Avast, possibly the world's most popular free security program, just got updated. The new avast! Free Antivirus 7 makes security faster and easier for users. It provides users faster information from the "cloud" on new and emerging threats. And, helping family and friends solve their IT issues has never been easier thanks to the new avast! Remote Access and Account features.

The new FileRep feature enables faster threat identification by sorting new, potentially dangerous files from known safe files. With hundreds of millions of executable files already in the cloud-based database, the goal of FileRep is to categorize all files on the web. Sourced from the CommunityIQ sensor network, this data helps avast! decide when questionable files should be placed in the AutoSandbox.

An avast! user can connect to the computer of a second avast! user, allowing the "helper-friend" to help with any computer issues. No additional remote assistance program is needed. Routed through the AVAST servers, the tool provides secure way to help - without requiring a house call.

Account users can see information on the avast! installed in each listed computer, its operational status, and the health of each individual machine.

The improved WebRep browser plugin can now detect counterfeit sites. "We've added phishing data from our Virus Lab to user-submitted votes on site reliability to provide all users with a more complete package of information," explained Mr. Vlcek, CEO of AVAST Software. In addition to detecting phishing attempts, WebRep can also identify fake/planted SSL certificates used to "authenticate" malicious sites.