Avast WEBforum

Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 03:55:39 PM

Title: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 03:55:39 PM

I'm starting a new thread promissing a full list of frequently answered questions.
I do not want to discuss them here, so it will be a closed forum.

If you can (or want) to add something, I'll be glad to add to this list.
I'll try to make an index of them bellow...

First of all, see the official avast! 4 FAQs page (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_81.html) or browse the forums (http://www.avast.com/forum/) for help. You don't have to register for browsing and searching. Registration is required only if would like to post a new topic.

The search (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=9;action=search) function of the forum is really a good way to find help. Try!  ;)

Try to read the avast! Help files too, this save a lot of your time and work to help when is really needed. You can left click the 'a' blue icon on the system tray, run avast antivirus. When you see the avast skin, right click it and choose 'Help'.

Some special functions could be found and reached by RejZor's (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=viewprofile;user=RejZoR) application called avast External Control.zip (http://freeweb.siol.net/razor256/downloads/avast_external_control.zip). Enjoy it!  :)

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 04:44:25 PM

Please, each time give us the necessary information about your system in order to receive a better help from these forums users…

You can always change your signature and add all these informations there. Click on the 'Profile' button above and add this information on all your forum posts. For instance:

1. What version of avast! do you have? Please, click on the 'a' icon (blue ball) in the system tray... Go to About dialog and see your version/build and update information. This way we can figure out if their is an issue with your specific version of avast!
2. Which is your operational system and browser application?
3. Do you use a proxy filter, a firewall, an ad-blocking or spy-blocking applications?

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 04:45:23 PM

Links

Special avast links

avast Virus Cleaner: http://www.avast.com/i_idt_171.html
avast Updates:
avast! Skins:
avast! skin maker:
avast! uninstall utility: http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1336.html. If you can't uninstall avast through Control Panel, you can download the uninstall utility called AvClear or AvClear4 (depending on your avast! version). More information here (http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1322.html).

avast! Pricelists
avast! Home Registration
avast! e-mail technical support: support@asw.cz
avast! e-mail for sendind viruses files to analysis: virus@avast.com
avast! Forum
Subscription Services
Compare Profesional and Home Edition: http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1018.html

FAQs avast!
Virus Reference and Viruses in the Wild
Virus Report Form
System Requirements


Other applications

Links for almost everything could be found here (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=1509;start=0).

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 05:01:14 PM

Update troubleshooting

Please, give us the following information:

1. Has your avast version ever updated before?
2. How do you connect the Internet (dial-up, ADLS, etc.)?
3. Have you already registered (http://www.asw.cz/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG)? You will recieve your new activation key via e-mail for free if you are using the Home version.
4. Have you received warnings by your firewall after avast! installation?

Note that avast! tries to connect the update servers (looks for virus definition file updates and for program updates). You should allow avast! to connect, otherwise the update feature will not work. See here (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_314.html) the updated list of servers that avast! connects to.

And the avast components that should be allowed to connect the Internet by the firewall are:
avast.setup
avastXX.setup (where "XX" are some numbers)
aswUpdSv.exe

If you just use Windows XP firewall, try to disable it (Open the Control Panel > Network Connections, right click with your mouse on your connection. Go to Properties. Open the Advanced tab and uncheck the Firewall option. If you use a permanent connection (DSL) you must restart your computer).

How does the update service work?

At first, avast! tries to detect if the computer is connected to the Internet - it sends a packet to one of our servers and waits for reply. If the packet is received, avast! knows that the computer is connected and the update may begin. If there's no reply to the packet sent, avast! will try to ping the server again every 40 seconds.

If the ping is successful, avast! connects to our server and checks if there´s new update available. If it is, avast! will download and install it. If not, avast! will wait for 4 hours and then tries to connect and check for updates again.

In other words: avast! detects the connection to Internet every 40 seconds and looks for new updates every 4 hours.

Please, answer specifically:

1. Do you have any other antivirus application installed right now in your system?

2. Any error window or pop up appeared when setup failed?

3. See your settings for Update (Connections) by right clicking with mouse at the 'a' icon in the system tray (blue ball icon), then open the avast! Menu by clicking anywhere in an open area of the application GUI (Simple User Interface with a 'skin' appearance) or click on the ^ button in the upper left corner of the application. Choose now Settings > Update (Connections). You can choose between: "I only connect to the Internet using a dial-up modem" or "My computer is permanently connected to the internet"
Manual update: right click on the 'a' icon (blue ball) in the system tray and select 'Updating' then 'iavs Update' (for virus definitions update) or, better, 'Program Update' (which includes the previous virus database update).

If, for any reason, you can’t update, maybe you can follow two possible solutions:

1) Copy the file called setiface.ovr or setiXXXXXXXX.vpu (where the X's are some numbers) to setiface.dll, all in the <avast>\setup directory. Then retry running the update.

2) Download the latest avast installation package (http://www.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe) (if you are using the English version of avast) and run it on the machine. That will repair the installation and also update it to the latest version for you.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 05:14:02 PM

Mail Protection Wizard

Remember that avast handles more than one SMTP server, to configure your e-mail client (program) follow these steps:

1. Close all your email applications.

2. Start Windows Menu > avast! antivirus > Mail Protection Wizard

3. Click Next on the first screen

4. Choose 'Setup the protection manually'

5. Choose 'I don't use MS Outlook (nor MS Exchange client) or
'I use other programs to work with e-mails as well'
a) with MS Outlook/Exchange, the Wizard finishes here.
b) with another e-mail client:
After the service was disabled, choose Next
Select your e-mail accounts (or 'My accounts is not in the list...' to get help)
Finish your configuration and the service will start again.
You can run the Mail Protection Wizard more than once and all the changes could be reversed ('Automatically remove protection from all my accounts').

Nowadays, the following Internet Mail Clients are supported: MS Outlook (including Outlook 2003), MS Exchange, MS Outlook Express, Eudora, Pegasus Mail, Netscape Mail, Mozilla Mail, IncrediMail and The Bat!

If this not help, you, try the help file Manual setting of mail protection.
Launch your mail program and let the program display the account settings.

1. If you want to check outgoing messages, change the address of SMTP server to the address of the local computer, i.e. 127.0.0.1. The localhost or 127.0.0.1 is the way to scan your outbound mail.

2. If you want to check incoming messages, change the address of POP (IMAP) server to the address of the local computer, i.e. 127.0.0.1. The localhost or 127.0.0.1 is the way to scan your inbound mail.

3. Change user (login) name this way: append the character # (double hash) and the address of your POP (IMAP) server (the same as you specified in the avast4.ini file in Step one). Login name should then look like this: yourname#pop3.server.com

4. If your e-mail program supports SMTP authentication and also makes it possible to set a different login name for SMTP than for POP

5. If the SMTP authentication is enabled, append the character # and the address of your SMTP server to the login name (e.g. yourname#smtp.server.com).

6. If the SMTP authentication is disabled, enable it and use the character # together with the address of your SMTP server as the login name (e.g. #smtp.server.com).

7. Save your changes.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 05:20:58 PM

Computer acronyms

This issue is under construction with Mike (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=viewprofile;user=MikeBCda) help  ;)

Acronyms	Description
ADSL	asymmetric digital subscriber line
AGP	accelerated graphics port
API	application program interface
ARIN	American Registry for Internet Numbers
ASP	application service provider
ATM	asynchronous transfer mode
BIOS	basic input output system
CD/R	cd-recordable
CD/RW	cd-rewritable
CMOS	complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor
COM	component object model (Microsoft functional components interfa-ces)
CPU	central processing unit
DAT	digital audio tape
DCOM	Microsoft Distributed Component Object Model
DHCP	dynamic host configuration protocol
DLL	dynamic link library
DMA	direct memory access
DNS	domain name service
DoS	denial of service (attack)
DOS	disk operating system
dpi	dots per inch
DRAM	dynamic random access memory
DSL	digital subscriber line
DVD	digital versatile disk
ECC	error correcting code
EGA	enhanced graphics adapter
EULA	end user license agreement
FAT	file allocation table
FTP	file transfer protocol
Gb	gigabit
GB	gigabyte
GSM	global system for mobile communication
GUI	graphical user interface
HTML	hypertext markup language
IANA	Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
ICANN	international corporation for assigned names
IDE	integrated drive electronics
IGP	integrated graphics processor
IMAP	internet message access protocol
IP	internet protocol
IrDA	infrared data
IRQ	interrupt request
ISA	Microsoft internet security and acceleration (server)
ISDN	integrated services digital network
ISP	internet service provider
JMS	java message service
JPEG	joint photographic expert group
Kb	kilobit
KB	kilobyte
LAN	local area network
LED	light emitting diode
MAC	media access control
Mb	megabit
MB	megabyte
MIDI	musical instrument digital interface
MIME	multipurpose internet mail extension
MPEG	Moving Picture Experts Group (M-peg)
MSDTC	Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator Service
NAS	network attached storage
NIC	network interface card
NVRAM	non-volatile random access memory
OEM	original equipment manufacturer
OLE	object linking and embedding (Microsoft functional components inter-faces)
P3P	platform for privacy preferences
PAN	personal area network
PDA	personal digital assistant
PoP	point of presence
POP	post office protocol
PPP	point to point protocol
PROM	programmable read only memory
RADIUS	remote authentication dial in user service
RAM	random access memory
ROM	read only memory
RSA	Rivest, Sharnir & Adelman (encryption inventors)
SAN	storage area network
SMS	short message service
SMTP	simple mail transfer protocol
SOAP	simple object access protocol (apache)
SQL	structured query language
SRAM	static ram
SSL	secure socket layer
TCP	transmission control protocol
UPS	uninterruptible power supply
URL	uniform resource locator
USB	universal serial bus
VDSL	very high data rate digital subscriber line
VGA	video graphics array
VoIP	voice over internet protocol
VPN	virtual private network
W3C	world wide web consortium
WAP	wireless application protocol
WLAN	wireless local area network
WML	wireless markup language
XML	extensible markup language

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 05:34:15 PM

Install, uninstall and repair

1. Download the avast! setup. Take note of your Registration key or, if you need another key, the registration form can be found here (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=ENG)
2. Uninstall avast (Control Panel)
3. Boot
4. If you want, use Avast Uninstall (http://www.avast.com/files/eng/avclear4.exe) for complete desinstallation or RejZor's application called avast External Control (http://freeweb.siol.net/razor256/downloads/avast_external_control.zip).
5. Boot
6. Install the downloaded setup file
7. Boot
8. Enter the Registration key and configure avast! for your needs

If you had, previously, another antivirus application installed, could be useful a complete desinstallation of it and some Registry cleaning. You can use the following applications:
RegClean (http://ftp.pcworld.com/pub/new/utilities/system_resources_tune_up/regclean.exe) for Windows 98 (but works on XP).
BeClean (http://boozet.xepher.net/download/beclean120.exe) Specially the Registry Cleaning feature.
But the best, you can make a download for try, is PowerTools (http://www.jv16.org/). Very powerful registry power tools, with lots of extra options. Unfortunately, it's a shareware. You can run it before the expiration time and get rid from the previous antivirus application. You can choose an option for backup of the removed itens.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 08:33:21 PM

Rescue disk
There is no rescue disk for avast. When and if your system is infected, avast will indicate that you can restore your system to a previously saved configuration using the VRDB. You do not need to monitore the restoring.

But you can use avast 7.7 for DOS (http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1344.html). It's a freeware.
You can use the following public Registration key, which can be inserted when asked by the program: AS770.A123456-24DB67
The updates could be found here: http://files.avast.com/files/latest/lguard.zip

avast Command-Line: only the Profesional version has a command line option and complete instructions on how to set it up can be found in the Help file. avast Home does not have this function.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 30, 2004, 08:37:37 PM

VRDB

It stores important parts of executable files (parts that are often modified by file viruses). It cannot guarantee recovery in 100% of cases. The only way to ensure this would be to simply copy the whole executable file, i.e. VRDB would be a copy of all your executable (exe, dll...) files. Of course, it would get rather big this way.

When no RunInterval value is in the avast4.ini file, the default (3 weeks) is used. I'm afraid I don't know how long the VRBD generation can take... of course, it depends on how much files and programs you have on your disks... I think it shouldn't take very long (an hour?) - but I really don't know, I may be completely wrong. As for shortening the interval of VRBD generation I suggest you read this forum (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=159;start=msg764#msg764).

By default, VRBD is updated every 3 weeks; the interval can be changed by editting avast4.ini file, though. More information about the avast4.ini file you can see here (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1647).

avast! mostly relies on VRDB - at least considering the executable files (the macroviruses are cleaned by other methods, not using VRDB). So, cleaning an infected file right after you installed avast! (i.e. without having the original file in VRDB) would not work.

avast 4.1 will include the Cleaner - that is able to clean the most common viruses using a virus-specific methods. The number of viruses healed by Cleaner will grow in time, as well as the integration of the Cleaner into avast! will get tighter. Note, however, that any generic virus removal methods (that do not use a VRBD-like database) is usually not able to turn infected files exactly into their original state. For example, some information in the file header is often irreversibly overwritten when an exe-infection occurs. This information is unimportant in most of the cases; sometimes, however, it may cause problems - WinZip self-extracting archives will announce CRC errors, some copy-protected programs may not run, etc. This folder has nothing to do with VRDB. avast! puts there temporary files when scanning inside of archives or e-mail attachments. So, you can safely delete the files. (Of course, avast! should have deleted the files...)

