Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: gondarr on November 01, 2004, 09:05:02 PM
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I would like to know what is the likelyhood of scripting support for Firefox?
It seems odd to me that Firefox isn't supported when one considers that Netscape, Mozilla and Firefox are all based on the same rendering engine (GRE) and Firefox is now the premier browser product of the Mozilla Foundation.
And when one considers the growing popularity of Firefox, and the apparent decline (relative to Firefox at least) of Netscape & Mozilla browsers, it' seems a little odd that Alwil doesn't try and target the more (most) popular of the GRE-based browsers.
I use Firefox almost exclusively (IE for [windows|office]update.com and the few sites that suck in firefox) and though I would very much like to have scripting support, I see no reason to pay for avast Pro as long as it doesn't support scripting in Firefox. The other "extras" of avast pro, just don't appeal to me enough to pay.
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Hi Gondarr! Avast pro protect you about script for IE NETSCAPE &mozilla SO I THINK FIREFOX IS INCLUDED
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Depending on the settings you have set for Avast, the on-access scanner is scanning ALL files which are on your HD (harddisk) when used/opened. So in a way every browser could be considered as being protected.
eg: When you visit a website that has malicious script on it, and it tries to install something, the on-access scanner can detect the malware. (if it is in the vps and depending on your settings ofcourse)
Keep in mind that the script blocker in Avast is just a small part of the total security for your system. ;)
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gondarr
I use firefox as my main browser aswell, but i very much doubt that there will be scripting support for firefox (unfortanatly), there's just no applicable interface to use.
--lee
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Lee,
scripting is a "vage" term. What kind of scripting does someone mean?
Java script?
ActiceX script?
JavaScript?
vbs script?
You could even consider a appication (like my utils) written in basic as being a "script"..........
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Gyl - FIREFOX IS NOT SUPPORTED - and apart from any other reason I may know that, it comes straight to me from someone at alwil software.
Eddy - I agree that while all files are scanned, and yes it would intercept malware etc., that's not what concerns me.
I would think the idea behind scripting is more to intercept pages that, during page loading, instead of installing malware, would use the scripting capabilities to execute system commands or run programs or something like that.
As for total system security, I totally agree, and whereas some people complain that on-access scanning slows apps or downloading of email or whatever, I willl happily put up with it knowing that I am protected from nasty viruses - and avast has done an admirable job so far.
And not only that, scripting can be a "vague" term too ;D
lee - I'm sorry but I don't understand what you mean by "there's just no applicable interface to use"
But I will submit that if avast can script scan IE, Mozilla, and Netscape, I don't see why they can't do it for Firefox, especially considering, as I already stated, Netscape, Mozilla and Firefox all use the same rendering engine (GRE).
OOAT - beta4.5 seems great and I like that email scanning doesn't need special config anymore - great job
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lee - I'm sorry but I don't understand what you mean by "there's just no applicable interface to use"
To tell you the truth, i don't actulary know, you see i asked the exsact same question as you quite a while back, and i got that answer from ALWIL (avast) team, i never asked what it ment as it didn't really matter to me, mabey Vik or someone will explain for us :)
--lee
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I would think the idea behind scripting is more to intercept pages that, during page loading, instead of installing malware, would use the scripting capabilities to execute system commands or run programs or something like that.
Avast Pro has a script blocker. (if that is what you mean)
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Script Blocker is checking WSH (Windows Scripting Host) scripts.
This means its checking all scripts in Windows itself (since its using IE to display folder content) and all scripts in supported browsers.
Its really strange that they cannot do checking for Firefox since its based on GRE (Gecko) which is also used for Mozilla Suite. Firefox is also very popular so support for it might give users reason to buy avast! Pro.
Maybe support for Script Blocking could be added via Extensions who knows.
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The ScriptBlocker does not support FireFox and there are no immediate plans to change this situation. We have spent nonzero effort trying to make it work back in 2003 when avast 4.0 was released but were pretty much unsuccessful.
Scripting in Firefox is implemented in a different way than in Mozilla itself.
Sorry
Vlk
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thanks for your response vlk.
that's too bad ... of course, I've been running home edition for months now, and it works great, so I can't complain too much! and being a bit of an anti-malware nut, I'm not too worried. Hopefully though someday you'll be able to figure it out.
apart from that though, beta4.5 seems to be working great, and I especially like the new mail scanning ... great work avast team
thanks
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Gondarr, why don't you use free script blockers like Script Sentry (http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/downloads/ScriptSentry.zip) or AnalogX Script Defender (http://www.analogx.com/files/sdefendi.exe). I do recommend the last one. It will intercept any request to execute the most common scripting types used in virus attacks, such as Visual Basic Scripting (.VBS), Java Script (.JS), etc and can even be configured to intercept new script extensions as needed! It's very simple to use and helps to ensure that you do not inadvertently run a script no matter what email program you use, or even if you get it via another method. ;)
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Techinical - thanks for the suggestion ... Actually I had come across the analogx one just yesterday, but I wasn't sure about it. Seeing as you recommend it, I'll give it a try.
thanks again
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Techinical - thanks for the suggestion ... Actually I had come across the analogx one just yesterday, but I wasn't sure about it. Seeing as you recommend it, I'll give it a try.
thanks again
No matters. It does not harm. Use the default extension settings.
Although it has an updater, in fact, updater are very very rare ::)
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hi Gondarr:thanks for your topic about script in firefox,we've learnt something;as Technical i recomand you analogXscript;,it's quite efficient
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thanks to everyone for your suggestions and input
gondarr