Free antivirus maker Avira debuts a laundry list of changes in its
latest major update, basically repositioning the suite to remain
competitive in the face of tougher competition from other free security
suites and a renewed emphasis on performance from paid competitors. From
the new breezy installation to the modernized interface and reputable
security, the suite has a lot going for it.
However, it notably lacks some features that many people consider basics
even at the free level, so this version may only wind up appealing to
existing Avira users and fans.
Longtime Avira fans will note that the suites also have undergone a bit
of a name change. The product title "AntiVir" has been dropped, as Avira
AntiVir Personal becomes Avira Free Antivirus, Avira AntiVir Premium
becomes Avira Antivirus Premium, and Avira Premium Security Suite
becomes Avira Internet Security. While product-specific names may work
for some companies because of legacy associations, such as the Norton
product from Symantec, new user confusion has likely forced security
suite makers to streamline their operations.
The suites have also skippped version 11, perhaps driven by a Spinal
Tap-esque fear of exploding amps, and gone straight to version 12. It's
also possible that the company was thinking of aligning the version
number with the release year, as most security suites released in the
fall have version numbers that reflect the coming year.
