Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: xpphil on July 23, 2012, 02:11:01 PM
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Hello,
Maybe a useless question but I found nothing about this point in FAQ nor forum.
When I start my XP Pro, the avast icon only appears about 30 seconds after the web connexion icon (bottom right). Does that mean I'm not protected till the Avast icon appears or not? If I'm not how can I have Avast start before?
Thanks (I have free version of Avast)
Question peut-être inutile mais je n'ai rien trouvé à ce propos ni dans FAQ ni ds le forum.
Quand j'ouvre XP, l'icone de connexion internet apparait bien 30 secondes avant celle d'Avast (en bas à droite). Suis-je quand même protégé pendant ces 30 secondes? Si non comment faire démarrer Avast avant le lancement de la connexion?
J'ai la version Avast gratuite pour le moment.
D'avance merci.
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The avast tray icon is an integral part of the avast protection, but an interface to the program settings, etc.
Avast should be running fairly soon after boot so you should be being protected, though why it isn't appearing for some time after boot isn't normal. I have XP Pro and it is one of the first icons I see displayed in the tray.
How do you connect to the internet, dial-up or broadband ?
What other security applications do you have installed (firewall, anti-spyware, etc.) ?
You can check the Task Manager and you should see avastSvc.exe, the main avast process that controls the avast shields and scanning. You may also see avastUI.exe, that is the avast user interface process and what loads the avast tray icon. Are both of these displayed in the task manager early in the boot process (check before the avast tray icon appears) ?
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Strange, I dont want to hijack this thread but I only have one Avast process running according to the taskmanager. That is
AvastUI.exe*32.
I run Windows 7 64bit (and as per original poster, the Avast tray icon is without fail the last item to load, sometimes taking quite a while ...
Is that right?
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Win7 task manager displays things differently, so you have to look at other tabs.
Edit: just check my win7 netbook and you have to look in the Services tab for the avast! Antivirus (avastSvc.exe), but you should also see it in the processes tab, but my win7 is 32bit so I don't know if that is the difference.
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Thanks DavidR
Checked taskmanager after start up: Both avast progs you say are on the list. They have a "normal" (in french) priority. Tried to rise it but I don't have acces to change them.
Do you think it would help to rise it and do you now how?
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You're welcome.
The normal priority is fine, I don't know if it is a windows issue not being able to change the priority or the avast self-defence module blocking it.
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Ok thanks again DavidR
But I still don't know if avast protects me during the short period before it's icon appears.
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The icon itself has nothing to do with the avast protection, it gives access to the avastUI (User Interface) changing the priority on the task manager (even if it were possible) wouldn't bring it up any sooner.
What I suggest you do is take a long critical look at what programs actually run on startup, many want to run on startup but aren't really needed that soon, media players are one such instance, they aren't needed until you actually click on a media file and that will open the program anyway.
You didn't actually answer the questions I asked before as these can have a major impact on your boot time and when the avast icon appears.
How do you connect to the internet, dial-up or broadband ?
What other security applications do you have installed (firewall, anti-spyware, etc.) ?
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Sorry
My connection commes thru ADSL (that's the french name but guess you'll understand) via SFR (a "fournisseur d'acces" like Orange) so no dialing.
Otherwise I only have Avast and Windows firewall.
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Further information
I just checked. I had Malwarebyte installed (used once for a virus search about a year ago) but not running and with no auto start. I didn't appear in the taskmanager. I uninstalled it to make sure.
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MBAM (MalwareBytes) shouldn't be an issue, even if it was the Pro version and running. The windows firewall in XP has zero outbound protection, so that shouldn't be an issue either.
Does your ADSL (broadband connection) start automatically or do you have to start it ?
Though I honestly can't get the link between the the avast tray icon not appearing until 30 after your broadband connection is established, as essentially the avastUI.exe file isn't dependant on having a connection available.
Whilst this may seem unrelated as it is about Updates, check the avastUI, Settings, Updates, Proxy Settings and ensure that you have Direct Connection (no proxy) checked.
How long have you been using avast and has this tray icon problem always been the same ?
What CPU (processor) and how much RAM (memory) does this system have ?
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Yes My ADSL starts automatically
concerning connection settings, "use system proxy parameters" was checked. I replaced it by "no proxy" That was on my firefox. I'll check in IE.
I use Avast since feb 2011 and I only have this problem of Avast icon appearing late since 2 or 3 months.
Processor is Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.80GHz with RAM 1Go
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The Proxy settings I'm talking about aren't those in the Browser settings, but those in the avast Settings (see image) essentially if you don't use a proxy to connect to the internet, those in your browser/s wouldn't have one set.
With your Intel Celeron processor boot time might put it under load 1GB of RAM should be fine on XP unless you have lots of programs run on startup; but I still don't understand how that would stop the avast tray icon from loading until after your connection is established. For many years I had dial-up and I didn't switch it on until needed and that didn't stop the avast tray icon from loading.
Try a repair of avast:
XP - Add Remove programs, select 'avast! Anti-Virus,' click the Change/Remove button and select Repair, click next and follow.
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Ok I also checked non use of proxy in Avast settings.
I made the repair of Avast as you said. result: Avast icon appears sooner but still after connexion.
I used bootvis to see what it said. I enabled disk caching and ran bootvis optimizer. Boot time fell from 96 to 48 and complete process showed in bootvis fell from 154 to 98 or so. Avast icon appears a few seconds after connection. I think I'll go on with the disk caching though I've seen risks in case of power break.
I also unauthorized indexation of HDs.
I checked services launched during startup and found one named 9prop which starts my wifi connexion. I delayed its launching with "startup delayer". Now my startup is much faster and connexion comes after Avast icon appears.
This seemed to settle my problem. But next day things came back as before. Actually this 9prop program is not the one that launches the connexion. It's done by an other one I didn't identify yet. But maybe I won't have to as today, startup is very fast (about 10 seconds) and Avast comes in first. Don't ask me wy, I couldn't say. But things will be fine if they go on yhis way.
Any comments?
Anyway thanks for your attention ideas which led me to this point.
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You're welcome.
You have done a fine job of investigating where the conflict may lie, but these issues are rarely easy to pin down. This isn't something I've come across before in the forums (avast tray icon not appearing until after the connection), so I haven't any personal experience to fall back on to be any practical help.
Perhaps the bootvis optimiser takes a couple of boots before you are likely to see a change. The optimisation done by bootzis would also get reflected in the windows prefetch data as some of the programs being launched would have to refreshed in the prefetch data.
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Found interesting information here: http://home.comcast.net/~SupportCD/XPMyths.html
This should mean XP firewall gives needed protection even if Avast is not yet running.
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Sorry but outbound protection I feel is essential these days.
Windows XP's firewall is better than no firewall but, it lulls you into a false sense of protection, it doesn't provide outbound protection.
Whilst the windows XP firewall is usually good at keeping your ports stealthed (hidden) it provides no outbound protection and you should consider a third party firewall.
Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (sensitive or otherwise, user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential. Firewalls will automatically allow traffic requests back into the system if the request originated from the system.
The windows XP firewall is extremely limited I would never rely on it and I have felt that way for many many years, having had a 3rd party firewall installed from day one of my XP Pro use.
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Of course I agree. I only mean't that I just realized I also had a firewall and that it could protect from attacks the time Avast appeared. And as you said in the beginning, maybe Avast starts working before it's icon comes. I never mean't to uninstall Avast. What I'm looking for now is how to keep my PC from connecting automatically. There's an other possible solution I have to check. With a programm that's supposed to list what comes up in the startup and allow to choose a given order.
I'll keep you informed.
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I never said maybe, the main avast starts before the icon, but the avast service does start before the icon, the avastUI.exe is a user startup item and the avastSvc.exe (avast service) is a System level service.
System level services/processes load much earlier in the boot sequence.
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Deal all,
At start up the avast icon is shown in the desktop right corner but withing few seconds
a red cross mark appears over it. On keeping the mouse pointer over the icon, I am warned
as "YOUR SYSTEM IS UNSECURED". I tried restarting but of no use. chkdsk done/ defragment done
But could not make the avast active. Please help.
with regards,
KVSivaraman
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Deal all,
At start up the avast icon is shown in the desktop right corner but withing few seconds
a red cross mark appears over it. On keeping the mouse pointer over the icon, I am warned
as "YOUR SYSTEM IS UNSECURED". I tried restarting but of no use. chkdsk done/ defragment done
<snip>
Please start your own new topic here - http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0) so as not to hijack/confuse this one - use the New Topic button at the top of the page (see image, click to expand) and we will try to help.
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Hello
I learnt english when I was a kid and came back to France at 11 so there are some words I'm not sure I understand well.
Just to make sure does "outbound protection" mean protection from 3rd party prog or protection against things coming from outside or something else?
Quote from reply # 12 :"With your Intel Celeron processor boot time might put it under load 1GB of RAM should be fine on XP" Does it just mean boot should be fine with 1GB of Ram or does it mean something else?
Quote from reply #16:"XP firewall provides no outbound protection and you should consider a third party firewall." Do you mean a third party firewall would give more protection? If so, any subgestion?
I opened Task manager right after loging: avastSvc.exe and avastUI.exe were already there, as a lot of other programms. Does this mean they were already working? Because avastUI had zero processor time and avastSVC only had 1 (second?).
Besides that startup is still very quick. All icons of the tray seem to pop up almost at the same time. Some times Avast icon appears before the connexion one, some times it's the opposite.
Do you know if there's a service lanching the connexion that I could put to manual instead of automatic?
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Firewalls a long time ago only provided inbound protection, stopping unauthorised access to your computer from outside.
As things progressed it was realised that if malware got on to your system (either hidden or undetected) there is nothing to stop it connecting to the internet and downloading more malware or uploading your data to the internet. So firewalls got outbound protection, applications trying to connect to the internet were intercepted and the user asked if it was OK for that to access the internet.
The above is a rather simplified explanation of the difference between inbound protection (stopping bad stuff getting in) and outbound protection (stopping bad stuff getting out).
The windows firewall only has inbound protection, I compare it to a fire door that only protects you from fire from one side of the door.
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When you connect to the internet using your browser, you are asking it to display a web page, to do that it has to find that web page and import (download) that data, this comes into the browser cache so that it can be displayed in your browser. This has Outbound traffic, the request to get some information (the web page) and Inbound traffic, the information coming back in.
For inbound connections it the request originated from your computer (linked to an outbound connection) the firewall lets it in without hindrance, now if there is an inbound connection attempt to your computer that didn't originate on your computer then it would be investigated by the firewall.
This is important as I said inbound connections that originated on your system (linked to an outbound connection) are let in, if that outbound connection is made by malware this leaves a hole in security as it can send out what it wants and bring in what it wants. So outbound checking by a firewall can block unauthorised outbound connections.
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Thanks a lot for your explanations. It's really great to have this kind of
information, I mean clear enough for a non pro to understand what is important
without going down too far in technical details that we wouldn't necessarily
understand. I think you are making a fine job in making these things accessible
to us like that and I guess many are interested.
I found an answer to how control the connexion. Was a bit stupid not to do it
earlier. I just right click on the connexion screen icon and choose "disconnect"
when I leave the web. Then when I reboot, it stays on disconnected and I only
need to rightclick again and choose "reconnect".
Can't decide yet which firewall I might choose. So many contradictory
information. In some forums, they say XP firewall is enough for sure. Your
explanations make it clear it's not the case. Almost each forum otherwise has a
different firewall to emphasize. But I'll find one for sure.
