avast! at logon time tool for avast! Evangelists

[DavidR]

Yes I have now been able to extract the latest copy you uploaded, waiting for next boot.

[Lisandro]

@justin1278 post:19

When switching from one interface to another in the pro version (i.e. enhanced user interface to the Simple User interface) Windows begins to continue booting.

It’s not a bug. It’s a limitation of the logon time. I can’t do anything about this.
The same reason to ‘halt’ the logon is the fact that logon continues in the case you’ve mentioned.

@MikeBCda post:20

I’m surprised, though, that a standard scan (no archives) takes about the same or even a little longer for me doing it this way than a “standard” standard scan

If you’re used to have little programs opened, ok, it could be the same.
Like me, with a lot of concurrent programs working… well, it helps.

@MikeBCda post:20

and there’s still a humongous list of files not accessed because in use.

It’s not boot time scanning. If the problem is access rights, run avast boot time scanning.

@MikeBCda post:20

What, really, are we gaining with this tool?

avast functionality without programs running in background. Nothing more but nothing less.

[Lisandro]

@DavidR post:21

Yes I have now been able to extract the latest copy you uploaded, waiting for next boot.

Just logoff/logon, not the all boot is needed.
You need to logon as an user with admin rights 8)

[essexboy]

Cheers Tech got the new version unzipped about to reboot

[system]

Its hard to say if it scans faster or not. I don’t pay that much attention when scanning after a full boot - just minimize it and work over the top or walk away and come back later. Now it seems to take forever when I sit here and study it. But it should be faster.

I don’t think this will replace a full boot scan since a lot of the services are loaded by the time this runs, but i do think this will become my method of choice for weekly scans if I don’t need to use the computer at the moment. 8)

BTW, if you send the scan to background it completely disappears. It can be retrieved with the “Switch To” button in the task manager.

[RejZoR]

Works fine. Though scan speed isn’t a main benefit but thorough removal…

[Lisandro]

@mauserme post:25

I don’t think this will replace a full boot scan

It’s far from my intention… boot time scanning is a fantastic feature of avast.
But, as you can see, I can do this (logon time) to any application I want and for the most of them (except some defragmentation tools and avast) there isn’t a boot time option to run.

@mauserme post:25

since a lot of the services are loaded by the time this runs, but i do think this will become my method of choice for weekly scans if I don’t need to use the computer at the moment. 8)

Yes, I mean on-demand frequent scannings.

@mauserme post:25

BTW, if you send the scan to background it completely disappears. It can be retrieved with the “Switch To” button in the task manager.

Wow… I never tested this condition, but I see no reason to do so, it will only make the process slower, you won’t to be able to use the desktop, it’s logon time and it’s halted.

[Lisandro]

@RejZoR post:26

Works fine. Though scan speed isn’t a main benefit but thorough removal…

The removal could be better as none application is running (and blocking files).
But, of course, it’s not compared to boot time scanning, which access/removal is complete.

[system]

@Tech post:27

Wow… I never tested this condition, but I see no reason to do so, it will only make the process slower, you won’t to be able to use the desktop, it’s logon time and it’s halted.

Nope - no other purpose than to satisfy my curiosity.

[TedNelly]

Hello Tech I would be most honoured and pleased to be able to assist and help in any part of your testing of avast_at_logon.

Thank you for considering and asking me

Kind Regards Peter

[system]

Sounds like a very cool add-on/mod/app for Avast! 8)

[system]

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Hi Tech - I have sent you a PM and would be more than glad to help with testing this.

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[DavidR]

I have done a preliminary scan using the avast! at Logon function, I had previously done a Standard Scan without archives, 24 hours earlier, so I can compare the results for the same scan using avast! at Logon.

Last Scan duration 8min 59sec - avast! at Logon 9min 17sec for the same reported data scanned size.

So there would appear to be no real difference in my comparison, though I don’t have much open when running a normal SUI on-demand scan. What it did notice was on completion of the scan and closing the SUI my logon completed, I checked the Scanned total: in the Standard Shield details and that was 472 files scanned.

