I've Been Using This Secure Browser, and It's Much Better Than Expected

Summary

• Avast Secure Browser is similar to Chrome, with extra security features for privacy.
• The paid Pro version offers a built-in VPN and ad-blocking but may not be worth the cost.
• Unique features include Extension Guard, Bank Mode, and Add-Ons for extra protection.

There's no shortage of secure browsers in the market. However, when an antivirus company decides to make one, it's worth a look, and Avast's Secure Browser promises a lot regarding privacy.

While not all of these promises are true, it does enough to provide decent protection online, and I've been surprisingly pleased with it.

What Is Avast Secure Browser and How Is It Different?

As the name suggests, Avast Secure Browser is a web browser from Avast, a company known for its antivirus suite. Like most popular browsers, it's built on the Chromium engine, meaning you get all the benefits from Chrome with Avast's protection slapped on.

And that's really what the browser is—Chrome with extra protection slapped on top. Avast did not do much to change or customize the browser layout to give it a different look. Apart from the lack of color out of the box (especially if you're using dark mode), the browser looks practically identical to Chrome, except with a few of Avast's tools sprinkled across the user interface.

Depending on what you want from a "secure" browser, that's not necessarily bad. The design ensures that the less tech-savvy don't feel overwhelmed. Finding and enabling security features is also easy, thanks to a built-in Security & Privacy Center that holds all major security features the browser offers in one place.

Other than that, every other feature and setting is exactly where it would be if you were using Chrome. The keyboard shortcuts are also identical. So once you're done importing your data from another browser like Chrome or Edge, you should be up and running in no time.

One annoying part of the browser was the constant reminders and pop-ups about installing the Avast antivirus. In fact, one of the browser's flagship features, Bank Mode, requires the antivirus to work.

There's also a paid version of the browser called Avast Secure Browser Pro that starts at $5.99 a month and gets cheaper as you extend the subscription duration. The Pro version is centered around a built-in VPN feature with unlimited bandwidth. You also get better ad blocking, which Avast claims increases page loading speeds by up to four times.

I didn't find the Pro version worth paying for, especially considering other free browsers offer built-in VPN support. Ad blocking is also a feature that can be enabled with extensions, so you're better off saving yourself another subscription, especially considering that the free version does a good job of blocking ads in the first place.

How Avast Is Different From Other Secure Browsers

So, how is it different from other secure browsers like Brave or DuckDuckGo? The answer lies in Avast's simplicity. That's not to say that Brave or DuckDuckGo are difficult to use, but you can install Avast Secure Browser on your grandparent's computer, set it up once, and not have to worry about them calling you every time they see an annoying ad—as they won't be seeing any.

Speaking of setting it up, you'll have to change a few settings before you can make the most of the new browser.

First, it uses Microsoft's Bing search engine by default, so you might want to swap it out if you're looking for better search results. Several of the security features are also disabled by default, which is a surprising choice considering the marketing around the browser being secure.

Avast shows sponsored content by default. This includes sponsored links on the default home page, affiliate links, and new tab images. You can disable the setting, but it leaves a bad first impression.

It also accesses your location from the first time you run the browser. In my case, it was to display a small weather widget in the top-left corner of the default home page, but I'd have liked it if Avast asked me first.

3 Avast Secure Browser Features Worth Using

Many security features are baked into the Avast Secure Browser, but not all are unique. Similar features are implemented differently across all major browsers, so here are a few unique features you need to know about if you're considering Avast's browser.

1. Extension Guard

Avast offers an Extension Guard with its browser that checks extensions or add-ons for malicious content before installing it on your browser. With malicious extensions even troubling code editors, it's a good tool to have enabled in your browser to help avoid malicious extensions. Especially if you're tech-savvy enough to tell what extensions can be malicious.

2. Bank Mode

Bank Mode is one of the browser's flagship features. As mentioned before, Avast antivirus (or Avast One) must be installed. It provides a clean, virtual desktop for use whenever you want to use a banking app or website. This protects you from malicious script injection, keystroke logging, and screenshot attempts by third-party apps.

The feature is nice to have but can be a bit overkill. That said, Avast's Bank Mode is the way to go if you want the best possible protection for your banking credentials. It would've been nice if they had packaged it with the browser itself, perhaps with the paid tier, to make the subscription better value for money. Unfortunately, the feature is Windows-exclusive, which is another limitation of an otherwise unique feature.

3. Add-Ons for Extra Protection

Besides the Chrome App Store, Avast also offers its own Avast Addons marketplace. However, considering you can install extensions from any Chromium marketplace and given how popular Chrome's app store is, chances are you'll end up using the latter. If you do run into any malicious extensions, the aforementioned Extension Guard feature should be able to save you.

Other than that, there are several other features that you'd expect from a secure browser. Here's a quick summary:

• Web Shield: Protects you from malware online. From phishing attempts to sophisticated spyware hidden in URLs, website images, downloads, and more. Avast claims its phishing protection is the best between Chrome, Opera, Edge, and Firefox, according to an anti-phishing comparative test by AV-Comparatives in 2022, scoring a 95 percent block rate.
• Privacy Guard: Blocks ads and trackers as you go about the internet. Like other browsers, Avast offers three levels of protection here: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. Depending on the setting you choose, you can block known trackers, pop-ups, banner ads (including videos), and social media ads and even disable browser fingerprinting. The Pro version blocks ads in search results as well.
• Hack Check: Lets you check whether or not accounts connected to a specific email ID have been breached, giving you the opportunity to change your passwords before a hacker does it for you.

Performance and Battery Life

Performance and battery life are about what you'd expect from any Chromium-based browser, with performance taking a slight hit. I didn't notice any particularly heavy UI elements loading in the browser, so the performance hit either comes from unoptimized code somewhere in the browser or from the security features provided.

It's not noticeable, but I don't think the browser will run very well on older systems. Apart from that, you shouldn't face any hiccups as long as you have a relatively modern PC. You can enable the browser's Memory Saver feature to help with performance, and it has a page preloading setting that can be set to standard or extended for even more speed.

Battery life is also average. The browser does have an Energy Saver mode that helps save battery by limiting background processes and visual enhancements like smooth scrolling and video frame rates. The feature kicks in at 20 percent battery by default, but you can set it to enable if your PC is unplugged automatically.

Why You Should Switch to Avast Secure Browser

Avast's browser is a pretty good offering. It offers a familiar, easy-to-use browser experience with better security, ad blocking, and other privacy measures. Setting up isn't very complicated either, with helpful tooltips and descriptions for most settings. Once you've tweaked the settings, you won't have to visit the settings panel often.

Alternatively, if you have a less tech-savvy family member or friend you'd like to protect online without giving them a browser they can hardly figure out how to use, Avast Secure Browser is perfect. It's available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, so you won't have any problems getting it up and running across all devices you or the person you're setting it up for.

However, if you want all privacy and security protections enabled out of the box, you can continue using whatever secure browser you already have. Avast is better suited for people who don't have a keen eye for URLs and are at risk of accidentally clicking malicious PDF attachments, which is a significant number of internet users.