End of support for Windows XP/Vista

[rocksteady]

I use Avast free 18.5 on rarely used WinXP. It still gets virus definition updates.
I prefer 18.5 over last available version 18.8 for XP/Vista, which for me and some others had resourse hog issues.
If you install 18.5, set program updates to Manual, to prevent automatic update to 18.8.
These old versions are still listed on filepuma here: https://www.filepuma.com/download/avast_free_antivirus-2/versions/2

[bob3160]

I'm still on xp & found an older avast version to put on my pc. I see there's no longer support for the older version except as I understand it, there'll still be virus definitions updates? The version I got asked for registration but when I hit the button, it didn't go any further so without registering it, it says the program will self destruct in 30 days?

Did you follow these instructions?
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=220639.msg1569407#msg1569407

[rocksteady]

I have just booted WinXP with Avast Free 18.5. Definitions were updated OK.
The Avast UI screen states Licence will Expire in 3days at the bottom.
I have hit the "Extend" button and from that chosen Avast Free option. Then exited the next page that offers upgrade at discount.
The problem is I still see the "Licence will expire in 3 days" warning, despite attempts to extend it.
I thought Avast Free was not time limited.
Anyone else seen this and overcome the licence extension loop?

Also seen this previous post re v18 Licence expiry from @NON.

After testing here I cannot find a stable way to re-register nor remove red X for expired Avast 18.
Clean reinstall seems to be a only stable option, while Avast cannot get new license it works (i.e. no red X) without license except for short period of time after boot.

I have not attempted to re-install v18.5 (yet).

[bob3160]

I have just booted WinXP with Avast Free 18.5. Definitions were updated OK.
The Avast UI screen states Licence will Expire in 3days at the bottom.
I have hit the "Extend" button and from that chosen Avast Free option. Then exited the next page that offers upgrade at discount.
The problem is I still see the "Licence will expire in 3 days" warning, despite attempts to extend it.
I thought Avast Free was not time limited.
Anyone else seen this and overcome the licence extension loop?

Also seen this previous post re v18 Licence expiry from @NON.

After testing here I cannot find a stable way to re-register nor remove red X for expired Avast 18.
Clean reinstall seems to be a only stable option, while Avast cannot get new license it works (i.e. no red X) without license except for short period of time after boot.

I have not attempted to re-install v18.5 (yet).

Wow, it took you a long time to respond......

[rocksteady]

Hi Bob,
I was not responding as that was referring to Avast 10, where you offered "Information for those using an old NON SSE2 Operating System who still want to use Avast" and downloads. That is different from the problem I mentioned.

I had not had any issues with Avast 18.5 until yesterday on my (rarely booted) XP operating system. I also have backup copies of 18.5 and 18.8 so am not looking for those.

What I am looking for is a way to extend the 18.5 Free licence.

The nearest hint was the post from @NON, where he mentions 18.5 still works but tray icon has a "red X" after expiry. NON also mentions reinstallation of 18.5 may cure that.

So I am just seeking solutions for when my 18.5 Free expires in 2 days, as the UI states it will. Any offers?

[rocksteady]

Hi Bob,
I was not responding as that was referring to Avast 10, where you offered "Information for those using an old NON SSE2 Operating System who still want to use Avast" and downloads. That is different from the problem I mentioned.

I had not had any issues with Avast 18.5 until yesterday on my (rarely booted) XP operating system. I also have backup copies of 18.5 and 18.8 so am not looking for those.

What I am looking for is a way to extend the 18.5 Free licence.

The nearest hint was the post from @NON, where he mentions 18.5 still works but tray icon has a "red X" after expiry. NON also mentions reinstallation of 18.5 may cure that.

So I am just seeking solutions for when my 18.5 Free expires in 2 days, as the UI states it will. Any offers?

Well my 18.5 Free Licence Expired today. Tray icon now has red "X" etc. Licence "Reactivation" via UI does not work.
I have tried a re-installation of 18.5 Free, but get the same result. Licence says expired, but the program seems to run OK with up-to-date defs and can perform manual scans etc.  Just seems to have a problem communicating to Avast for licence renewal.

I would be interested if anyone else has found the same issue and what they have done about it.

[hugh.casement]

I downloaded a version of Avast that supposedly still works with Windows XP.
It appeared to install, but there's no short cut on the desktop screen.

Which of the many executable files in the Avast folder do I run?

 

[DavidR]

I downloaded a version of Avast that supposedly still works with Windows XP.
It appeared to install, but there's no short cut on the desktop screen.

Which of the many executable files in the Avast folder do I run?

You don't say what version you installed  ?

You shouldn't need to run any of them in the Avast Folder.
Any functions you need should be done from the Avast UI (User Interface is AvastUI.exe), there should be an Avast Icon in the same place as other running applications on the right of the taskbar. 

One of the problems in still using XP, is the old Avast program version, it isn't going to be very familiar with the current Avast version users.   Most would be working from memory and there are very few of them on the forum.

If you Open the XP Task Manager, that should show the Avast executable processes that 'are' running  ?