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 31, 2004, 12:00:08 AM

Understanding firewalls

First off all, some terms description:

IP. Internet Protocol. Each computer on the internet has an IP-address, which is similar in principle to a telephone number. However, unlike telephone numbers, IP addresses are restricted in their numerical range. An IP address has the format "###.###.###.###". Four number blocks, each of which are segmented with dots, and each block can only contain a value from 0 to 255.

Port. A communication channel for computers in networks. In order for computers connected to the internet to be able to communicate with each other, the transmission standard "TCP/IP" was designed. TCP/IP is a software protocol for formatting and transferring data within a network - such as the internet. One of the main advantages of TCP/IP is that it is not dependant on the computer's operating system. Transmissions between different operating systems are therefore possible. By knowing the IP address in use, a program is therefore able to send data to another computer. But how the receiving computer can know which program to use for the data it receives? To handle this there is a system of port numbers, also known as ports. With each transmission of data, the data package must contain the receiver's IP, and also the port number of the program which is responsible. Imagine ports as a direct dialing number in a phone system. If the call number is not existent, you simply won't get a connection. The same thing occurs if you try to connect with a computer on a port where no service is present. A complete data transfer always contains the IP address plus the port number required. This applies to both outgoing data (requests to the webserver) and also the incoming data - data transmitted from the website itself).

Port Numbers. Port numbers can be any number from 0 to 65535. This range is split into three main categories described bellow. Port numbers are managed by the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority). 0 to 1023 are "well known ports", meaning they are reserved for special services like FTP (21), SMTP (25), HTTP (80), POP3 (110), etc. 1024 to 49151 are "registered ports", meaning they are registered for services. 49152 to 65536 are "dynamic and/or private ports", meaning that everyone can use these as required.

Port Reference List (http://www.wilders.org/downloads.htm). Full list of all ports and their references, trojan ports included.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 31, 2004, 12:05:40 AM

Trojan Horse Behavior

Trojans are nothing more than programs using a port to transmit data to an attacker. They hold a port open, e.g. Port 31337. The attacker connects to the trojan and sends requests to do a certain task, for example to make a screenshot. The trojan makes the screenshot and sends the image via the port to the attacker. On newer trojans, the port number is quite freely configurable, which makes identifying the trojan by the port number difficult. There are no control mechanisms available which can prevent a trojan from using an specific port. If a trojan does use the port 80, for instance, a novice user could imagine the program is a webserver, and may even simply ignore the port.

Services. Are programs which are automatically run at the system startup without any visible window. They work in the background. Open the service manager at the Control Panel > Administrative Tasks.

How to close a port. Close the program holding the port open. But there are also more advanced methods for preventing communication over specific ports. Important: An open port is not necessarily dangerous! You are only at risk if the program using the port contains harmful code. So there is no reason to close all ports in your system. In fact without your ports being open, the internet simply wouldn't work! An open port is not an autonomous object, and should not be considered as something which can be destroyed by closing it. If a port is open on your computer, it means that there is an active program using this port number to communicate with other computers on the web. A port isn't opened by the operating system, it's opened by a specific program wanting to use it.

To close a port, it's usually only necessary to shut down the program holding the port open. On some ports it's enough to tell the program or service that the port should not be opened. A good example is the Microsoft Internet Information Services in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. If installed, they open three ports automatically: 21, 25 and 80. Port 21 is the FTP server, port 25 the SMTP server (email server) and port 80 the webserver for http.

The FTP server enables other internet users to download shared files from your system. They can also upload files to you, if you choose to permit this. The SMTP server is used to send emails directly to the recipient's mailbox without the use of an external mailserver. The webserver allows you to run a website on your PC. But this is only reachable on your IP address. If you wish to make this accessible to the public, you need a domain name that redirects to a static IP address. If however you don't need all these servers, simply shut them down and the ports will be closed automatically.
However it is not always as easy to find out why a port is open. One example is port 5000 which is opened by Windows ME and XP by default. For this, there is no service which you can turn off. To close this port, it is necessary to actually uninstall a certain system component. Port 5000 is used for plug and play with network devices. If you close this port the network plug and play is no longer available.

Firewalls. Even if a port can't be closed by shutting down a program or service, there are still other options for blocking communication to the port. Firewalls can prevent connections on specific ports. They work on the principle that data packages which use a specific port on a network are filtered. However, firewalls only provide passive security. Meaning you may have a trojan installed on your computer, but it can't connect to the attacker because the firewall is blocking the connection.
There are different firewall concepts. On the one side there are Desktop-Firewalls like ZoneAlarm or Tiny Personal Firewall, which are installed locally on the PC they protect. These firewalls are located upon the network driver layer of the operating system, and prevent connections to or from specific blocked ports. But there's also an obstacle here. Programs or trojans which don't use the network driver of the operating system can't be prevented from making a connection to outside the computer. If an attacker can install a trojan with it's own network driver on your PC, a desktop firewall would not help.

A more secure technique is to install a firewall on a second computer. Usually a whole network of computers can only send data to the internet over a firewall server. The computers in the network don't have a direct connection to the internet. All data is transmitted by the firewall, and can therefore be blocked as and when required. Most of such firewalls are also able to analyze the data packages. So for example if a harmless email is transferred, the firewall can check that there are no viruses attached to the email, and filter the attachment before sending the mail to the target PC. In general however, good firewalls tend to be fairly expensive and usually require special hardware.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 31, 2004, 12:08:25 AM

Windows 2000/XP boot troubleshotting

Try several tactics to get a reluctant Windows to load; plus, keep XP's Start menu under control.

1) If Windows XP (or 2000) refuses to start, press F8 right after you turn on your PC but before the Windows logon appears (it may take a few attempts to get the timing right). At the resulting menu: select Last Known Good Configuration to restore your Registry to an earlier date.

2) If this doesn't get your PC working, reboot and press F8 again, but this time select Safe Mode, and then choose Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. Follow the wizard's instructions and pick an appropriate backup. If that approach doesn't work either, or if you can't even get to this menu, use your emergency boot floppy.

3) If your hard drive's boot sector or Windows' basic boot files have been corrupted, this disk will circumvent the problem and boot you into Windows. If you don't have an emergency boot floppy, you may be able to use one created on another PC running Windows XP or Windows 2000, but there's no guarantee that it will boot your machine. To make one, insert a blank floppy disk into drive A:, select Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, type format a:, and press Enter. When asked if you want to format another disk, type n and press Enter. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one.

xcopy c:\boot.ini a: /h
xcopy c:\ntdetect.com a: /h
xcopy c:\ntldr a: /h

Now type exit and press Enter to close the window. Remove the floppy disk and label it Windows XP boot floppy. Put this emergency disk in the floppy drive of your inoperable machine and boot up. Windows should run with no problems. You could simply keep the floppy in the drive all the time, but to truly fix the problem, launch the command prompt as described above, type xcopy a:*.* c:\ /h, and press Enter.

4) If the emergency boot floppy doesn't work, try the Recovery Console, a Windows utility that provides a DOS-like command line from which you can run some repair programs. It's tricky to use if you're not accustomed to command lines, and you can damage your data, so be careful.
If you have a Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, you can get to the Recovery Console by booting from that CD and pressing any key when you're told to 'Press any key to boot from CD'. At the 'Welcome to Setup' screen, press r for Repair.

If Windows XP or 2000 came with your computer and you don't have a Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, the Recovery Console might be on one of the CDs the vendor bundled with your PC. But it might not. Fortunately, the Recovery Console is hidden in a free, downloadable Microsoft program called Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install. Visit Microsoft's site to download the setup-disk file that works with XP Professional; available too is the XP Home version, which will also work for Windows 2000, Me, and 98.

When you run the download, it puts the XP installation program, including the Recovery Console, onto a set of six floppy disks. To get to the Recovery Console, boot from the first floppy, and then swap disks as prompted until you reach the 'Welcome to Setup' screen. Press r to open the Recovery Console. The Recovery Console most useful commands are:

Command - Function
Chkdsk - Checks disks for errors. If you load the Recovery Console from floppy disks, chkdsk may complain that it can't locate autochk.exe. When it asks for that file's location, point it to c:\windows\system32.
Diskpart - Creates and deletes partitions.
Extract - Extracts files from compressed .cab archives. Extract is not available if you load the Recovery Console from floppy disks.
Fixboot - Writes a new boot sector.
Fixmbr - Writes a new master boot record.
Help - Lists the Recovery Console commands.

For detailed information on a particular command, type the command followed by a space and /?. (Not all the commands will be available if you don't have a Windows CD-ROM.)

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 31, 2004, 12:11:41 AM

What is a Cookie?

A cookie is a file created by an Internet site to store information on your computer, such as your preferences when visiting that site. For example, if you inquire about a flight schedule at an airline's Web site, the site might create a cookie that contains your itinerary. Or it might only contain a record of the pages you looked at within the site you visited, to help the site customize the view for you the next time you visit.

Cookies can also store personally identifiable information. Personally identifiable information is information that can be used to identify or contact you, such as your name, e-mail address, home or work address, or telephone number. However, a Web site only has access to the personally identifiable information that you provide. For example, a Web site cannot determine your e-mail name unless you provide it. Also, a Web site cannot gain access to other information on your computer.
Once a cookie is saved on your computer, only the Web site that created the cookie can read it.

Can Cookies send information?

Absolutely Not!  They are simple text files and incapable of performing any action whatsoever.  They can be read and modified by the site that installed them but cannot send anything.

Are all Cookies bad?

Cookies are not always bad, and can be used for things like personalizing a site, setting personal preferences, or speeding things up on the web. For instance, the ones that remember your user name and password when you return to a site.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 31, 2004, 12:56:41 AM

DCOM

Microsoft's DCOM security patch leaves DCOM running, open, and waiting for malicious exploit. DCOMbobulator (http://grc.com/files/DCOMbob.exe) by Gibson Research Corporation is a 26 bytes application that allows any Windows user to quickly check their system's DCOM vulnerability, then simply shut down the unnecessary DCOM security risk.

The history of DCOM: Many years ago, Microsoft began modularizing Windows and their applications by breaking them into functional components with well-defined, "version safe" interfaces. The idea was to allow pieces of Windows and applications to inter-operate. The name first given to this effort was OLE, which stood for Object Linking and Embedding. OLE suffered nearly terminal birthing pains and developed a reputation for being a bad idea. Undaunted, Microsoft renamed it COM for Component Object Model. This was still the same old OLE, but Microsoft appeared to hope no one would notice. COM fared somewhat better, but it wasn't until Microsoft gave it the name ActiveX, and built it into virtually everything, that developers finally gave up trying not to use it. Sometime after, Microsoft's industry competitors began working on a distributed object system called CORBA (http://www.corba.org/). Microsoft's object system was not distributed, but as we know, Microsoft quickly stuck a "D" (for Distributed) in front of COM to create DCOM, their Distributed Component Object Model. Then they crammed it into every version of Windows starting with Windows 98, even though no one needed it, wanted it, or was using it. That way they could say Windows already had a distributed component system built in.

What does DCOM do for the user?: It attracts Internet worms and permits your system to be remotely compromised by malicious hackers. There may be some custom corporate application developers who have managed to make some use of it, but mostly no one ever has. Nonetheless, it's there in Windows so that the competitors' CORBA isn't. DCOM serves no practical purpose for almost anyone and, as the entire world now knows, it creates a huge and unwarranted security risk. Therefore, it's crazy to leave DCOM running. Microsoft's DCOM vulnerability patch does fix this latest problem with DCOM. But this was not the first problem with DCOM, so there's little support for the hope that this was the last problem.

What does the DCOMbobulator do? The DCOMbobulator will help everyone to perform two tasks:

1) Verify the effectiveness of Microsoft's DCOM patch. Even though DCOM should be shut down altogether, Windows systems need all the security they can get. So verifying that the known DCOM vulnerability is not still threatening any Windows systems is important. For information about Microsoft's DCOM vulnerability patch, please see this page on Microsoft's site (http://www.microsoft.com/security/security_bulletins/ms03-026.asp) or search Microsoft's site for the phrase "MS03-026" to find references and help about this significant security vulnerability.

2) Shut down DCOM completely. Since no typical Windows user has ever needed to have DCOM enabled, it should be shut down immediately and disabled (after first making sure that it's safely patched when it's enabled and running). The DCOMbobulator makes this as easy as pressing a single "Disable DCOM" button. You can then restart Windows and verify that DCOM has been safely taken out of service.

Closing TCP Port 135. Three systems within Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 share TCP port 135: DCOM, Task Scheduler, and Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC). Since running any of these services will hold TCP port 135 open to accept incoming connections, they must all be stopped and disabled in order to close port 135. The DCOMbobulator disables and "unbinds" DCOM from port 135, but it does not take any responsibility for dealing with the other two services.

