Avast Secure Browser is a web browser with built-in security and privacy features to help keep you safe online. This article contains instructions to start using Avast Secure Browser.
This article assumes that the latest version of Avast Secure Browser is already installed on your device. For detailed installation instructions, refer to the article: Installing 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 , , and .
To access the Security & Privacy Center:
The Security & Privacy Center is now open. Click a tile to learn more about a feature.
Import browser data
Avast Secure Browser allows you to import bookmarks, browsing history, search engines, saved passwords, and auto-fill 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
Change Default Settings
To change your Avast Secure Browser Settings, go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸ Settings, then click one of the following options from the left-side menu:
Add a new bookmark
- Open Avast Secure Browser and navigate to the web page that you want to bookmark.
- Click the star icon in the address bar and click Done to automatically bookmark the webpage.
Alternatively, click Edit to change the Name to help you easily recognize the bookmark, then for Folder, use the drop-down menu to specify a location for the bookmark and click Done.
The webpage 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 All Bookmarks folder.
If you do not see the Bookmarks bar, go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸
Bookmarks
▸
Show bookmarks bar
.
If you do not see the Bookmarks Bar, go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) ▸
Bookmarks
▸
Show Bookmarks Bar
.
Adjust Privacy Guard
Privacy Guard helps prevent advertisements from loading on the web pages you visit, which improves the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. Privacy Guard is enabled by default.
To adjust the strength of Privacy Guard:
- Open Avast Secure Browser and click the Privacy Guard icon to the right of the address bar, then click Change settings.
- Select your preferred Privacy Guard mode:
- Basic Blocking: Blocks all ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standard, including pop-ups and auto-playing videos.
- Balanced Blocking (Recommended): Blocks the same ads as Basic 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 mode.
- Strict Blocking: Blocks almost all ads. We do not recommend selecting this mode, as it may cause not to load properly or even make certain websites completely inaccessible.
Privacy Guard is now enabled and configured according to your preferred strength.
Enable Screen Sharing Mode
To hide your personal data when you share your browser screen:
Screen Sharing Mode is now active.
To turn off Screen Sharing Mode, go to ⋮ Menu (three dots) and click
Disable Screen Sharing Mode
.
Enable Secure Browser VPN
Available with Avast Secure Browser PRO, you can disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
To enable browser VPN:
- Open Avast Secure Browser and click the VPN icon to the left of the address bar.
- Click the red (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON).
- Optionally, click the location panel to search for your preferred location or select one from the list of options.
Secure Browser VPN is now enabled.
Start secure browsing
- Tap the Avast Secure Browser icon on the Home screen of your device. The app opens to the main browser screen.
- Select from the following actions:
- Account: Tap the account icon and sign in with your Avast Account to sync your browsing data across multiple devices. For more information about syncing Avast Secure Browser, refer to the article: Syncing Avast Secure Browser.
- My account: Tap the account icon and sign in with your Avast Account to sync your browsing data across multiple devices. For more information about syncing Avast Secure Browser, refer to the article: Syncing Avast Secure Browser.
- Upgrade now: Tap to purchase an subscription.
- See upgrade options: Tap to purchase an subscription.
- Settings: Tap Settings (the gear icon) to adjust the security and privacy features to manage your online activity or modify your general browser settings.
- Search or type URL: Tap the search bar, then enter a search term or website URL to start browsing the internet in .
- Add shortcut: Tap the + plus icon to bookmark your favorite websites.
- Menu: Tap … Menu (three dots) to access the browser menu options, such as your browser history and bookmarked websites.
- Tabs: Tap the square tabs icon to view browser tabs that are currently open in each .
- Search: Tap the search icon to access the browser search bar. The search icon changes to a home icon when you are browsing a website. Tap the home icon to return to the main Avast Secure Browser screen.
To learn more about the features available in Avast Secure Browser, refer to the sections in this article.
Change browser modes
Avast Secure Browser offers two : Default Mode and Private Mode. This allows you to organize your browsing activity according to the mode best suited for the sites you visit.
To open a tab in a different browser mode or to view currently open tabs organized by browser mode, follow the steps below:
- Open Avast Secure Browser, then tap the square tabs icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the icons at the top of the screen to switch between modes. If you have any tabs currently open, these are visible on the applicable mode screen.
- Default Mode: A balance of security and privacy. Allows you to disguise your location with VPN and block web attacks and unsafe downloads using the Web Shield. Ads & trackers are blocked (balanced mode).
- Private Mode: Offers the same security options as Default Mode, but also disables screenshots and automatically deletes all browsing data and history when you close the browser.
- Private Mode: Offers the same security options as Default Mode, but also automatically deletes all browsing data and history when you close the browser.
- To open a new tab in the selected mode, tap the green + plus icon, then search for or enter the URL of the site you want to open.
The new tab opens in your selected browser mode.
Adjust security and privacy features
- Open Avast Secure Browser and tap Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of the screen.
- Select from the following options:
- Browser VPN: Disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). For more information, refer to the section.
- AdBlock: Prevent advertisements from loading on the websites you visit. For more information, refer to the section.
- Security Scanner: Scan your browser settings for vulnerabilities caused by disabled protection settings.
- Web Shield: Enable to automatically block access to malware and phishing sites to protect your personal data from theft.
- Device-Wide VPN: Allow all of the apps on your device to connect more securely to the internet via Avast VPN servers (available in ).
- Device-Wide Security Scan: Scan your device for vulnerabilities.
- Browser lock: Enable to keep your browsing history and data locked within Avast Secure Browser.
- Media Vault: Access your downloaded and encrypted media files.
Enable Browser VPN
Choose if you want to disguise your location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). To connect to Browser VPN:
- Tap Browser VPN is off.
- Tap Browser VPN disabled.
- Tap the gray (OFF) slider so that it changes to green (ON).
To change your disguised browser location from the default location or turn on device-wide VPN you need an subscription.
Adjust AdBlock
AdBlock prevents advertisements from loading on the websites you visit. This improves the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. AdBlock is enabled by default and set to Balanced mode. To change the AdBlock mode:
- Tap AdBlock is on.
- Tap AdBlock enabled.
- Tap the circle next to your preferred AdBlock mode:
- Balanced (Recommended): Blocks most ads to improve the speed and safety of your browsing sessions. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, and some social media ads. Some ads that are helpful when searching online will still show in this mode.
- Essential: Blocks disruptive ads that violate the Acceptable Ads Standards. This includes pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing videos.
- Strict: Blocks almost all ads. This includes pop-ups, banners, auto-playing videos, some social media ads, and 99% of other ads. We do not recommend selecting this mode because it may cause some websites not to load properly or even make some websites completely inaccessible. If you do select this mode, tap Set strict to confirm your choice.
Your preferred AdBlock mode is set.
Allowed ads list
You can also add websites to your Allowed ads list. This means ads still appear on the websites you specify. To add a website to your allowed ads list:
- Open the website.
- Tap Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner.
- Tap the green (ON) slider next to Block ads on so that it changes to gray (OFF).
The website is added to the allowed ads list and ads are now visible when you access the website using the current browser mode. Ads on other websites continue to be blocked according to your browser mode settings.