In addition to the Avast Antivirus 5.0 beta, Alwil software has also released Avast Internet Security Beta 5.0.  This free antivirus and internet security software builds on the improvements in Avast 5.0 antivirus and includes a firewall, spam filter, and sandbox mode.  This is one of the few opportunities that a user can download free internet security software because I haven’t actually found a free version before.  Even AVG and Norton etc., do not provide freeware internet security versions.  However, please keep in mind that this software is beta and it is possible to encounter problems (I personally had a flawless experience on Vista 64 bit ultimate)

Program Installation:

     The installation was easy and used the standard Avast installation screen.  The whole setup took about 3 minutes.  The only hiccup was that I was twice prompted for an unsigned driver installation. I presume this driver is for the firewall.

Resource and Memory Usage:

     Avast Internet Security resource usage is broken up into multiple services including the firewall (7 megabytes idle), antivirus (3 megabytes idle), and the Avast service (5.4 megabytes idle.)  This comes to a total of 15.4 megabytes used when idle.  This is an impressive spec. and Avast Internet Security should have no problem running on older systems.

Antivirus Protection:

     Avast Internet Security Free includes all of the award winning antivirus protection in Avast antivirus 5.0.  Just be wary of when the antivirus auto updates (make sure your sound is turned down, haha.) I swear the lady’s or man’s voice gets creepier and creepier.  Regardless, Avast Internet Security will provide excellent antivirus protection.  I am not sure if Avast 5.0 included a Silent Game mode, but Internet Security has included this functionality.  This feature will silence the antivirus so that it doesn’t scan game files when a user plays a game.
     Avast Internet Security also includes sandbox mode.  Sandbox mode will take a suspicious file and test it for malicious intentions.  This essentially is the same technology that Prevx 3.0 used (reviewed last week.)  If malicious intentions are found then the file will be blacklisted. 

Avast Internet Security Firewall:

     While Avast is new into the firewall market, the product is by no means lacking.  The software includes a full functioning rule based firewall.  The firewall is very easy to use and provides three basic security settings on the first page.  The first is a Home Low setting (allows all untrusted connections to share files or stream to an Xbox), the next is Work Medium Risk Zone (follows the application rules and provides an acceptable amount of security), finally, the Airport High Risk Zone (ideal for a public location and blocks all incoming traffic.)  The firewall also shows all incoming and outgoing connections in a very easy to recognize way with the program icons displayed.  For example, Firefox is displayed with the Firefox logo and it shows all the sites and ip address that are currently communicating with Firefox. There is also finer tuning of applications in the application rules tab.  Everything is currently set to Auto-Decide which is great for most users.  In the Network Utilities tab, I really liked the inclusion of Fix the Network Stack.  Often viruses or Trojans will install themselves within the network stack.  Once the virus or Trojan is deleted it leaves a broken hole in the network stack preventing the user from accessing the internet.  This utility will automatically rebuild the stack to restore internet connectivity after a virus has broken it.  Finally, don’t worry about annoying firewall popups.  Avast Firewall alerts the user only when it actually needs to.  Thanks Avast!

Spam Filter:

    Avast Internet Security also includes Spam protection.  The Spam home page and expert settings are pretty lacking.  There isn’t an explanation how the spam filter works and there pretty much aren’t any tweakable settings except a white and black list. There is a security slider but I am not sure what it does. The spam filter will need some work if Avast wants to make a marketable product.

Conclusion and Download:

    In conclusion, Avast Internet Security is a full featured free internet security software. The spam filter might need some additional work, but the software performs great at securing a user’s computer.  Download the Avast here.