Under Windows 95/98/ME, disabling DCOM with the DCOMbobulator will close port 135 since the Windows Task scheduler does not use port 135 and those systems don't have the Distributed Transaction Coordinator.[/me]

Any personal firewall or NAT router will isolate a system's open ports from external intrusion, so leaving port 135 open is not a problem if your system has additional intrusion protection in place. At the same time, the best security is obtained with multi-layered security where each layer is as secure as possible. If you can determine that you do not need the Windows Task Scheduler, or that you can live without its services, you can probably arrange to completely close your TCP port 135.

MSDTC — As with DCOM, typical Windows users have no need for the Distributed Transaction Coordinator service. If it is running, it can be stopped and disabled without any negative impact on the system. But unfortunately, as we'll see, the same may not be true of the Windows Task Scheduler service: Task Scheduler — Users of Windows XP who wish to use XP's "Prefetch" system for startup performance enhancement must leave the Task Scheduler running. Many people also depend upon Task Scheduler for timely anti-virus and other updates. For these reasons it may not be practical for you to shut down and disable the Task Scheduler. However, I wanted to provide the information for users of other Windows versions who care enough about permanently and finally closing port 135.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:49:40 AM

Settings that cannot be saved

Configure your settings how you want them, right click on tray icon and select Stop On-Access Protection and Exit, now restart your computer and see if it has saved your settings. Some services could be wrongly ended (killed) and then the settings were not saved.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:50:07 AM

DefTasks.xml - Scanning archive files…

The avast configuration are stored into Windows Registry, avast4.ini, and avast4.mdb (or avast4.xml).
The file deftasks.xml is not a configuration storage. That is, the configuration is not read from it when being used.

Rather, it's a tool that lets us enforce certain settings to your current config. I.e. it is read and parsed every time avast starts (on system boot, usually), and all settings from it are transfered to the actual config storage. The configuration storage is indeed the avast4.mdb in case of Database=ODBC (or avast4.xml in case of Database=XML), in short, avast4.mdb (or .xml) is the file where avast stores its current configuration (besides the ini file).

The reverting-to-the-original-version thing you're seeing is a consequence of the fact that deftasks.xml is normal part of avast installation and therefore the avast auto-repair feature always replaces it to the original version. However, this is not a problem as the import procedure from the modified version is already done at that moment.

On-demand, the user just need to turn on archive scanning.

On-access, avast! by default doesn't look for viruses in packed files. However, it can be enabled. Look at the deftasks.xml file in the avast! folder. All you need to do to enable scanning of archives on-access is to add the line:

<STANDARD--ScanPackers>EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ</STANDARD--ScanPackers>

after the line
<STANDARD--InvalidEntry>1</STANDARD--InvalidEntry>

Speaking technically, these are file formats (unpacker engines) and not file extensions.
If you're using avast! 4 Professional, the same thing can be done in a more convenient way by editing the resident task, the Packers settings on each provider.

Settings for ashQuick.exe program are available in Professional Edition of avast! and are managed by Enhanced User Interface... If you want to enable archives scanning for ashQuick.exe on your computer, add following lines into your DefTasks.xml file:

<Task>
<DefTaskVersion>1</DefTaskVersion>
<Label>*Quick</Label>
<ScanPackers>All</ScanPackers>
</Task>

Then restart avast! service (if you are using Win9x or ME restart your computer) to reflect made changes...

I looked at the lines further down in the file and the looked similar, but had some extra file-extensions, and "overwrite=no" in the tag, should those additions be added to the tag you suggested too (are they newer additions since your original posting) or....

<OUTLOOK--ScanPackers>EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</OUTLOOK--ScanPackers>
<MAIL--ScanPackers>EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</MAIL--ScanPackers>
<P2P--ScanPackers>EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</P2P--ScanPackers>
<IM--ScanPackers>EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</IM--ScanPackers>

If you add the attribute overwrite="no" you would make the changes unusable:

<OUTLOOK--ScanPackers overwrite="no">EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</OUTLOOK--ScanPackers>
<MAIL--ScanPackers overwrite="no">EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</MAIL--ScanPackers>
<P2P--ScanPackers overwrite="no">EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</P2P--ScanPackers>
<IM--ScanPackers overwrite="no">EXE;ZIP;MIME;RAR;ARJ;TAR;GZ;CAB;ARC;ACE;ZOO;BZIP2;WinExec</IM--ScanPackers>

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:51:25 AM

Registration

You can register again at any time and you will receive a valid key for 14 months from now. If you use the same e-mail address, the customer number part of the key will stay the same (the 7 digit number that follows the letter at the beginning of the key).

Troubleshooting with License key on another profile

Be careful: This requires Windows Registry Edition. Backup your Registry first! Do on your own risk!

Log on under your account, run Regedit, browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ALWIL Software, click Permissions and make sure all the accounts have at least read access (they should have it by default). If they don't, you need to add it. You can add the Everyone group as well. To do this:

1. After you find that folder on the left pane right click it.
2. Select permissions.
3. Select Add.
4. Select Add.
5. Select Advanced
6. Select Find Now.
7. Select Everyone.
Click ok.
8. Then click the full control and read boxes under the Allow column.
9. Click Apply.

Repeat from step 3 for each user that you are having problems with.
Exit then restart and log in on the problem profile and everything should be all right.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:53:42 AM

System volume information folder

There is a way to get into the System volume information folder and delete singly restore points:

1. Open folder options, view, hidden files and folders, check show all files and folders.
2. Turn off simple file sharing, click apply and then close the folder options.
3. Browse to the C:\System volume information folder, right click on it, select properties.
You'll now see a Security tab, click on it.
4. On the security page under Group or users names click on Add.
On the Select Users or Groups page that opens type in your user name in the enter window.
Then click on check Names button to verify the name with.
Now click on the ok button.
5. Now you can give yourself full control in the Permissions window, click apply and you're done.

Now you can turn back on simple file sharing and still be able to open the system volume information folder.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:54:35 AM

avast! and Spam detection

This should be changed in avast 4.5 version  :'(
I need time to update it...

To insert spam inspection into the pop mail chain you have to make a 'chain': email client > spam inspector > avast! > pop server
The spam application should be able to verify (listen) on localhost (127.0.0.1) at any port number you configure.
If the spam inspector looks only at port 110 it will be a conflict as avast! (by default) will listen on 110.
If spam application could be set to listen on a different port, presumably then the parameters put into the email client just have To ensure that they direct it to the spam inspector and then to avast! and the pop server.
You will have something like this:

K9 spam filter (http://www.keir.net/k9.html)
In the email account settings:
pop server: 127.0.0.1
account name: myaccountname#mypopserver/127.0.0.1/110
incoming mail port: 9999

K9 passes the information myaccountname#mypopserver to port 110 on 127.0.0.1 which is where avast! is listening

Spam Pal

In the email account settings:
pop3 server: localhost
smtp server: localhost
incoming port: 1110
outgoing port: 25
pop username: 127.0.0.1/110/user.name#smtp.server.net

SpamPal settings:
port number: 111 for mail.my_isp.com
LAN configuration: localhost
Access control: localhost

Avast! settings are it's own default settings. The incoming ports are all different for Avast! (110), email client (1110) and Spampal (111). Also, localhost is translated to IP 127.0.0.1 and is normally the case on most machines. But it's recommended to use the IP address 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost in the settings mentioned above just to make sure you get it right the first time.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:55:55 AM

avast! and Internet Explorer

avast! does not use Internet Explorer for update. But, Internet Explorer is used to display some things (iNews, for example). However, it is not used for Internet connections.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:56:14 AM

Windows Explorer Context Menu

Be careful: This requires Windows Registry Edition. Backup your Registry first! Do on your own risk!

If, for any reason, you cannot see the line Scan... for viruses in the Windows Explorer Context Menu for an specific extension, go to the Windows Registry key:
HKCR\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Copy the avast! subkey and put the same (subkey) to the missing file extension, for instance, the .pif file:
HKCR\piffile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

You can remove the avast! context menu extension by removing the avast! entry from that keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
and
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:56:36 AM

Greyed out areas on the avast! Menu (both Home and Professional version)

When you run (finish) a scanning test, these options should be available (but only until you close avast!).
However:
Last Scan Results will be available only if there were any results, i.e. if any virus has been found.
View Scan Reports will be available only when the creation of the report file is turned on (Settings / Report file).
Status Information just refreshes the initial screen of the Simple User Interface (VPS Info, etc).

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:56:50 AM

Karma

What was the Karma?

Karma was a kind of popularity thing. It was purely for fun, and it offers no kind of functionality/limitations. The idea behind karma is that people can smite or applaud a user, affecting their karma by +1 or -1. This results in users having a kind of score, which reflects what people on the board think of them. There were several ways to manipulate the karma in the forum. The number of karmas shows the difference between the 'applauds' and the 'smites' you got. There were two buttons for these actions. If you like somebody you can applaud him/her if you don't like you were able to smite him.

1) The Administrator could set it up so only a certain member group can use it. This is useful for points systems. You can restrict the use to the Administrator member group and use Karma to dole out points to users.

2) The Administrator can set a wait time. The wait time effects how often people can repeat an option. Setting it larger means you can't affect someone's score as much as you could if the time was less. While you aren't allowed to repeat an action (smite vs. applaud) within the wait time - you can change your mind at any time.

3) The Administrator can restrict it so that only people with a certain number of posts can smite or applaud - this will prevent people from registering just to smite or applaud.

4) And the Administrator can show either the net karma or the +/- numbers. This is interesting, as a user with only 50 posts, but +70/-72 is obviously much more controversial than someone who's posted hundreds of times, but has only a +/- of +5/-7

Right now it is a disabled function with a lot of controversy… At the end of 2003, a discussion in the forums get terrible bad and a lot of others were involved. The avast! team had to wait some time to react but the forum atmosphere were 'explosive'. The webmaster close all threads about the karmas and remove the buttons of applaud and smite. Maybe someday we will have the 'karmas' again... But I think it will take some time for it.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:57:05 AM

Differences between the Home and the Professional version

About the differences between Home (free) and Professional versions see:

Remarkable points:
- Scheduling
- Push updates
- Enhanced User Interface and the possibility to do and configure a lot of things inaccessible by the Simple UI (such as setting of automatic actions for the on-access scanners (mail shields etc.), customization of archive scanning (both on-access and on-demand), and fine-tuning all scanning parameters.
- Also, please keep in mind that the Home version is for home, non-commercial use only - meaning that in all other cases, avast! Professional version is the only alternative.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:57:19 AM

avast! keeps asking for reboot after an virus database update (iAVS update)

In normal conditions, there are three files that avast! modifies when updating.
In the past, Windows 98 seems to mark these files as read only which prevents avast! from changing them.
Therefore it continues in its attempt to update them.
The files are all listed in the avast! log setup file (not the Log Viewer).
These files seem to definitively be the source of the problem: msvc170, msvcp70 and msvcr70.
Once you locate the file names, go into the file properties for each and uncheck the Read Only attribute.
Reboot.
Avast! should update correctly on the next attempt.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:58:19 AM

Winzip and avast!

To add avast! into the programs settings of Winzip you must add the %d parameter.

Special character sequences for the parameters field are:

*.* - Indicates where WinZip should substitute the drive, folder, and the *.* characters for the files that are to be scanned. For example, “c:\temp\dir\*.*”.

%d - Indicates where WinZip should substitute the drive and folder of the files that are to be scanned. Note that the wild card characters *.* are not included when you use %d.

%f - Indicates where WinZip should substitute the name of a temporary report file. Report files should only be used when running DOS virus scanners.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:58:31 AM

Providers sensibility

For most modules there is no big difference between Normal and High, but there is a big one for Standard Shield.
On Normal level it scans only opened files (the one you click on), on High it scans files that are scanned when created/modified and when they are opened. I recommend High setting for optimal protection.

For On-Access scans (manual):
Quick Scan: scans only infectable files, virus targeting is probably on: exe, pif, com, scr and so on.
Standard: scans all files, virus targeting is probably off.
Thorough all files: scans entire file not just header, virus targeting off.

