Avast Free smart scan + various component issues (and some suggestions to boot)

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi,

This is a post to show certain bugs, and some recommended changes to the avast interface/modules listed below. Please note that this is not a rant. If anything below seems like it should not behave the way I’m listing it, then troubleshooting, and suggestions are welcome.

Here’s some quick system info for you:
System: HP p6330f
OS: Windows 10 Home 64bits
Avast version: 12.3.2280 (Up-to-date)
CPU: Intel Core i3 530 @ 2.93GHz
RAM: 8GB dual channel
Graphics: PNY NVidia GeForce GT 610 (2GB)
Windows Update: Up-to-date
Drivers: up-to-date
Malware/Virus scans: System appears clean, except browser add-ons according to Avast, and clean according to malwarebytes, and a few others.

Avast Smart Scan:
After successfully protecting my computer from a virus located on a website, Avast free prompted me to do a smart scan, which I did. After the scan was complete, it only gave me two options… Resolve all, or rescan.

As a bug, this module claims to have found a compatibility errors, stating that more than one anti-virus application is installed. I do have Commodo free installed, but all the virus modules, and the HIPS module built into Commodo are completely disabled. I also have Windows Defender set to do a periodic scan, while remaining otherwise disabled. Avast is the only active antivirus app.

As a suggestion, I’d like to have the opportunity to be able to review, and decide for myself which individual threats avast smart scan actually resolves, instead of just a button to resolve them all. I think the results should also give the option to list each specific issue/threat found, instead of just giving a generic idea. If I’m misunderstanding how this module works, please let me know.

Browser Cleanup Module: (This needs troubleshooting on my system)
The smart scan found no viruses, but did claim to find browser add-ons that have a bad reputation. Not wanting to have Avast change/remove any add-ons, etc automatically, and risking the removal of something I want to keep, I decided to run the integrated browser clean-up manually. Problem is that when I chose it from the scans menu, it came up as a blank page in the interface. As a result, this module will not be used, until troubleshooting can correct this blank page issue, because the smart scan tells me nothing about the add-ons, except that they have a bad reputation.

Avast Cleanup module:
Gives more details for the items found using a Smart Scan, but no option to scan with cleanup individually, like other modules. Seems only a repeated smart scan can be used to refresh the results of cleanup, and the results are not always accurate.

This module also does not appear to give options to select/deselect individual items for optimizing, (For example, I’d like to keep memory dumps, and error reports, but no way to deselect them), nor does it give enough information on what/why for certain items (system tweaks, and services tuning are two examples) but only gives the option to optimize the PC. I won’t use a module that doesn’t give me the option to choose individual items/files to fix, because 90 percent of the time, there are at least 2 or more individual items that I do not want touched.

Also as a bug for this module, I manually (outside of avast) fixed two unnecessary apps that it found during the smart scan. After refreshing the smart scan, and checking this module again, they were still detected, even though they were completely disabled by me.

If you need more information, please ask for it. Thanks.

2
As a bug, this module claims to have found a compatibility errors, stating that more than one anti-virus application is installed. I do have Commodo free installed, but all the virus modules, and the HIPS module built into Commodo are completely disabled. I also have Windows Defender set to do a periodic scan, while remaining otherwise disabled. Avast is the only active antivirus app.
It is a not a bug as the detection is correct. It doesn't matter if you have real-time scanning in both av's or not. av's nowadays "embed" themselves deep into the OS and even if one is disabled, it can lead to conflicts (unwanted behavior). Either avast or Comodo has to go.
As a suggestion, I'd like to have the opportunity to be able to review....
The smart scan is what you call a "all or nothing" scan. If you want to choose things, you need to run the scans individually.
Browser Cleanup Module:
You should get to see the result(s) after running the scan. Perform a repair of avast and see if it solves the problem about the blank screen.
Avast Cleanup module:
It does give the choose what to cleanup or not after the scan.
Also as a bug for this module, I manually (outside of avast) fixed two unnecessary apps that it found during the smart scan. After refreshing the smart scan, and checking this module again, they were still detected, even though they were completely disabled by me.
Ofcourse they are again detected as you did not removed them. They are still present.

