i have been using aol security center for it has firewall virus protection…spyware etc etc…then i found avast because my computer was running way slow and it found the virus and trojan and deleted them…my questions are 1. my balls in my system tray seem more grey than blue…when i hover over one of them i get avast! on access scanner :7 providers total ,6 running. so is it my color scheme doing this? also should i do away with the aol sec? i have spyware search and destroy and ad aware already but im not sure about a firewall…if i have one outside of aol security…i dont even use aol as a browser or anything…it came with the pc and im rather new to pc’s so…any ideas?
The colour isn’t any problem as there are many factors that may make it look a different shade of blue, the avast ‘a’ icon also has some shading to give a 3d effect, this and the background colour make it look more a blue grey mine are the same.
Provider there is no red circle over the icon and it rotates it is functioning correctly.
Hi Nuff-sed :
Should definitely remove anything with "AOL" in its Name on your
computer; we have a topic in this forum about their "Active Virus
Shield". I recommend you read what Expert Fred Langa says about
it at http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/061207 .
Anything that AOL ( we call them "AOLHell" ) "offers" has a better,
if NOT FREE Alternatives. However, to properly make Recommendations
you need to tell us the SPECIFIC NAME of your Operating System ; IF it
is Windows XP, you also need to tell us WHICH "Service Pack", usually
either "SP1" or "SP2" .
As to your current Choices of antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN programs;
Ad-Aware AND Spybot ARE NO longer top programs; better is the
FREE version of "SUPERAntiSpyware" from www.superantispyware.com
AND IF your Operating System is Windows XP, would recommend
AVG AntiSpyware, most easily downloaded from www.ewido.net .
These last 2 Programs are the Ones usually recommended by many
Malware-fighting Experts.
As to a software firewall, I recommend, depending on your Operating
System, either Sunbelt Kerio, Sygate, or Zone Alarm, all available
for download from www.filehippo.com/software/firewalls/ .
For a General Maintanence, I recommend the FREE "ATF Cleaner",
developed by antiSPYWARE Expert "ATribune" and available at
www.atribune.org/content/view/19/2/ .
The stand-by provider should be Outlook plugin. It will be in this state until you open MS Outlook (not the Express). After that, all providers would be running. So, your installation seems ok.
There are many free firewalls on the market. You can Google or search the avast forums.
Try Comodo Firewall 8)
wow! thanks sop much for all of you helping posts…heres my stats i am running windows xp home addition with service pack 2. we had aol for my wife since she liked to talk to people from back home but she doesnt use it anymore so ill get rid of it. as for everythng else what would be the proper or safe way to get rid of the safety programs i do have and install the ones mentioned to me here without hurting my compuer? im new to pc’s if you cant already…thank you again for all your help and patience with a newbie 
No problem, glad we could help.
Firstly download the software mentioned to a location on your hard disk, so you don’t have to go on-line without protection. Ensure you are off-line and install the AOL ellemnts you don’t require and install the other options, also on the firewall front many forum members use Comodo firewall.
Welcome to the forums.
awesome thanks again…one quick question…when i first got avast my pc rebooted and then this blue screen came up and scanned my computer…is this an everytime i reboot thing? i was wondering because i rebooted and it didnt happen…is this a problem and if not can i get a scan like that again in the future?
This is the boot-time scan when your installation completed you were asked to reboot and do a boot-time scan. This option is selectable on a one run basis, it runs the next time you boot before windows starts, it doesn’t happen every boot that would be too time consuming.
It is designed to cater for occasions where you can’t deal with an infected file because it is in use, etc. it won’t be in use prior to windows starting so it is a very useful function. To select, right click the avast icon, select Start avast! Antivirus, Menu, ‘Schedule boot-time scan…’ Or see http://www.digitalred.com/avast-boot-time.php
AOL offers McAfee av & fw without charge to subscribers of their internet service. This may have changed since I last used AOL.
AOL AVS is free to both subscribers & non-subscribers.