After you purchase a Chromebook, one of the very first things that you have to do is to get antivirus software installed on it. Then you can make sure that you are delivering all the protection needed by the Chromebook against viruses and malware attacks. Numerous antivirus applications are available for the Chromebook users to consider. Out of them, Avast for Chromebook is holding a prominent place.
It is one of the antivirus applications that we can highly recommend for all the Chromebook users out there. That’s because you can get a trouble-free performance with the antivirus software.
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How To Install Avast for Chromebook?
There are two main methods available for you to get Avast antivirus for Chrome OS. The first method is to download the official Avast Antivirus application through Google Play Store.
Download Avast Antivirus Using Google Play Store
Personally, I think Google Chrome is an exciting new browser. As you can see below it is very clean—a single menu bar and a combined search/url entry window. It also launches very fast, its source code is open source, and most important for Avast users, it has some real neat features that complement the Avast security. Features & Extensions. Since Avast Secure Browser is a Chromium browser, it’s compatible with most Chrome extensions. It does come with a built-in extension block, but Avast Secure Browser always gives you decision power and will let you install any extension whose source you confirm to be trustworthy.
Before you go ahead with this method, you need to make sure that you have the updated version of the Chrome Operating System. Then you can easily complete the installation. Here are the steps that you should follow to get the job done.
Step #1:
Launch Google Play Store on your Chromebook. You can do this from the launcher.
Step #2:
In the search bar, enter the Avast Antivirus App name. Then you can find the app is displayed in the results. Click on the name of the Avast.
Step #3:
When you open up the Avast Antivirus app page, you will be able to find a button called Install.
Step #4:
Now tap on the Install button.
Step #5:
Once the installation is complete, you can find a button called open.
Step #6:
Now you can open up Avast Antivirus and sign in to your account. You can give the Avast credentials and directly log into the app to use.
Install Avast Antivirus Using Chrome Extension
You will also be able to get Avast Antivirus application installed on your Chrome OS in the form of a Chrome Extension. In order to do that, you should be visiting the Chrome Web Store. Here are the steps that you will need to follow in order to get the job done.
Avast Chrome Browser Extension Chrome
Step#1:
You should initially launch the Chrome Web Store on your Chrome OS.
Step #2:
You should get to the left pane and then select the option called Apps or Extensions.
Avast Chrome Browser Extension
Step #3:
Access the search bar and look for Avast.
Step #4:
Once you locate the extension, click on the button called Add to Chrome.
To Conclude
By following both these methods, you can get Avast for Chromebook. However, the second method will only deliver protection to your Chrome browser.
Also Read:Stream Netflix on your Chrome OS
Editor's Rating | |
---|---|
Overall | |
Features | |
Privacy | |
Customer Service |
Positives
- Great security features
- Low resource usage
- Built-in ad blocker
- User-friendly
- Compatible with Chrome extensions
Negatives
- Only available for Windows
- No themes
- No synchronization
Avast has one of the most popular free antiviruses in the world, and in 2018, launched a free Chromium-based web browser: Avast Secure Browser. Avast SafeZone’s successor, which was removed not long before this launch, comes with three main objectives: fast browsing, protecting personal info from malware, phishing, and other threats, and protecting your privacy. To do so, Avast Secure Browser comes with plenty of neat, built-in features that will make sure you can fearlessly surf the internet. However, that also means extensions are limited, and therefore no themes are available, which is a fair trade-off when compared to full protection online. For now, it's only fully available for Windows 8 and onwards, but there is already an early access version for macOS users.
Features & Extensions
Since Avast Secure Browser is a Chromium browser, it’s compatible with most Chrome extensions. It does come with a built-in extension block, but Avast Secure Browser always gives you decision power and will let you install any extension whose source you confirm to be trustworthy. However, extensions that will change this browser’s interface are out of the picture, which means that no themes are allowed. Nevertheless, Avast comes with a handful of features that will respond to almost all users' needs.
Avast Secure Browser comes with a built-in ad blocker, which you can find on the right side of the address tab. It comes enabled by default, but you can disable it anytime without even going into the browser's settings.
Moreover, you also get a video downloader that lets you download videos from any website you are visiting, YouTube included. Unfortunately, this setting is not as visible as the ad blocker, since you will need to click the three dots to open the menu to get to it.
If you have other Avast services installed on your computer, the number of features increases a lot. One example is the ‘bank mode', which opens a virtual computer when you visit websites where you’re dealing with important information – such as online banking. Another example is the Avast Passwords, which integrates this Avast security product into the browser.
Avast Secure Browser Ad Blocker
Privacy & Security
Being that Avast is one of the leading global security products, it shines the most when it comes to privacy and security features.
Avast Secure Browser really wants to make sure you surf the internet safely, something you can see by opening the security and privacy center. Besides the ad blocker, you will see that there are various, neat features enabled by default. Some of them are not new to the game and available in other browsers such as anti-phishing, anti-tracking, and HTTPS enforcement. However, Avast goes a little further by also offering a webcam guard and a flash blocker. Surprisingly, though, the well-known Avast Antivirus does not come with the browser by default. Nevertheless, you can easily download and install it from the security and privacy center.
Although Avast goes above and beyond to protect its users’ privacy, it does collect some user data for itself. In the privacy policy, you can find that Avast Secure Browser collects cookies, the number assigned to the browser, IP addresses, and browser extensions. However, you can always solve this problem by installing the Avast SecureLine VPN from the security and privacy center or by opening a private window.
Extensions For Avast Secure Browser
Avast Secure Browser Stealth Mode
Platforms
Sadly, Avast Secure Browser is only fully available for Windows, and while there is early access for macOS, Linux and mobile are still out of the picture which is probably why Avast still does not offer synchronization between devices.
As it’s a Chromium browser, the Avast Secure Browser interface is similar to other popular browsers such as Google Chrome and Opera. Tabs appear on the top, followed by the address bar; on the right, you can find the hack check, the ad blocker, the button that leads you to the security and privacy center, and finally, the drop-down menu. Overall, it's user-friendly and follows modern browser norms.
Since Avast blocks most extensions to make sure the browser stays secure, it does not offer much customization. When you go to the Chrome Web Store, themes do appear, but the ones we tried could not be installed. Therefore, the only thing the user can change is whether or not the home button and bookmark bar are shown in the interface or not.
Performance-wise, Avast Secure Browser did great. Not only did it open websites faster than Chrome, but it also used fewer computer resources to function.
Customer Service
Avast Secure Browser customer service is included in the overall Avast customer support. Although it's not great, it's what one would expect from a company that offers a vast array of services and an entirely free browser. There is no live chat, but there is a comprehensive FAQ dedicated to the browser service, and it's not hard to find it since the website is well organized. Moreover, if you can't find the answer you are looking for, you can always submit a ticket to the Avast team or visit its forum where there is a thread specifically for the Avast Secure Browser. On top of that, you can also get in touch through Avast’s social media channels, which include Facebook and Twitter.
Bottom Line
Get Extensions For Avast Browser
Avast Secure Browser is indeed safe and secure to use. Although it isn't compatible with themes, something that constrains customization, almost everything you need is built in within the browser. Not only does it offer adblocking, anti-phishing, anti-tracking, and HTTPS enforcement, it goes even further by providing a webcam guard and flash blocker as well. Avast Secure Browser does collect some personal data for itself, but you can always install Avast's VPN on the side or open a private window to solve that problem. The only major problem with Avast Secure Browser is how it only fully works with Windows, but macOS users can download early access, supporting the idea that Avast wants to eventually reach all platforms.