I installed Avast 4.8 but I do not use OutLook. I know how to terminate it from right clicking on the tray icon but I cannot disable the service. Is there a way to disable it. I tried in services.msc also. Do I have to uninstall and do a custom install?
A custom installation will uninstall avast Outlook plugin, you can change the installation afterwards (if you install the plugin at the first time).
But, why will you worry about the plugin? It will only start if Outlook starts, it does not take any resources…
By default the Outlook/Express is disabled/terminated unless MS Outlook (not express) is found, that is the way it was for me when I first installed avast, almost 4 years ago.
Which service are you talking about, exactly? The Outlook plugin doesnt have any service - it loads directly into the Outlook process. This means that unless Outlook is running, it consumes virtually no resources at all…
If you’re talking about C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe, it is the avast! e-Mail Scanner service used by Internet Mail provider (for POP3 email programs like Outlook Express and Thunderbird).
Not a problem, which leads us to a question, what email client do you use ?
The Internet Mail (ashMaiSv.exe) is for pop3 email clients, Thunderbird, Outlook Express, etc. The Outlook/Exchange plug-in is specifically for MS Outlook.
Another point if you only use web-based email, viewed through your browser it is still advisable to have the Internet Mail provider running and increase the sensitivity to High. Some malware comes with its own email program and avast would detect that trying to send email. So it might provide an indication that you have an undetected or hidden trojan spambot on your system.
The point that David is making is totally separate from how you read your mail.
David is recommending to leave the Internet Mail scanner running so that you would be alerted if your system were to be compromised by an email spambot infection.
Otherwise your system could be sending out copious amounts of spam without your knowledge.
I do have it running. You can right click on the “a” in the systray and terminate the Outlook plugin which I did. I did not terminate the Internet Email scanner.
I think David would agree that you are now set up as he was recommending.
Remember to set the sensitivity level in the Internet Mail handler to High to ensure the level of protection that David was recommending. This will not consume more resources on your system but it will mean that should spambot infection occur you will be advised.
Yes, I totally agree, provided the sensitivity is set to High you have a valuable backstop for a possible undetected spambot. As Alan said it will consume little in the way of resources as hopefully it will never have to do any scanning.
No Tech your completely misunderstanding me. I do not use Outlook or Thunderbird. I only check my mail by going to Yahoo.com and logging in. Web based email is alot safer then POP3 any day.