Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: philip brampton on March 31, 2012, 06:57:51 PM
-
As regards Scripts.
What is the difference in the way they are treated between XP and Windows 7?
The reason i am asking is because in XP i attract quite a number of Scripts whereas in W7 the only time i get any is if i download music from Amazon.
Perhaps someone could explain.
Thanks
-
For me it is the reverse, I see zero activity on the script shield with XP Pro and Firefox, so I guess you are using IE in XP as that is the only time I get any activity.
Since I use NoScript and RequestPolicy add-ons in firefox I would be limited on the number of scripts that are allowed to run anyway. I generally don't visit too many media heavy sites.
-
No.
I have Firefox with XP and W7.
-
Are you using NoScript with firefox ?
If not I would certainly try it (and see if the activity is lowered) as scripts are generally required by driveby download exploits, etc.
-
No,i don't have No Scripts but it sounds like it's worth a try.
The only difference between XP and W7 is that i have AdBan on my W7 computer.
Regards
-
If Firefox is your default browser and is started from the Avast VPS update notification popup, then Script Shield will not be active for that Firefox session. See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=95628 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=95628). The same is true with the monthly security reports popup.
-
Pray tell me what VPS has got to do with my Script Shield working or not working as the case may be.
Regards
-
Pray tell me what VPS has got to do with my Script Shield working or not working as the case may be.
Regards
It's not the VPS itself. Read the thread. There are other things that can affect Script Shield not running, but this one issue has been verified. It's been verified as consistent and repeatable. It only affects the Firefox session that is started from the Avast popups. When that session of Firefox is closed, and Firefox is restarted normally, Script Shield works. If the user routinely starts Firefox from the popup and doesn't close Firefox, then they'll never see any activity in Script Shield.
Of course, if Script Shield doesn't work when Firefox is opened normally, it's obviously another issue.
-
Another issue i think.
Regards
-
Well I never start firefox from an avast pop-up, I always start it manually shortly after boot and the script shield has never worked in firefox for me certainly not in avast7 builds. So certainly a whole different ball game.
-
The only difference between my toys is the operating system and the W7 one has AdBan.Maybe the next time i run the XP one i will install AdBan and No Script as you suggested.
Thanks.
-
I contacted AdBan regarding scripts.Here is their reply.
Yes, AdBan blocks certain scripts if it thinks they are related to
ads. If this breaks websites you visit, try disabling AdBan on those
websites. Open broken website, then click 'AB' icon at the upper
right-hand corner and select 'Don't block ads on ...', where ...
should contain opened site's name.
-
Another issue i think.
Regards
Yes, there are two issues. The popup one could also cause one to think that Script Shield would not work. Other people, like DavidR and you, have the problem with Script Shield regardless.
I also use NoScript and Adblock Plus. Many ads have scripts; if ABP or AdBan block them the scripting also will be blocked. I like NoScript, because some reputable sites have scripts being retrieved from multiple third party sites.
-
adBan makes no difference.
regards
-
adBan makes no difference.
regards
It looks like adBan doesn't deliver what it promises. See the reviews. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adban/reviews/ (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adban/reviews/)
-
I find it deals very well with adverts which is the reason why i have it.
As regards scripts i just thought that it would control scripts .
It's no big deal that it doesn't.
My XP computer is almost retired so scripts are not a problem.
Regards
-
If you don't have any Script Shield activity in Firefox, you have no way of checking whether adBan is blocking scripts from ad sites.
-
For me it is the reverse, I see zero activity on the script shield with XP Pro and Firefox
I started using Script Shield today - I have never bothered installing it until now...
Not sure if it has been reported yet but with "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" (Behavior Shield settings) unchecked, the Script Shield drastically reduces its activity - e.g. visiting Avast Forum with Firefox: from almost 250 scanned items to 0.
I guess you have that option enabled though.
Edit - OS: XP Pro SP3
-
Thanks for the post
- That is an option in the Behavior Shield that I have unchecked (so may well have reduced my activity to zero) as I have Outpost Firewall Pro and WinPatrol Plus, both of which protect against unauthorised system modification.
So this interaction between the two shields isn't one I would have thought significant and certainly not to the script shield.
-
Tetsuo, maybe it interests you: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=96640.msg770847#msg770847
-
Thanks for the post
- That is an option in the Behavior Shield that I have unchecked (so may well have reduced my activity to zero) as I have Outpost Firewall Pro and WinPatrol Plus, both of which protect against unauthorised system modification.
So this interaction between the two shields isn't one I would have thought significant and certainly not to the script shield.