In a Standard scan what you call virus targeting is broadened so that all files are at least briefly checked to determine what file type they really are, regardless of extension. And if they're actually executable/infectable despite (probably false) file extensions, then they get the full scanning treatment.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 05:59:12 AM

Windows 9x memory management

To make your system faster, it's suggested the following changes:
Go to the Windows directory, find the system.ini file and open it in Notepad.
1. Find the section [386Enh] and write the following line there:
ConservativeSwapFileUsage=1
2. Find the section [vcache] - if it isn't present, create it.
Write the following two lines there:
MinFileCache=2048
MaxFileCache=8192

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:02:06 AM

Scheduling a scanning with avast! shell extension program: ashQuick.exe at Windows XP

Start Windows Task Scheduler (Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks)
Click (or double-click) on Add Scheduled Task
In the wizard that appears click Next (a list of programs will appear)
Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast!4 (or whatever folder in which you installed avast!)
Click (or double-click) on the file ashQuick.exe
On the next screen give the task a name of your choice and choose how often you want it to run and click on Next
On the next screen choose the appropriate scheduling options and click on Next
On the next screen enter the user name and password for the Windows user you want the task to run as, then click on Next
On the next screen check the box for the option Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish, and then click Finish

On the next screen, in the Run field you will see the path for the ashQuick.exe program. After the closing quote enter a space and type in the path(s) that you want scanned. Multiple paths must be separated by a space and any paths that include a space in the path name must be in quotes. Here are a couple of examples:
"C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast!4\ashQuick.exe" C: D: - this will scan the entire contents of the C: and D: drives
"C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast!4\ashQuick.exe" "C:Program Files" D:Downloads - this will scan the contents of the Program Files folder on the C: drive and the Downloads folder on the D: drive, including all subfolders (Note: the first path is in quotes due to the space in the folder name "Program Files")
Click OK
In the Scheduled Tasks window, from the menu, click on Advanced and choose Start Using Task Scheduler
To test your newly created task, from the Scheduled Tasks window, right-click on the task's icon and choose Run from the popup menu. If the scan doesn't begin correctly you'll get an error message. The problem is most likely in the scan path (missing quotes or something like that.)
Close the Scheduled Tasks window

This is just a quick scan: scans only infectable files, virus targeting is probably on: exe, pif, com, scr and so on. The virus targeting is broadened so that all files are at least briefly checked to determine what file type they really are, regardless of extension. And if they're actually excecutable/infectable despite (probably false) file extensions, then they get the full scanning treatment.

Lastly, I wouldn't suggest using the screen saver scanner in conjunction with this scheduled scan, as they may end up running at the same time and cause conflicts of access.

Note: the user must have a password on his/here account before one can use the Task Scheduler. It does not work in system without a password.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:02:20 AM

avast! and Pop Mail / Yahoo / Hotmail

When you would like to scan your Internet based e-mail like Yahoo, MSN or Hotmail, you have to make sure your e-mail application gets them through a pop-proxy, like HotPopper of FoxPop (part of FoxMail 5). For use with this application you have to make your configuration something like this.

Example with FoxMail 5:
smtp server: localhost
pop3 server: localhost
Account login: name@yahoo.com#localhost:8110 (8110 is port of FoxPop)

FoxPop config:
Pop3 port: 8110

Now avast! sees your Internet based mail as PopMail and the Internet Mail Scan function of avast! should work (test with "add note to message")
localhost normaly referes to 127.0.0.1
In Windows XP it's defined in \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file.

You also have to check for the next lines in avast!.ini:

[MailScanner]
Trust=127.0.0.1
DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25
DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:02:45 AM

avast!, dial-up / DSL connection and Internet Explorer

1. Right-Click the 'a' blue icon in the system tray.
2. Run avast! antivirus.
3. Right-Click the skin and choose Settings.
4. Go to Update (Advanced) tab.
5. Select the way you connect the Internet (dial-up or DSL).
6. Go to your browser and configure 'Never dial a conection' or 'Use the default connection' or anything you want.
7. Boot.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:03:18 AM

avast! and Task Manager

The 'Page faults' into the Windows Task Manager (a column that could be shown there) are caused by almost anything a program does. A 'page fault' is a process in which a piece of memory is being recalled from the paging file. Since ashServ.exe is polling the system (checking the status) in pretty short intervals (couple of seconds), if you have long uptimes, you'll see a huge number of page faults. They accumulate and the number could get a 'million' of page faults. It's not ideal but it's really not a problem either. The programmers try to push this value to minimum...

For memory usage there are two values. Actually, their names are very misleading. In fact they correspond to the 'Private Bytes' (the VM Size) and 'Working Set' (the Mem Usage) NT performance counters. This is what MS says about these values:

Private Bytes (Task Manager's "VM Size"): Private Bytes is the current size, in bytes, of memory that this process has allocated that cannot be shared with other processes. In other words, this is the memory the program has allocated (therefore, this is quite reasonable value to compare, and it normally does not fluctuate much).

Working set (Task Manager's "Mem Usage"): Working Set is the current size, in bytes, of the Working Set of this process. The Working Set is the set of memory pages touched recently by the threads in the process. If free memory in the computer is above a threshold, pages are left in the Working Set of a process even if they are not in use.  When free memory falls below a threshold, pages are trimmed from Working Sets. If they are needed they will then be soft-faulted back into the Working Set before leaving main memory.. This value really has a meaning only to the developers. It has nothing to do with real memory consumption, just 'address space consumption'). There are programmatic ways how to artificially lower the Working Set value, and there are programs that use these techniques, but it's stupid to use them just to make users think that our application is taking less memory than it's actually taking, not to mention the fact that tampering with the working set can have severe performance consequences...

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:03:29 AM

Suggested packers extension list on the providers

Scan files on open:
BAT,CHM,CMD,COM,CPL,CRT,DLL,EXE,HTA,HTM*,INF,INS,ISP,JS,JSE,LNK,MSC,MSG,MSI,OCX,PIF,PIF,REG,SCR,SCT,SHB,SHS,SYS,VBE,VBS,WS?,WSC,WSF,WSH

Scan created/modified files:
...

Archive means compressed files such as ACE,ARC,ARJ,BZIP2,CAB,COM,ECE,EXE,GZ,GZIP,LHarc,MIME,PST,RAR,TAR,WinExec,ZIP,ZOO, etc.
If Scan archive files is set, avast! scans even the content of these files. But that means that it has to unpack these file (temporarily, of course). This unpacking process may take quite a lot of time.

Do not to put archive files into these boxes - it may have very bad impact on the system performance - not speaking of the fact that the archived files don't be detected anyway unless you enable the corresponding packers in the resident protection task (Enhanced User Interface only). The archive scanning will treat them as normal binary files and will NOT scan actual content.

Note Normal/High Sensitivity was indeed changed in avast 4.5: Normal is now as High before (only selected extensions on open and copy/modify).
High now checks all files regardless of extension (on open and copy/modify).

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:03:39 AM

Using Group Policy Editor To Block E-mail Attachments

One of the most common ways in which viruses are spread is through e-mail attachments. Users can unknowingly open an attachment that appears to be safe but, before you know it, your computer and possibly your network are infected with some type of virus. You can configure Outlook Express to block attachments that may contain viruses using the Group Policy editor. To do so, open the run command and type gpedit.msc. This opens the Group Policy editor. Navigate to the following folder: User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Internet Explorer. With the Internet Explorer folder selected, you should see an option in the right pane called Configure Outlook Express. Double click this option, select the Enabled option, and place a check beside Block attachments that could contain a virus. Now your users will be unable to open any attachments that could contain a virus. (credits to Diana Huggins)

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:03:53 AM

Crashes and MDAC drivers

Specially on Win98SE, ashsimpl.exe (Simple User Interface) could cause an invalid page fault in module <unknown> at 0000:1b10f3dd if the user does not have the updated Microsoft Jet Drivers.
You may try to download and install the latest MDAC (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads)

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 09, 2004, 06:04:04 AM

Restart your system in safe mode

Use the F8 method only if Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer.

1. Start Windows, or if it is running, shut Windows down, and then turn off the computer.

2. Restart the computer. The computer begins processing a set of instructions known as the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). What is displayed depends on the BIOS manufacturer. Some computers display a progress bar that refers to the word BIOS, while others may not display any indication that this process is happening.

3. As soon as the BIOS has finished loading, begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Continue to do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

4. Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.

Once in safe mode, you screen shouldn't be frozen.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 22, 2004, 06:34:45 AM

Mail Scanner

To use and configure more than one application to use the ports 25, 110 and 143 of your computer (for instance, a spam killer). If you have installed another program that uses these ports as well, it is necessary to change the port values for one of them. In the case of Mail scanner, you can do this by setting the items SmtpListen, PopListen and ImapListen. For example: SmtpListen=127.0.0.1:26, PopListen=127.0.0.1:111, ImapListen=127.0.0.1:144. Consequently, it is necessary to set the same port values in your mail program. If you wish the Mail scanner to cooperate with this another SMTP/POP3/IMAP - proxy/server-type program that is installed on your computer, it is necessary to properly set the items DefaultSmtpServer, DefaultPopServer and DefaultImapServer. For example, if you want to configure your system so that the Mail scanner "sits between" your mail program and a spam killer running on the same computer, configure items Listen as above and add: DefaultSmtpServer=127.0.0.1:25, DefaultPopServer=127.0.0.1:110.

Known problems: If your e-mail program does not support authentication (logging in) on SMTP server, or it cannot set a different login name for SMTP than for POP (e.g. Eudora), the Mail scanner will not be able to send your e-mails through multiple SMTP servers. In that case, use the UseDe-faultSmtp=1 setting; your e-mails will be sent through a single SMTP server only, just as in avast! version 4.0.235 and earlier. If the internet connection is too slow or the message being sent is too long, it is possible that the period your mail programs waits for the response, expires. A mail program that automatically disconnects after the times elapsed is not able to send such a message. This error will not be corrected, due to the characteristics of the SMTP protocol. It is necessary to set the interval to the highest possible value. When downloading a long message from a POP3 server, messages about timeout expiration should be eliminated. But it is still recommended to set this interval to the highest possible value, too. If your mail program downloads the message text and attachments separately from IMAP server (e.g. Eudora), no additional information will be put into the header or the text of the message. The checkbox "Insert note into clean message" on the "IMAP" page of the Internet Mail configuration will not work in that case. The Mail scanner does not support SSL (TLS) connections.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:44:10 PM

Protocols (Thanks to Eddy)  ;)

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is a standard protocol for accessing e-mail from your local server. IMAP (the latest version is IMAP Version 4) is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. You (or your e-mail client) can view just the heading and the sender of the letter and then decide whether to download the mail. You can also create and manipulate multiple folders or mailboxes on the server, delete messages, or search for certain parts or an entire note. IMAP requires continual access to the server during the time that you are working with your mail.

A less sophisticated protocol is Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3). With POP3, your mail is saved for you in a single mailbox on the server. When you read your mail, all of it is immediately downloaded to your computer and, except when previously arranged, no longer maintained on the server.

IMAP can be thought of as a remote file server. POP3 can be thought of as a "store-and-forward" service.

POP3 and IMAP deal with the receiving of e-mail from your local server and are not to be confused with Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), a protocol used for exchanging e-mail between points on the Internet. Typically, SMTP is used for sending only and POP3 or IMAP are used to read e-mail.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:53:07 PM

DDOS Thanks to Eddy  ;D

On the Internet, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is one in which a multitude of compromised systems attack a single target, thereby causing denial of service for users of the targeted system. The flood of incoming messages to the target system essentially forces it to shut down, thereby denying service to the system to legitimate users.

A hacker (or, if you prefer, cracker) begins a DDoS attack by exploiting a vulnerability in one computer system and making it the DDoS "master." It is from the master system that the intruder identifies and communicates with other systems that can be compromised. The intruder loads cracking tools available on the Internet on multiple -- sometimes thousands of -- compromised systems. With a single command, the intruder instructs the controlled machines to launch one of many flood attacks against a specified target. The inundation of packets to the target causes a denial of service.

While the press tends to focus on the target of DDoS attacks as the victim, in reality there are many victims in a DDoS attack -- the final target and as well the systems controlled by the intruder.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:54:01 PM

MALWARE Thanks to Eddy  ;D

Malware (short for "malicious software") is any program or file that is harmful to a computer user. Thus, malware includes computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and also spyware, programming that gathers information about a computer user without permission.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:54:40 PM

ADWARE Thanks to Eddy   ;D

1) Generically, adware (spelled all lower case) is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for adware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps to hold down the cost for the user.

Adware has been criticized because it usually includes code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge. This practice has been dubbed spyware and has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

2) AdWare is also a registered trademark that belongs to AdWare Systems, Inc. AdWare Systems builds accounting and media buying systems for the advertising industry and has no connection to pop-up advertising, spyware, or other invasive forms of online advertising.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:56:17 PM

SPYWARE Thanks to Eddy  ;D

Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet (where it is sometimes called a spybot or tracking software), spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program.

Data collecting programs that are installed with the user's knowledge are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. However, spyware is often installed without the user's consent, as a drive-by download, or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive pop-up window. adware, software designed to serve advertising, can usually be thought of as spyware as well because it almost invariably includes components for tracking and reporting user information.

The cookie is a well-known mechanism for storing information about an Internet user on their own computer. However, the existence of cookies and their use is generally not concealed from users, who can also disallow access to cookie information. Nevertheless, to the extent that a Web site stores information about you in a cookie that you don't know about, the cookie mechanism could be considered a form of spyware.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:56:52 PM

WORM Thanks to Eddy  ;D

In a computer, a worm is a self-replicating virus that does not alter files but resides in active memory and duplicates itself. Worms use parts of an operating system that are automatic and usually invisible to the user. It is common for worms to be noticed only when their uncontrolled replication consumes system resources, slowing or halting other tasks.

This term is not to be confused with WORM (write once, read many).

