Basic looking interface, outstanding capabilities, easy to use. And that's how F-Secure could be summarized - in one sentence. Efficient, light, no-nonsense operation.
Avast in comparison, exhibits a considerable difference in style - the streamlined interface is an excellent combination of aesthetics and practicality, consistently evident throughout. The attention to detail is evident down to the font types, sizes and color scheme in everything from the main interface to the sleek pop-ups.
But the beauty is not skin deep with Avast - the low impact and the speed are features in itself, along with the exhaustive functionality - the ever-watchful shields, the additional layers of protection [SafeZone, Sandbox]. The detection rates have improved too and in terms of protection AIS is getting closer to industry heavyweights like BitDefender, G-DATA, Symantec.
Advanced protection features; expert settings to customize the excellent protection to suit your needs; all this presented in coherent, easy-to-use, polished and uncomplicated interface, what's not to like?
And yet, despite its spartan interface and inability to change more than the most basic behaviors, F-Secure crosses the finish line first, for me at least. Boring and hardly evocative, but delivering exceptionally well where it matters the most - your protection.