Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Texas-Hansen on August 01, 2008, 08:37:27 PM
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I've been trying out Avast for about a month now...first the free Home edition and now the Professional version for the last few days. I must admit I really like it and I'm leaning very heavily toward buying the Professional edition. But, I have to ask a question and I ask this with the idea of starting a serious discussion to gather information and opinion, why chose Avast's Professional edition for anti-virus protection; why is it better than the others such as Avira's version of the same pay-for product (which has also received high accolades)?
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Lots of reasons tm:)
Avast has this neat forum and it really is much better than any other AV forum
Avast has incremental updates no multi megabyte updates
avast has the e-mail real time monitor and some other neat features
others will allow crapware to be downloaded and not catch it till it runs- like a Zombie or Spam server
avast works well with certain p2p and IM
lots of reasons tm:)
nice balanced product
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It has that boot scan thingy too!
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I use it because it doesn't seem as heavy on the system, especially if compared to some of the more popular brands. It has modules that can be easily turned off when not needed. I turn off Internet mail, netshield, p2p since I don't need them. It provides antirootkit, antispyware, bootscans, reasonable updates. Performs well. Free for home users. This forums is extremely helpful. Users actually try to help other users to allow the devs to do what they do best, develop. The software is updated frequently to remain current probably because of the great user based to help others with support. Just my 2 cents.
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Let's try and find a negative about AVAST
does it work well as an on-demand scanner?
Avast does not work well when installed with Norton Internet Security
(according to a recent poster this is a known bug and should be fixed immediately)
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Three months ago, I installed Avira to test it, when Avast had the antirootkit issue version 4.8.1169 and .1178, so I gave it a try to Avira...
1. It doesn't has a email checker (only the paid one)
2. A weekend without updates, that's not a issue it's security threat
3. The forum, an awful mix of German and English topics, very confusing
Kindly regards
MiguelAngelXP ;D
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#1 Because it still supports Windows 98 / SE while Avira and AVG do NOT.
#2 avast! is NOT Bloated like AVG.
#3 I have never had Avira or AVG, but in the many Anti-Virus Reviews I have read, the consensus is that Avira and AVG are problematic with Virus Signature Updates. avast!'s are smooth and problem-free.
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Let's try and find a negative about AVAST
does it work well as an on-demand scanner?
Avast does not work well when installed with Norton Internet Security
(according to a recent poster this is a known bug and should be fixed immediately)
;D Ahhh, That! YES, I have to echo and reiterate your point from your other post that this Neat Forum does have a lot of knowledgeable people regarding avast! And when questions are asked respectfully, the odds increase exponentially that someone ... more people here will be willing to help.
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These are all valid points.
Why didn't anyone happen to note that AVAST beats the crap out of Avira in detection,and the AV comparative tests?
It does doesn't it?
And of course without a email scanner Avira will just let you open the infected email
and leave you hanging,Right? I mean it does not detect it does it?
And most important of all how easy it is to set up a Scheduled Scan in Avast.
About an hour or so with the Windows scheduler and your home free,
where as with Avira you have to fill in the times for the scans. (all that Thirteen- hundred,zero two thirty military time stuff..ugh!)
If you really like AVAST that alone is reason enough to run it.
If you start looking for an objective reason,that is something else.
Three months ago, I installed Avira to test it, when Avast had the antirootkit issue version 4.8.1169 and .1178, so I gave it a try to Avira...
1. It doesn't has a email checker (only the paid one)
2. A weekend without updates, that's not a issue it's security threat
3. The forum, an awful mix of German and English topics, very confusing
Kindly regards
MiguelAngelXP ;D
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Well detection wise AVIRA is still better. Anyone not blindly worshiping one antivirus knows that. As a whole product, avast! might be a better choice. Well, at least when comparing FREE editions. For payable ones, the differences get much smaller.
