AVAST 2015 R3 RC (2015.10.3.2222)

[MartinZ]

Hi all,

UPDATE - RELEASE CANDIDATE
New beta version is here: AVAST 2015 R3 RC (build number 2015.10.3.2222)

Changes from Beta 3:

• Fixed BSOD crash on Windows XP
• Other smaller bugfixes and improvements

Changes from Beta 2:

• Fixed problems with browser plugin Online Security in Internet Explorer
• Other smaller bugfixes and improvements

Changes from Beta 1:

• Fixed problems with HIPS - now remembers choice and not so often prompts
• SafeZone is back - the original one for now…
• Fixed issues with WebShield, when some page didn’t load or were loading too long
• Beta updates are now delivered automatically to beta testers, just restart needed

Windows XP users: Please add this to registry and restart PC.
It will help us to better identify some crashes:
http://public.avast.com/mkt/beta/fullmemdump.zip

Changes from public version:

• Grimefighter is now redone and called Cleanup.
  - runs without need of reboot
  - much faster
  - free for beta testers
  - runs on more devices (better compatibility)
• Improved Windows 10 compatibility
• Ability to check compatibility issues with other antivirus software
• Host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS): an installed software package which monitors a single host for suspicious activity by analyzing events occurring within that host
• StreamFilter with HTTPS scanning is now available also for Windows XP/Vista
• NG is not using Volume Shadow Copy Service anymore
• Beta version will now be updated automatically once new beta version released

Known issues:

• Scheduler for Cleanup doesn’t work
• Sandbox doesn’t work on Windows 10

Please test the following scenarios:

1. Run Cleanup either via Scan->Scan for performance issues or via Smart Scan, clean your HDD, optimize registry
2. Try to run Cleanup on machines where GrimeFighter couldn’t run in past
3. Install Avast on the latest public build of Windows 10
4. Install Avast on machine where is already running some other antivirus - you should get some warning during installation
5. Run Smart scan on machine with more antiviruses, smart scan should show you some compatibility warning with offer to remove the other AV (currently we detect just some AVs). If detected try to uninstall them.
6. Try browsing on https sites on machines with Windows XP or Vista
7. Play with it as much as you can and please report any problems you find

How to install:

1. If you have installed some beta version before you can update it to this latest version via Settings->Update->Program.

2. Or you can download and install from here:

[b]http://files.avast.com/beta9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe

http://files.avast.com/beta9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe

http://files.avast.com/beta9x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe

http://files.avast.com/beta9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe[/b]

How to provide feedback
Please for specific issues set a new topic in the Beta section (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=15.0). For general open discussion feel free to use this thread.

Avast cleaner:
http://files.avast.com/beta9x/avastclear.exe

It should be possible to install this version on top of your existing avast! installation (all settings should be preserved).

To report BSODs, crashes or any other none trivial problems please use new SupportPackage generating tool.

• http://utils.support.tools.avast.com/tools/support/utils/avastsupport.exe

Instructions how to use it can be easily found:

• https://www.avast.com/en-us/faq.php?article=AVKB33#artTitle

We are looking forward for your feedback!

Thank you
Avast team

[Rednose]

Thnx team

Greetz, Red.

[schmidthouse]

+1
Should prove to be an interesting beta.

[Charyb-0]

I thought the idea of avast incorporating HIPS was shot down a long time ago.

[Rednose]

@schmidthouse post:3

+1
Should prove to be an interesting beta.

Yeah

Only Ondrej has to kick Petr Kutins ass, so he hurry’s up with the Sandbox and SafeZone

Greetz, Red.

[schmidthouse]

@Rednose post:5

@schmidthouse post:3

+1
Should prove to be an interesting beta.

Yeah

Only Ondrej has to kick Petr Kutins ass, so he hurry’s up with the Sandbox and SafeZone

Greetz, Red.

Seems there were other priorities.

[Charyb-0]

Where is the HIPS component found?

[system]

I’m interested to hear more about this HIPS feature, is it going to be similar to Comodo’s default deny? Or is avast doing something completely different? I’ve used Comodo’s HIPS before and it was really irritating with tons of alerts, hopefully avast will be more user friendly.

[Lord_Ami]

@Charyb post:7

Where is the HIPS component found?

