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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Jack 1000 on January 22, 2010, 11:51:33 PM

Title: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Jack 1000 on January 22, 2010, 11:51:33 PM
Is it every 4 hours like version 4.8?

Jack
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: gamemaster1494 on January 23, 2010, 12:07:20 AM
I think its every time you log on. It might not though. It might only update when there is an update avalible. It might check for updates more often though.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Pondus on January 23, 2010, 12:16:25 AM
when you log on, then it is checking for updates every 240min (avast free) 60min (avast pro - security suite) deafult settings
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Jack 1000 on January 23, 2010, 12:37:44 AM
when you log on, then it is checking for updates every 240min (avast free) 60min (avast pro - security suite) deafult settings

That sounds like what it was for 4.8.  I have the free Edition of 5.0.

Jack
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: dixy on January 23, 2010, 12:49:30 AM
You can set the update check interval to whatever you want, eg. 150 min, by default is 240. But if you ask how many times avast! actually downloads a new virus database, I'd say twice a day, but may even be more often when needed.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 01:23:11 AM
I think its every time you log on. It might not though. It might only update when there is an update avalible. It might check for updates more often though.

You can set the update check interval to whatever you want, eg. 150 min, by default is 240. But if you ask how many times avast! actually downloads a new virus database, I'd say twice a day, but may even be more often when needed.

Not entirely correct:
When you first connect avast will check for updates and every 4 hours if you remain connected. If like me you are on dial-up it would check when you reconnect.

Yes, you can set the update interval figure to what you like, but in the free program if you set it below 240 it will be ignored (at least that is what Alwil members are saying). It only downloads an update at the time of checking and finding an update is available.

There are usually two updates a day sometimes that is higher (I have had as many as 5 in a day on 4.8) or on occasion there may only be one update.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: MikeBCda on January 23, 2010, 01:38:21 AM
There are usually two updates a day sometimes that is higher (I have had as many as 5 in a day on 4.8) or on occasion there may only be one update.
The last couple of weekends, it seemed there there was only 1 daily on Saturdays and Sundays, 2 (or more) the rest of the week.  I'd guess Alwil shifted a fair bit of manpower over to get v5 finalized and released, and we'll shortly be seeing a return to the usual schedule.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: steen on January 23, 2010, 02:31:49 AM
I've been using Avast 5 for a few days now on a WinXP3/Win7 test box. Adusting the auto-update interval works fine except that the interval works only for the current logged on session. Avast auto-updates if you re-start/log off/on regardless of whether you specify update every 3 days etc. (I have my reasons...)

I'd also prefer to be asked when updates are available, but the service complains that "the system is not fully protected" with warning icon over the system tray icon. Same when unneeded shields are turned off (unless uninstalled). Any workaround?

Edit:Ninjaedit.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 02:42:05 AM
Then change the avast Settings, Updates for VPS Updates.

If you don't intend to use these Shields you should remove them, unlike 4.8 if you have a shield installed if it isn't running this is going to remind you.

So using windows Add Remove programs, select 'avast! Anti-Virus,' click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Change, uncheck the Shields you don't use P2P and IM (the rest are essential I feel) and OK your way out. This completely removes those shields and no more unsecured notification. If you need them in the future all you need do is reverse that process, adding the shield/s that you need.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Gopher John on January 23, 2010, 02:54:37 AM
I'd also prefer to be asked when updates are available, but the service complains that "the system is not fully protected" with warning icon over the system tray icon. Same when unneeded shields are turned off (unless uninstalled). Any workaround?

Edit:Ninjaedit.

Look at Settings | Status Bar.  Uncheck those you don't want to be monitored.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: street_lethal on January 23, 2010, 02:58:51 AM
Then change the avast Settings, Updates for VPS Updates.

If you don't intend to use these Shields you should remove them, unlike 4.8 if you have a shield installed if it isn't running this is going to remind you.

