Author Topic: Avast New User Questions  (Read 13730 times)

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Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #15 on: June 17, 2015, 10:41:21 PM »
Personally I don't think it necessary to clear them when you have unchecked the schedule scan.

Some may just want to switch it off for a short time and subsequently enable it again, they would then need to reset the schedule timings.
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Offline Spiritual2016

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2015, 11:02:12 PM »
I agree that the settings should not be cleared for the reason you mentioned but 'how' can the settings be cleared once the 'Schedule This Scan' option has been disabled?

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2015, 11:39:42 PM »
I agree that the settings should not be cleared for the reason you mentioned but 'how' can the settings be cleared once the 'Schedule This Scan' option has been disabled?

Change or delete the scheduled timings before unchecking the schedule scan.

So you would have to first enable the scheduled scan option before changing/clearing the timings.
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Offline Para-Noid

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #18 on: June 18, 2015, 12:48:00 AM »
Personally I wouldn't worry about unticking anything at all. The settings aren't taking up any real HDD space.
I would leave them alone just in case you want to run that scan in the future. I have a custom "full system scan"
which I run once a month. If I unticked all of my settings then the next time I run that scan I would end up having to
reset those settings. There there for when I need them next time.

I am with the others when it comes to daily scans, they are nothing but overkill.
If you absolutely want to run a daily scan use the quick scan. Then once a week or
every other week run a full scan. As I said above I run monthly custom full scans but
many others might run a boot scan after a major release as in v2014, v2015 or v2016 and won't
run another scan till the next year. "To each their own".
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Offline Spiritual2016

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #19 on: June 18, 2015, 07:28:21 AM »
A Few More Questions:

1. Regarding On Access Protection, will a pop-up message be displayed if/when a malicious file is blocked?

If so, does the pop-up message remain until an action is taken/confirmation is given or does the message just pop-up briefly then disappear since it 'blocks' automatically and it can be 'checked' later somehow?


« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 09:50:10 PM by Sporty78 »

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #20 on: June 18, 2015, 09:17:16 PM »
One more question about On Access Protection:

Will a pop-up message be displayed if/when a malicious file is blocked?

If so, does the pop-up message remain until an action is taken/confirmation is given or does the message just pop-up briefly then disappear since it 'blocks' automatically?
If either Web Shield or File System Shield (Your On-access scanners) issues a block or notification, default setting within avast is to have it hang in the lower right-hand corner for twenty seconds.

If the pop-up disappears before you can completely digest what it says, or read the options provided, simply right-click the avast icon in the system tray and select 'Show last popup message'.  You can pin the popup by clicking the pin icon upper right if needed.  (Note:  If you reboot your system, show last popup message will be grayed out and unavailable.)

You should also be able to click a button within the popup that will call your browser and display more information while it is up.  The option would then present itself to use virus total to investigate, if you wish, using the information provided.
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Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #21 on: June 18, 2015, 09:41:42 PM »
Quote
1. Regarding On Access Protection, will a pop-up message be displayed if/when a malicious file is blocked?
you can test and see how it works with EICAR test file ... not a virus, just a test string that trigger the function

EICAR test file   http://www.eicar.org/85-0-Download.html


Offline Spiritual2016

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #22 on: June 18, 2015, 09:49:34 PM »
What is 'Virus Total' and what it be necessary to check it or is it just additional information since Avast already takes care of blocking it?

Is 2015.10.2.2218 the latest 'regular' Program Version or is 2015.10.3.2219 the latest Program Version but only in beta mode and should not be relied on yet?

Second, will the Beta Program Version 2015.10.3.2219 be installed during the next automatic update, installed during the next manual update, automatically/manually installed as an update once it is out of 'Beta' mode, or will the new version have to be installed as a separate file only when it is out of Beta mode
« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 09:54:49 PM by Sporty78 »

Offline bob3160

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #23 on: June 18, 2015, 10:13:08 PM »
What is 'Virus Total' and what it be necessary to check it or is it just additional information since Avast already takes care of blocking it?

Is 2015.10.2.2218 the latest 'regular' Program Version or is 2015.10.3.2219 the latest Program Version but only in beta mode and should not be relied on yet?