Settings - File system shield settings - Sensitivity

Getting this error in attach (Failed to connect to service.) while clicking OK under Software updater settings. W8.1 x64 clean install.
// Gone after resetting its database. I did not restart PC after installation just yet… odd. I believe NG was creating something in background when this happened.
/// Just got alert from software updater that I got some patches to apply. Perhaps it caused the error as it was scanning the PC for updates… Which is odd, I never started it.
//// Alert about Firefox was displayed while I was updating it manually (from Help - About Firefox). Shouldn’t show it - could mess with browser when clicked/cleaned.

[Rednose]

@Sutieday post:8

I’m interested to hear more about this HIPS feature, is it going to be similar to Comodo’s default deny? Or is avast doing something completely different? I’ve used Comodo’s HIPS before and it was really irritating with tons of alerts, hopefully avast will be more user friendly.

The Avast HIPS is a behaviour HIPS. The screenshot is with the default settings.

Greetz, Red.

[Lord_Ami]

I guess this is HIPS warning. It’s the older “Non-trusted…”

[NON]

Thanks for the update. It looks like the HIPS feature is a revival of Behavior Shield.

[Asyn]

@MartinZ post:1

StreamFilter with HTTPS scanning is now available also for Windows XP/Vista

According to the stats, it works on XP.
But there are no settings, see bug report: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=172367.0

[RejZoR]

Why are all these proactive features stuffed under individual shields or even under broad settings? It’s so confusing. Why not create a dedicated proactive shield that has the Hardened mode controls under it, HIPS controls and other global features that are designed for proactive protection?

I don’t se cramming of everything into already crowded settings and there you have the sheild list that is 3/4 empty…

Currently, HIPS settings are hidden underneath File System Shield → Sensitivity submenu which is frankly a bit inconvenient place to have it…

[bob3160]

@RejZoR post:14

Why are all these proactive features stuffed under individual shields or even under broad settings? It’s so confusing. Why not create a dedicated proactive shield that has the Hardened mode controls under it, HIPS controls and other global features that are designed for proactive protection?

I don’t se cramming of everything into already crowded settings and there you have the sheild list that is 3/4 empty…

Currently, HIPS settings are hidden underneath File System Shield → Sensitivity submenu which is frankly a bit inconvenient place to have it…

Totally agree. All the extra protection is nice but if you can’t find it, what good is it going to do anyone.
Most users including me believe in “Keep it Simple Stupid”.

[Rednose]

@bob3160 post:15

@RejZoR post:14

Why are all these proactive features stuffed under individual shields or even under broad settings? It’s so confusing. Why not create a dedicated proactive shield that has the Hardened mode controls under it, HIPS controls and other global features that are designed for proactive protection?

I don’t se cramming of everything into already crowded settings and there you have the sheild list that is 3/4 empty…

Currently, HIPS settings are hidden underneath File System Shield → Sensitivity submenu which is frankly a bit inconvenient place to have it…

Totally agree. All the extra protection is nice but if you can’t find it, what good is it going to do anyone.
Most users including me believe in “Keep it Simple Stupid”.

I agree too

Greetz, Red.

[YLAP]

LOL Guys, I read about HIPS in the morning only in the first post, now I was searching for it’s settings for at least 10 minutes until I have looked at the screenshots in the forum True story It is really well hidden

[Asyn]

@=YLAP= post:17

LOL Guys, I read about HIPS in the morning only in the first post, now I was searching for it’s settings for at least 10 minutes until I have looked at the screenshots in the forum True story It is really well hidden

Yep, it’s hidden well… ;D

[Para-Noid]

This version did everything except allow me to use my HP Envy Win8.1. I lost tray icons, Firefox would not open, avast GUI would not open.
Various other programs did not open or if they did they didn’t work. After three reboots I was able to access my download folder so I could use the avast uninstaller. That finally worked so I could remove this version. I really look forward to beta testing unless it doesn’t
work for me. Back to v2015.10.2.2218.

While I had this beta installed I tried to access the setup file so I could save it. I couldn’t even do that.

[Cast]

Interesting that you have an HP Envy as well and also had issues with the program. I got a blue screen after I rebooted and then thats where I had most of my issues but mine was more like the program was slow to do much of anything so I uninstalled it and used the clear tool and reinstalled and strangely the second time around everything was working right, even the reboot went smoothly.

Though im not really impressed with cleanup(and btw has anyone else noticed that a lot of other av vendors have also had “windows clean programs”?) its still not very informative, sure now it shows how much data and issues but still not exactly what it has identified.