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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: ambush19 on July 07, 2018, 06:15:25 AM

Title: What do all the many Avast Windows Startup items do?
Post by: ambush19 on July 07, 2018, 06:15:25 AM

I've found that many Windows applications install all kinds of unwanted Windows startup items without any explanations, and Avast is yet another one.  I have the free antivirus running on 64-bit Windows 10 and Windows 7.  So what does the following startup items actually do, in some detail, and what are the consequences of disabling them?

 

• AvRepair
• aswbIDSAgent
• Overseer
• Avast Emergency Update

Thanks!

Title: Re: What do all the many Avast Windows Startup items do?
Post by: schmidthouse on July 08, 2018, 09:59:05 PM

I'm not the developer, only a long time user so I have no detail.....
Only to say those are components of your Avast security software installation and wouldn't be running/starting if they weren't needed.  :)

Title: Re: What do all the many Avast Windows Startup items do?
Post by: mchain on July 09, 2018, 08:21:37 PM

Long story short, needed processes for avast to run properly.

• avRepair https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/204/ (https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/204/)
• aswbIDSAgent  https://blog.avast.com/behavior-shield-our-newest-behavioral-analysis-technology (https://blog.avast.com/behavior-shield-our-newest-behavioral-analysis-technology)
• Overseer - avast process likely related to blank AvastUI issue - initiates avast repair if detected
• Avast Emergency Update - AvEmUpdate -  avast process runs once a day or at boot and updates avast program.  Can be used/started by avast to fix virus database issues that can cause your computer to crash in case of a big boo-boo on avast's part via your internet connection.  Streaming Updates also can fix issues with avast

Are you having problems with avast?
-What OS (operating system)?
-What version of avast?
-What SP (service pack)?
-Any other a/v's (antivirus programs) installed/removed?

Title: Re: What do all the many Avast Windows Startup items do?
Post by: schmidthouse on July 09, 2018, 09:56:03 PM

Thanks for the info/clarification on needed components Mchain. :)

Title: Re: What do all the many Avast Windows Startup items do?
Post by: Alikhan on July 09, 2018, 10:01:54 PM

Overseer helps Avast detect common (technical) issues with their products. In a sense, it behaves similarly to the Avast Emergency Update but is able to correct these issues independently and even catch them sooner.

aswbIDSAgent is the Behaviour Shield process.

avRepair has been explained by mchain.

On top of what mchain has said about the Emergency Updater, it can also fix problems without requiring a full program update.