Free version: Avira optimizes update system

Painstaking updates will soon be a thing of the past with the free anti-virus solution

Tettnang, 17 November 2009 – Even more performance for free: Avira continues to invest in its internationally popular free version and is now improving its update system. Until recently, users of the free Avira AntiVir Personal virus protection program were occasionally faced with delays when performing updates. Everything is set to change from Thursday onwards, after which date users of the free security software will be able to perform updates conveniently and without disruption, even during peak times.

The rapid increase in malware in recent years has been reflected in an equally rapid growth in the virus definition files used in the security solutions from Avira. This is one of the reasons why users of the free Avira AntiVir Personal basic protection program have occasionally had to wait some time before receiving their updates. Avira has responded to the feedback from its users with a much-improved update process: Instead of the current four files, in future the virus database will consist of 32 files. This will reduce the size of the individual updatable files, so that in future less data will be delivered in each update. Avira also uses a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which uses numerous servers distributed throughout the Internet to deliver the data more quickly.

The new system requires a one-off update measuring about 25 MB. Users of free Avira AntiVir Personal may once again experience delays as a consequence, after all Avira will need to supply over 100 million users with the update. This means that data measuring over 2.5 Petabytes will be delivered all over the world in the shortest possible time. Users of the commercial antivirus solutions from Avira are not affected by this - they are always serviced by means of a reserved bandwidth and thus receive all updates at any time without hindrance.

Basic protection against viruses, worms and Trojans can be downloaded from www.free-av.com. Avira AntiVir Premium ($36.99 per year) and Avira Premium Security Suite ($59.99 per year) offer additional security. The Suite has firewall, anti-spam and backup solutions, providing protection for online shopping and Internet banking transactions.

About Avira

Avira wants its customers to ‘live free’ from spyware, phishing, viruses and other internet-based threats.
The company was founded 25 years ago on Tjark Auerbach's promise to "make software that does good things for my friends and family." More than 100 million consumers and small businesses now depend upon Avira’s security expertise and award-winning antivirus software, making the company the number-two market share leader globally. Avira provides IT-security protection to computers, smartphones, servers and networks, delivered as both software and cloud-based services.

In addition to protecting the online world, Avira's CEO promotes well-being in the offline world through the Auerbach Foundation, which supports charitable and social projects. The philosophy of the foundation is to help people to help themselves.

For more information, please visit www.avira.com or join the community at www.facebook.com/avira.