advice for new user

system · 2007-06-08T20:34:09.000Z

I have just downloaded the free avast 4.7 home edition av and have a computer using vista premium, but seem unable to schedule when avast should perform scans. Is it not possilble to schedule scans, if not does that mean my computer is always being scanned when I connect to the internet or do I have to do a manual scan, if so how, and how often to be safe? I also have windows firewall and windows defender spyware, is my computer now protected enough or is there any other software I should have. I have switched to using avast free home editon after finding it being highly recommended as one of the best free av’s available and have previously had bad experience with norton av, so as soon as renewal was due I removed it from my computer.
Hope this is enough info for some-one to be able to advice me.
many thanks in anticipation

DavidR · 2007-06-08T22:12:27.000Z

avast is a resident on-access scanner so it scans files before they are loaded or downloaded from the internet, depending on your settings. The default sensitivity of the various providers are set to Normal, a good compromise between performance and protection.

These scheduled scan options are only available in the Pro version. This is a limitation of the Home (free) version, there have to be differences in the Home/Pro version and this is one of them, the programmers have to eat ;D

If you still want to schedule scans - Check this work around out - HOWTO: Scheduled Automatic Scans avast! Home Version!

The major disadvantage with the task scheduler trick of using ashquick.exe is, it will scan every file of the hdd, partition, folder or file that you set it to scan; even those files not considered a potential threat, this can take a long time. It is possible to add certain folders to the exclusions list for say your media files, etc. This could leave you vulnerable if that folder got infected as it wouldn’t be scanned by the on-demand scanner as you have excluded it.

The Pro version gives a lot more flexibility and the scan would follow the settings and exclusions, etc. of the regular scan.

With the different levels of protection (Web Shield, Internet Mail, P2P and Instant Messaging) and the fall back of the Standard Shield, I find the need for daily scheduled scans lessened. I prefer to do a manual scan with my regular weekly maintenance tasks.

So you should be well protected with the Normal settings.

system · 2007-06-09T20:12:29.000Z

Hi Owl :

  There are a lot of better programs than the "Windows Defender" and
  the "Windows Firewall" ; one of the Best antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN
  programs is the FREE version of SUPERAntiSpyware from
  www.superantispyware.com . If possible, another Good, and after 30
  days FREE, antiSPYWARE program would be AVG Antispyware, most
  easily downloaded from www.ewido.net ; however, I am NOT sure if
  AVG AS is Vista compatible !?
  At present, your Choices for replacing the sub-standard "Windows
  Firewall", are limited. The most reliable site I know is :
   http://windowsconnected.com/blogs/corrine/archive/2007/03/28/vista-compatible-firewalls.aspx  .

bob3160 · 2007-06-10T15:49:13.000Z

At present, your Choices for replacing the sub-standard "Windows Firewall", are limited.

True but I can personally recommend [url=http://www.pctools.com/firewall/][b][u]PC Tools Firewall Plus[/u][/b][/url] (FREE) it is designed to work with Vista. :)

system · 2007-06-25T14:13:52.000Z

So how does this compare with Comodo Firewall Pro?

system · 2007-06-25T14:22:39.000Z

i have used both and at present am using pctool firewall plus-easy and doesn’t ask to to allow as much as comodo does…both are good but i like the pctools one better

system · 2007-06-25T15:22:44.000Z

Is one more resource intensive than the other?

system · 2007-06-25T17:23:02.000Z

sorry i took of pc tools firewall plus today and put back on comodo pro after seeing this(thanks to Tech)
scroll down to firewall ratings
comodo is excellent
and pc tools is very poor :o
http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php

system · 2007-06-25T18:36:25.000Z

Thanks! I’ll be re-installing mine, as well! How bout the resource usage? :-\

system · 2007-06-25T18:37:32.000Z

One more quick question: which version of avast! do you recommend … pro or Home? Thanks for the input! I appreciate it so much!

system · 2007-06-25T19:32:22.000Z

at the present time it’s taking 15,000K in my processes under task manager and i have used home edition for around 5 or so years…nothing else on my two window computers(vista and home xp2)and my work mini-mac-don’t know as of yet if avast!has a finished version for it ???
http://i18.tinypic.com/4l5bxio.gif
for you damian alias polonus ;D

essexboy · 2007-06-25T20:50:17.000Z

I am using Vista and so far AVG anti-spy crashed the system and I have yet to find a firewall that works good enough for me to use.

Lisandro · 2007-06-26T02:59:00.000Z

Lyla post:10:

One more quick question: which version of avast! do you recommend … pro or Home? Thanks for the input! I appreciate it so much!

Click here to see the differences between avast Home & Professional versions.
Of course, the Pro has more features than the Home. But, maybe, you don’t need them 8)

system · 2007-06-26T03:22:57.000Z

drhayden1 post:8:

sorry i took of pc tools firewall plus today and put back on comodo pro after seeing this

Is that on your Vista box Dan? I didn’t think Comodo was Vista compatable yet.

essexboy post:12:

I am using Vista and so far AVG anti-spy crashed the system …

SuperAntiSpyware is a good Vista alternative to AVG AS.

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