On a normal boot and logon whenever everything had settled my Scanned total: is usually around 109. So there would seem to be a lot of background activity by standard shield this might account for the slightly longer scan duration. I’m somewhat confused at this additional standard shield activity, this might be because I did as suggested and just logged off and back on, perhaps the avast! standard shield boot time optimisations don’t take effect (‘Scan dynamic libraries on load’ and ‘Do not scan system libraries’).

I will at some point (next reboot) run the avast! at Logon scan again and see if there is any difference on the above data after boot rather than just having logged off and back on.

[Lisandro]

@DavidR post:33

Though I don’t have much open when running a normal SUI on-demand scan.

Thanks for your testing David. Anyway, indeed, speed could be a difference when you run lots of background programs (remember when people suggest closing all programs to run a defragmentation tool).

@DavidR post:33

I’m somewhat confused at this additional standard shield activity, this might be because I did as suggested and just logged off and back on, perhaps the avast! standard shield boot time optimisations don’t take effect (‘Scan dynamic libraries on load’ and ‘Do not scan system libraries’).

No… I shouldn’t change any avast setting, they’re there for sure and the service (ashserv.exe) is running at that time. The tool only ‘halt’ programs loading (not services).
Strange the Standard Shield behavior…
Maybe Alwil team have some seconds to drop some line here.

@DavidR post:33

I will at some point (next reboot) run the avast! at Logon scan again and see if there is any difference on the above data after boot rather than just having logged off and back on.

Thanks David.

[Lisandro]

Just to note: Spybot has this feature natively. Just schedule a scanning at ‘the beginning of the system’.
Defragmentation tools have this too: O&O Defrag and PerfectDisk (Raxco), for instance.

In theory, I can make a tool for any other application. Would you have a particular one that want to test?
Maybe the antispyware tools? Which one? I could open a poll to this, but it will be too much noise in my opinion… Just feel free to ask for the one would be good to see.

Oh, test Spybot at logon time 8)

[Abraxas]

Using Win XP Pro /SP2 / All Updates .
Ran Avast@Logon , said no to Log off/Log back on. Using Win XP Pro /SP2 / All Updates . Avast! Home Edition.
Logged off , / Restarted Computer .
I have Auto logon enabled for my User Account (Admin privledges )
Avast! Simple user interface appeared , I selected a thorough scan of C:\Documents and Settings"Me"\Local Settings , scan began ; I hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete to bring up Taskmanager , 22 processes running .

Was trying to think how to capture a screen shot of what they were , any how Avast! seemed to
work very well , very quickly .This was just a quick test run obviously . When I closed Avast! Windows loaded as Normal …
Will test more thoroughly , i.e. do a more thorough scan ;check scan results time against a “Booted up” scan and try a scren shot with “Print Screen” .
I’m curious to see what processes have started as scan is taking place .
Very interesting work Tech , congratulations

[Lisandro]

@Abraxas post:36

I hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete to bring up Taskmanager , 22 processes running .
Was trying to think how to capture a screen shot of what they were

You’ve almost there… Click CTRL+ALT+DEL than File > Run new task
Then execute your Screenshot tool.

@Abraxas post:36

I’m curious to see what processes have started as scan is taking place .

All the ones related to Windows services and 3rd party services.
Only startup applications are circumvented by the tool 8)

[Abraxas]

Tech:

You've almost there... Click CTRL+ALT+DEL than File > Run new task Then execute your Screenshot tool.

Good tip Tech , thanks for that . :) More testing to do and info coming soon . I do feel there's a place for this scan format , very different environment to both Boot Scan , and ' Fully Booted ' modes .

[Lisandro]

@Abraxas post:38

More testing to do and info coming soon . I do feel there’s a place for this scan format , very different environment to both Boot Scan , and ’ Fully Booted ’ modes.

Thanks. It is really encouraging for me 8)

[system]

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Tech -

I have downloaded this without a problem and it is now scheduled to run on my next boot which should be Wednesday morning … providing nothing goes wrong before then which is almost never. (knock on wood … lol)

I’ll post the results.

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