It’s not often that I feel like or play the idiot when I’m on a computer, but humor me here. I apologize if this sounds like a rant, but what I’ve read tonight doesn’t make sense to me.
Avast! was recommended to me years ago by a coworker. I just reinstalled Windows 8 (and upgraded to 8.1) on my computer and decided to install Avast!. Then I used Avast! to scan someone’s external hard drive and it found Win32:Malware-gen in a file. I didn’t know what that is, so I started poking around.
First, Avast!'s scan log gives me zero information about it except a name, a file, and a threat level. What is Win32:Malware-gen? Where can I get more information? (In fact, I can’t find much useful information about the program itself on Avast!'s website or in the program! But that’s another conversation…) All I get is a list of found threats and a button to fix them.
Second, I hit up Avast!'s website and find my way to the forums. I search for Win32:Malware-gen and find a number of posts on downloading software to analyze and remove Win32:Malware-gen (whatever it is). The thought occurs to me: if Avast! is an antivirus program, why do I need to download other programs to figure out what the virus is? Afterall, Avast! found it, so it should be able to tell me what it is. (Otherwise, how can I trust that Avast! knows how to remove it when I click the fix button?)
So finally I go to Google. I find the most direct information I can get about it in a trojan removal guide on Malware Tips: “Win32.Malware-Gen refers to a range of malware applications that infect computers running a 32-bit version of the Windows operating system.” Well, that’s something at least–even if it’s not directly useful.
Summary: Avast! found some vague threat on this hard drive that’s generically categorized as “a range of malware”. It can’t tell me what it is specifically, but it says that it can clean it for me.
Um, what?
Conclusions and final thoughts:
[ol]- I still don’t know what Win32:Malware-gen is
- If Avast! can’t tell me what bad thing it found then how can I trust Avast! to know how to get rid of it?
- If Avast! can get rid of it then why do I need the other software constantly referred to in the forums? (Malwarebytes, OTL, aswMBR, MCShield, RogueKiller, etc.)[/ol]
Thanks for listening to me, and any input/feedback you have would be appreciated.
