Avast Secure Browser - Getting Started

Avast Secure Browser is a web browser with built-in security and privacy features to keep you safe online. This article contains instructions to start using Avast Secure Browser.

Open the Security & Privacy Center

The Security & Privacy Center is a console of tools and features that allow you to manage your online activity.

Most features are enabled by default to offer our highest level of security and privacy. Via the Security & Privacy Center, you can personalize Avast Secure Browser by manually enabling or disabling certain features. You can also access tools such as Stealth Mode, Privacy Cleaner, and Hack Check.

To access the Security & Privacy Center:

1. Double-click the Avast Secure Browser icon on your Windows desktop to open the browser.
2. Click Go ▸ Applications in the menu bar, then double click the Avast Secure Browser icon to open the browser.
3. Click the green Security & Privacy Center icon to the right of the address bar.

The Security & Privacy Center is now open. Click a tile to learn more about a feature.

For more information about the features available in the Security & Privacy Center, refer to the following article:

• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions
• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions

Set your default browser

To make Avast Secure Browser your default browser:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and click the green Security & Privacy Center icon to the right of the address bar.
2. Click Make Default in the banner at the top of the screen. If a banner does not appear, Avast Secure Browser may already be your default browser.

Avast Secure Browser should now be your default browser. To verify this, go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings ▸ Default browser.

Import browser data

Avast Secure Browser allows you to import bookmarks, browsing history, search engines, saved passwords, and autofill form data from several popular web browsers, or from an HTML file.

For more information about importing browser data to Avast Secure Browser, refer to the following article:

• Importing bookmarks to Avast Secure Browser
• Importing bookmarks to Avast Secure Browser

Add a new bookmark

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and navigate to the web page that you want to bookmark.
2. Click the star icon in the address bar.
3. Provide a name to help you easily recognize the bookmark, then use the drop-down menu to specify a location for the bookmark.
4. Click Done to confirm.

The web page is now bookmarked. Depending on the location you specified, you can access the bookmarked page either directly via the Bookmarks bar (below the address bar), or by clicking the Other bookmarks folder.

The web page is now bookmarked. Depending on the location you specified, you can access the bookmarked page either directly via the Bookmarks Bar (below the address bar), or by clicking the Other Bookmarks folder.

Set up Adblock

Adblock helps prevent advertisements from loading on the web pages you visit, which improves the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. Adblock is disabled by default.

To enable Adblock:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and click the green Security & Privacy Center icon to the right of the address bar.
2. Click the slider on the Adblock tile so that it changes from gray (OFF) to green (ON).

To determine the strength of Adblock:

1. Click the Adblock icon to the right of the address bar, then click Settings (the gear icon).
2. Select your preferred Adblock state:
   • Essential: Blocks all ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standard, including popups and auto-playing videos.
   • Balanced (recommended): Blocks the same ads as Essential blocking, but additionally blocks other non-intrusive ads to improve the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. Some ads that are helpful when searching online will still show in this state.
   • Strict: Blocks all ads. We do not recommend selecting this state, as it may cause websites to not load properly, or even make certain websites completely inaccessible.
   

Adblock is now enabled and configured according to your preferred strength. For more information about Adblock, refer to the following article:

• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions
• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions

Change the default search provider

To define which search engine is used in your address bar:

1. Open Avast Secure Browser and go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings.
2. Scroll to the Search engine section, and use the drop-down menu to select your preferred search engine.

Your search engine is now defined.

Further recommendations

For more information about Avast Secure Browser, refer to the following article:

• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions
• Avast Secure Browser - Frequently Asked Questions