Does Avast! Professional 4.7 Scan for Spyware?

[Nailzaz]

My apologies if this is a novice/simple question, but I look through the FAQ, etc... without success.

My question is, does Avast! Antivirus 4.7 Professional include/scan for spyware/malware?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul

[Lisandro]

Well, there are a lot of signatures for malware and spyware into avast virus database.
Also, recent tests with spyware bring avast to the top of protection.
But, in other way, avast is an antivirus and not an antispyware (some features are missed in avast, we asked them to add an antispyware module a lot of times...).

[Nailzaz]

Thanks for the reply.

I am a little confused still, would it be a good idea to get the Malware application? I just purchased the AV Professional hoping it would cover all of the antivirus as well as spyware issues.

[DavidR]

One single program with one source of signatures may well miss some malware, especially when it is a specialist anti-virus application like avast! (although it does have anti-adware/spyware signatures).

So having a multi-application approach (were they specialise in different areas) to security will give better combined protection. The main thing is to have complimentary applications that work well together. For the most part this means only one resident application for a specific area, anti-virus, anti-spyware program, but you can have more on-demand applications as they are unlikely to conflict with one an other.

If you haven't already got this software (freeware), download, install, update and run it. There are other anti-spyware applications but those in item 1 are relatively competent freeware applications.
1. Ewido, a.k.a. avg anti-spyware If using winXP. or a-Squared free if using win98/ME.
2. Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition
3. Spybot Search and Destroy

[Lisandro]

I am a little confused still, would it be a good idea to get the Malware application? I just purchased the AV Professional hoping it would cover all of the antivirus as well as spyware issues.

It will be a good idea to have some on-demand (non-resident) antispyware to run from time to time (weekly, for instance).
Not a single program will be perfect. You need layered defense. The ones posted by David are my favorites too.

[BJ_GeOrgE]

Well, there are a lot of signatures for malware and spyware into avast virus database.
Also, recent tests with spyware bring avast to the top of protection.
But, in other way, avast is an antivirus and not an antispyware (some features are missed in avast, we asked them to add an antispyware module a lot of times...).

avast home has malware and spyware signatures into the virus database as well?

thnx in advance

[mouniernetwork]

avast home has malware and spyware signatures into the virus database as well?

thnx in advance

Avast Pro and Avats Home use the engine engine so yes.

Al968

[calcu007]

You mean that use same virus signatures, the antivirus "engine" is not the same that virus signatures

[Lisandro]

You mean that use same virus signatures, the antivirus "engine" is not the same that virus signatures

As far I know, both virus signatures and engine are the same for Home and Pro versions.
The differences on scanning are due to scheduling, the ability of archive scanning (unpacking), automated actions...
Am I wrong?

[chocholo]

...
As far I know, both virus signatures and engine are the same for Home and Pro versions.
The differences on scanning are due to scheduling, the ability of archive scanning (unpacking), automated actions...
...

Yes, both engine and signatures are same for avast! Home and avast! Professional (and avast! Server too). Only differences are in scheduling ability, automated actions and interface.

[WuLFe]

Super Antispyware and Spyware Blaster are good antispyware apps i would highly recommend, but i would only use the on-demand scanning feature of Super AS... its also for free... 

[BJ_GeOrgE]

Super Antispyware and Spyware Blaster are good antispyware apps i would highly recommend, but i would only use the on-demand scanning feature of Super AS... its also for free... 

i havent tried SA but i'm using spywaerblaster and Spybot s&d for on-demand scanning and i fairly recommend them..(if u use spywareblaster,disable the mmunization of spybot coz they conflict)..