Donno, i had a chance to use full AVIRA for 6 months free, but i probably used it for like two weeks and then switched back to avast! Home. It worked well till now, i have great communication with developers (something that means a lot to me) and i've also taken a small part in developement of the program so it's partially made exacly for my needs. And it hasn't let mi down so far in quiet few ayears now.
So why change right? ;D It was like this for years. No matter what i tried i always, i mean really always returned to avast! and i've tried pretty much all antiviruses there are. Probably because of above reasons...
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#2 avast! is NOT Bloated like AVG.
I got my venerable old Pentium 500MHZ PIII 512MB RAM system back from the PC repair shop because I wanted it updated with more RAM so that I could run XP but its performance was abysmal.
I un-installed AVG 8.0 then made sure its droppings were removed from the registry with Regseeker then installed avast! with only the 4 important protection modules.
It is still slow but the performance is vastly improved and quite adequate for my senior friend that wants to learn the Internet.
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#2 avast! is NOT Bloated like AVG.
I got my venerable old Pentium 500MHZ PIII 512MB RAM system back from the PC repair shop because I wanted it updated with more RAM so that I could run XP but its performance was abysmal.
I un-installed AVG 8.0 then made sure its droppings were removed from the registry with Regseeker then installed avast! with only the 4 important protection modules.
It is still slow but the performance is vastly improved and quite adequate for my senior friend that wants to learn the Internet.
Since you brought up you having ONLY the 4 important protection modules, let me ask this. So, with each Protection Module ACTIVE, even if NOT in use, is it actively loaded in RAM from the get go at Bootup?
Let's take MY case. The Web Shield is never gonna work for me with my current computer. That was proven already.
I don't Instant Message. The entire World, sans 1 Internet Buddyette is Blocked from IM-ing me. And we haven't even IMed in probably 2 years.
My AOL Mail is obviously NOT covered by avast! AOL checks my E-mail with McAfee.
I don't do Outlook Exchange or P2P. I don't even KNOW what P2P is, but it sounds like something I don't do. ;D Isn't it some IM-ish activity?
Sooo, with the above points, could I Disable ALL Protection Modules except for leaving the Standard Shield Enabled? That would still give me the Full-fledged Real Time On Access Protection PLUS Full-fledged On Demand Manual Scan ability, right? And if I did this, WOULD a Leaner / Meaner avast! be loaded every time? Not that avast! isn't lean. ;D COULD I free up a chunk of RAM by doing the above?
Or am I misunderstanding how all these Protection Modules work?
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I have P2p and outlook disabled
you could check and see how much resources they use in your case might make a difference
ps
I still have NSW 2001 installed
the last one with CleanSweep
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:) I think u have mixed up your postings wrymrider. I was talking abt NSW in the thread i started. (Chim is a senior member, this is only my 3rd post!)
I am sure u werent running NSW + WinXp on a 128MB RAM as i was!!
Do u still feel the need for NSW? I believe CCleaner or such, are good liteweight replacements for cleansweep.
By the way, i wonder comp security issues are getting so complex these days. One of my professors forwarded me a warning mail about a "olympic torch invitation" email virus, supposedly a very dangerous one.
I did a google search, and found that the warning itself is a hoax. http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/olympictorch.html (http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2006/02/olympictorch.html)
Imagine, the warning mail itself becomes a tool in spreading panic and creating nuisance generally.. no need to actually create a virus!!
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Imagine, the warning mail itself becomes a tool in spreading panic and creating nuisance generally.. no need to actually create a virus!!
I bet you have a friend like this ;D
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/klaxon.htm
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I mostly use nsw for NDD and Speedisk and all the other old dos tools like the registry ones and boot tools
however the old cleansweep duplicate detector allows easy inspection of all instances of a file to see if a file name is in a place it's not supposed to be or a different size etc
This Quarterdeck version was toooo powerful for most users so the next year they dumbed it down
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:) I think u have mixed up your postings wrymrider. I was talking abt NSW in the thread i started. (Chim is a senior member, this is only my 3rd post!)
