Instructions - Tutorials??? Just general Help??

[system]

Good Morning Everyone,

I just recently installed the Avast anti-virus free home edition and I must say that I like it. However, I do not know how to completely use the program. I have searched the web page for tutorials to show my how to use it and I cannot find any. If anyone could lead me to the right direction I would appreciate it.
Here are some of the things that I am trying to find answers to.

1. How to set up automatic scans or do I need to since it is on access??
2. How to disable the antivirus program? (I am in the process of cleaning up my system that had trojans and viruses. In the next step I need to disable the antivirus program to run a specific program - this is temporary!)
3. Just basic instructions about the program and what is recommended for normal usage.

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions in advance. I appreciate your help.

Tina Brown

[Lisandro]

@tinamaeb post:1

1. How to set up automatic scans or do I need to since it is on access??

Scheduling is only available in Professional version.

@tinamaeb post:1

2. How to disable the antivirus program? (I am in the process of cleaning up my system that had trojans and viruses. In the next step I need to disable the antivirus program to run a specific program - this is temporary!)

Right click the ‘a’ blue icon and choose the last option, to disable the providers.

@tinamaeb post:1

3. Just basic instructions about the program and what is recommended for normal usage.

The default settings are the recommended. Of course, you can tweak your avast installation and the best place to ask for help and to learn is here (and the help files of course).

[system]

Right click the 'a' blue icon and choose the last option, to disable the providers.

I dont have that as an option, the last choice here is stop on access protection. Then do I use this to turn it back on?

[Lisandro]

@tinamaeb post:3

The last choice here is stop on access protection.

Exactly.

@tinamaeb post:3

Then do I use this to turn it back on?

Yeah.

[DavidR]

1. As Tech says auto scans are the Pro version but there is a work around, HOWTO: Scheduled Automatic Scans avast! Home Version!. Though I prefer to do a manual on-demand scan, see next paragraph.

The need for on-demand scans is greatly reduced because if the on-access providers. I do a Standard scan without archives as part of my meekly system maintenance. Right click the avast ‘a’ icon, select Start avast! Antivirus, there will be a memory check first before the Simple User Interface is displayed, here you can chose to scan all local disks, Folder Selection or Removable media. See Help file, Simple User Interface.

2. again from the right click, select Stop on-access protection, though there should be very few occasions where this is required, to restart, same right click and there will be an option to start. You can also Pause Provider and select Standard Shield from the list, it is the main scanning engine.

In the next step I need to disable the antivirus program

What are the details of that next step and who recommended it ?

3. Leave the settings on default as that provides the best balance between performance and protection, don’t anything until you know a little more about the program. Browse the Help file, Resident Protection, which give information on the providers (shields) and there settings. There may be some because you don’t use that type of program (e.g. P2P or Instant Messaging), that you could terminate.