Not sure where to post this so here goes:

Can anyone comment on whether they think an Avast's AV scanner is any good.
I just got finished fixing a friends 2 month old Vista laptop that wouldn't
start up. I managed to boot it into `the last known good configuration' then
ran CCleaner, MBAM, SAS and Spybot. WU's were downlevel.

Just seems like with Avast running on this machine things got pretty screwed
up to the point where it wouldn't start normally at all. I don't think
Windows Defender was invoked either but it is now.

Comments?..........Paul C.

Avast is usually very good. But, ALL anti-virus programs cannot get 100%
of viruses. A lot of it comes down to being smart with where you browse
and what you download. But, running MBAM and Spybot can help with a lot
of issues. You definitely have to make sure you have some kind of
schedule, though. Check weekly or whatever. If you never run a scan for
malware, and you just have a basic virus scanner (even up to date), a
couple things may slip through.

On 2/13/2010 3:15 PM, Paul Calcagno wrote:
> Not sure where to post this so here goes:
>
> Can anyone comment on whether they think an Avast's AV scanner is any
> good. I just got finished fixing a friends 2 month old Vista laptop that
> wouldn't start up. I managed to boot it into `the last known good
> configuration' then ran CCleaner, MBAM, SAS and Spybot. WU's were
> downlevel.
>
> Just seems like with Avast running on this machine things got pretty
> screwed up to the point where it wouldn't start normally at all. I don't
> think Windows Defender was invoked either but it is now.
>
> Comments?..........Paul C.

--

Dustin Harper
(E-Mail Removed)
http://www.mstechpages.com | Microsoft news and support

Dustin, thanks a lot for your comments. I've given my friend a detail
explanation of how she should utilize all the scanners I installed for her.
Hopefully she'll follow my advice. I've told her that on my systems over the
past 5 years I've never had a virus or serious malware, so it can be done.
Paul C.

"Dustin Harper" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:esI5#(E-Mail Removed)...
> Avast is usually very good. But, ALL anti-virus programs cannot get 100%
> of viruses. A lot of it comes down to being smart with where you browse
> and what you download. But, running MBAM and Spybot can help with a lot of
> issues. You definitely have to make sure you have some kind of schedule,
> though. Check weekly or whatever. If you never run a scan for malware, and
> you just have a basic virus scanner (even up to date), a couple things may
> slip through.
>
> On 2/13/2010 3:15 PM, Paul Calcagno wrote:
>> Not sure where to post this so here goes:
>>
>> Can anyone comment on whether they think an Avast's AV scanner is any
>> good. I just got finished fixing a friends 2 month old Vista laptop that
>> wouldn't start up. I managed to boot it into `the last known good
>> configuration' then ran CCleaner, MBAM, SAS and Spybot. WU's were
>> downlevel.
>>
>> Just seems like with Avast running on this machine things got pretty
>> screwed up to the point where it wouldn't start normally at all. I don't
>> think Windows Defender was invoked either but it is now.
>>
>> Comments?..........Paul C.
>
> --
>
> Dustin Harper
> (E-Mail Removed)
> http://www.mstechpages.com | Microsoft news and support

Born2golf, thanks for your comments. I've given the person I helped detailed
instructions for how to run all these scanners I've installed. I can only
hope she'll follow my advice of updating/running them every 2 weeks or so.
Right now her laptop is back to working just fine so doing the reboot to the
`last known configuration' seems to have fixed her immediate problem.
She'll be running the Spybot, MBAM, SAS and Avira scanners over the next few
days so we'll see what these catch. Paul C

"born2golf" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> I have had no problem with Avast as of this date. I also use MBAM and
> Superspyware and avoid going to unknown places or opening mail from
> strange people.
> I scan weekly and backup monthly.
> Hopefully you will get your problem resolved soon.
>
>
> --
> born2golf

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
>
> Paul Calcagno Hi.
> I used Avast for a long time and was happy with it's performance until
> a major update was done to the program a few weeks ago. After the update
> I had some bugs develop. Rather than try (or wait for Avast) to fix the
> problems I uninstalled Avast and downloaded Microsoft Security

Hmm, by major update do mean still avast 4.8,
or incoming still beta Avast 5 ?

--
Poutnik
The best depends on how the best is defined.

On Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:21:04 -0800, Dustin Harper
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Avast is usually very good.


Yes.


> But, ALL anti-virus programs cannot get 100%
> of viruses.


Right.


> A lot of it comes down to being smart with where you browse
> and what you download.


.... and what e-mail attachments you open.