;D I was getting ready to point out that actually I wasn't a Senior Member, but rather a Full Member. Just to be on the safe side, I took a look at one of my posts and --- WHOA! What the ........? I AM a Senior Member! :o It must have happened today, a while ago. Probably the threshold is at going over into 201 Posts.
But, if wrymrider HAS mixed up 2 posts between us, he shouldn't feel bad. I had a slight mishap yesterday at the Opera Forum. Someone there with the Screen Name "theoddbod" replied to my inquiry. So, I thanked him ... referring to him as "Theo." Then someone else comes in to Cyber Laugh. There I was for ½ minute trying to figure out the joke, what I had missed. Finally I realized there was NO "Theo" in the Screen Name. The Screen Name, with the proper Spaces inserted, is actually, "the odd bod." ;D
<< I am sure u werent running NSW + WinXp on a 128MB RAM as i was!!
Do u still feel the need for NSW? I believe CCleaner or such, are good liteweight replacements for cleansweep. >>
I'm having trouble envisioning your Win XP computer running on 128 MB. My friends' Win XP Dell Dimension with 256 MB runs slower than my Win 98SE Gateway with 384 MB.
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I have P2p and outlook disabled
you could check and see how much resources they use in your case might make a difference
ps
I still have NSW 2001 installed
the last one with CleanSweep
So, to "Disable" these Protection Modules ... is that done with the Terminate Button? It sounds so harsh ... so FINAL. It sounds like if it was a mistake in me disabling them, I wouldn't be able to enable them back without an avast! Reinstall or something. I take it IF the Terminate Button IS for disabling the Protection Modules, when you click it and disable the module ... the Start Button will become Un-Greyed Out?
On my Windows 98SE, how would I check how much resources they're using? Isn't that capability really only a perk of Windows XP and above?
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I still have NSW 2001 installed
Without NAV I suppose...
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Tech
you are psychic
also without auto updater integrator etc etc aud naseum
Looks as if Wyrm might have been answering a copy of his own post
back on track
Avast rocks
take a look at the Guinness Book of Records False Positive Fix
forum thread
FP: ESL Aequitas
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You might want to modify your post as the link has your PHPsessionID tied up in it. Whilst it doesn't stop you accessing the link it exposes the ID.
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link is a problem?
how to post links without ID?
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I choose both AntiVir and Avast!...but of course not on the same computer. Why not? Nowadays you can choose even OSes.
link is a problem?
how to post links without ID?
Simply, choose your link when browsing with logging in. If you haven't logged in, the link should still have session ID. Alternatively, you can simply delete ID manually but choose the link while logging in is probably smarter.
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So, to "Disable" these Protection Modules ... is that done with the Terminate Button? It sounds so harsh ... so FINAL. It sounds like if it was a mistake in me disabling them, I wouldn't be able to enable them back without an avast! Reinstall or something. I take it IF the Terminate Button IS for disabling the Protection Modules, when you click it and disable the module ... the Start Button will become Un-Greyed Out?
I dont believe terminating the modules does anything as drastic as that. We are terminating the modules from starting up, not uninstalling them.
At least for me, the start button does NOT become greyed up. I can always start using again any module that i have terminated.
Regarding resource usage, i dont know abt win98 but i think the usage pattern will be similar to that for winXP. What i find is:
ashServ takes maximum memory, as it will naturally be expected to.
ashWebSv is next (its use increases with active net connection)
All the remaining take minimal/none resource space in my comp.
Interestingly, Process Explorer shows me that the page faults of ashserv are the highest among all my running processes (>110,000), and of ashMaiSv are also quite high. But i dont know whether that affects system performance.
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Interestingly, Process Explorer shows me that the page faults of ashserv are the highest among all my running processes (>110,000), and of ashMaiSv are also quite high. But i dont know whether that affects system performance.
As far I know, not. Just temporary files being deleted, files with access blocked at that particular time... but maybe I'm wrong. Hope a person with more knowledge post about it.
