Guys i have just got avast free edition in , could a time be set so it starts automatic on a daily basis.
regards john
What do you mean, automatic scanning (on-demand)?
It`s only available in Professional version.
avast! Home services and protection (on-access) is automatic in Home/Pro versions of course 8)
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.
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 of protection 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.
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.
I’m not sure if this comment is intended to dissuade folks from using the ashquick.exe scheduled scan but you never include the information that users can adjust the behaviour of ashquick.exe by using the readily available exclusions list in the program settings menu - ashquick.exe simply does not have to scan every file of the hdd, partition, folder or file that you set it to scan.
Alan, this will be very dangerous in my opinion.
Every single on-demmand scanning (and boot time scanning) and not only the ashQuick’s started will be by-passed by these exclusions…
No, just to make them aware that it will scan all files. I should of course have mentioned they can set exclusions to certain folders which would reduce the overhead. However, they would need to have the files they might want to exclude grouped into a small number of folders otherwise the exclusions list will be large also.
Tech,
I suppose that it could be dangerous if folks were to deliberately exclude files that are regularly used to support malware, exe, dll, scr, vbs etc.
But I think that most of us would not be so foolish. I am speaking of excluding large data files, like avi, mpg and the files created on my external drives by my backup system image software.
David,
I have 5 physical drives on my system (totalling 800 gigs). I do have an exclusion list with 20 entries (many of them of the *.xxx type that represent simply non-executable data files) but I still manage to have an ashquick.exe scheduled weekly that completes in 40 mins - perhaps a bit long for some since it does unpack archive files - however it is timed to run while I am away eating dinner.
Only 2 HDDs here and the only thing I tend to exclude are my drive image back-up files.
Yes I too do a regular manual scan (rather than use ashQuick) as a part of my regular weekly system maintenance and like you I go and do something else (read some newsletters, etc.) whilst it is running.
I’m foolish ;D
Can you post this list? I think it can help me… I mean, files that could never be infected and there is no reason to be scanned at all 8)