I can get it to scan files, folders, removable drives, etc, but there is no setting for scanning the registry? When I start the scan, it goes straight to the file system. I’ve checked the help documentation and online info, and can’t really seem to find anything. Does anyone know how to do this?
Hi thingie,
To be honest, I don’t know if avast! does scan the registry!
The programs I know that do scan the registry are Ewido, a-Squared, Ad-Aware, Spybot and of course other anti-spyware programs like Webroot, Sunbelt and PCDoctor’s paid programs.
AV programs tend to scan files to look for malware, but of course these files are usually started by registry entries.
I’d love to know if avast! does do a registry scan!
In the meantime, I highly recommend Ewido, a-Squared, Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy, which all have free versions, and will give your registry a good going over!
I recall it saying it does.
Anyhow, I have spybot, ad-aware and windows defender. I’m planning on getting spyware doctor, because I heard that it is a little more ruthless, and can find a lot of stuff the others don’t. Two tech support guys I know said that that is what they use a lot of the times to get rid of rootkits and the like.
and of course, I always do a scan with hijackthis! every so often to see all the goings on.
The avast! virus cleaner is the only reference I remember to an avast! product doing a registry scan. I believe the virus cleaner is also part of avast! AV itself, but maybe somebody more knowledgeable can confirm this.
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Yes, SpywareDoctor does have a good reputation. See here:
Well, what exactly does it mean “scan registry”?
If you mean looking for specific values (e.g. names known as “malicious”), avast! doesn’t do that.
It does, however, scan the files references as automatically started in registry (e.g. in the splash screen - during the memory scan).