> But, running MBAM and Spybot can help with a lot
> of issues. You definitely have to make sure you have some kind of
> schedule, though. Check weekly or whatever. If you never run a scan for
> malware, and you just have a basic virus scanner (even up to date), a
> couple things may slip through.
>
> On 2/13/2010 3:15 PM, Paul Calcagno wrote:
> > Not sure where to post this so here goes:
> >
> > Can anyone comment on whether they think an Avast's AV scanner is any
> > good. I just got finished fixing a friends 2 month old Vista laptop that
> > wouldn't start up. I managed to boot it into `the last known good
> > configuration' then ran CCleaner, MBAM, SAS and Spybot. WU's were
> > downlevel.
> >
> > Just seems like with Avast running on this machine things got pretty
> > screwed up to the point where it wouldn't start normally at all. I don't
> > think Windows Defender was invoked either but it is now.
> >
> > Comments?..........Paul C.
>
> --
>
> Dustin Harper
> (E-Mail Removed)
> http://www.mstechpages.com | Microsoft news and support

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Karnyks22, thanks for your thoughts. I'll take a look at MSE, however, I'm
rapidly approaching a situation where I might have too many AV programs
installed on her computer. She's still got Avast installed, and I just
installed Avira. What I'm looking for is a reliable `realtime' scanner for
viruses, spyware, malware, and adware, then just use MBAM, SAS, or Spybot
when I think I need to.

I guess I don't have a problem with uninstalling all but one of the AV
programs--- and I'm inclined to stay with Avira. Do you know enough about
Avira/MSE to know which one is better?
Paul

"karnyks22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> Paul Calcagno Hi.
> I used Avast for a long time and was happy with it's performance until
> a major update was done to the program a few weeks ago. After the update
> I had some bugs develop. Rather than try (or wait for Avast) to fix the
> problems I uninstalled Avast and downloaded Microsoft Security
> Essentials to try. (This is a free program)
> http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ Was very impressed and
> now use that as my main AV. I use MBAM every day or two just to check
> (quick scan) and if I suspect that I may have picked up something that
> MSE and MBAM has missed I run a free ESET online scan 'Free ESET
> Online Antivirus Scanner' (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/) If you
> suspect Avast is causing you problems uninstall it and try another AV.
>
>
> --
> karnyks22
> Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com
>

On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:52:28 -0500, "Paul Calcagno"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Karnyks22, thanks for your thoughts. I'll take a look at MSE, however, I'm
> rapidly approaching a situation where I might have too many AV programs
> installed on her computer.


Definitely!


> She's still got Avast installed, and I just
> installed Avira.


They are both good, but get rid of one of the other. You should never
have more than one, since they can conflict with each other.


> What I'm looking for is a reliable `realtime' scanner for
> viruses, spyware, malware, and adware,



Two points:

1. The word "malware" is short for "malicious software." It's a broad
classification that includes viruses, trojans, spyware and adware,
etc.

2. Anti-malware programs come in one of two types--anti-virus and
anti-spyware and adware. No single program really does both.


> then just use MBAM, SAS, or Spybot
> when I think I need to.


MBAM and SAS are the two best anti-spyware programs. Spybot Search and
Destroy very much takes a back seat to those two.



> I guess I don't have a problem with uninstalling all but one of the AV
> programs---


Good, do it.



> and I'm inclined to stay with Avira.


You can't go wrong staying with either Avira or Avast.


> Do you know enough about
> Avira/MSE to know which one is better?


I've never personally used MSE, but I've heard nothing but good
reports about it from those I respect. But to me, it's still new, and
hasn't been around long enough to prove itself yet. So I'd prefer to
stay with Avira or Avast.



> "karnyks22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > Paul Calcagno Hi.
> > I used Avast for a long time and was happy with it's performance until
> > a major update was done to the program a few weeks ago. After the update
> > I had some bugs develop. Rather than try (or wait for Avast) to fix the
> > problems I uninstalled Avast and downloaded Microsoft Security
> > Essentials to try. (This is a free program)
> > http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ Was very impressed and
> > now use that as my main AV. I use MBAM every day or two just to check
> > (quick scan) and if I suspect that I may have picked up something that
> > MSE and MBAM has missed I run a free ESET online scan 'Free ESET
> > Online Antivirus Scanner' (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/) If you
> > suspect Avast is causing you problems uninstall it and try another AV.
> >
> >
> > --
> > karnyks22
> > Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com
> >