I suggest you spend some time learning how things are working.
Reading the FAQ (https://www.avast.com/faq.php) as well as threads here on this webboard are a good start.

3

Thanks for the reply.

As long as Commodo’s HIPS, and AV modules are completely disabled, Commodo does not interfere with Avast. The only reason I have Commodo is for the free 2-way firewall, because I can’t afford to upgrade to one of the premium Avast versions that includes the firewall. Windows default firewall is not enough, and other firewalls that I’ve found are either bloatware, adware, incompatible with Windows 10, or are not free. HIPS, and the AV module are both disabled in Commodo, because keeping them enabled does cause blue screen stops. I’d rather switch to another Antivirus solution, instead of removing the only firewall I’ve found that is working for me, so if it turns out that’s causing problems, Avast may end up uninstalled.

Smart scans in other software allows users to review, and select/deselect items individually. This module can be a nightmare for some people, who keep their system a specific way.

Browser Cleanup Module: A repair of Avast does not resolve the blank page problem.

Avast Cleanup Module: It doesn’t give me this choice, after the scan… At least not on my system. Clicking on the item categories in the lists does nothing at all. (For example, under junk files, clicking on the Memory dumps, or Temporary files categories does nothing at all) Clicking “Show all files” only opens a text file that shows what was found.

“3 unnecessary applications. We can disable these unnecessary apps to make your PC startup faster” This says nothing about removing the apps from my computer. Only from startup, which I’ve done manually for 2 out of the 3 listed. The third is one I wanted to keep in my startup. Note that the two items I disabled were scheduled tasks, which are both now completely disabled in task scheduler, and do not startup with my PC.

I’ll do an uninstall (using avast cleanup utility), and reinstall of Avast to see if this resolves my problems.

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Windows default firewall is not enough, and other firewalls that I've found are either bloatware, adware, incompatible with Windows 10, or are not free.
[b]5 Reasons Why the Windows Firewall is One of the Best Firewalls[/b] http://www.digitalcitizen.life/5-reasons-why-windows-firewall-one-best-firewalls

http://www.howtogeek.com/165203/why-you-dont-need-to-install-a-third-party-firewall-and-when-you-do/

Winfirewall also have outbound protection if you turn it on

TinyWall is a free software to harden and control the advanced firewall built into modern Windows systems. >> https://tinywall.pados.hu/

5

Browser Cleanup Module:
There was a problem with the BCU, but avast has solved that yesterday.
A reboot of the system is required though.

Avast Cleanup Module:
In the free version it only scans, nothing more as it is a paid product.

6

A reinstall of Avast resolved the problem with the browser cleanup. Other modules (with the exception of software updater, anti-virus, and maybe browser cleanup on occasion) just won’t get used. The items that the browser cleanup found were items I put there myself, and are needed. They are plugins for my home security camera, and are required for the computer to be able to properly use the camera. Didn’t see a way to report them as false positives for browser cleanup.

Thanks for the recommendation for firewall stuff, but tinywall malfunctioned badly each time I’ve ever tried to use it. Also the 2-way features of the windows firewall never seem to work properly for me… I almost never ever get notified by Windows firewall for anything. (and I have it on) Comodo notifies me for all new apps, or connections not previously authorized, and with it’s current settings, does not interfere with Avast. I think I’ve only seen windows firewall prompt me twice for anything since installing windows 10, which makes it unusable as far as I’m concerned.

Thanks for the help!

7

They are not false positives as what avast CleanUp report is true.

  • They are loading when the system is booted making it take longer.
  • They are not really needed for the system to work properly.

You need to configure the Windows firewall as the standard settings really suck.
For instance :

  • By default “outbound connections that do not match a rule are allowed” is enabled.
  • Connections to a XBox are by default set and allowed (even if you don’t have one)
  • Remote control is by default allowed (security risk)
8

A firewall test from 2014, Winfirewall get full score, ZoneAlarm and several others fail

And yes avast and AVG also got full score

https://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/avc_fw_201403_en.pdf

9

Windows firewall and Avast free have been my allies for many years.
No complaints about either one of them.
The firewall in Windows since Windows 7 has always simply done the job.