I’m currently using MSN as my ISP (dialup connection) and do most of my browsing with the MSN Explorer. I have noticed that the web shield is not active except when I am using Internet Explorer. Is there anyway to make it active while using the MSN Explorer?
Also, I have installed the standard shield, web shield, IM shield, network shield, and Internet mail shield.
I didn’t see any point in installing the Outlook shield, because I don’t use it or have it installed. MSN email is my default email, and it’s just a glorified hotmail. My question is: is there any benefit to the P2P shield if I don’t have any P2P programs installed?
System info:
Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, IE7, Avast, PCTools Firewall, Windows Defender, WinPatrol Plus, LinkScanner Pro. Miscellanous on demand scanners.
Isn’t it being scanned by WebShield? If you use this Explorer and then check WebShield counter, were items added to the scanned items? (Left click the icon on system tray, click Details button, choose WebShield at left).
No. Just remember to install it if you start using a P2P application.
If you check what Tech suggested and it isn’t being monitored, it may simply be because avast doesn’t support it. Not all browsers are supported, if this is just a customised/branded version of IE then you could probably optin to use it.
Use a text editor and edit the avast4.ini file, the default installation location is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\avast4.ini (I would advise you copy avast4.ini before editing it, just in case). Look for the [WebScanner] section and add the following line if one doesn’t exist for it, OptinProcess=executableFileName.exe where the executableFileName.exe is the one that launches the MSN Explorer.
Thanks, guys. I had already checked the Web Shield counter, and it only shows files scanned if I’m using IE. I tried it set to normal and to high.
I’m not very confident about editing the avast4.ini file. MSN Explorer is a modification of IE, somewhat like the AOL client browser modifies IE, and I read that the web shield will not work with the AOL browser. Strange, though, because the MSN Explorer (an old version) seems to come pre-installed with Windows. This version is the newest one, download and installed after subscribing to MSN. I would have thought that avast! would have already supported it by default, it that’s possible. The version for dialup includes a download accelerator, if that makes any difference.
There is no problem in editing the avast4.ini file (make a copy first and store it in another folder) it is just a text file and nothing special is required.
Open it with notepad and find the [WebScanner] section and create a new line after the section heading and enter the new line. Once done, save and exit, job done.
You might have to terminate and start the Web Shield provider to have the changes come into effect or just reboot.
The problem with the AOHell browser is it doesn’t use standard protocols and that is why the web shield can’t work with it. If the MSN Explorer is using the http protocol and port 80 then it should work but you won;t know unless you try, any changes are easily reversed in the avast4.ini or replace the file with the copy you made.
OK. Thanks. I already copied the instructions and will experiment with editing the file when offline. As far as I can tell, msn.exe does use port 80. I know if does not make the invasive changs to Windows that AOHell makes. MSN installs program updates using BITS (wouldn’t you know!) and - thankfully - I can connect directly to MSN via manual connection in IE without their software so I can later download the newest version. I never could do that with AOL without their stupid CD and connectivity service. I’m having to relearn how Windows works after dumping AOL. Ah well —the fun in is the learning! Also, I’m a refugee from McAfee. I have a subscription and MSN offers it for free, but my PC works better with avast! Thanks for your help.
Thanks for that technet link. I’ve been using tcpview to check out what my connections are. MSN Messenger is another matter. I know it’s covered by the IM Shield automatically. However, MSN Messenger in the options>settings asks for a path to the AV scanner. Should I leave that blank? Or what path do I enter? I’m not sure which avast! file to point it to.
Hmm? Editing the avast4.ini file did not really help. Now the web shield only scans 3 files when I first log on to MSN Explorer. Then it quits. No other files scanned. The standard shield seems to be scanning everything instead. I used msn.exe as the executible file, maybe that’s not right.
msn.exe is a process belonging to MSN Explorer which adds new features to Internet Explorer. This is a non-essential process. Disabling or enabling it is down to user preference
Msn.exe is a protected system file within Program files>msn>msn core files>msn.exe. I set the Web shield to display what it was scanning. As I log on, it scans something like “autoupdate” and then “login.msn.com/passport”. After that, nothing more. The running msn processes include msn.exe, msnmsgr.exe,MSNAccel.exe,msncc.exe, and logonmgr.exe. I’m stuck and not sure that I want to pursue this further. This exercise has revealed to me how easy it is to change avast! files since it has no self-protection. That’s really quite unsettling, IMO.
How do you launch MSN Explorer, if by shortcut, etc. right click on it and select properties and that should show you the path to the executable file, that is the one to add to avast4.in.
I have been using avast for over 3 and a half years and the fact that it changed hasn’t been an issue. Yes there are a number of viruses that target anti-virus and firewall applications, provided you exercise reasonable care (common sense) it shouldn’t be a problem. First what ever the virus is it has to become established and with a multi-application (anti-spyware, etc.) and multi-level approach to security you should be fine.
There are other measures you can take. You might also consider proactive protection, in order to place files in the system folders and create registry entries you need permission. Prevention is much better and theoretically easier than cure.
Whilst browsing or collecting email, etc. if you get infected then the malware by default inherits the same permissions that you have for your user account. So if the user account has administrator rights, the malware has administrator rights and can reap havoc. With limited rights the malware can’t put files in the system folders, create registry entries, etc. This greatly reduces the potential harm that can be done by an undetected or first day virus, etc.
Browsing the Web and Reading E-mail Safely as an Administrator. This obviously applies to those NT based OSes that have administrator settings, winNT, win2k, winXP. Check Bob’s, setup instructions and importantly the dropmyrights.msi file needed as MS have now cleared the original link. http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/dropmyrights
The next major avast version 5.0 will have self-protection features, but that won’t stop avast being a highly flexible and configurable anti-virus.
Short cut target: “C:\Program Files\MSN\MSNCoreFiles\msn.exe”
I usually try to browse using a limited user account, once I get all my programs installed and set up.
Prior to installing the McAfee bloat, I had KIS, and I was used to it having self-protection and my having to disable it to make any changes in its files - like manual patches, etc., or to do a system restore. I guess I’m just used to that self protection (and the problems it can cause). I like Avast, because it’s the most like KIS in terms of being flexible and configurable. I will be awaiting version 5 with expectation.
When I edited the avast4.ini file, I entered the line post in this thread plus msn.exe. The web shield still only scans 2 files when I first log in and then nothing more. Perhaps I entered it wrong.
It seems strange to have it as msn.exe but, try using that in the optinprocess= and see if it works and allows msn explorer to be monitored. If it still isn’t monitored then I fear it may be doing something other than using standard http protocols.
Sometimes, McAfee won’t be completely removed if, before, you do not uninstall Avast, including the use of its “Uninstall Application” if necessary (www.avast.com/eng/faq-install-uninstall-avast.html).