I only recently installed version 4.6 and I think that I have read all the help files etc., but one thing I cannot establish, is: does Avast scan the PC automatically or do I have to set it as a Scheduled Task?
It does check for updates whenever I log onto the 'Net, and I also see the icon in the System Tray spinning, and I don 't know whether it is scanning all my files, or just what I am dealing with at the time.
Can somebody clarify or point me to whatever documentation explains this function?
Avast automatically scans files which are opened when they are opened. (On-access scanning.) So if you start a program, you will see the avast! globe spinning as it checks the files which are opening. You will see this happen as you start your computer: avast! checks everthing which starts up, so the globe will be spinning.
avast! also checks email attachments, web files, MSN messenger files and many peer-to-peer network files automatically as they are downloaded.
To scan all the files on your computer, you will need to start a scan. You do this by right clicking the avast! globe and selecting Start avast! Anti-virus. avast! scans memory for viruses at this point. If it finds a virus in memory, you will need to schedule a boot time scan: the computer reboots and avast! does a scan before the virus can load into memory. If memory is clean, you can start a scan using the silver avast! console and check every file on your computer.
Left click the ‘a’ blue icon on system tray and you’ll see the providers tab settings.
As you’ve read something about avast in help files, you can configure them for your wishes/needs.
We’ll be here to help you if you need. Welcome 8)
The major disadvantage with the task scheduler trick of using ashquick.exe is, it will scan every file of the hdd, partition, folder or file that you set it to scan; even those files not considered a potential threat, this can take a long time.
The Pro version gives a lot more flexibility and the scan would follow the settings and exclusions, etc. of the regular scan.
I prefer to do a manual scan with my regular weekly maintenance tasks.