PRAGUE, Czech Republic: Three days after its release avast! Free Antivirus for Mac shot to first position in the ‘Most Popular Mac Downloads’ section of CNET’s Download.com, surpassing Mac security products from other vendors as well as all music, video, browsing, or other Mac apps in general.
“Of course, we would like to also lead Apple’s Mac App Store charts” says Vincent Steckler, CEO of AVAST Software. “Despite the latest Mac security issues with the Flashback Trojan, the Mac App Store does not allow a useful Mac antivirus product to be distributed. To provide the continuous real-time protection needed by users, antivirus products must 1) automatically start; 2) be updated at least daily, 3) provide real-time, on-access file scanning; and 4) must tie into the OS kernel to provide security shields. Unfortunately, Apple prohibits any product performing these functions from being distributed through the Apple Mac App Store.”
AVAST plans to distribute its Free Antivirus for Mac directly from its website and from partnering downloading sites. Thanks to the sizable footprint in the PC segment, there is significant overlap for Macs. According to a recent poll of avast! users, 17 percent – over 25 million – report that they currently own a Mac, and 14 percent plan to install security software.
avast! Free Antivirus for Mac contains the same light, award-winning, certified, and highly acclaimed antivirus and anti-spyware engine as avast! Free Antivirus version 7. It is completely free for all home users. The Mac product’s Windows counterpart, avast! Free Antivirus, tops download.com’s ‘Most Popular Downloads’ list, and received the Editors’ Choice Award as the top free security product of 2012 in March. Download.com is the world’s largest download site