Avast! 7 released with custom install, cloud services, brand new interface

AVAST Software has released the first public betas of its 2012 security family, in the shape of avast! 7 Free, Pro and Internet Security.

One immediately obvious change comes in the revamped installer. If you’re tired of security tools taking over your entire system then you’ll appreciate the degree of control you get here. Install Internet Security, say, and you can choose precisely which core components you need (firewall, sandbox, spam filter, browsing protection, more), and which real-time shields, making it much easier to create a minimum install which should run alongside other security packages.

The redesigned interface seems to be an improvement, too. The program organises its functions across a set of tabs on the left hand side: Summary, Scan Computer, Real-Time Shields, Firewall and so on. Clicking any of these gives you a summary of that area right away, and most related options and configuration settings are usually only a click or two away – it’s all very simple.

Functionality-wise, all the avast! 7 editions now benefit from cloud technologies, including streaming updates for more rapid response to the latest threats, and a file reputation service.

AVAST Software also report more general improvements in sandboxing and browsing protection.

And a little more unusually, there’s a new Remote Assistance option which allows you to connect to and share desktops with other avast! users. A good idea? We’re not sure, but anyway it’s available in all the editions, even avast! 7 Free.