Does the free version of Avast automatically scan files?

system · 2015-07-11T21:21:15.000Z

So my email account somehow got compromised recently and it just dawned on me that this meant I probably had a virus of some kind. I ran a full scan of Avast and sure enough, Win32.Dropper virus was found.

Here’s what puzzles me: why is it even necessary for me to manually run Avast to find viruses? The fact that I had to do this implies to me that the free version of Avast doesn’t automatically scan files. Is that true? It seems like it should, but I checked the version comparison between the free and paid versions and didn’t see anything saying that it didn’t.

And I looked up this virus - Avira’s website says it’s from 2007, so it’s not exactly a new virus. Why did having Avast installed not protect me from this?

Pondus · 2015-07-11T21:41:16.000Z

All AV today have realtime protection (only one exeption that i know of)
No security program have 100% detection

And I looked up this virus - Avira's website says it's from 2007, so it's not exactly a new virus.

Win32.Dropper is not one specific malware, it is a family/malware type ..... bad guys create new versions evry day

Why did having Avast installed not protect me from this?

More info What file was detected What location ... full file path

system · 2015-07-11T23:39:01.000Z

Okay, that’s good to know about the automatic scanning. I can’t seem to find a way to schedule regular scans, though I’m sure there must be some way to do it.

To answer your question, the file is called ComboFix.exe. It was found in my downloads folder.

Pondus · 2015-07-11T23:43:06.000Z

If the file name is correct, ComboFix is a malware removal tool, and it is regularly detected as malware, happens evry time they update it
I will post a eksample in a minute

If you absolutely want a scan, activate screensaver scan … then you dont have to think about doing it
With realtime protection avast scan evry thing that happens in the background when computer is on…

Pondus · 2015-07-11T23:46:04.000Z

Here is a fresh Combofix detection
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/ac216a59bea33e58b4e5f01c0824beb6bdb5f6037a68b462cded24e4e385bbaa/analysis/

Also note that you should not use Combofix uneless instructed to do so by a removal expert

system · 2015-07-11T23:50:24.000Z

Oh, so the detection of ComboFix was actually a false positive then?

Pondus · 2015-07-12T00:30:27.000Z

foreverwandering post:6:

Oh, so the detection of ComboFix was actually a false positive then?

Yes

system · 2015-07-12T04:40:24.000Z

Pondus post:7:

foreverwandering post:6:

Oh, so the detection of ComboFix was actually a false positive then?

Yes

Interesting. I guess that means Avast thought ComboFix was a version of W32.Dropper.

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