Your web browser is an integral part of your internet security. You access online services, check your email, consume media, and more through your internet browser.
No matter how secure your browser is, you can always add browser extensions to enhance your security and privacy. Avast Online Security is one such security extension available for Google Chrome.
So does the Avast Online Security extension improve your security? Or are there better security extensions?
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What is Avast Online Security?
Avast Online Security Extension is a security extension for Google Chrome. This is a standalone free security product from Avast that does not require an Avast license to use, which is very convenient.
What does Avast Online Security do?
Let’s go over the basics of the Avast Online Security extension. What does the extension do and what protection does it provide?
The extension can detect and block phishing sites, prevent the download of malware, and block scripts, trackers, and pesky cookies.
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In addition, the extension adds a rating shield next to each site in online search results. A green screen indicates a safe site, orange indicates a potentially unsafe site, and a red screen indicates a site known to host dangerous or malicious content. There is also a gray screen, which indicates a site that the extension does not contain much information about.
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You can also add to the rating system yourself using the extension’s toolbar, where you will find a green or red icon that you can select to provide feedback on the safety of the site.
Does the Avast Online Security extension collect data?
Does the Avast Online Security plugin collect data?
At the end of 2019, the Avast Online Security extension was temporarily removed from the Google Chrome Web Store for collecting excessive amounts of data about its users.
The removal is part of a wider fight against Chrome Web Store browser extensions that collect user data they don’t need to work. This includes data such as the number of open tabs, how much time you spend on a particular site, how much time you spend browsing certain content, etc.
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While it was a concern, Avast quickly corrected the situation and the extension was restored in the Chrome Web Store within weeks of its removal.
The extension is still collecting some data at this time. But before your alarm rings, data collection is required to work. For example, the extension collects data about URLs, user reviews, usage data for the Avast overlay, device information and your country of origin.
Data collection also occurs when you go to any online banking page. Avast Online Security automatically switches bank mode when it detects an online banking website, protecting your privacy and security while in use.
How to use the Avast Online Security installation
The Avast Online Security Extension is really easy to use. After installation, the extension icon will appear in the Google Chrome extension bar (next to the address bar).
Now when you enter a new website, the icon changes color (as per the color guide above) and also displays a number. The number indicates how many tracking systems the extension is detecting.
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If you select the extension icon, the Avast Online Security overlay will open. From here, you can select the Privacy option and then specify whether to automatically block all trackers.
Otherwise, the extension runs in the background and requires minimal interaction.
Is it worth the Avast Online Security Extension?
Critical question: How good is Avast Online Security Extension?
The answer depends on your existing security settings. This is because while the extension is a handy security tool for your browser, you shouldn’t rely on it to replace other more important security options.
Also, the browser-based security extension is inherently limited. It only protects what is happening in your browser. How about downloading a malicious file via torrent or someone sending you a phishing email to your desktop email client? The Avast Security extension does not address these issues.
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To be honest, they are not claiming that it will help in any of these very real but hypothetical situations. However, you should use Avast Online Security as part of a broader approach to system security rather than relying solely on an extension.
Windows comes with a built-in antivirus known as Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender). You can use Windows Security to protect your system in conjunction with another tool like Malwarebytes Premium, providing almost complete protection for your system.
You can still use the Avast Online Security Extension with these other tools, but you can see that a security approach should include multiple layers for maximum impact.
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