Based on information I've just obtained from the Avast forum, all indications are that the newest version of Avast (2014) has "broken off" from the previous versions (4/5/6/7/8) in terms of the database definitions (still) being made available to these programs: This morning, for example, while avast 2014 proudly announced its current database as being today's [2013-12-05], avast 8 shamefully admitted it was "current" with a two-day-old database [2013-12-03]. Apparently this behavior has become the norm for older versions of avast. BUYER BEWARE.
Now, before we panic, avast 8 also offers "streaming" updates in addition to the "overall" database version... and the avast "gurus" are alleging that as long as one receives the ongoing/pushed stream, they are fully protected, despite the database reporting itself as being two days old. Could be. But in my opinion, it's not a good situation.
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Another, perhaps more important issue: Avast 8's SCRIPT shield has not been updated/fixed to recognize the newest/safest web browsers, neither IE11 nor FF25. The other avast8 shields --- File, Web, and Network --- *ARE* working just fine with these new browsers. It's only the SCRIPT shield that's dormant. And unless the "gurus" are wrong, avast has no plans to address this defect. [Remark: The separate SCRIPT shield of Avast8 has been merged into the WEB shield of avast 2014, so it's impossible for users to determine whether or not there's any corresponding "Script-shield" fix for the 2014 version... the presumption is that one has been implemented there.]
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These two points certainly beg the question as to whether or not users of older avast versions are "living dangerously", being deluded by a false sense of protection :sad: