Author Topic: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?  (Read 32072 times)

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firmafest

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Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« on: April 25, 2012, 12:55:37 AM »
Hi!

I been really paranoid about keyloggers lately, I don't think that I have one but I'm not 100% sure that I don't have one. If that makes sense.
Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers? And if so, can you do something to further reduce the risk of keyloggers?

Answers are highly appreciated!

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Offline Para-Noid

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iroc9555

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2012, 01:18:56 AM »
Avast! will detect keyloggers as PUP ( Potentially Unwanted Programs ). You can also activate this feature in your scans settings if desire.

Offline ky331

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2012, 01:53:06 AM »
I use KeyScrambler, from  http://www.qfxsoftware.com/
which claims to "scramble" your keystrokes, so that a keylogger --- if present on your system --- will intercept only a bunch of meaningless jibberish.
(In other words, rather than detecting/removing keyloggers, it's purpose is to fool them, feeding them only garbage.)
There's a completely free version that works [as an add-on] in Internet Explorer and Firefox.   If you want to cover additional programs, you can consider their (paid) PRO or PREMIUM versions.
Lenovo T530 laptop, Intel Core i5-3320M @ 2.60 GHz, 8GB RAM, Windows 7 Pro SP1 (64-bit), avast! 17 Free, MBAM3 Pro, Windows Firewall, MVPS HOSTS file, OpenDNS Family Shield, Zemana AntiLogger Free, SpywareBlaster, IE11 & Firefox [both using WOT (IE set to WARN, FF set to BLOCK)], WinPatrol PLUS, uBlock Origin, MBAE, MCShield, CryptoPrevent, SAS (on-demand scanner). 
[I believe computer-users who sandbox (Sandboxie) are acting prudently.]


firmafest

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2012, 06:34:06 PM »
You will find that a good firewall will provide the best protection against keyloggers.

Check these out...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Online-Armor-Free.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Privatefirewall.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Comodo-Personal-Firewall.shtml 

Also...

http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
http://filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/  :)

The OP cannot use another firewall along with AIS .

Thanks for the answers! Which of these linked programmes is best? And can I use them with Avast Internet Security?

Also, I scanned my computer today and it detected two files with "harmful codes" (directly translated from swedish).
I chose to remove them, but later i realized that maybe it would have been better to put them i quarantine as this was the pre-chosen alternative.
Do you guys think that they are removed and can no longer harm my computer or schould I scan again or do something else?


Offline justinlee

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2012, 09:13:52 PM »
I use Avast Internet Security (AIS) and MBAM (PRO). Using these 2 combined I don't worry about keyloggers at all.

Also, if you had keyloggers you would know about it as the first thing you would notice is your email account would probably have started to send all your contacts junk mail/you would not be able to access your accounts anymore as passwords would have been changed.

Use Avast and MBAM then just sit back and relax :)
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) SP1,
Intel Core i5-2410M @2.30GHz, 6GB RAM
AvastFree Antivirus & ZoneAlarm Free.

firmafest

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2012, 10:15:47 PM »
One password has been changed and on other sites I have had difficulties logging in.
Is it common for a keylogger to be "a real person" that tries to get your personal information or is it more common that it is an "mass"-thing that sends the same virus to a lot of people? I mean, am I in risk for a specific person to snoop and follow my keystrokes..?


Offline justinlee

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2012, 11:37:52 AM »
One password has been changed and on other sites I have had difficulties logging in.
Is it common for a keylogger to be "a real person" that tries to get your personal information or is it more common that it is an "mass"-thing that sends the same virus to a lot of people? I mean, am I in risk for a specific person to snoop and follow my keystrokes..?

It can be either. On one hand it could be spam software generating emails and sending out cr*p to many people or on the other it could be a person sitting behind their computer following your keystrokes. Going by what you have said I would not use internet banking until you are sure there is no keylogger software on your computer
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) SP1,
Intel Core i5-2410M @2.30GHz, 6GB RAM
AvastFree Antivirus & ZoneAlarm Free.

Offline CraigB

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2012, 11:50:39 AM »
You will find that a good firewall will provide the best protection against keyloggers.

Check these out...
http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Online-Armor-Free.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Privatefirewall.shtml
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Firewall/Comodo-Personal-Firewall.shtml 

Also...

http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
http://filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/  :)

The OP cannot use another firewall along with AIS .

Thanks for the answers! Which of these linked programmes is best? And can I use them with Avast Internet Security?

As AdrianH said prior to your post that you cant use the other firewalls as you already have one included with AIS, unless you want to disable the AIS firewall but i fail to see the point.

Offline AntiVirusASeT

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2012, 11:53:38 AM »
avast internet security has safezone to help protect against keyloggers through an inverted sandbox (anything in safezone is isolated from ur actual system)

however, like any security measures, this might be circumvented.
it is recommended to ensure u have no keyloggers on ur system before doing important stuff such as online banking.

firmafest

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2012, 12:58:23 PM »
Thank you so so much for all help  ::) Well, thank you is not enough but anway. Just one more question.. How can I be 100% sure that I don't have any keyloggers? The step I have taken now is;

* Scanned with AIS and removed the 2 infected files
* Scanned again and didn't find any more infected files (just some locked, and uppacked bombs (?))
* Restored the system to a point when it worked as usual

I'm now going to install an anti-keylogging program, scrambler or something like that like you said.
Should I do something else? I wan't to be COMPLETELY sure I don't have any crap left.

Anyone who can answer, feel free!

Offline Pondus

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2012, 01:04:50 PM »
Avast! will detect keyloggers as PUP ( Potentially Unwanted Programs ). You can also activate this feature in your scans settings if desire.
that depends on the type of keylogger.  ;)

the one that is malicious is detected with Default settings......PUP scan off

Offline AntiVirusASeT

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2012, 01:14:46 PM »
u might wanna post in http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=4.0 and wait for essexboy to help u diagnose if theres any malicious keylogger on ur computer. (he often help ppl with malware problems around here)

this is because i see that u stated that one of ur passwords have been changed.
also, theres no malware scanners/ antiviruses which can protect 100% against all malwares/keyloggers alike.

its all about reducing the possibilty, through safe computing practices. ;)

firmafest

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Re: Does Avast Internet Security protect against keyloggers?
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2012, 01:37:59 PM »
Thanks for the tip. Have posted there now. It's so great that people can help eachother here (smart people help stupid people).

"Reducing the possibility" - That doesn't sound good at all. Then you just have to guess like "yeah there might be someone watching me write this now, I don't know." That's as bad as being watch with hidden cameras in your house. Completely insane.