Can't select anything. Avast Free

[Toboe]

Okay, so I've run a virus scan,and it's detected 49 infected files, and says to select the required action for each result and click apply. But I can't click apply, or select viruses for an action. What's wrong/am I doing wrong?

[Lisandro]

Does the scanning finish?

[Toboe]

I believe it does, yeah.

[Lisandro]

Is "apply" button disabled?
Strange... it should be enabled after the scan is finished and you have already selected files/actions to be taken...

[Toboe]

That's the thing, I can't select the files. I click on them, but nothing happens at all.

[DavidR]

Okay, so I've run a virus scan,and it's detected 49 infected files, and says to select the required action for each result and click apply. But I can't click apply, or select viruses for an action. What's wrong/am I doing wrong?

Are you sure these are infected 'files' as if there are no infected files or there is no appropriate action to be taken, then the Action button will be greyed out.

This normally happens if the items in the list are:
1. detections in memory blocks - which aren't files but virtual locations in memory.
2. files that can't be scanned - which is not an indication they are suspect or infected, just that they can't be scanned.

Can you give some examples of the file names, locations and malware names, e.g. (C:\windows\system32\infected-file-name.xxx) ?

What was the scan that you ran, Quick, Full System or Custom scan ?
If a custom scan, what areas were selected and what sensitivity, settings, etc. did you set ?

[Toboe]

Actually, they are all memory blocks it looks like. And, I can give a few names, but there's like 49 of them >< Most of them have [Trj] [Expl] and [Wrm] tags.

Here's a few

BV:FormatC-E [Trj]
Win32:Small-HZN [Trj]
HTML:IFrame-AZ [Trj]
Win32:Gremo
Win32:RPCexploit [Trj]
Win32:PcClient-OD [Trj]

--Edit--

Forgot these: Custom scan, Scans: All Hard Disks, System Drive, Memory, Auto-start programs and Rootkits (full scan). File Types: Scan all files. Sensitivity: Normal

[DavidR]

The key to this is the process loading them into memory ?
That is likely to be another security application loading its unencrypted virus signatures into memory.

Since these are memory blocks, you are running a custom scan and have chosen to scan memory (as your Edit states). When you grab a tiger by the tail you expect to be bitten, by selecting a memory scan (and perhaps a few other scan options) you can be bitten by the results (well scared at the very least). This is one of the unexpected consequences of scanning memory.

[Toboe]

You mean msmpeng.exe? So, are these not really issues at all? If they are, how do I fix them?

[DavidR]

Yes, that is windows defender loading unencrypted virus signatures into memory.

So that is a consequence of having avast's on-demand scan check memory when it is specifically hunting for virus signatures, it isn't to know that the signature isn't a real virus signature.

Personally I have never been a fan of windows defender and this to me only supports my feeling of it.

[Toboe]

So, should I just not scan memory? Or should I ask my friend whose in tech school for something better, or if I should just get rid of it?

[DavidR]

I don't think there is a huge benefit in scanning the memory or that would likely be a default action in the pre-defined Quick or Full System scans.

I can't tell you to get rid of a security application that has to be your choice. However, some find it uses a lot of system resources. Some have disabled the resident scanning function as avast does have anti-spyware built into the main program. That would mean just doing periodic on-demand scans with it.

As far as something better, MBAM free is a good anti-malware scanner, it isn't resident (unless you pay the one off fee for the resident option). Or SAS another good anti-spyware, the free is also on-demand only, but I bought the Pro (one off fee) version a couple of years ago before MBAM was as well known.

[Toboe]

Oh, so Avast! also works as a security program? That's good to know. And what do you mean uses a lot of resources? Sorry, I'm not all that great with computers(At least, not yet anyways.)

[YoKenny]

I don't have a problem with Windows Defender on Windows 7 but I do not run it on XP Pro.

MBAM Pro one time fee is well worth the licence.

[DavidR]

Oh, so Avast! also works as a security program? That's good to know. And what do you mean uses a lot of resources? Sorry, I'm not all that great with computers(At least, not yet anyways.)

Mainly CPU % and RAM, are what most associate with using system resources.