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Ken, thanks for your fine advice. I've just removed Spybot and I'll be
removing either Avast or Avira shortly. Paul C.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:52:28 -0500, "Paul Calcagno"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Karnyks22, thanks for your thoughts. I'll take a look at MSE, however,
>> I'm
>> rapidly approaching a situation where I might have too many AV programs
>> installed on her computer.
>
>
> Definitely!
>
>
>> She's still got Avast installed, and I just
>> installed Avira.
>
>
> They are both good, but get rid of one of the other. You should never
> have more than one, since they can conflict with each other.
>
>
>> What I'm looking for is a reliable `realtime' scanner for
>> viruses, spyware, malware, and adware,
>
>
>
> Two points:
>
> 1. The word "malware" is short for "malicious software." It's a broad
> classification that includes viruses, trojans, spyware and adware,
> etc.
>
> 2. Anti-malware programs come in one of two types--anti-virus and
> anti-spyware and adware. No single program really does both.
>
>
>> then just use MBAM, SAS, or Spybot
>> when I think I need to.
>
>
> MBAM and SAS are the two best anti-spyware programs. Spybot Search and
> Destroy very much takes a back seat to those two.
>
>
>
>> I guess I don't have a problem with uninstalling all but one of the AV
>> programs---
>
>
> Good, do it.
>
>
>
>> and I'm inclined to stay with Avira.
>
>
> You can't go wrong staying with either Avira or Avast.
>
>
>> Do you know enough about
>> Avira/MSE to know which one is better?
>
>
> I've never personally used MSE, but I've heard nothing but good
> reports about it from those I respect. But to me, it's still new, and
> hasn't been around long enough to prove itself yet. So I'd prefer to
> stay with Avira or Avast.
>
>
>
>> "karnyks22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >
>> > Paul Calcagno Hi.
>> > I used Avast for a long time and was happy with it's performance until
>> > a major update was done to the program a few weeks ago. After the
>> > update
>> > I had some bugs develop. Rather than try (or wait for Avast) to fix the
>> > problems I uninstalled Avast and downloaded Microsoft Security
>> > Essentials to try. (This is a free program)
>> > http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ Was very impressed and
>> > now use that as my main AV. I use MBAM every day or two just to check
>> > (quick scan) and if I suspect that I may have picked up something that
>> > MSE and MBAM has missed I run a free ESET online scan 'Free ESET
>> > Online Antivirus Scanner' (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/) If you
>> > suspect Avast is causing you problems uninstall it and try another AV.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > karnyks22
>> > Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com
>> >
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Hello Paul,

FYI
Spybot Search & Destroy

Having uninstalled Spybot without first fully disabling Spybot Tea Timer
could be the cause of future mis-behavior
-=-


"Paul Calcagno" wrote:

> Ken, thanks for your fine advice. I've just removed Spybot and I'll be
> removing either Avast or Avira shortly. Paul C.
>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:52:28 -0500, "Paul Calcagno"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >> Karnyks22, thanks for your thoughts. I'll take a look at MSE, however,
> >> I'm
> >> rapidly approaching a situation where I might have too many AV programs
> >> installed on her computer.
> >
> >
> > Definitely!
> >
> >
> >> She's still got Avast installed, and I just
> >> installed Avira.
> >
> >
> > They are both good, but get rid of one of the other. You should never
> > have more than one, since they can conflict with each other.
> >
> >
> >> What I'm looking for is a reliable `realtime' scanner for
> >> viruses, spyware, malware, and adware,
> >
> >
> >
> > Two points:
> >
> > 1. The word "malware" is short for "malicious software." It's a broad
> > classification that includes viruses, trojans, spyware and adware,
> > etc.
> >
> > 2. Anti-malware programs come in one of two types--anti-virus and
> > anti-spyware and adware. No single program really does both.
> >
> >
> >> then just use MBAM, SAS, or Spybot
> >> when I think I need to.
> >
> >
> > MBAM and SAS are the two best anti-spyware programs. Spybot Search and
> > Destroy very much takes a back seat to those two.
> >
> >
> >
> >> I guess I don't have a problem with uninstalling all but one of the AV
> >> programs---
> >
> >
> > Good, do it.
> >
> >
> >
> >> and I'm inclined to stay with Avira.
> >
> >
> > You can't go wrong staying with either Avira or Avast.
> >
> >
> >> Do you know enough about
> >> Avira/MSE to know which one is better?
> >
> >
> > I've never personally used MSE, but I've heard nothing but good
> > reports about it from those I respect. But to me, it's still new, and
> > hasn't been around long enough to prove itself yet. So I'd prefer to
> > stay with Avira or Avast.
> >
> >
> >
> >> "karnyks22" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> >
> >> > Paul Calcagno Hi.
> >> > I used Avast for a long time and was happy with it's performance until
> >> > a major update was done to the program a few weeks ago. After the
> >> > update
> >> > I had some bugs develop. Rather than try (or wait for Avast) to fix the
> >> > problems I uninstalled Avast and downloaded Microsoft Security
> >> > Essentials to try. (This is a free program)
> >> > http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ Was very impressed and
> >> > now use that as my main AV. I use MBAM every day or two just to check
> >> > (quick scan) and if I suspect that I may have picked up something that
> >> > MSE and MBAM has missed I run a free ESET online scan 'Free ESET
> >> > Online Antivirus Scanner' (http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/) If you
> >> > suspect Avast is causing you problems uninstall it and try another AV.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > karnyks22
> >> > Posted via http://www.vistaheads.com
> >> >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>
> .
>