Author Topic: Some initial questions  (Read 18840 times)

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redman

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Some initial questions
« on: September 18, 2004, 08:09:14 PM »
I've only just discovered Avast and I know absolutely nothing about it at the moment. I have put the free version on my old computer to give it a try, since I still have about 6 months of my Norton subscription left on my main PC.

At first glance, the e-mail setting up seems very complicated. On my main PC I use Courier e-mail (from www.rosecitysoftware.com) and this is chained to digiportal's ChoiceMail One (anti-spam utility) which acts as a mail server (for incoming and outgoing mail). ChoiceMail is then chained to 1st Email Antivirus (from www.zzee.com). It's all rather complicated regarding port numbers, etc (I had to change the port number in my e-mail client to something other than 110 [I used 109] and play around with the settings until I got it to work). One thing I didn't have to do was worry about Norton Antivirus - it just continues to work as before. However, the Avast e-mail setup doesn't seem to be so straightforward. Would it work with the setup I have on my computer and if so, what would I need to change?

On a separate point - how does the virus definitions update facility work? Is it fully automatic like the Norton system?

Finally (for now), how does Avast compare with Norton for performance?

neal62

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2004, 08:22:42 PM »
redman,

First of all welcome to the avast forum. If you now have both Norton and Avast on your pc avast will not work properly. You will have to un-install Norton completely for Avast to work properly. As far as the email configuration that you have been using with Norton? I believe you will be able also to do that with Avast. I used to use Norton, McAfee both pay for versions and switched to Avast. I have never regretted doing that as I believe Avast, even the free version to be a superior program compared to the previous two mentioned.  ;D I am sure there will be someone else answer your questions more thoroughly than I have. Have a nice day and again welcome to the forum. :)

redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2004, 08:39:45 PM »
Thank you for the warm welcome and encouraging comments about Avast. Just to clarify, I don't have Norton and Avast on the same computer. I have Norton on my main computer and the free version of Avast on an older machine. I may consider buying the pro version of Avast for my main PC if the free version performs well. It's the thought of having to edit lines in an ini file that is my main stumbling block at the moment.

Jlo

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2004, 09:32:36 PM »
Hi Redman,

With regards VPS updates on the home edition Avast checks for updates when you conect to the internet and then at 4hr intervals after that.

The pro version has 'Push updates' which allows defs to be 'pushed' in to your computer as soon as they are released.

On both you can of course manually update through the main program or right clicking on the avast blue ball in your task bar and go to 'updating'

Hope this helps

Jlo

Offline bob3160

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2004, 09:38:21 PM »
redman
I'm a former Norton user. Changing over to Avast! was one of the best moves I ever made. Don't worry about the ini file. I have no problem editing it even though I've never had to.
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redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2004, 09:07:15 AM »
Thanks for the information so far. When I put Avast on my older computer it kept giving me a message that port 110 was already in use (which it was, 1st Email Antivirus listens on port 110). On my main computer I also have 1st EAV + ChoiceMail which uses port 110 on localhost [it also uses localhost for outgoing messages as it automatically adds people I write to to my white list] and passes messages via port 109 to my e-mail client [if I understand it correctly]). I presume I would get a similar error message if I put Avast on my main machine. I suppose to make life simpler, I could turn off e-mail scanning because 1) 1st EAV removes all scripts, web bugs, etc and zips up all attachments (apart from any exceptions I specify), 2) ChoiceMail can be set to block all message with certain attachments types (so I could set it to block all messages with zip attachments passed to it from 1st EAV) and 3) my e-mail client Courier can also be set to remove scripts, etc, so I have three layers of security even without any virus scanner.

One other thing, does anyone know which file I need to use for download managers (I seem to remember that when I selected browse, I saw that there were several exe files in the Avast folder, but I didn't know which one to select)?

Offline Lisandro

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2004, 02:56:33 PM »
One other thing, does anyone know which file I need to use for download managers?

C:\...\Avast4\ashQuick.exe
Without any other parameter.

About the ports:

Let avast at 110 (default).
Put your email account and your spam killer at 109, for instance.
If you want to follow more instructions with another spam killer (Spamihilator), take a look here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=9;action=display;threadid=3413

I used NAV in the past (like a lot of other users here, including the ones which drop their signature purchase  ;D) and do not regret.

Feel free to ask anything more. Wellcome to forums.
The best things in life are free.

redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2004, 10:35:51 PM »
I've had a few attempts at changing various settings, but so far no luck in getting the email scanner to work with Courier/ChoiceMail/1st Email Antivirus. For the moment that's OK as the combination I have is fairly secure I think (1st EAV deals with the e-mail body security risks and ChoiceMail blocks messages with attachments). I wonder why Avast doesn't scan e-mails like Norton does (which doesn't cause any port conflicts) - does anyone know? Also, if anyone wants to help me test the efectiveness of my security system, they could try sending me an e-mail direct (with an attachment) to this address: internet@valencia.plus.com (I'm not sure if that will display or not as some forums remove certain links like that). The attachment should be an exe file if possible (e.g., notepad.exe).

Offline bob3160

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2004, 02:35:08 AM »
Quote
Also, if anyone wants to help me test the efectiveness of my security system, they could try sending me an e-mail direct (with an attachment) to this address: internet@valencia.plus.com (I'm not sure if that will display or not as some forums remove certain links like that). The attachment should be an exe file if possible (e.g., notepad.exe).
redman
unles you whant to be inandated with all kinds of e-mail, I suggest you edit your previous post. Remember, this is seen by lot's of people not only from this forum. Just a word of caution.
You keep mentioning Courier/ChoiceMail/1st Email Antivirus. Is that an AV program or a Spam checker?
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redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2004, 07:58:44 AM »
Quote
You keep mentioning Courier/ChoiceMail/1st Email Antivirus. Is that an AV program or a Spam checker?

Courier is my Email client; 1st EAV is a program designed to rewrite the HTML (minus the scripts, web bugs and any other undesirable components) and ChoiceMail is a Spam blocker (it blocks all messages except those I specifically authorise [unknown senders are directed to a Web site where they have to fill in a short form stating why they wish to contact me. If they do, I am then given the choice to accept or reject their message, if they don't, their message never reaches my Inbox, unless I override the default settings for that particular message]).
« Last Edit: September 20, 2004, 08:00:43 AM by redman »

galooma

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2004, 11:14:39 AM »
is choice mail a program you subscribe to or freeware?

redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2004, 11:34:04 AM »
is choice mail a program you subscribe to or freeware?


There is a free version available but the full version is Shareware (a trial is available). Visit www.digiportal.com for further info. I've not had the program very long but I'm very pleased with it (the Shareware version that is).

Offline bob3160

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #12 on: September 20, 2004, 12:42:47 PM »
redman
Please explain some of the following son we can resolve your problem.
Is your actual e-mail program Web based or POP3?
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redman

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #13 on: September 20, 2004, 01:08:46 PM »
redman
Please explain some of the following son we can resolve your problem.
Is your actual e-mail program Web based or POP3?

POP 3. I have some screenshots of the "nitty gritty" parts of each of the programs showing the current setups but they are too large to upload to this forum. I could email them to your private e-mail address when I get home if you think that would be useful.

Offline bob3160

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Re:Some initial questions
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2004, 01:32:09 PM »
redman why not yust shrink the pictures and post them so everyone can see them. However, pop 3 is havdled thru the internetmail module in avast!. The only thing left to figure out is which ports you need to use.
110 or 111     and 25 or 26  or some other combo depending on your other programs.
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