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Well jqs.exe (JAVA Quick Start) makes that look possibly pedestrian on my system it is currently reading 2,575,562 page faults and RocketDock has over a million with firefox next with over 800,000. There really isn't anything to be bothered about in relation to page faults.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_fault (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Page_fault)
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Let's be honest. With resident guard in AVIRA you don't really need the internet mail scanning. Plus usually ISP are offering filtering of viruses (usually with NORTON) before they touch your PC So you don't really like AVAST for this add-on. No, I think I like the gui, the concept, the detection rate that has to be improved but that is not bad at all, the feeling of S-E-C-U-R-I-T-Y but as such I don't think AVIRA is a bad choice. It's just a question of falling in love (feelings mor than rational) :)
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Lets be honest, which is better prevention or cure.
Stopping something that hasn't even got on to your system if preferable to trying to deal with it 'on' your system. This is the principal of many of the avast shields to intercept, e.g. the Internet Mail stops infected email getting into your inbox, where it is possible that an anti-virus could end up deleting (or corrupting) the infected mail box and the subsequent loss of all emails in that mail box.
The Network shield can also block common exploits routes of entry, whilst this should be no substitute to a firewall we see many occurrences of the network shield intercepting such exploits in the forums, even though the user has a firewall.
You also appear to be confusing what an ISP does if you are talking in reference to the Web Shield pre scanning your http traffic, your ISP 'doesn't' filter your browsing content before you download into the browser cache (to do this if they offered it you would have to use a proxy given by the ISP). So this is far from usual practice by an ISP.
None of the above points have any basis in love but practicality, I much prefer pro-active defence rather than reactive defence.
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You also appear to be confusing what an ISP does if you are talking in reference to the Web Shield pre scanning your http traffic, your ISP 'doesn't' filter your browsing content before you download into the browser cache (to do this if they offered it you would have to use a proxy given by the ISP). So this is far from usual practice by an ISP.
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David, I was referring only to EMAIL scanning of viruses before they reach my INBOX by VIDEOTRON (CANADA) with SYMANTEC. I did an email EICAR test last year with CLAM antivirus without EMAIL protection ON and it was blocked by my ISP. It does not cover web protection though!!! :D
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None of the above points have any basis in love but practicality, I much prefer pro-active defence rather than reactive defence.
But If these proactive defenses are based on the same definition file, the detection rate is very important.
As for security services offered by ISPs, quite many ISPs offer spam filtering and virus scan services. Unfortunately, virus scan service is not free on my ISP, though. Then again, Gmail offers both services.
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I'm not paying my ISP any "extras" for email and spam scanning. My ISP used to do so but since a year or so it's not anymore. At least, from what I saw with my email with EICAR test as attachment. All ISP should move towards that. Of course, you get never enough protection. :(
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A lot of ISP just avoid .exe, .com, .bat, .scr... files as attachment. The files isn't really scanned, but blocked (the majority of times, even changing the extension).
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I run avast! full time and use Avira as an on demand scanner which I update manually before scanning with it. I alternate scanning between avast! and Avira every few days or so and this has worked out well.
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I run avast! full time and use Avira as an on demand scanner which I update manually before scanning with it. I alternate scanning between avast! and Avira every few days or so and this has worked out well.
Did you tweak Avira installation?
I think if you install avast after Avira you'll have trouble (two antivirus at the same time...).
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I run avast! full time and use Avira as an on demand scanner which I update manually before scanning with it. I alternate scanning between avast! and Avira every few days or so and this has worked out well.
Did you tweak Avira installation?
I think if you install avast after Avira you'll have trouble (two antivirus at the same time...).
Yes, I tweaked the Avira install. I used a-squared HiJackFree to disable all of the Avira services and just manually start Avira when I update and scan with it. No conflicts at all.
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Yes, I tweaked the Avira install. I used a-squared HiJackFree to disable all of the Avira services and just manually start Avira when I update and scan with it. No conflicts at all.
Did you install avast before Avira, didn't you?
At driver level, you could have trouble...
