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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: XINLAI-A on August 24, 2008, 01:40:04 PM

Title: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 24, 2008, 01:40:04 PM
Hello, Tech,

I have a question that how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?  Everyday, three days, or one week ?

What is your opinion?

Thanks for your help.

 :)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: BJ_GeOrgE on August 24, 2008, 01:50:41 PM
well it depends on the use of your computers...if you use the internet very often and download stuff then one scan per week is ok...also it would be nice to have an anti-spyware program to scan per 2-3 days...i suggest u spybot search&destroy(http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html)...u can find others at http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/security/fwantispy.html

as i said it depends on how u use ur pc... ;)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: PapaSmurf on August 24, 2008, 05:20:56 PM
I also like the once a week full scan, I also throw in a boot scan..(thank you avast!)..once every
3 or four weeks, depending on my time on the net.

However, to minimize troubles I also scan ANY file that I download before I use it.
It takes just a moment, but can save you from any surprises.
Another decent malware scanner is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Scanner.
http://www.malwarebytes.org/index.php (http://www.malwarebytes.org/index.php)

Whatever programs you use just remember to keep them up to date.  ;D
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: DavidR on August 24, 2008, 06:35:24 PM
The resident on-access scanners lessen the need for on-demand scans, but I still do a weekly Standard scan without Archives selected.
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 24, 2008, 10:48:03 PM
If you use avast (with WebShield and Standard Shield on) as resident, if you scan your downloaded files (maybe with ashquick.exe into your download manager), I'll suggest a monthly scanning.
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 25, 2008, 05:17:12 PM
The resident on-access scanners lessen the need for on-demand scans, but I still do a weekly Standard scan without Archives selected.

Hi, DavidR,

G' day!

Yes. Before I ask this question, I usually do a weekly Standard scan. But with the Archives selected.

Why do you do the weekly Standard scan without selecting the Archives? Is there a special reason?

 :)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: DavidR on August 25, 2008, 05:20:12 PM
Because they aren't dangerous when nicely zipped up.

Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast's Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 25, 2008, 05:34:53 PM
Why do you do the weekly Standard scan without selecting the Archives?
I think it's better a monthly thorough scanning (archives also).
It will detect the inert, but hidden files.
The standard scan is not useful, imho, if you have the resident always on.
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 25, 2008, 05:35:21 PM
If you use avast (with WebShield and Standard Shield on) as resident, if you scan your downloaded files (maybe with ashquick.exe into your download manager), I'll suggest a monthly scanning.

Hi, Tech.

G'day.

Yep. I use Avast as resident.  And I have another quesiton, when we should run a Boot-time Scan ?  What is the purpose of this one?

 :)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 25, 2008, 05:38:05 PM
And I have another quesiton, when we should run a Boot-time Scan ?  What is the purpose of this one?
When the normal scanning into Windows fails for any reason.
When you can't delete/move to Chest the infected file because it is in use.
The most useful thing of boot time scanning is handling used files because it's run even before Windows loads.
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 25, 2008, 05:42:27 PM
Because they aren't dangerous when nicely zipped up.

Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast's Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.

Yes, it is reasonable !

 ;D
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 25, 2008, 05:49:40 PM
Why do you do the weekly Standard scan without selecting the Archives?
I think it's better a monthly thorough scanning (archives also).
It will detect the inert, but hidden files.
The standard scan is not useful, imho, if you have the resident always on.


Hi, Tech.

Do you think we should do a scan in Safe Mode.  I always hear someone say that they scan their computer with Safe Mode.  Why and do you think it is needed ?

Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 25, 2008, 05:59:49 PM
And I have another quesiton, when we should run a Boot-time Scan ?  What is the purpose of this one?
When the normal scanning into Windows fails for any reason.
When you can't delete/move to Chest the infected file because it is in use.
The most useful thing of boot time scanning is handling used files because it's run even before Windows loads.

Hi, Tech,

It seems the Boot-time Scan is more useful and better than the Through Scan.  So I guess if it is necessary, I mean, if we have some more time, may be it is better to do a Boot-time Scan monthly than a Through Scan, right?

 :)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: BJ_GeOrgE on August 25, 2008, 06:40:10 PM
And I have another quesiton, when we should run a Boot-time Scan ?  What is the purpose of this one?
When the normal scanning into Windows fails for any reason.
When you can't delete/move to Chest the infected file because it is in use.
The most useful thing of boot time scanning is handling used files because it's run even before Windows loads.

Hi, Tech,

It seems the Boot-time Scan is more useful and better than the Through Scan.  So I guess if it is necessary, I mean, if we have some more time, may be it is better to do a Boot-time Scan monthly than a Through Scan, right?

 :)
boot-time scan and thorough scan is almost the same...the only difference is that boot-time scan is runnig b4 windows start...its needed when ure already infected and u cant delete the threat by doing the normal scan(standard or thorough)..a thorough scan with archives enabled per month is enough.. ;)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 25, 2008, 07:24:38 PM
Do you think we should do a scan in Safe Mode.  I always hear someone say that they scan their computer with Safe Mode.  Why and do you think it is needed ?
It's the middle of the normal scan (into Windows) and the boot time.
I think there is no advantage then the boot time scanning (a feature that only avast has...).
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 25, 2008, 07:26:44 PM
It seems the Boot-time Scan is more useful and better than the Through Scan.  So I guess if it is necessary, I mean, if we have some more time, may be it is better to do a Boot-time Scan monthly than a Through Scan, right?
I don't think so. It's for emergencies, infected computers.
Scanning into Windows is ok for the regular maintenance of the computer (you can evenly use the computer while the scanning is running in background, you have a graphical interface, etc.).
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: XINLAI-A on August 26, 2008, 03:17:49 PM
It seems the Boot-time Scan is more useful and better than the Through Scan.  So I guess if it is necessary, I mean, if we have some more time, may be it is better to do a Boot-time Scan monthly than a Through Scan, right?
I don't think so. It's for emergencies, infected computers.
Scanning into Windows is ok for the regular maintenance of the computer (you can evenly use the computer while the scanning is running in background, you have a graphical interface, etc.).


Thank you, Tech.  :)
Title: Re: how long we should do a scan for our computers by Avast ?
Post by: Lisandro on August 26, 2008, 03:57:58 PM
Thank you, Tech.  :)
You're welcome ;)