the key last about a year then you just have to do what you did and get a new key and insert it, it does get the virus definition updates automatically daily, it can be set in the settings to also auto update the program too other wise it will pop up saying there is one and she has to ok it, now with a big version update like the current one from 4.8 to 5 that has to be done manually by going to the site and downloading the new one and installing it just like it was done originally and a new key will have to be installed. However you do not have to rush and get version 5 because they will continue support for 4.8 for quite a while. to change the settings in it to have it get everything she can automatically go to the avast ball in the systray right click and select settings in teh avast settings box click on update(basic) on the left that will open your options in there you want to set both of those options to automatic, virus database and program then click ok. Now you do have to do a full scan manually but with avast that is not really as needed as other programs since it scans everything continually. But what I do is set the screen saver up in scan mode and leave my computer setting with the screen saver running and just let it scan, to do that go to the desktop and right click choose properties and go to the screen saver tab, look through the list of options and select avast then you can click on settings to select which screen saver to set for avast to use just pick a simple one so it won't use much resource (I use starfield i think) leave everything else as it is set, you can change how long to wait till the screen saver comes on if you want. click ok apply and now anytime the pc sits long enough for the screen saver to come on it will automatically begin doing a scan and will continue till done if un interrupted, if interrupted it will begin from where it left off the next time. there is a method to set up the windows task manager to run a scheduled scan also if you want those directions let me know I can link them

All of my computers stay up 24/7 and connected to fios, as long as you have all your protection layers up and running all the time there is no difference from daytime and night time at all. I never turn off my pc's unless there is weather or I am going out of town. I do turn off my monitor at night. I am also behind a router with firewall so I have hardware and software firewalls. As I said I have used zone alarm pro, an older version, for years now on all my windows computers. I do not like the more recent versions because they are more bloated. Using an older version is ok it does it's job just fine. My scans run at about 3am when I know I will not be on the computer and it will have all the resources to run them. I have them set on different days of course. I run regular scans at a minimum of once a week but usually more often. Any other tasks I have set up in windows task scheduler. On my linux computer I have klam AV and Guarddog firewall, not that you really need any of that on a linux machine but since I also have windows machines that I send to and from it is more to protect my windows boxes. I always have spywareblaster on all my windows computers and usually have spywareguard also both by javacool. I now mostly use superantispyware on them, I have not used AdAware in ages, on occasion use Spybot S&D. NEVER use registry cleaners on any of my computers.

This is the link to Avast's own home page download. Be sure to choose the free version. With ALL downloads, even from the manufacturer's home page (like this one), click slowly and read each page to see if you need to uncheck unwanted add-ons. They nearly all try it these days it seems... Here is a link that might be useful: Avast

AVG7.5.52 on a Win 98 system in the garage. An old reliable O/S and AV combination. Unfortunately the AVG version will apparently be expiring. AVG 8.0.138 on a Vista system (On vacation so I think that's what it is. Regardless the most current version.) Other than the useless Link Scanner which I have disabled, everything has been working well. Avast on a Win2000 laptop. Works fine except the updating is slower. I really see no difference between it and AVG except for the presentation. I guess when you compare the two it is like whether you drive a Ford or a Chevrolet. If your system and your current AV are working properly I would just stand by until the end of the year nears. A lot can happen to both products, both positive and negative, in 5 1/2 months. DA