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Yes, I tweaked the Avira install. I used a-squared HiJackFree to disable all of the Avira services and just manually start Avira when I update and scan with it. No conflicts at all.
Did you install avast before Avira, didn't you?
At driver level, you could have trouble...
Actually, I installed Avira first and then disabled it's services before installing avast!. It works smoothly with no conflicts. Each av sometimes finds stuff the other one didn't, so I've had good luck.
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I'm quite sure you're with luck... from time to time I suggest you check if all avast providers are running ok.
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A lot of ISP just avoid .exe, .com, .bat, .scr... files as attachment. The files isn't really scanned, but blocked (the majority of times, even changing the extension).
In fact, I was receiving a reply email from their servers telling me that the email was scanned by Symantec's Norton Antivirus and blocked. I can't say if EICAR is .exe but even so it's not much more trouble for them to set it to scan all files I guess. But nevermind, I'll rely on AVAST. As for having AVIRA and AVAST on the same computer, it's like having to lovers contending the same woman. It's not worth the trouble for that bit of increased detection. But I'm happy to ear somebody has had to test this successfully. 8)
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I'm quite sure you're with luck... from time to time I suggest you check if all avast providers are running ok.
Yes, all avast! provides have been reliably running. With a-squared HiJackFree I have been able to completely stop all Avira drivers and services form automatically loading.
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Reviving an old topic..
Same article that i linked to in a separate post..
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like_this?page=1%2C2 (http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/protect_your_pc_from_guys_like_this?page=1%2C2)
The article has rated Avira Antivir (8/10) very highly over both Avast and AVG Free (5/10 each)..
The ratings do not seem to be fair at all though as the last paragraph of Avast review says. They admit antivirus role of Avast is very good but only that it is "annoying". The initial statement for Avast: "You won’t find many diamonds in this rough" seems too harsh.
Incidentally, they have rated Symantec NIS 2009 as a superb remake (than being just a update) and given it the highest 9/10 rating.
A case of vested interests or there is some truth to it?
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Each head, each sentence... each opinion, each review...
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I guess I have come a long way since my last semi sarcastic review.
lets say this.
Avast! has replaced Avira on both my machines.
Why?
Just download a copy of paid Avira,and try to run the webshield.
The slow down of browsing is profound.
I still thank detection is King,but Avast Webshield is worlds ahead of Avira.
The forums are a big plus for Avast!.
But in the end it is protection from the software that counts.
as of now,Avast! is the best mix of function and protection.(IMO)
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Trying any test whilst having two resident anti-viruses installed is futile they will be fighting for control over which one gets control over file scanning.
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David, the reasoning that you gave regarding test environment is absolutely correct.
However, the fact remains that the original article made the point that browsing the web is faster with Avast than with Avira.. (This despite giving it a 5 compared to 9 for Avira). If this is indeed so then it is factor that should weigh heavily in deciding which package to use. The question of finding best balance of efficiency vs usability.
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Avast got a script blocker and outlock shield + alot languages support which Avira didnt have
If im not wrong Avira got a bad firewall which with Avast you can choice a better 1 like outpost or something
Personally Avast is the best anti virus on the world. Which you can choice like your own anti spyware or firewall or something
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If I'm not wrong email scanning is missing on Avira.
Forum support of avast is superb.
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I have paid versions of both avast! and Avira (antivirus only). Both are great products, but at this point I have to say I like avast! better. Main reason is avast! has way better self-defence than the current build of Avira.
About a month ago, I was planning to trial a software before I purchased it. Because some features are not available in the trial version, I decided to grab a key from the internet (very bad habit I admit ;D). I downloaded a keygen from p2p, which turned out to be a nasty file. I scanned it on my workstation which was protected by Avira at that time. Everything seemed clean. So I ran it. A strange window popped up which looked no way like a keygen. So I turned it off immediately. I rebooted the pc only to find avira was killed, and a bunch of nasty network processes were running. Tried to repair, but even the safe mode was broken (BSODs). Not blaming Avira here coz it's my bad. But if I had been using avast!, at least I would have been prompted for immediate action if its executables were being modified. (I always have its behavior blocker on.)