VTY
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No problem, glad I could help. Welcome to the forums.
There are many freeware firewalls such as, PrivateFirewall, Online Armor, Outpost Firewall free 7 suite.
Many forum users are using these:
- PrivateFirewall, http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html (http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html)
- Online Armor, http://www.online-armor.com/ (http://www.online-armor.com/)
- Outpost Free Suite 7, http://free.agnitum.com/ (http://free.agnitum.com/). Whilst this is a suite, when you install it, it detects avast and asks if you have it installed, answering Yes will mean it doesn't install the antivirus, anti-spyware and web control modules to maintain compatibility.
Should you choose Outpost.
- Outpost Exclusions - Whilst Outpost would have you exclude its folder from avast scans, I don't feel that is required, if outpost is running in its compatibility mode with no anti-spyware and no web control modules running.
Personally other than a single file exclusion I don't believe you need exclude the Outpost folder, I haven't in all of the time that I have been using avast and outpost together and that is many years.
This is the file and path that I have in the File System Shield, Expert Settings, Exclusions section, C:\Program Files\Agnitum\Outpost Firewall Pro\wl_hook.dll (easiest it to copy and paste this full path). This file is as its name implies a hooking tool that outpost uses to monitor activity also and is the only file where I ever had any issue with avast.
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Would Outpost Firewall Pro be better than the free suite? (Presently a 50% offer)
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Well if you aren't looking for a suite but a specific firewall the Outpost Firewall Pro as far as I'm aware has more functionality than the firewall in the Outpost Free Suite. This is no doubt because they would use the free version to buy one of the paid products. That said the firewall in the free suite should be adequate for most needs.
I don't know if the offer is for a lifetime license or just 50% of an annual license, which wouldn't represent as good a value.
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Well if you aren't looking for a suite but a specific firewall the Outpost Firewall Pro as far as I'm aware has more functionality than the firewall in the Outpost Free Suite. This is no doubt because they would use the free version to buy one of the paid products. That said the firewall in the free suite should be adequate for most needs.
I don't know if the offer is for a lifetime license or just 50% of an annual license, which wouldn't represent as good a value.
I believe the 50% off is for both Lifetime and 1 yr, 3 PC's: $29.00 and $20.00 respectively.
Both are good deals........especially the 'lifetime' license.
Having gone the 'lifetime' myself ;) :)
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If it is that 50% off the lifetime license it is good and for 3PCs is a great deal if you have more than one system.
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If it is that 50% off the lifetime license it is good and for 3PCs is a great deal if you have more than one system.
Absolutely DavidR. THe lifetime I believe is $60.00 regular.
Can't beat 1/2 price for a high quality firewall such as OP Pro.
imho ;);D
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Ok think I'll choose lifetime firewall with 50% off. Thanks to both of you with as I said before, special thanks to DavidR for his fine help all along this thread.
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Should I do something special here to say I've had the answers I was waiting for and the thread be closed as far as I am concerned? (didn't find a botton or flag for that here)
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Ok think I'll choose lifetime firewall with 50% off. Thanks to both of you with as I said before, special thanks to DavidR for his fine help all along this thread.
No problem, glad I could help.
You can go back to the first post in this topic and click the 'Modify' button in the post and add [Resolved] to the topics title. Topics remain open.
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This isn't something I've come across before in the forums (avast tray icon not appearing until after the connection).
For the record,
I had this happen to me when I was using XPpro64. I also ended up disabling my internet before shut-down, and enabling it again as needed. I was told on this forum that the precaution I was taking was not needed, but I took it anyway.
I never had the issue on XPpro32, I am no longer using XPpro64, I am currently using 7pro64 w/o this issue.
I just thought to post because DavidR hadn't seen this before... My old post is likely stashed somewhere if you think it would be of interest...
Thanx for being helpful, even if this no longer applies to me. I appreciate your efforts, and I learned a bit by following this post. *Cheers*