Author Topic: What does avast! scan after boot and why? [Outpost Pro causes excessive access]  (Read 30094 times)

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Offline DavidR

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What determines the files that are scanned when avast! starts after WinXP boots?

The reason I ask is my Standard Shield scanned count after everything settles down (avast icon stops spinning after boot) is in the region of 800. However, my last one was in excess of 1000.

There are files that are being scanned that are in my program Files folders (I have two C: and D:) that are not used for weeks on end. One being my Time Synchronisation program but there are many like it being scanned and I really would have thought that only windows, memory, start-up, services and their associated files would need to be scanned and this shouldn't amount to around 800 on average.

My system is relatively clean with minimal programs running on start-up with only 30 processes running so for over 800 files to be scanned seems excessive. Not to mention it takes about 90 seconds to complete the scan.

Some time ago I believe this was going to be looked at to see what needed to be scanned after boot and if there was perhaps a way to allow user adjustment of what is scanned when avast starts?
« Last Edit: June 21, 2005, 06:44:38 PM by DavidR »
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Offline pk

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2005, 08:55:37 PM »
It depends what type of files are scanned (if the provider's settings was not modified weirdly) - and what files are used by system during its starting (could you pls turn scanning notification on - that yellow/blue rectangle under clock? then it could tell you more...).

Offline Lisandro

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2005, 09:06:24 PM »
Could you pls turn scanning notification on - that yellow/blue rectangle under clock? then it could tell you more...
This could not work as avast takes a lot of time to 'be ready' and show the first notification, very after a lot of things are already loaded and loading...  :'( :-\
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Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2005, 09:19:11 PM »
I have been monitoring it in the last scanned file list in the detailed view of Standard Shield and it flits aroung wildly from C:\Program Files to d:\Program Files to windows\system32, etc too fast really to list all. I would assume that the 'Show detailed info on performed action' would be equally as fast as to prove difficult to read. I will enable it and reboot later and get back.

Provider settings are pretty standard:
 - Scanner (Basic) all options ticked.
 - Scanner (Advanced) scan all files on open, always scan WSH script files, Scan created/modified files all files.
 - Blocker, default extension set, Allow  the operation, the rest ot selected.
 - Advanced - now Show detailed info on preformed action and the default list of locations not scanned.
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Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2005, 09:45:43 PM »
Ok did that and as suspected it whizzes through the list so fast as to be difficult to identify much, or to possibly help.

Other than it would appear to be scanning virtually every .exe file on my system, which is obviously not true as a search for *.exe returns 1081 on C: and 547 on D:. This time it recorder 810 files scanned after boot.

I did find some strange folders being scanned. I have a folder for programs that don't require any registry keys, 'D:\Utilities-Non-Registry' for little utility programs and it would appear to be scanning .exe files in there (and sub folders) as well.

What I thought strange that I noticed a couple uninstall exe files flashing through.

They seem so random in the folder and files flipping from C to D partition Program Files (both) to windows, windows\system32, etc.
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Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2005, 10:21:29 PM »
Well had a bit of a brain wave after mentioning my 'D:\Utilities-Non-Registry' folder (in the previous post), I thought why would it possibly look there. I have two additional toolbars that I created to speed access to useful programs that I use relatively frequently to avoid desktop shortcut clutter.

One of them is a shortcut to the Utilities-Non-Registry folder so I thought that this might be the reason for the heavy scan load (3 toolbars and all the 12 desktop shortcuts) so I disabled both of these toolbars and also disabled the quick launch toolbar and rebooted.

Rats, no difference, still scanned in excess of 800 files about 90 seconds before the avast icon stopped.

Any more ideas?
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Bascule

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2005, 12:27:35 PM »
I'd be interested in an answer to this too as I have noticed that Avast! takes rather a long time to stop "spinning" after I logon.

Offline Vlk

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2005, 01:43:10 PM »
Are you using Kerio Personal Firewall?
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Bascule

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2005, 01:51:09 PM »
No, I'm just using the Windows Firewall (SP2).

My other security s/w is WinPatrol, SpyBot (no Teatimer), Spyware Blaster, Bit Defender (not resident).

Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2005, 04:21:25 PM »
Are you using Kerio Personal Firewall?

Not sure if that was directed at me, but no I use Outpost Pro as in my signature.
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Offline bob3160

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #10 on: June 07, 2005, 04:58:58 PM »
Vlk
Add me to this list of curious people and I use ZA.
As David said it takes a long time and seems to delay the boot process at least the actual access
after booting is delayed since it takes so long for the initial scan to complete.
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Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #11 on: June 07, 2005, 05:19:25 PM »
Perhaps some feedback (by way of a poll, etc.) on the numbers of files scanned after boot, your OS and firewall may be of use?

Files Scanned = 300--500, 500-700, 700-900, etc.
OS Type =
Firewall =
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Offline xistenz

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #12 on: June 07, 2005, 06:33:57 PM »
Files scanned = 83
OS Type = Windows XP SP2 (aboout 1 month old)
Firewall = Windows XP firewall (This is my second computer, and I am behind a router)

Offline Vlk

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #13 on: June 07, 2005, 06:40:03 PM »
Basically, there's no scanning on startup invoked by avast at all.
The files that are scanned are being opened by another program, and THIS invokes the scan.

E.g. the Office FastSearch (or how do they call it) feature consists in scanning your hard drives and indexing your files (same goes to Google and MSN Desktop Searches). As the files are being opened, avast scans them.

Normal value for XP users is about 300 files. That's a plain OS install and Standard Shield's settings on default.


Thanks
Vlk
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Offline DavidR

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Re: What does avast! scan after boot and why?
« Reply #14 on: June 07, 2005, 07:34:22 PM »
I know the one you are talking about the Office (FastFind?) Indexing to supposedly speed opening that kept blipping the hdd LED, I disabled this years ago and I also disabled the windows Indexing Service in XP.

Back to the drawing board to see what could possibly accessing thes files causing avast to scan them.
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