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:57:24 PM

TROJAN Thanks to Eddy  ;D

In computers, a Trojan horse is a program in which malicious or harmful code is contained inside apparently harmless programming or data in such a way that it can get control and do its chosen form of damage, such as ruining the file allocation table on your hard disk. In one celebrated case, a Trojan horse was a program that was supposed to find and destroy computer viruses. A Trojan horse may be widely redistributed as part of a computer virus.

The term comes from Greek mythology about the Trojan War, as told in the Aeneid by Virgil and mentioned in the Odyssey by Homer. According to legend, the Greeks presented the citizens of Troy with a large wooden horse in which they had secretly hidden their warriors. During the night, the warriors emerged from the wooden horse and overran the city.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:58:04 PM

VIRUS Thanks to Eddy  ;D

In computers, a virus is a program or programming code that replicates by being copied or initiating its copying to another program, computer boot sector or document. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a downloaded file, or be present on a diskette or CD. The immediate source of the e-mail note, downloaded file, or diskette you've received is usually unaware that it contains a virus. Some viruses wreak their effect as soon as their code is executed; other viruses lie dormant until circumstances cause their code to be executed by the computer. Some viruses are benign or playful in intent and effect ("Happy Birthday, Ludwig!") and some can be quite harmful, erasing data or causing your hard disk to require reformatting. A virus that replicates itself by resending itself as an e-mail attachment or as part of a network message is known as a worm.

Generally, there are three main classes of viruses:

File infectors. Some file infector viruses attach themselves to program files, usually selected .COM or .EXE files. Some can infect any program for which execution is requested, including .SYS, .OVL, .PRG, and .MNU files. When the program is loaded, the virus is loaded as well. Other file infector viruses arrive as wholly-contained programs or scripts sent as an attachment to an e-mail note.

System or boot-record infectors. These viruses infect executable code found in certain system areas on a disk. They attach to the DOS boot sector on diskettes or the Master Boot Record on hard disks. A typical scenario (familiar to the author) is to receive a diskette from an innocent source that contains a boot disk virus. When your operating system is running, files on the diskette can be read without triggering the boot disk virus. However, if you leave the diskette in the drive, and then turn the computer off or reload the operating system, the computer will look first in your A drive, find the diskette with its boot disk virus, load it, and make it temporarily impossible to use your hard disk. (Allow several days for recovery.) This is why you should make sure you have a bootable floppy.

Macro viruses. These are among the most common viruses, and they tend to do the least damage. Macro viruses infect your Microsoft Word application and typically insert unwanted words or phrases.

The best protection against a virus is to know the origin of each program or file you load into your computer or open from your e-mail program. Since this is difficult, you can buy anti-virus software that can screen e-mail attachments and also check all of your files periodically and remove any viruses that are found. From time to time, you may get an e-mail message warning of a new virus. Unless the warning is from a source you recognize, chances are good that the warning is a virus hoax.

The computer virus, of course, gets its name from the biological virus. The word itself comes from a Latin word meaning slimy liquid or poison.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 24, 2004, 05:59:03 PM

DSO EXPLOIT Thanks to Eddy  ;D

A data source object (DSO) exploit is a form of spyware that takes advantage of data binding to gain access to the hard drive of a computer connected to the Internet. Such spyware can be difficult to detect and eradicate, and if it is successfully removed, it often returns.

DSO exploits can affect Microsoft Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Outlook Express. In Internet Explorer versions 5.5 and later, a DSO exploit can operate even when ActiveX controls have been disabled.

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 25, 2004, 03:29:28 PM

avast! error codes
42000	UnknownError
42001	License is valid/expired
42002	License is valid/expired
42003 AVAST_UNWANTEDEXCEPTION	Exception found in code
42004 AVAST_FOLDERISFILE	Can not create folder > same file exist
42005 AVAST_COMPRESSIONERROR	Error while compressing data
42006 AVAST_OFFLINEFILE	File is not present on drive > migrated to offline device !!!
42007 AVAST_UNKNOWNOBJECT	Object if unknown in current context
42009 AVAST_INVALIDINSTALL	Avast is not installed as expected
42010 AVAST_NOTPACKED	File is not packed
42011 AVAST_OPSTOPPED	Operation was stopped
42016 AVAST_FILENOTSELECTED	File was not tested due engine configuration details
42017 AVAST_INVALIDLICENSE	License string is not valid
42018 AVAST_INPROGRESS	Operation in progress
42019 AVAST_FILEEXCLUDED	File was not tested due to excluded areas
42030 AVAST_SCAN_UNKNOWN	Unknown scanner error
42031 AVAST_OT_UNKNOWN	Unknown internal object type
42040 AVAST_VPS_INVALIDCOMPRESSION	VPS file was destroyed
42043 AVAST_VPS_ILLEGALVPS	VPS file is valid, but updated ilegaly - not using ALWIL Software algorithm
42050 AVAST_PACK_UNKNOWNERROR	Unknown packer error
42051 AVAST_PACK_UNKNOWNVERSION
42052 AVAST_PACK_CORRUPTED
42053 AVAST_PACK_UNKNOWNCOMPRESSION
42054 AVAST_PACK_DECOMPRESSFAIL
42055 AVAST_PACK_COMPRESSFAIL
42056 AVAST_PACK_ENCRYPTED
42057 AVAST_PACK_FILETOOBIG
42058 AVAST_PACK_NOTEMPSPACE
42059 AVAST_PACK_DELETEPARENT
42060 AVAST_REPAIR_NOTREPAIRED	File was not repaired
42061 AVAST_REPAIR_MAYBEREPAIRED	We are not sure if file was repaired (WORD97)
42070 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_REFERENCE	MAPI attach skipped beause unknown store method
42071 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_REFRESOLVE
42072 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_REFONLY
42073 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_EMBEDDEDMSG
42074 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_OLE
42075 AVAST_MAPI_ATTSKIP_UNKNOWN
42100 AVAST_POLYVIR_EXCEPTION	Exception in polymorphic viruses code
42101 AVAST_POLYVIR_ERROR	Error in polymorphic viruses code
42102 AVAST_MACROVIR_EXCEPTION	Exception in macro viruses code
42103 AVAST_MACROVIR_ERROR	Error in macro viruses code
42120 AVAST_PACK_ARJ_CORRUPTED	ARJ is corrupted
42121 AVAST_PACK_EXEC_CORRUPTED	DosExec
42122 AVAST_PACK_MAPI_CORRUPTED
42123 AVAST_PACK_MIME_CORRUPTED
42124 AVAST_PACK_STREAMS_CORRUPTED	NTFS Streams
42125 AVAST_PACK_ZIP_CORRUPTED
42126 AVAST_PACK_RAR_CORRUPTED
42127 AVAST_PACK_CAB_CORRUPTED
42128 AVAST_PACK_TAR_CORRUPTED
42129 AVAST_PACK_GZ_CORRUPTED
42130 AVAST_PACK_BZIP2_CORRUPTED
42131 AVAST_PACK_ACE_CORRUPTED
42132 AVAST_PACK_EXEC_UPX_CORRUPTED	WinExec/UPX
42133 AVAST_PACK_ARC_CORRUPTED
42134 AVAST_PACK_ZOO_CORRUPTED
42135 AVAST_PACK_LHARC_CORRUPTED
42136 AVAST_PACK_CHM_CORRUPTED	Windows Help File
42137 AVAST_PACK_CPIO_CORRUPTED
42138 AVAST_PACK_RPM_CORRUPTED	RedHat archive
42139 AVAST_PACK_7ZIP_CORRUPTED
42140 AVAST_PACK_DEB_CORRUPTED	Debian archive
42141 AVAST_PACK_ISO_CORRUPTED	ISO + NeroBurning Rom Image
42149 AVAST_PACK_DECOMPRESSIONBOMB	File is a decompression bomb
42150 AVAST_KEY_EXPIRED	registration key expired
42151 AVAST_KEY_INVALID	invalid key
42152 AVAST_KEY_INSUFFICIENTCOUNT	insufficient number of licenses
42400 - 415 AVAST_RSA_*	RSA errors

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on November 10, 2004, 10:06:04 PM

E-mail Clients that Store Messages in a Single File

Some e-mail clients (e.g. The Bat!) store all messages in a single file. Others store each e-mail as a separate file. If avast finds a virus attached to an e-mail, it will consider the entire file (i.e. all the e-mails in that file) to be infected. Therefore, the entire file will be removed or moved to Chest.

Take care!

This could happen with Thunderbird too.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on September 11, 2006, 05:19:57 PM

Sometimes, Windows Security Center stop recognizing your antivirus or firewall... The fix could be fairly easy for the most part.

1. Go to control panel and open Administrative tools.
2. Click on services.
3. Go down to Windows Managament Instrumentation.
4. Stop this service. Stop Security Center service too.
    Let them to Automatically start.
5. Exit out of this area to your desktop.
6. Right click Start and choose Explore.
7. Go to c:\windows\system32\wbem\repository.
    Delete this subdirectory ONLY. Let the others there.
8. Exit back to your desktop and reboot your computer (maybe you need to boot twice).

This will rebuild the deleted folder and the database. Once restarted, Windows Security Center should show the correct info and antivirus and firewall should now be recoginized  ;)

Other answers for XP Security Center not detecting antivirus or firewall program could be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883792.
Other users thik that Windows Security Center should be entirely disabled based on the security flaw in the WMI (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1639276,00.asp).

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: moonbeam on September 28, 2006, 08:14:55 PM

So where is the getting started for dummies link?

Quote from: Tech on May 30, 2004, 03:55:39 PM

I'm starting a new thread promissing a full list of frequently answered questions.
I do not want to discuss them here, so it will be a closed forum.

If you can (or want) to add something, I'll be glad to add to this list.
I'll try to make an index of them bellow...

First of all, see the official avast! 4 FAQs page (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_81.html) or browse the forums (http://www.avast.com/forum/) for help. You don't have to register for browsing and searching. Registration is required only if would like to post a new topic.

The search (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=9;action=search) function of the forum is really a good way to find help. Try!  ;)

Try to read the avast! Help files too, this save a lot of your time and work to help when is really needed. You can left click the 'a' blue icon on the system tray, run avast antivirus. When you see the avast skin, right click it and choose 'Help'.

Some special functions could be found and reached by RejZor's (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=viewprofile;user=RejZoR) application called avast External Control.zip (http://freeweb.siol.net/razor256/downloads/avast_external_control.zip). Enjoy it!  :)

Title: Questions regarding Firewall
Post by: kenpg on May 11, 2007, 10:39:01 AM

I read in this forum that many people are having problem with using Zone Alarms firewall. I decided to use Comodo Firewall. So, I would like to know if Avast is compatible with Comodo?

I read in the forum about On-access scanner and Resident Scanner. What is the different between them?

In the Links section, there are likes to Anti-spyware programs. From what i know some of these program have resident scanners. Can these anti-spyware program contradict with Avast? Is Avast compatible with them?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 11, 2007, 08:41:44 PM

Quote from: kenpg on May 11, 2007, 10:39:01 AM

So, I would like to know if Avast is compatible with Comodo?

Right now, no problems.
From time to time could have be some problem so, before updating Comodo, search to know if the new version has any problem with avast.

Quote from: kenpg on May 11, 2007, 10:39:01 AM

I read in the forum about On-access scanner and Resident Scanner. What is the different between them?

Shortly, no one. The resident scanner is the on-access one.

Quote from: kenpg on May 11, 2007, 10:39:01 AM

In the Links section, there are likes to Anti-spyware programs. From what i know some of these program have resident scanners. Can these anti-spyware program contradict with Avast? Is Avast compatible with them?

No problems with resident antispywares and avast. The problem is only another antivirus software.
Do you want to use any particular antispyware with avast?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: rhino on July 12, 2007, 10:15:59 PM

Hi All,

Another new user here.  I'm trying to stop the scanning message from displaying itself evertime I do a web search. I use pro4.7.

Please help!

Thanks,
rhino

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on July 13, 2007, 12:15:59 AM

This really should have gone in its own topic in the avast 4 home/pro forum, but better still would have been a forum search as it is frequently discussed.

This option, 'Show detailed info on performed actions' is off by default, so it would appear you have been tweaking avast without knowing the effect it will have.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/for-dwr/ShowDetailedAction.jpg)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on July 13, 2007, 12:50:03 AM

rhino, welcome.
Next time, it's better to start your own thread that using an 'old', informative, one 8)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: xiaochugang on August 01, 2007, 03:00:09 PM

good job!
I like this article  ;)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: dougjp on September 26, 2007, 04:27:41 PM

Not sure I should post here or start a thread.

Newbie ?, so beware!  :o I'm confused by your post on Page 1 " Mail Protection Wizard ". Maybe its outdated, as the post was made in 2004, in which case I suggest the post be updated. I don't see such a wizard anywhere.

In setting up my wife's computer settings, she uses Incredimail and I want to be sure Avast! is "on the job". How can I be sure?

