Avast 7.0

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1
  1. Avast 7 Free urgently needs exclusions from Real-Time scan!
    If any file is executed 20 times per session, it will be rescanned 20 times!
    Power users should be offered an option to create exclusions from REAL-TIME scan!
  2. Moreover, Avast should check the file signature, and if it has not changed, the file will NOT be rescanned either by Real-Time-Time or by On-Demand scan.
  3. Avast Heuristic Scan works well most of the time, but sometimes it flags some popular files (For example, Malwarebytes MBAM.exe was intercepted as a virus!!!)

With these three changes, Avast could become the BEST antivirus on the market. Unfortunately, the program developers are NOT aware of these serious shortcomings!!!

2

well thanks for the heads up ;D

3

1/2. These options are the permanent/transient cache. They’re ON by default.
3. Are you talking about on demand or on access scanning?

4

The rescanning issues are addressed by the upcoming update:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=94790.0

The exclusion function is already there, though i wouldn’t advise to use it. Use the R2 beta instead for the time being.

As for the false positives, they are possible though usually it’s the problem with decrypted signatures of other security programs inside memory.

And yes, developers are well aware of the issues.

5

“Power users” should also avoid putting their foot in their mouth by investigating setting first…or they really cant call themselves power users.

6

+1

7

Many other antivirus programs have an option to exclude folders, files, processes, and file types from real-time scan. For example,

  1. Microsoft Security Essentials – How to Set-up
    http://www.malwarehelp.org/microsoft-security-essentials-settings-2009.html

  • Excluded files & locations – Advanced users may exclude certain files and folder locations from being scanned by MSE and its real-time protection.

  • Excluded file types – Here one can exclude files based on their extension from being scanned by MSE and its real-time protection.

  • Excluded processes – Here one can choose certain processes to exclude from the MSE scan and real-time protection.

  1. Set Microsoft Security Essentials to Exclude a Process
    http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-7/set-microsoft-security-essentials-to-exclude-a-process/

  2. How do I exclude certain files or folders from real-time scanning? (3.0) - ESET Knowledgebase
    http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN560

  3. How to exclude RAdmin / WinVNC files from scan in Kaspersky Anti-Virus 6.0
    http://support.kaspersky.com/win_serv_ee/ods?qid=208279524

8

Yes, we know.

And so does Avast!.

Are you having trouble finding them?

Is there a program that you feel Avast! is hurting the performance of?

9

Avast and Malwarebytes work perfectly together, if you have the pro versions of each follow the instructions here > http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=10138&st=0&p=417798&#entry417798

Avast GUI > Maintenance > Support > Program Help will show you all the settings , especially exclusions. The one thing that makes Avast outshine other products is the level of customisation available.

10

They are in SETTINGS Exclusions.

11

No, he wants on-access exclusions.

12

I have tried a new R2 beta version, as suggested. Unfortunately, it ignores all the specified exclusions for Real-Time scan, just like the latest version of Avast 7!!!
Moreover, it has other major bugs. If the user specifies a Custom Install, he cannot uncheck installation of any shields.

How can a user exclude a folder and all its subfolders?
What is the recommended wildcard?
How can a user exclude only the specified folder, but not its subfolders?
What is the recommended wildcard?

Does Avast plan to provide the functionality for excluding folders ot files from Real-Time Scan? Even free Microsoft Security Essentials offers powerful exclusions for both On-Demand and for Real-Time Scan:
a. You can exclude files
b. You can exclude folders
c. You can exclude processes!

13

Where are you getting this? That would kind of defeat the purpose of a Custom Install? If this was true, there would be a lot more people noticing this (you are the first I’ve seen mention it). I’m not saying it did not happen to you, just saying that is not normal.

As far as exclusions, they work when you enter them right, and in the right place. And each shield has its own exclusions. There is no “blanket” exclusion list. Could you show a screenshot what exclusions you have entered that are not working, that might help someone assist you better.

14

I would like to exclude several portable programs located in subfodlers of
E:\Program Files\
from Real-Time scan. Here are the current settings:

File System Shield>
Expert Settings
Click Exclusions in the left pane

R W X Path
x x x E:\Program Files*.*

Should the path be specified as:
a. E:\Program Files
b. E:\Program Files
c. E:\Program Files*
d. E:\Program Files*.*

Note: All these programs have been already been scanned on demand and 200 times by real-time scan

15

Is there a real-time scan log in Avast 7.0?
When I define an exception for the
E:\Program Files*
folder to exclude that folder and all its subfolders from real-time,
I can the Avast icon spinning. However, it is not clear whether Avast just checks the defined exclusions for real-time scan or actually scans the executable files from that folder.
Ideally, the Avast icon should be spinning only when the file is actually scanned, not when its pathname is compared to the defined exceptions for real-time scan.

16

eh? the file system shield exclusions are pretty easy to find…why is this topic even dragging so long?

please refer to the screenshots…they are easy to find.

edit 1: from ur troubles in even finding these settings, u are no power user…before excluding anything from any of the real-time shield scanners u should always check if they are safe…if ur not 100% sure, please post in this forums to allow more knowledgeable users to help u.

17

I have NOT said that I cannot find where to add an exception for real-time scan.
However, I am still not sure what wildcards to use to exclude a specific folder and all its subfolders. Which of these exclusions excludes the folder and all its subfolders?
a. e:\program files*
b. e:\program files*.*
c. e:\program files
d. e:\program files
Moreover, the Avast icon spins several seconds whenever I open any file from that folder, even after I have added an exception! Thus, it is not clear that the latest version of Avast honors the user-defined exceptions from real-time scan!!!
P.S. You is spelled "you’, not “u”.
You are is spelled “you are”, not “ur”.

18

I believe it would be:

E:\Program Files* will exclude everything in the folder, as well as all subdirectories!

J.R. Guthrie

19

sorry about not seeing post #13 from you.

as to the answer to ‘Which of these exclusions excludes the folder and all its subfolders?’, it would be (a)

do note that you do not need to type in your exclusions. you can select ‘browse’ when you want to add a new exclusion and ‘check’ which folders or subfolders you would want to exclude.