So using windows Add Remove programs, select 'avast! Anti-Virus,' click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Change, uncheck the Shields you don't use P2P and IM (the rest are essential I feel) and OK your way out. This completely removes those shields and no more unsecured notification. If you need them in the future all you need do is reverse that process, adding the shield/s that you need.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday removing the p2p and IM shields, I don't use either. You can also disable the shields permanently then go to settings>status bar> and under "components monitored" uncheck the shields you disabled and it won't bug you. Either or, remove them with add/remove programs or disable them and disable the monitoring of the disabled shields.

Edit: just saw that Gopher John beat me to it.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: steen on January 23, 2010, 03:19:29 AM
Then change the avast Settings, Updates for VPS Updates.

If you don't intend to use these Shields you should remove them, <SNIP>
Already noted in my post. Additionally, update settings are set to ask/off. Warning tray icon only off when both options were set to auto-update. Flipping monitoring checkboxes on/off (below) seems to have fixed it.

Look at Settings | Status Bar.  Uncheck those you don't want to be monitored.
Thanks Gopher, already had IM, P2P status bar monitoring unchecked as well as def auto-updates off. However, I just cycled virus def version & program version monitoring off/on & the warning icon is now off.

Thanks street_lethal.

Edit: Now all I'd like is for the old bugbear of 000.fcl driver from PowerDVD 8 to not be flagged occasionally... ;)
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 04:16:52 AM
The difference in not being monitoring and them not taking up any resources is more what I was getting at if they aren't installed, they obviously won't be monitored and don't use any resources.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Go Pack Go on January 23, 2010, 04:41:18 AM
I have the "I only connect to the internet using a dial up modem" checked and I haven't received any virus database updates since i first installed it.  I have connected 3-5 times and been on the internet for a total of 4-5 hours.  Why haven't I been auto-updated?
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 04:49:17 AM
Uncheck that option for some weird reason that stops the check.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Go Pack Go on January 23, 2010, 04:56:55 AM
Uncheck that option for some weird reason that stops the check.

Does Alwil know about this and are they going to fix it?
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: bobo1 on January 23, 2010, 07:52:40 AM
Altered update settings through GUI.
Set mine to I connect through internet modem & direct connection no proxy.
Set update time interval to 10mins. Connected to internet and waited 10mins Avast did update after that as noted hard drive activity and voice notification.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 04:05:49 PM
Uncheck that option for some weird reason that stops the check.

Does Alwil know about this and are they going to fix it?

I don't know if that is by design or not, as by default both options are unchecked, so it should work if you have dial-up or always on connection.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Gopher John on January 23, 2010, 04:25:27 PM
It would be nice if the Avast website lists the updates by date/time so one could check if they have the latest.  Does anyone know if v4.8 and v5.* update releases are syncronized?

I miss the way the old website posted the status of VPS updates.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 05:01:36 PM
I don't know if two are the same, just that some elements of the update aren't used by 4.8, so I quess those could be stripped out, so after testing they could be released to both at the same time. Though if you do a manual download of the full VPS there is a difference, http://www.avast.com/download-update (http://www.avast.com/download-update). There is quite a big difference in size too, with 4.8 at 32MB and 5.0 at 28MB, so it looks like the 5.0 VPS is more efficient, perhaps due the the new algorithmic, heuristic signatures.

That has already been reported and acknowledged and they will get on to it. As you might imagine the complete revamp of the web site to come in line with avast 5.0 release must have been a huge task. I'm sure this isn't the only thing needing attention on the new site, so I guess we will have to await its update in line with their other priorities.

Whilst the new page is there it doesn't yet include the 2010 updates.
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: Gopher John on January 23, 2010, 05:46:48 PM
Yes, I had noticed the difference in the full VPS downloads.  I attributed it to better optimization of the updating process in V5.  Even the incremental updates are faster, though I don't know if those files are smaller also.

I certainly can appreciate the fact that a complete revamp of the website is a monumental task.  I'm also looking forward to the new manual for Avast Free/Pro Antivirus.  Patience is a virtue, and some of us are more virtuous that others. :D
Title: Re: How Often Does Avast 5 Auto Update?
Post by: DavidR on January 23, 2010, 05:52:53 PM
As the Vulture said, 'Patience my ass I'm going to kill something.' ;D