And the various "sensitivity" settings, all of which are normal by default. Is it recommended to increase any of these to high or some custom configuration in any specific module(s). (Sorry I guess that should have been a separate post?)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on September 26, 2007, 05:06:34 PM

You should start a new topic, but first do a forum search for Incredimail as there have been many posts about Incredimail. The MPW is only required for those with win9x, winME OSes, you won't see it in the win2k, winXP, Vista as it isn't required to set-up the email scanning provider. I suggest a browse of the avast help file.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: daddy91 on November 19, 2007, 04:16:58 PM

Hello,
I've been  using avast! with  Windows Vista for several months and everything was OK. Now the green information tab does not pop up any more AND the woman voice telling me "The database has been updated" does not work either. However, "auto update" is still checked for the database update and the program update as well. I have set up the brand new version of avast! (4.7.1085) manually but it is still not working. I've tried to update the database manually, but I don't know whether it is successful for nothing  is reported in the "visulalisateur de journeaux avast!" (French wording)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on November 19, 2007, 04:38:53 PM

Again this should be in a new topic of its own in this forum, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0) (click the New Topic button) and we can try to resolve it.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on November 19, 2007, 06:36:02 PM

daddy91, start a new topic as David said.
Also, please, post the last 100-150 lines of avast log: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\log\Setup.log

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: daddy91 on November 22, 2007, 11:53:14 AM

[Hello Tech,
It's the first time I try and use a Forum and I don't rightly know how to use it. (actually, I didn't take the time to read the content of the "Help" tab). My problem is I don't understand your reply because of some technical words. Please could you tell me whether there is a way of having it translated in French. Thank you !

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on November 23, 2007, 01:30:51 AM

Quote from: daddy91 on November 22, 2007, 11:53:14 AM

[Hello Tech,
It's the first time I try and use a Forum and I don't rightly know how to use it. (actually, I didn't take the time to read the content of the "Help" tab). My problem is I don't understand your reply because of some technical words. Please could you tell me whether there is a way of having it translated in French. Thank you !

This is how you can start a new thread. Then you can ask your doubts there, not in this 'FAQ' thread.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: daddy91 on November 24, 2007, 02:25:02 PM

Thank you, and sorry for this mistake !

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: florart on December 27, 2007, 06:56:04 AM

I tried to install vista ultimate on my 2nd disk, and tried to use my Avast home that has always worked well on XP. It is not accepted by Vista!! in spite of the fact that the vista upgrading test had reported of only a minor compatibility problem. I was able to install the program, it does not function and any time I try to connect to internet,  it gives me a blue screen and restart the system, are there new drivers that i can use to fix my Avast or I have to change antivirus?? thanks
My system: Intel core 2 duo 2,33 mh, 2 HD maxtor 250 giga, 2 giga ram.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 27, 2007, 12:11:15 PM

Quote from: florart on December 27, 2007, 06:56:04 AM

I tried to install vista ultimate on my 2nd disk, and tried to use my Avast home that has always worked well on XP. It is not accepted by Vista!! in spite of the fact that the vista upgrading test had reported of only a minor compatibility problem. I was able to install the program, it does not function and any time I try to connect to internet,  it gives me a blue screen and restart the system, are there new drivers that i can use to fix my Avast or I have to change antivirus?? thanks
My system: Intel core 2 duo 2,33 mh, 2 HD maxtor 250 giga, 2 giga ram.

Don't post twice the same. Just double the help effort.
Follow: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=32261

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: sekelly on December 28, 2007, 06:23:45 PM

I don't know how or where to ask a question about if your Avast FREE Edition is available for the "Murray County Senior Center" Organization.  This is an organization that provides a place for the local Senior Citizens to gather for a meal once a day. They also provide other services for the Seniors.  The Director, Joan Dooley has an office which includes a Desktop Computer for record keeping and making menus of the upcoming meals and other things.  The computer is not used specifically for producing money for the organization. 

Now, this is my question to Avast.  Would the Murray County Senior Center Computer be allowed to use the FREE Avast Virus Program???  If yes, would there be anything extra that would be required to be done to install the FREE Version???  We are regular participants of the Murray County Senior Center and would be very appreciative if allowed to be users of the FREE Version of Avast Virus Scanner.  Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Respectfully,

Steve and Elaine Kelly

217 Cedar Street

Chatsworth, Ga. 30705

steve_elainekelly@yahoo.com

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 28, 2007, 06:28:35 PM

Quote from: sekelly on December 28, 2007, 06:23:45 PM

I don't know how or where to ask a question

Start a new thread is the way...

Quote from: sekelly on December 28, 2007, 06:23:45 PM

if your Avast FREE Edition is available for the "Murray County Senior Center" Organization.

Although your organization has a lot of merits, they (I'm an user like you) just take discounts to organizations. avast is only free for HOME and simultaneously NON-COMMERCIAL usage.
You can ask any question to sales (at) avast.com

Welcome to avast forums.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: crone on January 10, 2008, 07:51:40 PM

Can I operate Avast while operating Stopzilla (spyware protection) or don't run them together

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on January 10, 2008, 08:53:28 PM

Quote from: crone on January 10, 2008, 07:51:40 PM

Can I operate Avast while operating Stopzilla (spyware protection) or don't run them together

Better is opening a new thread for asking and not using this one.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Marco77 on March 06, 2008, 02:47:34 PM

I have bought a new PC, how can :'( I download avast 4 pro to downloader on my pc?
I have the license key but I dont find the right site on web.
Grazie and sorry for my bed english

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on March 06, 2008, 03:45:00 PM

Quote from: Marco77 on March 06, 2008, 02:47:34 PM

I have bought a new PC, how can :'( I download avast 4 pro to downloader on my pc?

You can download avast home here: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Quote from: Marco77 on March 06, 2008, 02:47:34 PM

I have the license key but I dont find the right site on web.
Grazie and sorry for my bed english

If you need to register again, go here: http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: brawny on June 06, 2008, 11:26:03 PM

A friend has recommended I go with Avast after McAfee and I had serious renewal issues. I am not real savvy on computer techno lingo, so am somewhat uncertain about my role in using avast. If it is "easy" and doesn't require great skill, I'd love to try it.

Does Avast change any windows files? Does the uninstaller remove all Avast files?

I have Windows Vista, the Premium Home Edition. I've used Norton, then switched to McAfee for a year.

thank you
Brawny

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on June 06, 2008, 11:46:46 PM

Hi brawny,
Please create a 'new topic' of your own this one isn't for general questions and we can help in that go to this forum, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0). At the top of the list you will see a 'New Topic' button, click that and repost your question.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: brawny on June 07, 2008, 02:37:51 AM

Thanks DavidR, mission accomplished.

 Brawny

Title: User's FAQ
Post by: Beksta86 on July 14, 2008, 08:14:01 PM

 ???Hi i've just registered with Avast forums and i'm not sure where to post this!  so here goes... i've recently bought a new laptop with windows vista on it and have installed Avast - however it keeps coming up that windows firewall is switched off.  i switch it on - then the next time i switch my laptop on its always switched off!  i've read somewhere that avast isn't a firewall program so would anybody know what is conflicting with windows firewall to make it keep switching off? i've scanned all my drives using avast for viruses and it hasn't found any.  my old laptop had XP and windows firewall was always fine with avast.  Could anyone help? 

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on July 14, 2008, 10:04:38 PM

From the avast 4 Home/Pro forum, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0), at the top of the list of topics is a New Topic button click that and start your own new topic and someone should be able to help.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: gdiloren on August 15, 2008, 06:13:59 AM

Quote from: Beksta86 on July 14, 2008, 08:14:01 PM

???Hi i've just registered with Avast forums and i'm not sure where to post this!  so here goes... i've recently bought a new laptop with windows vista on it and have installed Avast - however it keeps coming up that windows firewall is switched off.  i switch it on - then the next time i switch my laptop on its always switched off!  i've read somewhere that avast isn't a firewall program so would anybody know what is conflicting with windows firewall to make it keep switching off? i've scanned all my drives using avast for viruses and it hasn't found any.  my old laptop had XP and windows firewall was always fine with avast.  Could anyone help? 

This happened to me twice. It has nothing to do with AVAST but with I think a bug in Vista computers. There is a certain window in Control Panel where it works while activating Windows Firewall by any other mean won't work. Be sure to use this window panel:

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Alicat on September 06, 2008, 09:26:02 PM

Hi

Taking a look around the forums before I dive into my big McAfee uninstall/conversion to being an Avast protectee/devotee, and figured that a thread with this title would be a good one to at least skim.

I found here, though, like a number of others which were started many years ago, posts have links which apparently are no longer working, as I got a "404 Not Found" message for what is provided as the official FAQ page. With very long threads such as this one, I know that often the more important or relevant posts might be the more recent ones, but I usually like to at least look at those in the beginning as well. With posts this old it's a bit difficult to know at what point the content/links are still current, and a newbie should *really* start reading and paying attention.  :-\

Quote from: Tech on May 30, 2004, 03:55:39 PM

I'm starting a new thread promissing a full list of frequently answered questions.
I do not want to discuss them here, so it will be a closed forum.

If you can (or want) to add something, I'll be glad to add to this list.
I'll try to make an index of them bellow...

First of all, see the official avast! 4 FAQs page (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_81.html) or browse the forums (http://www.avast.com/forum/) for help. You don't have to register for browsing and searching. Registration is required only if would like to post a new topic.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on September 06, 2008, 09:51:20 PM

Quote from: Alicat on September 06, 2008, 09:26:02 PM

Taking a look around the forums before I dive into my big McAfee uninstall/conversion to being an Avast protectee/devotee, and figured that a thread with this title would be a good one to at least skim.

Better would be starting a new thread for asking your questions  ;)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Alicat on September 06, 2008, 11:40:34 PM

Quote from: Tech on September 06, 2008, 09:51:20 PM

Better would be starting a new thread for asking your questions  ;)

Heh, but with a FAQ list I could learn which questions I'd be asking before I could think of 'em!

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: MrBill102 on September 12, 2008, 05:03:22 AM

I need to know the proper way to scan a single download using a download helper like FlashGet.

I'm currently using   "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe".

Is this correct and what parameters are possible?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on September 12, 2008, 02:36:36 PM

Quote from: MrBill102 on September 12, 2008, 05:03:22 AM

I'm currently using   "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe".
Is this correct and what parameters are possible?

1. It's correct.
2. avast itself use no parameters at all.
    Maybe FlashGet requires any (you can check into the help files of FlashGet).

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: stewcat on November 27, 2008, 04:29:53 PM

Hi-did you ever sort this one out.I've tried to reset the Windows firewall but it keeps on dropping off.
rgds

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on November 28, 2008, 01:44:26 AM

Quote from: stewcat on November 27, 2008, 04:29:53 PM

Hi-did you ever sort this one out.I've tried to reset the Windows firewall but it keeps on dropping off.
rgds

You're asking for help in two simultaneous threads. Keep tracking the other. This is a sticky one, not for single help but for FAQ.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: markdauvid on December 13, 2008, 09:35:18 PM

[/b i tried to find information about setting up a scan and maybe i missed it. i could not post because the page i needed to validate my user name came up blank. a scan started and went on for hours and never got close to ending. it started to do a boot scan in the beginning but after it had scanned for over an hour and was only at 11% i cancelled it. i found it very difficult to understand so i removed and went back to what  i previously had. at least with that after it installed it gave me the option of scheduliing a scan.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 13, 2008, 09:44:56 PM

Quote from: markdauvid on December 13, 2008, 09:35:18 PM

[/b i tried to find information about setting up a scan and maybe i missed it. i could not post because the page i needed to validate my user name came up blank. a scan started and went on for hours and never got close to ending. it started to do a boot scan in the beginning but after it had scanned for over an hour and was only at 11% i cancelled it. i found it very difficult to understand so i removed and went back to what  i previously had. at least with that after it installed it gave me the option of scheduliing a scan.

Can you start a new thread for your specific problem?

Title: Re:User's FAQ
Post by: eliasawad75 on December 18, 2008, 02:55:50 AM

Quote from: Tech on May 30, 2004, 05:14:02 PM

Mail Protection Wizard

Remember that avast handles more than one SMTP server, to configure your e-mail client (program) follow these steps:

1. Close all your email applications.

2. Start Windows Menu > avast! antivirus > Mail Protection Wizard

Can you please tell me what and where is "Windows Menu" ?

Thanks,

E.A.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 18, 2008, 01:51:13 PM

Quote from: eliasawad75 on December 18, 2008, 02:55:50 AM

Can you please tell me what and where is "Windows Menu" ?

It would be better wrote if I've wrote "Start Button" on the left bottom of your screen.

Title: User's FAQ
Post by: globcos on January 06, 2009, 02:21:48 PM

thnx for giving good faqs.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: njegos on January 21, 2009, 12:45:19 PM

Please is there any way to edit Blocked.htm, page that is displayed when you are trying to access blocked URL
by default file is in C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HtmlData    ->     Blocked.htm
I am using avast! version 4.8 Home Edition
Build: Dec2008 (4.8.1296)

If you cant tell me this or if i brake some rules with this question please forgive me  ???

