My Fix for Avast Script Shield (IE-only)

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I’ve always wondered why it never worked for me, even on a relatively clean install. Anyhow, the issue was Windows Defender real-time protection.

I’m not talking about disabling the whole thing, which is common sense for some, but just unticking “Scan downloaded files and attachments”. It may lower drive-by protection, but that’s just theoretical since it’s still on-execution.

I’m not using Internet Explorer 9 regularly anyways, but Chrome instead. Both are realistically secure against drive-by’s anyways as long as you don’t completely disable with UAC, Windows Update, and their default security settings.

2

Why dont you just disable Defender ??? it’s usless anyway and avast covers every aspect and more than Defender and you’ll save a few resources :slight_smile:

3

I have a portable gaming beast that includes a modern 128 GB SSD. Not worried about the lifespan impact of reading executed files.

Unless Avast and Microsoft shares malware signatures, then it’s not a replacement, but a supplement.

4

Your choice in the end but on the numerus systems i look after iv never seen defender detect anything in at least ten years, completely usless imo and the only scanner that i feel is worthwhile to backup avast is malwarebytes :slight_smile:

5

+1

6

+1

Windows Defender actually caught me as totally freaking astonished when, about two weeks ago, it flagged a file. I did not even understand for a moment or two what I was looking at (dialog box) as I had never seen it before. I had to read it more than once to get what it was.

One dialog pop-up in four years is not a very high detection rate, imo. The only reason I have kept it around is because the real-time scanner will announce that such-and-such file was allowed to modify… Kind of like to use it for that. But for malware protection, totally useless.

7

I still allow WD to run in the background on all my PC’s and have seen many files over the years get flagged with a request to upload them to MS. Most files are from programs I just updated when a new build came out. This tells me WD could be useful so I keep running it. I cant prove it improves my security but I can’t prove Avast does either because I have safe surfing habits and have not been infected in years. The web shield is the only point of activity other than the occasional false positive and its rare I see either.

Bill

8

Even Microsoft knows that Windows Defender is terrible, that’s why MSE exists.

9

Looks like Avast’s Script Shield isn’t working on my browsers no matter what I do now. That includes Internet Explorer 9.

Strange thing is, it still scans the scripts of other programs that connects online.

10

Actually Defender/MSE scan engine is ridiculously slow. And MSE doesn’t replace Defender, it just extends the functionality, scan engine is basically the same. Defender only scans for spyware/adware where MSE scans for all malware.