Now that we have Spyware protection....

[lakrsrool]

In the case of Viruses it is just about 100% certainty that we don’t want to have anything to do with what is considered a virus… but in the case of spyware it is not so “cut and dry” in that there is an element of subjectivity as to what can be considered spyware more specifically to the users needs.

To the extent that spyware can be considered excessively intrusive as far as gathering information in some cases a user may not care and in some cases prefer or even need this information gathered.

An example would be in the case of a “cookie” that is considered possibly spyware for example by basically all spyware detection programs.

Taking this example further I have to “whitelist” so to speak a specific “cookie” that I need for my internet “start page” to work. In some cases of others the user may want to access a specific “tool” or webpage that is blocked by an “immunization” program for example.

Obviously “whitelists” make no sense regarding “viruses” but as we know they are relevant when it comes to “spyware”.

With that said, I have a few questions regarding spyware detection some of which relates to the above commentary:

Question 1: Is it correct that the spyware protection is built into or to say it another way part of the VPS file (virus database)?

I see a lot of references on this board to spyware protection added to Avast (started or available) as of a specific program version. More specifically for version 4.8.1169 one of the bulleted upgrades has the comment that “avast! now comes with a built-in anti-spyware protection”.

Assuming question 1 is “true” it would then seem to suggest that Avast program version is irrelevant to when spyware protection has been available or started but instead would have been started as of a specific date when this was included in the VPS updates. (I understand that Avast has had some elements of spyware protection for some time now, I am only referring to the point at which time Avast has been “officially” considered to include spyware protection as part of the overall protection.

Based on my assumptions above I presume that most if not all Avast program versions have had spyware protection included in the database, more specifically version 4.7 builds prior to when “spyware protection” was mentioned in the “revision history” for example.

Question 2:
A. Am I correct to say that the spyware protection has been “officially” incliuded in the VPS updates since program version 4.8.1169 and is currently included with all Avast program versions?
B. If not then does the spyware protection ONLY start at a specific program version?
C. If so which version?

Question 3: Related to my comments at the beginning I have a few additional questions:

A. How is Avast determining what is “spyware”?
B. Does the user have any control over what is considered spyware? (I assume not based on my assumptions above and based on how spyware is determined may not be an issue anyway)?
C. Can spyware protection be “enabled” or “disabled” separately (I assume this is not the case since I presume it to be part of the “web shield”)?
D. In relation to what I mentioned at the top of my post – Is there now or will there in the future be an issue with “blocking” some aspects of the user interface access to the Internet as far as what the user may want to be “allowed” in regards to spyware detection?
E. In relation to question “D” is there any possible need of a “whitelist” so to speak as far as spyware that the user may not want blocked?

I apologize for the extent of my questions. I have searched the forum and Avast web pages for detailed information on spyware protection but have not found information that would apply to my concerns. There are a lot of threads on compatibility and “need” but not my questions as far as I can find.

If there is a web link regarding how spyware protection is determined and what kind and how it works in detail then that would be fine. 8)

I realize that all of the above A-E may be irrelevant based on what or how Avast determines what spyware is and could maybe be answered with one answer in that regard but not knowing anything of how spyware protection is accomplished by Avast I had to ask the questions to the detail that I have.

I hope that covers it.

Thanks in advance. ;D

[Lisandro]

@lakrsrool post:1

Question 1: Is it correct that the spyware protection is built into or to say it another way part of the VPS file (virus database)?

It’s blended into the virus database.

@lakrsrool post:1

I am only referring to the point at which time Avast has been “officially” considered to include spyware protection as part of the overall protection.

Well… you can dig the forum for this date… but will it help in what? Now, for quite some months, avast is both antivirus and antispyware. We’re supposed to be using the last version of the engine (program) and virus database.

@lakrsrool post:1

Based on my assumptions above I presume that most if not all Avast program versions have had spyware protection included in the database, more specifically version 4.7 builds prior to when “spyware protection” was mentioned in the “revision history” for example.

Earlier versions does not include ‘enough’ signatures to be considered an antispyware application.

@lakrsrool post:1

A. Am I correct to say that the spyware protection has been “officially” incliuded in the VPS updates since program version 4.8.1169 and is currently included with all Avast program versions?
B. If not then does the spyware protection ONLY start at a specific program version?
C. If so which version?

As far I know, it’s earlier versions 4.8 (the upgrade from 4.7 to 4.8 included this).

@lakrsrool post:1

B. Does the user have any control over what is considered spyware? (I assume not based on my assumptions above and based on how spyware is determined may not be an issue anyway)?

No. There are only the exclusion lists for files/folders, not for a white list.

@lakrsrool post:1

C. Can spyware protection be “enabled” or “disabled” separately (I assume this is not the case since I presume it to be part of the “web shield”)?

No, it’s integrated.

@lakrsrool post:1

D. In relation to what I mentioned at the top of my post – Is there now or will there in the future be an issue with “blocking” some aspects of the user interface access to the Internet as far as what the user may want to be “allowed” in regards to spyware detection?

I think not, but I could be wrong as I don’t know Alwil plans.

@lakrsrool post:1

E. In relation to question “D” is there any possible need of a “whitelist” so to speak as far as spyware that the user may not want blocked?

Answered above…

[lakrsrool]

Considering that the user has no control over what is considered spyware in Avast as it is integrated into the Virus database I would presume 2 things regarding the spyware protection:

1. Avast spyware protection does NOT block cookies that gather information.

The reason: because in many cases what can be considered an “intrusive” cookie or a cookie that gathers “to much information” may be desired by or necessary to the user in relation to the specific manner that they use the Internet.

2. Avast spyware protection does NOT block “entire” web site addresses (or if they are blocked then it is conclusive that the web site is considered to have “malware” or “spyware” to the extent that there is absolutely no “value” to the web site at all).

The reason: because in some cases what can be considered a “risky” or “dangerous” website might not be considered the same by the user.

My point is that when it comes to “known” Viruses, not withstanding “false positives”, we can agree that in ALL cases they are undesirable.

On the other hand spyware involves “degrees” of undesirability and thus the nature of the “questionable” or “risky” “spyware” or “malware” can vary in some cases as to the individuals needs using the Internet.

When it comes to viruses no user wants any kind of “virus” but when it comes to “spyware” the user can desire varying degrees of how “restrictive” the “screening” process is as far as determining what is “allowed” and what is “not allowed” which can often be based on user need.

If I make “no sense” here or am “wrong” in some way in my conclusions or my two presumptions (above) have no “validity” then please advise me as to how and why?

On the other hand if my two presumptions (above) do have “validity” then can someone please address them as to whether my presumptions are “true”.

Thank you in advance.