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on January 21, 2009, 12:51:19 PM

Quote from: njegos on January 21, 2009, 12:45:19 PM

Please is there any way to edit Blocked.htm, page that is displayed when you are trying to access blocked URL
by default file is in C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HtmlData    ->     Blocked.htm
I am using avast! version 4.8 Home Edition
Build: Dec2008 (4.8.1296)

Yes, there is, you need to disable the avast self-defense module:

1. Right click the 'a' blue icon on system tray.
2. Programs settings > Troubleshooting (tab)
3. Disable self defense module

But I think that when you update or repair avast installation, the change will be identified and the file will be restored to the original one.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: njegos on January 21, 2009, 02:46:32 PM

Quote from: Tech on January 21, 2009, 12:51:19 PM

Yes, there is, you need to disable the avast self-defense module:

1. Right click the 'a' blue icon on system tray.
2. Programs settings > Troubleshooting (tab)
3. Disable self defense module

But I think that when you update or repair avast installation, the change will be identified and the file will be restored to the original one.

Thanks it works
What do you think will it restore to the original one if i only do iAVS update not Program Update

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on January 21, 2009, 03:37:21 PM

Quote from: njegos on January 21, 2009, 02:46:32 PM

What do you think will it restore to the original one if i only do iAVS update not Program Update

I think the file will be kept there, i.e., the changed one.
Keep a backup of it elsewhere and change it when you upgrade the program.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: njegos on January 21, 2009, 03:41:22 PM

Quote from: Tech on January 21, 2009, 03:37:21 PM

I think the file will be kept there, i.e., the changed one.
Keep a backup of it elsewhere and change it when you upgrade the program.

OK thanks again

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: mattburles on June 25, 2009, 03:29:34 AM

thanks for this thread!  :)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on June 25, 2009, 05:20:44 PM

Quote from: mattburles on June 25, 2009, 03:29:34 AM

thanks for this thread!  :)

You're welcome.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: mattburles on June 25, 2009, 11:07:58 PM

Quote from: Tech on June 25, 2009, 05:20:44 PM

Quote from: mattburles on June 25, 2009, 03:29:34 AM

thanks for this thread!  :)

You're welcome.

anytime! ;)

Title: Member ranks
Post by: fblais on July 20, 2009, 04:19:06 PM

Hi.
Sorry if it was listed somewhere because I didn't find it...

What are the member ranks on the forum, and how many posts are needed to reach them.
This is my 16th post, and I was still a Newbie with 15.

And what rank do I need in order to be able to personnalize my profile a bit more.

Regards,
François

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: CharleyO on July 20, 2009, 04:48:00 PM

***

Due to spammers, it will take you 20 posts to get that privilege.


***

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: chav on October 01, 2009, 07:18:33 AM

And to write personal messages, too, have 20 posts to write?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: nmb on October 01, 2009, 07:32:36 AM

@chav

yes.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: veronega on December 27, 2009, 11:01:19 PM

 I have installed 'avast! 4 Home' and everytime I try to open it, I get an error message stating: "unknown error message", "Application cannot load skin. Function usiGetSkin Failed". How can I fix this? I use windows Vista.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 28, 2009, 12:12:53 PM

Quote from: veronega on December 27, 2009, 11:01:19 PM

I have installed 'avast! 4 Home' and everytime I try to open it, I get an error message stating: "unknown error message", "Application cannot load skin. Function usiGetSkin Failed". How can I fix this? I use windows Vista.

About the "usigetskin failed" issue, if the repair does not solve it:
You will have to register ACTSKIN4.OCX
Follow the instructions:

Select START > RUN...
Enter the following command:
If you have Windows NT or 2000:
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX
If you have Windows 95, 98 or ME:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX
If you have Windows XP/Vista:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX
If you have Windows XP/Vista x64:
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX

Press OK (or Enter).
A message saying that the file was successfully registered should appear...

For some reason, ActiveSkin (the 3rd party library avast uses for skinning) does not seem to be working on your system. As a workaround, we may disable skinning in avast - that should solve the problem.

To do that, open the file <avast>\data\avast4.ini, look up the [UserInterface] section, and add the following entry:
StartWithSkin=0

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: lightocean on December 30, 2009, 10:57:32 PM

Hi! I want asked you if is possible to use Avast Home Edition 4.7 with Web Protection enabled and Online Armor Firewall Free together. I've read that this Avast's function is like a light firewall and so I shoul like to understand if is better disabled Web Protection having Armor or use both the utilities or use only Avast with Web Protection and any other firewall. Please excuse me for my English, I'm Italian and I can't write very well (I'm a disaster, I think...) Sorry...

And thank's, however.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on December 31, 2009, 01:33:49 PM

Quote from: lightocean on December 30, 2009, 10:57:32 PM

Hi! I want asked you if is possible to use Avast Home Edition 4.7 with Web Protection enabled and Online Armor Firewall Free together. I've read that this Avast's function is like a light firewall and so I shoul like to understand if is better disabled Web Protection having Armor or use both the utilities or use only Avast with Web Protection and any other firewall. Please excuse me for my English, I'm Italian and I can't write very well (I'm a disaster, I think...) Sorry...And thank's, however.

You can use both. avast Web Shield is NOT a firewall. It just scan the Internet traffic. So, it's ok to work side by side with OA.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: tommay on January 17, 2010, 09:56:53 PM

Hey thanks for the product very easy to install no proiblems. JUST TRYING TO UNINSTALL AND NO LUCK. If its that easy to install it should be just as easy to uninstall. I try from the control panel and no luck. It says that there is a uninstall error. Next I try to turn off the self protect mode. I uncheck the box, hit okay then go back to settings and the box has magically rechecked itself. WOW its allmost like it doesnt want to be uninstalled. Next I guess I can get someone to remove it for me. How much time have I wasted trying to remove this thing, How much time have I wasted writing this. TOO MUCH!!!  I wouldnt reccommend this to anyone out there. You should be telling people that this is more of a hassle than anything and to try a different brand.WTF PEOPLE Make it easier to uninfuckingstall!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on January 17, 2010, 10:19:46 PM

You could have started by asking for help in a topic of your own in the avast 4.x Home/Pro (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0)) and people would have been tripping over themselves to help.

This sounds like a failed install as the uninstall usually is not a problem or there would be lots of topics about it. If you have another AV installed when avast was installed that can be an issue.

So if you want help, please create your own topic and we can help you.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: news on January 17, 2010, 10:39:38 PM

Quote from: tommay on January 17, 2010, 09:56:53 PM

Hey thanks for the product very easy to install no proiblems. JUST TRYING TO UNINSTALL AND NO LUCK. If its that easy to install it should be just as easy to uninstall. I try from the control panel and no luck. It says that there is a uninstall error. Next I try to turn off the self protect mode. I uncheck the box, hit okay then go back to settings and the box has magically rechecked itself. WOW its allmost like it doesnt want to be uninstalled. Next I guess I can get someone to remove it for me. How much time have I wasted trying to remove this thing, How much time have I wasted writing this. TOO MUCH!!!  I wouldnt reccommend this to anyone out there. You should be telling people that this is more of a hassle than anything and to try a different brand.WTF PEOPLE Make it easier to uninfuckingstall!!!!!!!!!!!

Tsk, tsk. Please watch the things you say.  :o This is a public forum with LOTS of people reading it.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on January 18, 2010, 11:29:56 AM

tommay, sorry for your experience but, neither is this the correct thread for it, nor you've asked for help before.
Right now, it would be good if you open your own thread and if you need ask for help. Cheers.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Jack 1000 on January 23, 2010, 01:20:19 PM

Hey Avast,

Sup?  Thanks for all your help!  My question is would you consider creating a forum exclusively for Avast 5 users and questions?  The current forum has topics about Avast 5 all over the place and maybe one forum with a sticky thread and/or some duplicate topics merged might help our community.  Thanks!

Jack

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 04:24:04 PM

There is one, the avast! Free/Pro/Suite forum is for the 5.0 product range and the current 4.8 Home/Pro versions. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2.0)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: mokkaman on January 26, 2010, 03:20:13 PM

when will avast5 come via updater of version 4.8;;?  (ie)right click on avast icon--updating--program update.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on January 26, 2010, 06:18:41 PM

You will probably get a notification via the 4.8 program update check, but this is a massive change from 4.8 and isn't like the standard 4.8 update were some files are updated. I don't know the complete process as I didn't wait for an update notification, but it is almost a complete reinstall of avast.

So if notified it may be best to download the complete off-line installation file and save it to your hard disk. Some with XP appear to have a problem installing 5.0 over 4.8 (I didn't) if you have XP it may be advisable to do a clean install of 5.0 (uninstall 4.8, reboot, run the uninstall utility from safe mode, reboot install 5.0).

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: spg SCOTT on January 26, 2010, 06:22:31 PM

To expand on what David has posted:

The load has to be spread so that the servers aren't swamped...

Quote from: pk on January 19, 2010, 07:46:13 PM

The actual upgrade campaign will take a few months (you may not getting a popup until after 2 months or so) - we can't handle it faster due to huge load on our servers.

So, if you want v5 now, you can download it manually and install it over the existing v4.8 installation.

-Scott-

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: gia on February 05, 2010, 01:17:41 PM

Äîáðûé äåíü, Ãîñïîäà!
27.11. 2009 ãîäó êóïèë ëèöåíçèþ Avast 4.8 Profesional, ïîñëå âèðóñíîé àòàêè
âûíóæåí áûë ïåðåóñòàíîâèòü Windows XP, òàê êàê àíòèâèðóñ íå ñðàáîòàë.
Êëþ÷ àêòèâàöèè áûë óòåðÿí. Ïðè ïîïûòêè çàéòè íà ñàéò è âîñòàíîâèòü ïàðîëü,
ìàøèíà ïèøåò, ÷òî òàêîãî ëîãèíà è ïàðîëÿ íå ñóùåñòâóåò??. Ïðîøó Âàñ ïîìî÷ü ñ
âîñòàíîâëåíèå êëþ÷à àêòèâàöèè.
Îïëàòó ïðîèçâîäèë ïî êàðòå VISA  4276 **** **** **20, êëþ÷ ïîëó÷èë íà Ýëåêòðîííóþ ïî÷òó
gia@rikt.ru

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: CharleyO on February 05, 2010, 09:27:00 PM

***

Welcome to the forums, gia.   :)

This is an English language forum. I tried to use Bablefish to translate your text but it appears that the text is not Russian. Please translate your text to English somehow.


***

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: gia on February 06, 2010, 01:15:55 AM

Good afternoon!
27.11. 2009 has bought licence Avast 4.8 Profesional, after virus attack
 Has reinstalled Windows XP as the antivirus has not worked.
The activation key has been lost. At attempt to come on a site and to receive the password,
Support writes, what such login and the password does not exist??. I ask you to help with
In reception of a key of activation.
Payment made on VISA 4276 **** **** ** 20, the key has received on E-mail
gia@rikt.ru

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: gia on February 06, 2010, 01:21:42 AM

3 times were sent by a question to a support service - the answer is not present! Prompt what to do?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Pondus on February 06, 2010, 01:31:07 AM

Quote from: gia on February 06, 2010, 01:21:42 AM

3 times were sent by a question to a support service - the answer is not present! Prompt what to do?

1. you are posting in the wrong place
2. how to contact avast http://www.avast.com/contacts

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on February 06, 2010, 02:18:42 AM

Quote from: gia on February 06, 2010, 01:21:42 AM

3 times were sent by a question to a support service - the answer is not present! Prompt what to do?

Contact, sales (at) avast (dot) com, giving them the email address that you used when you purchased your 4.8 Pro license, the date, etc. as they should hopefully be able to retrieve the old license number.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: gia on February 06, 2010, 05:57:04 AM

Many thanks!

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: BigMaster on February 24, 2010, 12:17:59 PM

Avatar that can be put to the user? ???

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on February 24, 2010, 03:52:25 PM

I have no idea what your question is about.

If it is related to the avast forums Profile information, personal avatar, then until you have 20 posts you can't.
- The problem comes from drive by spammers, who having registered put objectionable or commercial links in their profile signature to try and gain link promotion, etc.

There have also been cases of the PM function being abused to spam forum members, so you will notice that you can't use the PM function either.

Unfortunately because of the actions of others legitimate members suffer by the actions to prevent this spamming.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: BigMaster on February 24, 2010, 05:14:22 PM

Quote from: DavidR on February 24, 2010, 03:52:25 PM

I have no idea what your question is about.

If it is related to the avast forums Profile information, personal avatar, then until you have 20 posts you can't.
- The problem comes from drive by spammers, who having registered put objectionable or commercial links in their profile signature to try and gain link promotion, etc.

There have also been cases of the PM function being abused to spam forum members, so you will notice that you can't use the PM function either.

Unfortunately because of the actions of others legitimate members suffer by the actions to prevent this spamming.

