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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: woodflute on November 29, 2013, 07:05:33 AM

Title: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on November 29, 2013, 07:05:33 AM

I am running Avast Internet Security program version 2014.9.0.2008, on a Windows 7 64-bit machine.

I note that there is a shared folder named _avast_ in the %TEMP% folder.

If I delete this folder, it is recreated on reboot.

What is this folder please, and what exactly is it sharing and with whom?

Thank you for any information.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Pondus on November 29, 2013, 08:13:15 AM

i guess you see the folder where avast unpack and scan files....

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Staticguy on November 29, 2013, 12:41:16 PM

There's also a file called streaming updates in the location where that temp folder is located. I forgot the exact name but it ain't there anymore.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on November 29, 2013, 04:05:40 PM

That this folder exists doesn't concern me.

It's that this folder is being shared...that greatly concerns me.  That requires explanation if I am to continue to use the product.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: igor on November 29, 2013, 04:17:44 PM

Nothing is being shared with anybody.
As said, the folder is used e.g. to temporarily unpack archived files during scans.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Staticguy on November 29, 2013, 10:09:01 PM

The file that I was talking about called streaming_updates. dat located in the same location as _avast_in %TEMP% is now here. It wasn't there yesterday.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on November 30, 2013, 05:35:12 AM

Perhaps you aren't understanding.  The system IS showing this as a shared folder.  It is a network share.

That is the cause of my concern.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: igor on November 30, 2013, 12:49:59 PM

It certainly isn't a network share here... and it shouldn't be (avast! doesn't create any network shares).

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on November 30, 2013, 07:46:20 PM

Here is a screenshot.  I have verified that I can actually hit this folder via the path shown from another PC on my network.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Gandalf1369 on November 30, 2013, 09:19:04 PM

Interesting . . . Based on your screen shot I just checked my computer and found the same thing! This is with avast Free 2014.9.0.2008.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: olddog on December 01, 2013, 12:52:22 AM

Quote from: Gandalf1369 on November 30, 2013, 09:19:04 PM

Interesting . . . Based on your screen shot I just checked my computer and found the same thing! This is with avast Free 2014.9.0.2008.

It's not on my PC though.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Alikhan on December 01, 2013, 01:08:59 AM

Have you guys got Homegroups set up?

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: Gandalf1369 on December 01, 2013, 01:23:29 AM

Quote from: Alikhan on December 01, 2013, 01:08:59 AM

Have you guys got Homegroups set up?

Yes . . . I do . . .

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on December 01, 2013, 01:30:50 AM

I have Homegroups turned off and the services for it disabled and stopped.

I did that after I noticed this, but it did not change anything.

I can delete the shared _avast_ folder, but it will be recreated on reboot, and it is recreated as a network share.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: midnight on December 01, 2013, 01:35:08 AM

Not on my computer either.

Sorry for messy screenshot.

Title: Re: Shared folder _avast_ in %TEMP%
Post by: woodflute on December 01, 2013, 03:20:36 AM

I'm sorry, everyone--on further investigation, it is the entire home directory structure that is shared.

This is a Windows 7 behavior that I was not aware of (and don't care for).

This doesn't relate to Avast, and please feel free to close or delete this thread as you like.

I found this information at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/56cbde14-79c3-4b64-b2a1-2d2141b6fed6/why-does-windows-share-the-users-directory-by-default?forum=w7itprogeneral (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/56cbde14-79c3-4b64-b2a1-2d2141b6fed6/why-does-windows-share-the-users-directory-by-default?forum=w7itprogeneral).