I need to set up AVAST Pro to scan USB drives and CD’s containing copied files as soon as they are inserted into our machines as we are experiencing many viral problems in this regard. - is there a setting for this (I am used to NAV)
Thnaks!
It doesn’t have this function by default avast scans files that are opened, and that would inslude USB flash drives.
However there is a program USBVirusScan that can be set-up so that it calls the AV to scan the USB drive. The path to the executable in avast to do this scan is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe.
can you provide a reliable download link for that app - also clearer instruction on how to set it up with AVAST ???
thanks!
Well a google search returns many hits for the program I can’t recall which one I got it form.
So I repeated the search, http://www.google.com/search?q=USBVirusScan&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a. There is lots of info relating to this.
This is where I a) downloaded it and b) got the info to set it up.
http://blog.didierstevens.com/2006/10/16/usbvirusscan/
USBVirusScan will launch any program you provide as a command line parameter each time a USB stick is inserted. I use it to start a full virus scan on the inserted USB drive: http://blog.didierstevens.com/programs/usbvirusscan/
The command-line that worked for me is:
“\USBVirusScan.exe” -c -i “\avast4\ashQuick.exe” x:
Where you need to change the for the both correct ones and the x: for the letter of your USB drive.
You really don’t want to hard code the usb drive as it is a variable.
This is from my batch file all on a single line.
“E:\Utilities-Non-Registry~\USBVirusScan\USBVirusScan.exe” -c “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe” /target %%c: /secure /quiet
The /target %%c is a place holder and the drive letter will be placed in it automatically, so if you have multiple USB devices in use when you plug in a usb flash drive the letter might be different to the one you hard code into the batch file. That is why it is best to use the %%c place holder.
What does these do?
I’m not really sure, they were on the original example, start.bat that comes with the download.
I read the Blog link I posted and also the one you posted also.
Hi Avast readers and writers,
This may be of interest to some, though probably not to digitalsafari.
I’m a W98SE user with Avast Home and I’ve just conducted three separate Avast scans
on a 1GB USB stick on which I have some 40 applications and a small amount of data.
On my first test I scanned all the stick by right clicking on the USB drive letter in the tree
of Windows Explorer and choosing the Avast scan from the Context Menu:
This took < 14 minutes to scan 62,808 Files in 933 Folders with a Total size of 1.1 GB.
My third scan used the Avast Menu to perform a Thorough scan including Archives
and shewed the time as 13’ 34" with the same 62,808 Files, 933 Folders and 1.1 GB .
My second scan used the Avast Menu to perform a Thorough scan with Archives Disabled.
This took 11’40" to check 7,105 Files from 933 Folders with a Total size of 934.9 MB.
Thus, whilst the links given by DavidR in his Reply #3 above are especially interesting and
helpful (particularly as there is another reference to 10 Tips to Protect your USB stick - for
which a big thank you) it does seem that where an individual, such as myself, effectively
has complete control over his/her USB stick(s) then it may be easier to use the Context
Menu to do a Thorough (including Archives) scan rather than implement an Automatic scan.
{Added}: Two further Main menu Scans (without archives) took 6’ 19" Standard and 2’ 11" Quick.
My regards
PS This is the first time I have scanned a complete USB stick rather than individual Folders or
Files and although it was as expected - I’m delighted there were no infections discovered.