Automatic Protection Updates

General Topics
1

I updated to IE 7 about a month ago. A short while after I downloaded IE 7 my computer was infected with a virus (I don’t know the name). It was necessary for Dell to isolated the virus in safe mode and copy all of my files and set up a new Windows profile for me.

After that was completed, I checked on avast and the Automatic Protection Update feature was turned off. I had not turned it off so this was a surprise to me but I turned it on and a number of programs downloaded. Also, I ran the scan and there were three infected files that I moved to the chest.

At this point, I do not have the avast icon on the right-hand bottom corner of my screen that I did before I downloaded IE 7. Also, and I believe most importantly, I do not get the regular messages YOUR VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED. Does anyone has any suggestions on how I can ensure avast is properly protect my computer?

2

avast! icon missing - As a temporary measure until this is resolved you can create a desktop shortcut for this file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe (the avast icon and interface to the providers). Right click on the file and select Send To, Desktop (create shortcut). You will need to run this after each boot until the problem is resolved.

What other security based software do you have that might block new startup entries, e.g. Spybot S&D (TeaTimer), AdAware (AdWatch), SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor (StartUpGuard or OnGuard), PrevX, WinPatrol, ProcessGuard, etc. ?

Check the option in the Appearance tab of Program Settings. Or Make a link to ashdisp.exe in your startup folder.

3

I reinstalled avast but I still do not automatic database virus protection.

Other than avasti, the only other security based software I have is the McAfee Personal Firewall. It is set at Standard Security. I reviewed “blocked” activity before and after downloading avast and there were no avast files blocked.

I added the avast short cut. Since I cannot get the database updates automatically and I don’t know how to solve the problem, should I run the program updates and scan manually on a daily basis?

Thanks for your help.

4

Protection or update? Isn’t avast protecting (working) or it is just not automatically updating?

Into the firewall settings, the following programs should be allowed to connect:

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe (avast! Web Scanner)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe (avast! e-Mail Scanner Service)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\avast.setup (avast! Update executable). This is a temporary file that just appears when an update (check) is about to launch, and disappears again afterwards.

The shortcut is only for the icon on system tray. It won’t solve the updates.
You need avast working (resident) and not scan manually each day ::slight_smile:
Are you sure that McAfee antivirus is not installed?

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

5

I don’t have the McAfee anti-virus installed only the firewall. I did the repair but nothing changed.

How do I perform an uninstall and install without downloading a new version?

6
  1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
  2. Boot.
  3. Use Avast Uninstall for complete uninstallation.
  4. Boot.
  5. Install again using an ‘old’ setup version. Although it’s not the better solution…
    http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
  6. Boot.
  7. Disable the program updates. Let the virus database update only. Check and post the results.