Am I open to virus attack at Startup?

[JWU]

I am using high speed cable internet service.  When I turn on the computer, the Avast! icon in the taskbar indicates it has not yet started. 

Question:  Does this leave me open to an attack?  On previous antivirus programs I would receive notices of attemped attacks immediately upon startup. 

I would appreciate some good advice.

[Lisandro]

avast is not a firewall, so attacks is not exactly the case here.
Anyway, virus infections will be avoid since from your boot as avast scans all startup items running in memory...
I think you do not need to worry about this.

[JWU]

So the resident Microsoft Windows firewall, which is activated, should protect me.

[Lisandro]

So the resident Microsoft Windows firewall, which is activated, should protect me.

Yes, for inbound (attacks), yes.
It does not offer outbound protection.
A very good firewall for boot/shutdown protection is Kerio.

[DavidR]

So the resident Microsoft Windows firewall, which is activated, should protect me.

If you are using a cable allways on connection I think you should be considering a hardware router cum filewall, backed up by a third party software firewall as neither that or XP's firewall provides outbound protection.

XP's firewall is better than none at all but something stronger is required and most so if you have an always on internet connection.

[Vlk]

FYI the "Network Shield" provider of avast is active even when Windows is booting (and before the main avast service starts).

[Lisandro]

FUI the "Network Shield" provider of avast is active even when Windows is booting (and before the main avast service starts).

What about the shutdown time...?
I've started a thread about this but I never receive an answer 
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=17687.0

[Vlk]

Avast stays running, only the connection to the GUI component (the tray icon) gets broken.

[DavidR]

Thanks Vlk.