PRAGUE, Czech Republic: AVAST Software, producers of the world’s most popular antivirus app, has released "avast! Free Antivirus for Mac", its new security app for Apple’s OSX.
The new avast! Free Antivirus for Mac is a full-fledged security app; shielding users from incoming malware, sending and receiving infected files, and scanning computers for threats. It is completely free for all users – home consumers and businesses.
avast! Free Antivirus for Mac arrives as cybercriminals are puncturing the myth of the invulnerability of OSX. In addition to the Flashback Trojan botnet with over 600,000 infected Macs, new OSX malware is demonstrating how unprotected Macs can be infected when a user simply visits a website.
“avast! users have been fully protected from malware like the Flashback Trojan – even when our app was just in the beta stage,” said Vince Steckler, CEO of AVAST Software. “The popularity of Apple computers have made Macs an interesting – and wide open – target for the bad guys. With avast! Free Antivirus for Mac, we are ready to help close this window of vulnerability.”
avast! Free Antivirus for Mac is based on the new avast! 7 antivirus engine, already used by over 150 million active users. The new app provides Mac users with three defensive shields: the Web and Mail Shields for incoming data and the File Shield to scan the user’s hard drive.
AVAST Software knows the threat landscape. The avast! CommunityIQ, the user-based sensor network, sends the AVAST Virus Lab a nonstop stream of data on malware encountered. In turn, users receive updates on new and emerging threats sent back to their computers.
WebRep, the avast! anti-phishing/web reputation plugin, gives Mac users the experiences of the avast! community, combining user-submitted comments with Virus Lab detection and blocking of phishing sites.
Mac users from “mixed technology” families can use the Avast! Account function to oversee the security of their Mac and Windows machines. This free feature lets users know the operational status of avast! installed on each family computer, regardless of operating system.
“Just as we have done with Windows and Android, we want people to know that while the risks are real, a free security app can be very good,” said Mr. Steckler.
avast! Free Antivirus for Mac can be downloaded at avast.com and major download sites.