Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Sode no Shirayuki on December 03, 2011, 07:26:36 PM
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When I boot the system, I get the following error in Event Viewer.
Source: Service Control Manager
Event ID: 7026
Description: The following boot-start or system-start driver(s) failed to load:
aswSnx
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Hi,
Try to repair avast! You can do it by going to..
Control Panel -> Programs and Features (Add or Remove Programmes) -> avast -> Click on uninstall /Change ->Scroll down for the option of Repair .
Check the status of avast! and reply back.
Thanks
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Well, it's the sandbox driver.
Do you use any other sandbox program in your computer?
Which avast version are you trying to install?
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Hi, thanks for replying.
I decided to just reinstall the program - It fixed the problem. I forgot there was an option to repair an existing installation. >.>
There was something else I was going to ask but I can't seem to remember what...
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Hm, I did just notice something...
Was the Script Shield significantly improved? Back when I use to use the Script Shield I was lucky if it scanned 3 or 4 scripts. I installed the Script Shield only few minutes ago when I reinstalled Avast and already the Script Shield has scanned 389 scripts.
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Was the Script Shield significantly improved?
Yes, it was. :)
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That's cool.
I just thought of something. I remember reading that the Heuristics Level (Expert Settings > Sensitivity) does not affect some shields. Is this true? If so, what shields does the Heuristics Level not affect? I read that the Web Shield is one of the shields unaffected.
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I just thought of something. I remember reading that the Heuristics Level (Expert Settings > Sensitivity) does not affect some shields. Is this true? If so, what shields does the Heuristics Level not affect? I read that the Web Shield is one of the shields unaffected.
Not sure what you mean, as you can set it up for each shield (where possible) separately.
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Hi, thanks for replying.
I decided to just reinstall the program - It fixed the problem. I forgot there was an option to repair an existing installation. >.>
There was something else I was going to ask but I can't seem to remember what...
You are welcome
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Hm, strange... Anyway, I can't seem to find where I read about it so for now I suppose I'll just set the heuristics to high and if I happen to come across the information again I'll make a thread in the future. It's possible I may have misread the information too.
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...if I happen to come across the information again I'll make a thread in the future.
Do so, we're here. ;)
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I have a couple other questions.
1:
If AutoSandbox is set to 'Ask' and Silent/Gaming Mode is enabled, will AutoSandbox place suspicious programs into the sandbox automatically?
2:
How can I configure Avast's Script Shield so that it does not scan any scripts on any website with a particular domain?
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^
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I guess we got to the spoonfeeding period.
You can read the built in help included in avast.
Scrip Shield -> EXPERT settings -> exclusions. Add the url and save.
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The help file doesn't provide any information regarding the Script Shield (except a short description detailing its purpose)...
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All adding the the URL does is tell Avast to not scan the following script: http://www.crunchyroll.com/ - It does not tell Avast to not scan all scripts executed on any website with the following domain: crunchyroll.com (including sub-domains).
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yah when i was watching vid on youtube i saw the script shield scanning a lot of the scripts....so thats good. ;D
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All adding the the URL does is tell Avast to not scan the following script: http://www.crunchyroll.com/ - It does not tell Avast to not scan all scripts executed on any website with the following domain: crunchyroll.com (including sub-domains).
Try using:
www.crunchyroll.com/* and
www.crunchyroll.com
Note the slight changes in both cases comparing with your previous one.
To be clear, I'm NOT recommending adding exclusions. I'm just answering to your technical question about how to do it.
Please report back.
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Just tried both. Scripts were still being scanned.
Edit:
From what I understand, most of the security risk lies within third-party scripts. Can Avast distinguish third-party from first-party scripts? That is to say... Can I configure Avast to scan only third-party scripts? This way, I can decrease the amount of scripts being scanned on my favorite websites, however, still be adequately protected.
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Third party scripts are off site scripts and until run avast doesn't scan them, at that point I guess it doesn't care. The problem being if it were initiated by that site would it be treated as from that site (and not scan per exclusion) or recognise it isn't from that excluded site and scan it. That is one area why I generally don't add sites to the script shield exclusions.
I would suggest that you use the firefox NoScript add-on as by default it doesn't allow scripts to be run until you allow them for the site. It also has a function to block XSS ((X)Cross Site Scripting). You could go a step further and use the RequestPolicy add-on as that gives even more configurable against XSS running.
However NoScript will take a little time to build up your database of commonly used/visited sites that you allow first party scripts to be run, so some find it can be a little hassle at first. The RequestPolicy is much more intrusive as you would be surprised just how much 3rd party (XSS) scripts/content is used on sites.
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Thanks for the detailed response.
Yep, I can understand that. I mainly wanted to see if reducing the amount of scripts scanned on my favorite websites resulted in better performance when browsing those websites. Slowness isn't usually an issue, but it does occur. Though, I don't necessarily blame Avast for this. Slowness is more or less noticeable - It varies. If Avast was responsible I'd imagine slowness would be consistent. Firefox runs quite fast for me considering my computer only has 1 Gig of RAM (I'd like to add more but my computer doesn't support it). I use FasterFox Lite and SpeedyFox. Also, I keep the number of add-ons to a bare minimum. Additionally, I used a TCP Optimizer for Windows XP that was provided by my ISP. Back to the main topic, I suppose I won't bother adding any exceptions to the Script Shield. Though, I wonder if Avast has any plans to expand the Script Shield.
I used to have NoScript, however, I uninstalled it shortly after installing it. NoScript blocks everything - It's just way too annoying. Personally, I find it impossible to enjoy the internet when using it. There's a filter that can be added to Adblock Plus which blocks third-party scripts, however, it's about as annoying to use as NoScript. Too many websites rely on the use of third-party scripts, therefore, using the filter results in a broken internet. I'm not a fan of randomly breaking websites. That's why Avast's Script Shield is so good - It only blocks scripts that it deems are malicious. Now that I think about it, how does Avast determine that a a script is malicious and should be blocked from executing?
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You're welcome.
It would be blocked in the same way as the web shield aborts the connection, the script just wouldn't be run; I don't know the way it achieves this, but I assume it would be similar to the web shield (or network shield blocking).
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Hm... I'm not sure how the Web Shield and Network Shield. I'll leave that out of this thread, though. Perhaps, in the future, I'll create a new thread for the sole purpose of learning how the Script Shield determines whether or not a script is potentially malicious.
Perhaps, in the future, the Script Shield will provide more functionality so users can customize it to suit their individual needs (if this is even possible). I do like the Script Shield, though. It's great for people who prefer simple security to security provided by add-ons such as NoScript.
Solved.