Avast AV Scanner

[Paul Calcagno]

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]

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.

 

[Paul Calcagno]

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.

 

[Paul Calcagno]

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

 

[Poutnik]

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 ?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

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.

 

[Paul Calcagno]

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

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

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.

 

[Paul Calcagno]

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

 

[Ǝиçεl]

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]

I had no idea. Too late now.............Paul C.

Hello Paul,

FYI
Spybot Search & Destroy

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