The app’s File, Web, and Mail Shields enable the app to, respectively, monitor changes to the user’s files, keep a watchful eye on all incoming HTTP traffic, and filter POP3 and IMAP-based e-mail to alert users to the presence of harmful files. It will also display Growl notifications to keep users informed of potential threats and the steps it is taking to keep them safe. For example, it allows the user to run a scan of the whole filesystem, including networked volumes, at will. Avast’s new new Mac offering seems to offer a variety of more in-depth protection.
Given that Macs now feature rudimentary built-in malware support, some users will no doubt turn to third-party software for more advanced functionality. The Mac security scene has heated up in the past couple of weeks, primarily due to the appearance of a nasty Trojan horse called Mac Defender and Apple’s subsequent release of a Snow Leopard security update that targets that malware, as well as beefing up protections against future pieces of nasty software. A launch date and final name for the software is set to be announced shortly. The app is being touted as an almost complete rewrite of Avast’s existing Mac security software Ondrej Vicek, Avast Software’s CTO, announced that the final version of the product will be free. On Wednesday, Avast Software announced the launch of a beta version of its new antivirus software for Mac OS X.
