovered. Instead, a complete search can take place and at the end the user will find all malware in a clearly arranged list, which can be wiped from the hard drive with the click of a mouse.

If you are one of the growing number of netbook owners, you will be pleased to hear there are adapted screen dialogs in the AntiVir-9 products. These allow the virus protection to be used, without problem, on the small screens typical of netbooks. The hearts of gamers will beat faster, too: the “Game mode” in Avira Premium Security Suite now automatically recognizes when a game is started, and suppresses all firewall messages for the duration of the game. The programmers have endowed the Avira firewall with a new “Privileged mode” which users can use to enable applications in general, when installing trusted software that requires access to certain ports or network adapters. This highly practical method means that you no longer have to set up separate rules."

Thanks to regular contributor Rick Farrow for this item.