Second, will the Beta Program Version 2015.10.3.2219 be installed during the next automatic update, installed during the next manual update, automatically/manually installed as an update once it is out of 'Beta' mode, or will the new version have to be installed as a separate file only when it is out of Beta mode
What is Virus Total : https://www.virustotal.com/en/about/
Will the beta version be installed during the next automatic update? : Only if you are a regular Avast beta tester.
If not, the answer is NO.
Latest version of Avast is 2015.10.2.2218.  The Beta version will not be release for general use till it's ready.
At that time it will no longer be a beta build. :)
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Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #24 on: June 18, 2015, 10:15:13 PM »
www.virustotal.com  /  www.metascan-online.com   are two very usefull online tools

they are multi antivirus engines that you can use for checking suspicious files
Virustotal can also check URLs for blacklisting. Metascan can also check IP for blacklisting


see example here, just checked a fake mail attachment

https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/087044ca9be10f23f3af9c4f15a41b11c33b939df11944c4a2d87151136425bc/analysis/1434658616/

https://www.metascan-online.com/en/scanresult/file/cd4cb5f45ce54ca5be3547f014130b06




« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:21:24 PM by Pondus »

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #25 on: June 18, 2015, 10:24:07 PM »
@ Sporty78
VirusTotal is a web site that you can upload suspect files to and have multiple different virus scanners (over 40+). This can confirm a detection is good or a possible false positive.

Version 2015.10.3.2219 is a beta version, you won't get this unless you elect to download it and install over the top of your existing. So Beta versions aren't installed on regular program updates, unless you have previously installed the beta version.

Beta testing is not to be entered into lightly, especially on a non-testbed system. Whilst I don't know your experience level other than from your posts in the forums, my advice would be to stick on the regular program update channel.
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Offline Spiritual2016

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #26 on: June 18, 2015, 10:34:41 PM »
Okay, I do have the latest version then-I just wanted to check.

When Version 2015.10.3.2219 becomes 'mainstream':

-Will it be updated automatically or manually

-Will it update over Version 2015.10.2.2218 or will Version 2015.10.2.2218 have to be uninstalled before Version 2015.10.3.2219 can be installed?

-Is it necessary for a novice to run 'Virus Total' or is it only meant as additional information for inquiring minds?
« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:38:52 PM by Sporty78 »

Offline bob3160

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #27 on: June 18, 2015, 10:38:02 PM »
Okay, I do have the latest version then-I just wanted to check.

When Version 2015.10.3.2219 becomes 'mainstream':

-Will it be updated automatically or manually

-Will it update over Version 2015.10.2.2218 or will Version 2015.10.2.2218 have to be uninstalled before Version 2015.10.3.221 can be installed?

-Is it necessary for a novice to run 'Virus Total' or is it only meant as additional information for inquiring minds?
Unless you've changed the default settings, you'll most likely receive a popup letting you know there is a new version available for download or,
a notice within the User Interface advising you of the availability.
Virus total is usually used for a second opinion so you could call it a service for inquiring minds. :)

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Offline Pondus

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #28 on: June 18, 2015, 10:44:09 PM »
Quote
-Is it necessary for a novice to run 'Virus Total' or is it only meant as additional information for inquiring minds?
no security program have 100% detection, the file i posted above is 1 day old and only half of the AV detect it

this one is 6 hours old fake mail attchment and not detected by avast ...yet
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/67789a0b637206cfb850f433226ca134ec0b81138e0ad0466be642fe97ec5649/analysis/1434659569/

so if you have a suspicious file and want a second opinion, you may use it

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:45:41 PM by Pondus »

Offline Spiritual2016

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Re: Avast New User Questions
« Reply #29 on: June 18, 2015, 10:49:56 PM »
'Virus Total' only scans uploaded files but it does not 'fix' anything, correct?

Should only recognized files be 'accepted/unblocked' or should all detected files be scanned using 'Virus Total?'

No, I have not changed the default settings. When the pop-up/Notice in User Interface is clicked, will the new version automatically install over the existing version or will it uninstall the previous version first?

Will Avast only detect files attempting to be downloaded or anything that might be suspicious on a webpage?

« Last Edit: June 18, 2015, 10:55:11 PM by Sporty78 »