I mean, this is entirely legitimate and reasonable.
Thank you very much. :)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on February 24, 2010, 05:19:34 PM

You're welcome, it doesn't take long to get 20 posts for active participants in the forums.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: sbastos on March 19, 2010, 03:27:51 PM

hi, the version free of Avast, my company can use this?... it is a museum

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on March 19, 2010, 03:47:52 PM

No, as the free version is for Home and Non-Commercial use, even non-profit organisations are classed as businesses, but there are I believe discounts for non-profit organisations, so I don't know if a museum would be in that category. Contact sales (at) avast (dot) com and they would know.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Brit on April 13, 2010, 03:03:12 AM

Hi! I need help I was not able to find anywhere. I am new to forum so am not sure I am even sending this to the right place.
I have used Avast successfully for yrs and it updated fine until just recently (past wk or so) I noticed it wasn't updating. That was version 4.8 I believe. I didn't have time to notice but then Windows Security Alert popped up today saying Avast was out of date which it isn't. Avast says I don't need to update till July. I am registered.
I dl and installed Avast 5.0.462 today,  but that didn't solve the problem. It scans and the icon in task bar says "my system is secure". However it will still not update.
 About 2 months ago I switched from dial up to Verizon mobile wireless broadband but it seemed to work for over a month but now wonder if that had something to do with. 
Also I have unchecked dial up but didn't ck that I am always on line either. I use IE to get on line so that is what is marked in the proxy section.
 Can you please help. I have no other anti virus program.               Windows XP SP3
Thank you, Brit

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on April 13, 2010, 03:17:30 AM

Please start a New Topic of your own as this will just confuse the topic and we will try to help. 
- Go to this link, http://forum.avast.com/index.php (http://forum.avast.com/index.php), scroll down to the avast! Free/Pro/Suite forum and click it, click the New Topic button at the top of the list and post there.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: winterbrotherko on July 17, 2010, 10:57:40 AM

Avast Definition Update

How to get Avast Definition Update(database update) ? ???
Offline mode.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: nmb on July 17, 2010, 11:40:04 AM

Quote from: winterbrotherko on July 17, 2010, 10:57:40 AM

Avast Definition Update

How to get Avast Definition Update(database update) ? ???
Offline mode.

Hello,

Next time, please open your own thread.

Here are the links to offline updates :

Version 4 : http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/vpsupd4.exe (40 MB)

Version 5 : http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/vpsupd.exe (31 MB)

Download and executing the file will update the avast virus database on your computer.

nmb

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: mss600 on August 29, 2010, 09:03:05 PM

I have the 5.0 system and purchased the option to add three computors. I have removed the email related to my purchase but have the codes that were sent. I cannot get the system to accept the codes sent and need to activate the system.. Can someone advise on how to load the codes and where do you go ????

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on August 29, 2010, 09:07:54 PM

Quote from: mss600 on August 29, 2010, 09:03:05 PM

I have the 5.0 system and purchased the option to add three computors. I have removed the email related to my purchase but have the codes that were sent. I cannot get the system to accept the codes sent and need to activate the system.. Can someone advise on how to load the codes and where do you go ????

Please, start a new thread instead on posting in this one.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: diana toerge on September 25, 2010, 04:34:48 PM

I can't even figure out how to POST a message in the Forum! I wanted to know why my program says Firewall not available when I have Internet Security Program.
Where the heck is the POST Question button?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on September 25, 2010, 05:30:54 PM

Quote from: diana toerge on September 25, 2010, 04:34:48 PM

I can't even figure out how to POST a message in the Forum! I wanted to know why my program says Firewall not available when I have Internet Security Program.
Where the heck is the POST Question button?

- Please start a New Topic of your own.
- Go to this link, http://forum.avast.com/index.php.
- Select the avast! Free/Pro/Suite forum and click it, click the New Topic button (see image, click to expand) at the top of the list and post there.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on September 25, 2010, 05:40:48 PM

@ Diana
Also see my reply to your other post, where the image reflects the new forum theme, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26818.msg543812#msg543812 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26818.msg543812#msg543812).

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: hyundai on October 08, 2010, 11:11:22 AM

Can anyone help me.

My avant anti virus icon shows an x and it says that it is in an inconsistent state.

I keep hitting fix now but nothing happens.

Does any one please know how to fix it as my membership is fully paid up.

Thanks

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on October 08, 2010, 01:14:04 PM

1. Please start a new thread of your as this will make help effort easier not mixing it with the original subject of this topic.
2. Go to http://forum.avast.com/index.php, select one of the forums (boards) there and click the "New Topic" button (see screenshot) at the top of the list and post there.

Title: Windows XP conflict
Post by: greyhaired luddite on November 24, 2010, 02:39:03 PM

Hi Guys
I'm new to forums so please forgive me if this message is out of context.

I recently downloaded Avast free anti virus to my girlfriends laptop which uses windows XP.

After running a quick scan (which took around 4 hours), the system logged off and won't let me back in.

The system seems to be caught in a loop.
After switching on the computer asks me for login details.User name and password.
When these are entered a new window opens with the message 'windows is loading your personal details' then simply logs me off, returning to the logon screen.

Can anybody help please

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: SafeSurf on November 25, 2010, 09:58:59 AM

@ greyhaired luddite,

I noticed you created a new thread for your issue, which was the appropriate thing to do for us to help you.  Thank you, and welcome to the forum.  :)

Title: Re: license
Post by: marilync on December 04, 2010, 07:24:36 PM

I stupidly did not save my license properly and my hard drive crashed. I have the cd but I need my license number to reinstall. help

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on December 04, 2010, 07:34:21 PM

Contact sales (at) avast (dot) com and give as much information as you can, what product was purchased (and duration 1, 2 years, etc.), date of purchase (as close as you can) where purchased, email address used, etc.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: AndreaVr on December 26, 2010, 04:11:57 PM

I wanted to knowif it is you can remove the mail icon under my nickname , reading the faqs I selected the option to hide the icon of the email in the forum but when I logged in,appears more than ever ?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: spg SCOTT on December 26, 2010, 04:13:58 PM

Again, not the right thread. Please don't post in unrelated (and old) threads, and please don't repeat the question. It just doubles the help effort.

I have answered here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=51790.msg573988#msg573988

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: CrissiC481 on June 30, 2011, 12:00:27 AM

I need some help!  missed my activation e-mail and now I am going to run out of trial period. I have tried everything I know to try and cannot seem to figure out how in the world to activate my subscription. Can you please help me with this?  :-[

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Pondus on June 30, 2011, 12:10:58 AM

Quote from: CrissiC481 on June 30, 2011, 12:00:27 AM

I need some help!  missed my activation e-mail and now I am going to run out of trial period. I have tried everything I know to try and cannot seem to figure out how in the world to activate my subscription. Can you please help me with this?  :-[

i guess you have the free version ?

On-line registration is very simple and it's the preferred method for all users of avast Free Antivirus 5.x installed on a computer with standard Internet connectivity. To perform on-line registration follow these steps:

http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=459#idt_01


or this

Resend Purchased License
http://www.avast.com/en-no/resend-license-paid.php

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: prettygal on July 15, 2011, 03:17:12 PM

Can someone please help me.  I purchase this program for two years.  The site is telling me that my trial period is up.  I never download the trial period I purchased it for two years.
What should I do?

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on July 15, 2011, 03:23:04 PM

You don't download a trial version as such, but you need to input the license file or after 30 days it will deem the 30 days unrestricted use (trial) is over. So you either need to purchase the license and enter it or uninstall the Pro version.

You should have received an email with either an attached file (license.avastlic) or a link to download it ?

That should be saved to your hard drive where you can find it again, then double click on it and avast will enter the license into the program.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Kei on July 17, 2011, 06:50:16 PM

Heya! My question is about the Avast Forum itself: 

Is a secure login available when inputting our passwords or updating the account related page of our profiles?

Thanks!

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: happyday on July 29, 2011, 03:19:42 AM

Hello, Could you please start a post about problems with putting viruses into the chest.?  I found a Malware Trojan and tried to put it into my virus chest, but avast took a really long time to try to process this.  I thought the avast was stuck, so I quit avast and scanned my computer again.  The Scan Now function did not locate this malware, so I scanned the entire volume on my Mac Hard Drive.  When I located the virus in the scanner display, I had difficulty sending all the files to the virus chest because avast did not process them all.  I don't know why.  ??? ??? ???
I have the blue ball avast MacEdition.  I just installed the new license and started using it.  I am concerned about whether this virus is on my computer.  My computer said it found 9 viruses, but I can't seem to locate them all to put them in the virus chest???  Thanks

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: ColinT on September 22, 2011, 09:20:01 AM

My Network Shield has just stopped and won't restart?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: CraigB on September 22, 2011, 11:17:27 AM

Quote from: ColinT on September 22, 2011, 09:20:01 AM

My Network Shield has just stopped and won't restart?

Try a repair through remove programs.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: alcenir josé da silva on January 17, 2012, 01:27:27 PM

Hello, good morning. I've been through this, request information about the purchase made on 1 January this year, the official website of Avast, Intrnet of securit. I see no email was sent to me and not even the product. I would like to send me information about what happened. Well, I need urgent information to be able to install antivirus original and paid on my computers. Sincerely, John Doe Alcenir.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: alcenir josé da silva on January 17, 2012, 01:34:45 PM

I do not know what estaacontecendo with the site. is that some kind of Hachem who is releasing these offers and cheating? Well, I would like to send me information as soon posssivel.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: nmb on January 17, 2012, 01:37:43 PM

alcenir,

Please send a mail to sales@avast.com with your query regarding the purchase (Better use the same email id which you used while buying the product.) They will do the needful.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: alcenir josé da silva on January 17, 2012, 02:14:18 PM

Agradeço muito pela ajuda. Aguardo respostas do Avast.Bom dia.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: zombie_massacre on May 22, 2012, 02:58:31 AM

Quote from: gdiloren on August 15, 2008, 06:13:59 AM

Quote from: Beksta86 on July 14, 2008, 08:14:01 PM

???Hi i've just registered with Avast forums and i'm not sure where to post this!  so here goes... i've recently bought a new laptop with windows vista on it and have installed Avast - however it keeps coming up that windows firewall is switched off.  i switch it on - then the next time i switch my laptop on its always switched off!  i've read somewhere that avast isn't a firewall program so would anybody know what is conflicting with windows firewall to make it keep switching off? i've scanned all my drives using avast for viruses and it hasn't found any.  my old laptop had XP and windows firewall was always fine with avast.  Could anyone help? 

This happened to me twice. It has nothing to do with AVAST but with I think a bug in Vista computers. There is a certain window in Control Panel where it works while activating Windows Firewall by any other mean won't work. Be sure to use this window panel:

does this work if avast isnt protecting your system at all no matter how may times you hit "fix now" and allow the program, and also switching on avast but saying that the system shield is missing, please help, ive had avast with xp but now it just not working.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Lisandro on May 22, 2012, 03:19:23 AM

Quote from: zombie_massacre on May 22, 2012, 02:58:31 AM

does this work if avast isnt protecting your system at all no matter how may times you hit "fix now" and allow the program, and also switching on avast but saying that the system shield is missing, please help, ive had avast with xp but now it just not working.

I suggest an installation from scratch (step 4 is very important):

1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html) and save it.
2. Download the latest avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html) version and save it.
3. (Optional) If you want, save your avast! settings for later restoration (Settings > Maintenance > Back up).
4. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can't run it, try booting in Safe Mode (http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml) and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
5. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1 in Safe Mode (http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml). Boot after you've run it. Repeat this for any major avast! version you have ever installed/upgraded in your computer.
6. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
7. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade (http://www.avast.com/resend-license-paid.php) your key from old versions.
8. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Arun GK on June 18, 2012, 05:06:40 PM

Can avast include any tool in its next free version which blocks those sites from loading which contains contents inappropriate for children

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: DavidR on June 18, 2012, 05:14:03 PM

Use OpenDNS.com DNS servers as it has a dashboard function that you can block multiple different categories of sites.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Pondus on June 18, 2012, 05:16:10 PM

Quote from: Arun GK on June 18, 2012, 05:06:40 PM

Can avast include any tool in its next free version which blocks those sites from loading which contains contents inappropriate for children

it can....but i am not sure they are going to

sett up your router (or computer) with openDNS

http://www.opendns.com/.      http://www.opendns.com/home-solutions

video. http://d2v7u03x06aro3.cloudfront.net/videos/tutorials/basic.mp4

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: biddymay on October 10, 2012, 10:39:10 AM

I have avast provirus 6 on one laptop and have just purchased a second laptop.  Does this antivirus cover the second computer or do I have to purchase another antivirus protection?

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: CraigB on October 10, 2012, 10:48:57 AM

Quote from: biddymay on October 10, 2012, 10:39:10 AM

I have avast provirus 6 on one laptop and have just purchased a second laptop.  Does this antivirus cover the second computer or do I have to purchase another antivirus protection?

Depends on if your purchase was for a single license or the three license package, if it was the single license then it is only valid for one system.

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Joanne13 on February 01, 2013, 10:48:47 PM

Please forgive me if this question is already answered but it's getting late and I can't search all the previous posts right now. Does avast HAVE to use Internet Explorer as it's primary browser? I ask since I'm using Firefox and I may be having some issues there, just not sure. Won't the fact that its browser is IE cause conflicts with my browser? If so how do I change this with OUT changing browsers?

Thanks in advance!  ;)

Title: Re: User's FAQ
Post by: Asyn on February 01, 2013, 11:16:39 PM

Quote from: Joanne13 on February 01, 2013, 10:48:47 PM

Does avast HAVE to use Internet Explorer as it's primary browser?

No.