Another example is you can delete the whole profile folder of Avira 8 without warning. (I actually accidentally did this a few weeks ago and lost all my settings including protection password.) If you have used avast!, you'll know you won't be able to tamper its files so easily.
That said, Avira still has its advantages eg in detection rate. So if you're a safe surfer, I guess both would fit your requirements well.
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If I'm not wrong email scanning is missing on Avira.
Forum support of avast is superb.
I'll have to fire up the XP Home system with Avira Premium but I believe it has email scanning as I checked it as my ISP switched to SSL connection and it seemed to work.
The forum support is indeed superb and one of the reasons I switched to avast! after AVG insisted I update to 8.0 and the forum is moderated by the BMFH and their minions of the Ferrous Cranus kind:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/ferouscranus.htm
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I have to eat humble pie as I now see that Avira can not scan POP3 nor SMTP email that is using SSL.
Oh well.
I live and learn every day.
I do like Steak and Kidney pie though.
There is a big snow blizzard happening outside now and luckily I don't have to go anywhere.
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I love Avast! but I am currently not using it. For the last few months I have been beta testing Avira Premium Security Suite 9 and it is their best version yet. It has everything and seems to do them well. The best detection rate. Once the Avira beta ends I'll probably go back to Avast rather than spend the $59 for the release version on Avira.
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Hi :)
Re : My Laptop
I've been using Avast Home for just over a week now ... & ... Love It! 8)
This Forum Is Great!
Everyone here seems really friendly and helpful :)
Before switching to Avast.. I was using NIS 09 .. Hated It! >:(
You couldn't even pay me to go back to using NIS now.
The Norton Forum Was Not So Friendly :(
Sure.. There was some nice people there.
However!
If you had a problem with NIS... It was your computer - Not NIS 09
And if you even dared suggest there was problems / bugs with NIS 09 ...
There were people ready to take your head off ::) ( Well.. You know what I mean ;D )
Just asking them how to change a setting... The Answer Would Be - " What do you want to go meddling around with the settings for? "
Re : My Desktop Computer
I'm using AVG 8 at the moment.
But not for much longer ;D
When AVG 8 runs out in a few months time... I will be replacing it with - Avast ;)
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The forum support is indeed superb and one of the reasons I switched to avast! after AVG insisted I update to 8.0 and the forum is moderated by the BMFH and their minions of the Ferrous Cranus kind:
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/ferouscranus.htm
Yes Sir,that one moderator CrimsonSockPuppet,or what ever, is a real sweetheart.
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I used to have the paid version of AVG.
I decided to try the Eicar test one day. Avast would not even let me download it. Good going Avast!
AVG let me download and only caught eicar.com as I remember. I was not impressed with AVG at that point and switched both computers to Avast in spite of some security report saying AVG had better results than Avast.
Mary
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AVG let me download and only caught eicar.com as I remember.
Well... for sure avast WebShield will block the download, but I think AVG, if well configurated, should do the same... Am I wrong?
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Re : My Desktop Computer
I'm using AVG 8 at the moment.
But not for much longer ;D
When AVG 8 runs out in a few months time... I will be replacing it with - Avast ;)
Why do you want to wait? Removing AVG 8 and installing avast! is like 20% increase in PC speed. Till 7.5 AVG was fine. Their v8 is sheer nightmare all the way - deleting files without informing, huge updates, lock-ups, huge bandwidth increase due to their link checking, non-updating, etc. To be fair to them, when I had a problem with their 7.5 e-mail scanner, they interacted personally and sent me another file till they updated and sorted out the glitch. But after a month of v8, I simply gave up on them. I do keep checking on their forum, but still loads of problems and standard answer seems to be download 50 mb, uninstall, re-boot, re-install, reboot, re-boot... No time for all that.
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Each head, each sentence... each opinion, each review... (http://ebook.doebook.us)
haha...