I downloaded a file with a virus in it and ZoneAlarm caught it automatically. But Avast didn’t. If I told Avast to check the file it reported it. Is there a way to have Avast check files automatically like ZoneAlarm?
Besides what has already been mentioned about the use of multiple AV’s, Avast checks all files when you use them, change them or scan them.
There isn’t any reason to check a file if it’s not running.
I have ZA installed because Avast was causing a lot of problems and kept having to be removed. Support worked on it over the last few months and finally got it to work. I was about to remove ZA when I thought to test the differences with a test and I found this situation. I am just using the virus test on this page: http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/general/459
I disabled ZA and copied/pasted the virus text on that page and Avast didn’t do anything with it.
I do work on web sites. Sometimes I download a file from a test site and upload it to a live site. If I download an infected file from the test shop and don’t think to scan it, then I will infect the live shop. Not good.
It doesn’t matter how it is done. I created a file with that virus code in it through the servers control panel and then downloaded it using ftp. ZA caught it, Avast didn’t (with ZA turned off).
I uninstalled ZA but Avast still doesn’t catch it. If it makes a difference, I can’t download the zip file from that site to test but I can copy the string, place it on a file on a server and download it with ftp. I would think Avast should still catch that.
Are you using the same version I am? Avast Pro AntiVirus 11.1.2253