Hi, I’m back again with another question.
I’m looking to schedule 2 or 3 quick scans per week and 1 full scan per month. The quick scans need to be scheduled by day of the week and the full scan needs to be scheduled by the date of the day. In this regard, is there some way I can make sure Avast will never perform a quick scan the day it performs a full scan? If two scans occur on the same day and are configured to run at the same time, what will happen?
Iv never tried to setup that scenario and dont think its possible but it really isnt necessary since you have avast running in realtime, a full scan once a week or fortnight would be quite adequate.
Hi, thanks for replying. Well, I’m currently discussing a different issue with a Bleeping Computer Advisor and Avast Free just so happens to be involved. He recommended I didn’t run so many scheduled scans (or any at all). I told him decreasing the amount of scheduled scans isn’t a problem but I’d really like to take advantaged of Avast’s scheduled scans. I asked if it was okay if I setup 2 or 3 scheduled quick scans per week and a full scan once per month as well as run a manual scan with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware per week. He said it was okay and I could try that. That lead to creating this topic.
Edit: I suppose I can drop the scheduled quick scans (they probably aren’t necessary) and just run a scheduled full scans once per week. That actually use to be my configuration.
You can setup a quick scan daily at a set time with a full scan once a week as well but it’s not necessary, iv got mine set for a full scan once a week with avast and the same with MBAM Pro but nothing is ever detected.
I have avast set to do a scheduled weekly Quick scan, set at a time and day that I know the computer will be on. If for some reason my system wasn’t on, no big deal I will catch up on the next scheduled scan.
As for if you have set a weekday Quick scan and it falls on the same date as a monthly Full scan, they would both be done as there is no way to have any limiting factor (not GUI option) on running what you have scheduled.
The more frequent weekday scans you do the more chance you have of the Quick and Full scans being scheduled on the same day.
I used to schedule a monthly (1st day) Full scan, but in all honesty, it is going to find little of importance as that serious areas/files are scanned by the Quick scan. Whilst I quickly (excuse pun) abandoned the monthly Full System scan, it never found anything, but then again I never expected it to.
Hi, thanks for the explanation. Whether or not I decreased scheduled scans, I was still sort of curious what would happen. I think I’ll just run a scheduled full scan once per week after all.
Edit: Or perhaps, like you, I’ll schedule a quick scan once per week but additionally run a manual MBAM scan once per week. Having so many scheduled scans would be pointless as, like you said, they usually don’t find anything but additionally decrease the need for Hitman Pro which I like using. It’s great for really fast scans.
Edit 2: I figure I can configure the computer to perform an automatic reboot a few times a week as well schedule Hitman Pro to run a quick scan at startup. This way I can have automatic scans for Hitman Pro a few times a week. The computer will be running otherwise so Hitman Pro doesn’t perform a scan all the time (since it can only be configured to run at startup). Now that I think about it, it couldn’t hurt to suggest, to Surflight, scheduled scans.
Well I have MBAM Pro and since that has Resident protection I don’t feel the need to have that schedule weekly scans. Every once in a blue moon I might run an MBAM manual Quick scan.
I would also suggest that you don’t run Hitman Pro as one of our malware removal specialists finds that it can have a serious impact on your system as it has in the past removed system files.
The only thing it ever found on my system were false positives, which after a couple of weeks were still present, so the hitman got taken out.
It is certainly true that you can get too much of a good thing and that includes security applications. When you spend more time serving them (keeping updated, etc.) than they spend serving you, it is time for a good prune. This is even more relevant if your system is generally clean and don’t get involved in high risk activities on-line.
Perhaps it is time to create a profile signature to give an idea of what you actually have on your system.
Hm… You may certainly be right. After all, Hitman pro has never found anything and after I do a major clean up of the hard disk, Avast’s scans should be noticeably faster.
Setup
Operating System: Windows XP Media Center 32 Bit/SP3
Real-Time Protection: Avast Free 6.0.1125 (Custom Settings; Custom Install)
Hardware Firewall: ?
Software Firewall: Zone Alarm Free 9.2.106.000
On Demand: Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware/Hitman Pro
Browser: Firefox 7.0a1
Browser Add-ons: Adblock Plus,BetterPrivacy,BrowserProtect,SecureLogin,Download Statusbar (w/ virus scan enabled)
Hardening: EMET 2.1
DNS Server: Sprint
Process Manager: Process Explorer
Start Up Manager: AutoRuns,CCleaner
Disk Cleaner: CCleaner
Disk Defragger: Smart Defrag 2 (w/ auto defrag enabled)
Backup: None
Tweaking: TweakNow PowerPack 2011
Burning Utility: ImgBurn
PDF Reader: SumatraPDF
Office Suit: OpenOffice.org (Notepad replaced with NoteTab Light as well)
Screenshot: Greenshot,Picpick (for scroll windows)
Compression: 7-zip
System Information: PC Wizard 2010
Update Checker: Secunia PSI,Filehippo Update Checker (both disabled on startup (I might enable Secunia PSI though))
Sandboxing: Sandboxie 3.56
Notes
Zone Alarm Free will be replaced with either PC Tools Firewall Plus or Online Armor, and Hitman Pro will be removed as suggested. CCleaner is my primary startup manager, however, I will use AutoRuns if I’m familiar with the entries in question, otherwise I usually only use it when directed by a specialist (It requires no installation so I don’t see the harm in keeping it even if it just sits). Similarly, I’ll only change settings via TweakNow PowerPack 2011 that I am familiar with. EMET 2.1, SumatraPDF, Smart Defrag 2, ImgBurn, Greenshot and PicPick have not been installed yet - They will be installed once I’ve finished cleaning up the hard disk via Add/Remove Programs. The specified Browser Add-ons are not my only add-ons, rather, they are my only add-ons that are security/maintenance-related. Currently, I have no way of backing up. My father is looking for a way to backup his computer (I’m told) so I’ll probably recommend purchasing a 500 GB external hard drive (70-80 USD) in the near future. Then, I’ll add a free disk imaging program - I have Keriver 1-Click and Macrium Reflect in mind.
Added signature.