[rocksteady]

On XP (using avast free 18.5)
Start>Programs>Avast Software>
you should find a menu item for "Avast Free Antivirus"
That points to AvastUI.exe

[FranceBB1]

Hey guys, on July 14th 2024 I was sitting at home, spending time on my PC before tuning to itv to watch the Euro 2024 final. Anyway, like many of you, I have Avast Premier, build 18.8.2356, from November 15th 2018, the last XP compatible version. I've been a long time Avast user as most people probably know and I'm totally happy with it as it's still receiving up-to-date virus definitions via normal updates and streaming updates.

Anyway, the reason why I'm mentioning this is that I was pretty surprised to see a very unusual entry in the firewall that Avast reported as "Blocked":



I really suck at networking, but seeing it like this it looks like someone or something tried to RDP into my XP! Well, let's first say that I'm not dumb, so RDP is indeed disabled on my XP, so it wouldn't have led to anything anyway (probably), but this is pretty worrying. What's worse is that I can't see anything in the "Remote address", nor "Remote Port" or "Local address", so if it actually was an attacker, I don't even know who tried that. To make matters worse, I wasn't using a Public Wi-Fi or anything, I was sitting on my chair, at home, connected to my router. How is this possible? Is this a false alarm and the entry is a red herring? Or... perhaps... did someone actually try to RDP into my system? I'm confused.
I recently heard that there are bots scanning the entire IPv4 address range constantly, testing and probing every device they find for known vulnerabilities.
What I think happened, then, is that one of those must have found a vulnerability in the router firmware and it somehow managed to bypass it and connect to my XP?
What do you think?

[bob3160]

Hey guys, on July 14th 2024 I was sitting at home, spending time on my PC before tuning to itv to watch the Euro 2024 final. Anyway, like many of you, I have Avast Premier, build 18.8.2356, from November 15th 2018, the last XP compatible version. I've been a long time Avast user as most people probably know and I'm totally happy with it as it's still receiving up-to-date virus definitions via normal updates and streaming updates.

Anyway, the reason why I'm mentioning this is that I was pretty surprised to see a very unusual entry in the firewall that Avast reported as "Blocked":



I really suck at networking, but seeing it like this it looks like someone or something tried to RDP into my XP! Well, let's first say that I'm not dumb, so RDP is indeed disabled on my XP, so it wouldn't have led to anything anyway (probably), but this is pretty worrying. What's worse is that I can't see anything in the "Remote address", nor "Remote Port" or "Local address", so if it actually was an attacker, I don't even know who tried that. To make matters worse, I wasn't using a Public Wi-Fi or anything, I was sitting on my chair, at home, connected to my router. How is this possible? Is this a false alarm and the entry is a red herring? Or... perhaps... did someone actually try to RDP into my system? I'm confused.
I recently heard that there are bots scanning the entire IPv4 address range constantly, testing and probing every device they find for known vulnerabilities.
What I think happened, then, is that one of those must have found a vulnerability in the router firmware and it somehow managed to bypass it and connect to my XP?
What do you think?

Not to plug my own show but, If you had watched my last episode of my Weekly Security News Roundup,
https://youtu.be/MEOqbpFdn-I
You would have learned about the following exploit:
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/0000-day-18-year-old-browser.html

So this is for real.

[DavidR]

<snip quote>
Not to plug my own show but, If you had watched my last episode of my Weekly Security News Roundup,
https://youtu.be/MEOqbpFdn-I
You would have learned about the following exploit:
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/0000-day-18-year-old-browser.html

So this is for real.

Having been to and read the article in the link - given its title "0.0.0.0 Day: 18-Year-Old Browser Vulnerability Impacts MacOS and Linux Devices" - I'm not entirely sure if this also impacts Windows ?

[bob3160]

<snip quote>
Not to plug my own show but, If you had watched my last episode of my Weekly Security News Roundup,
https://youtu.be/MEOqbpFdn-I
You would have learned about the following exploit:
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/0000-day-18-year-old-browser.html

So this is for real.

Having been to and read the article in the link - given its title "0.0.0.0 Day: 18-Year-Old Browser Vulnerability Impacts MacOS and Linux Devices" - I'm not entirely sure if this also impacts Windows ?

According to the Article, it excludes Windows. But, I wonder if they mean all version of Windows

[Olifr]

Well my 18.5 Free Licence Expired today. Tray icon now has red "X" etc. Licence "Reactivation" via UI does not work.
I have tried a re-installation of 18.5 Free, but get the same result. Licence says expired, but the program seems to run OK with up-to-date defs and can perform manual scans etc.  Just seems to have a problem communicating to Avast for licence renewal.

I would be interested if anyone else has found the same issue and what they have done about it.

Same problem by me, no solution tu update the expired free licence on a old XP version 
No solution ?

Thank’s for helping.

[Pondus]

<snip quote>
Not to plug my own show but, If you had watched my last episode of my Weekly Security News Roundup,
https://youtu.be/MEOqbpFdn-I
You would have learned about the following exploit:
https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/0000-day-18-year-old-browser.html

So this is for real.

Having been to and read the article in the link - given its title "0.0.0.0 Day: 18-Year-Old Browser Vulnerability Impacts MacOS and Linux Devices" - I'm not entirely sure if this also impacts Windows ?

https://www.oligo.security/blog/0-0-0-0-day-exploiting-localhost-apis-from-the-browser