You're welcome, DavidR.
I just remembered you saying somewhere in the Forum that you had been seeing zero activity in the Script Shield so I checked one of the recent threads.
Although I started using Behavior/Script Shields this morning I suspect that "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" is responsible for many of the HIPS like pop-ups when the action to take is set to "Ask" - yeah, I'm too paranoid to set Behavior Shield to Auto :D
Anyway, I have also Online Armor which is a HIPS...
Tetsuo, maybe it interests you: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=96640.msg770847#msg770847
Thank you, Tech.
-
Having temporarily enabled that option again, I have still seen zero activity. I wouldn't have thought this would require a reboot to take effect. But I will try a Behavior and Script Shield Stop/Start and see if the settings take.
-
I wouldn't have thought this would require a reboot to take effect. But I will try a Behavior and Script Shield Stop/Start and see if the settings take.
mmmh.... here it doesn't require a reboot, I just have to tick/untick "Monitor the system..." to see the effects.
As for today, still zero activity. Even starting Win Media Player doesn't trigger anything anymore.
-
My problem seems to have been resolved
I reinstalled yesterday.When i booted this Morning the counter started to count.So far 189.
Lets see what happens over the next few days.
Regards
Avast Free.v.7.0.1426
Malwarebytes Pro
Windows 7 sp1
Firefox 12 beta
-
I wouldn't have thought this would require a reboot to take effect. But I will try a Behavior and Script Shield Stop/Start and see if the settings take.
mmmh.... here it doesn't require a reboot, I just have to tick/untick "Monitor the system..." to see the effects.
As for today, still zero activity. Even starting Win Media Player doesn't trigger anything anymore.
Well after the boot this morning with the "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" (in the Behavior Shield settings) still enabled activity is restored in the script shield; weird or what, as I honestly can't see how the two are linked, that the BehShld would consider web activity as possible modifications to trigger the script shield. It just seems so weird that in order for the script shield to work this "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" option in the Behavior Shield settings has to be enabled. However, the Windows Media Player doesn't generate any activity.
Having just booted and loaded my normal programs and no activity on the script shield until I opened Firefox 11.0, plus my pinned tabs/pages browsed the forum and viewed a few video clips, script shield activity is at 290.
-
have been monitoring it all Morning.At the moment we have 216.
Regards.
-
I honestly can't see how the two are linked, that the BehShld would consider web activity as possible modifications to trigger the script shield. It just seems so weird that in order for the script shield to work this "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" option in the Behavior Shield settings has to be enabled.
Perhaps it monitors for browser homepage, default search engine, etc. unauthorized modifications in the same way it monitors for Hosts File unauthorized modifications. That could partially explain the reason why the two (Behavior Shield's option & Script Shield's scanning) are linked, I guess.
-
Mine are both sitting on a big fat 0 ???
-
Mine are both sitting on a big fat 0 ???
Have you unchecked the "Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" option in the Behavior Shield settings though ?
-
No
-
@DavidR, may I ask you if you are going to leave ""Monitor the system for unauthorized modifications" checked?
-
No as I have that area very well covered already, I only enabled for the testing phase to confirm.
What I can't understand is the need for this option to be enabled for the script shield to work. To me that just isn't logical as there appears to be no direct linkage in scanning scripts and the monitoring the system for unauthorized modifications option being enabled.
-
No as I have that area very well covered already, I only enabled for the testing phase to confirm.
What I can't understand is the need for this option to be enabled for the script shield to work. To me that just isn't logical as there appears to be no direct linkage in scanning scripts and the monitoring the system for unauthorized modifications option being enabled.
I have it enabled but still have no activity in the script shield. I'm using Chrome for my browser.
-
Yes, another script shield anomaly that needs investigating by avast! but still a lack of input.
-
I'm using Chrome for my browser.
Not sure if you have already had a look at this thread: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=96762.msg772212#msg772212
Igor wrote: I wouldn't really call it a bug... yes, I believe it doesn't work because the code has been prepared before Chrome 18 came out - so, Chrome 18 is not supported yet.
It will be updated in the next build of avast! (but then again, when the next version of Chrome gets released afterwards, chances are it will be unsupported again until the next avast! update - etc.)
No as I have that area very well covered already, I only enabled for the testing phase to confirm.
me too
What I can't understand is the need for this option to be enabled for the script shield to work. To me that just isn't logical as there appears to be no direct linkage in scanning scripts and the monitoring the system for unauthorized modifications option being enabled.
yeah, it's quite obscure...