I only have dialup internet so I’m concerned about anything that use bandwidth and slows my browsing.
I am wondering if the Avast Software Updater will be using much bandwidth when it checks whether my software needs updating. How often would it be checking?
Thanks for the help.
Its actually checking isn’t going to use much bandwidth, it is only when program updates are found for the programs it is monitoring that it may be using bandwidth.
In all honesty if you are diligent at ensuring your programs are up to date, then you could disable it as this gives you the flexibility if when to download an update. Currently the disable doesn’t persist only for that session and would be on on the next reboot (current beta builds allow you to disable permanently.
So you can wait for this or uninstall that element:
XP - Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and select Repair, click next and follow.
Vista, win7 - Control Panel, Programs & Features, uninstall a program, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Uninstall/Change and select Change, click next and follow.
You may need to reboot after the change.
@Greyowl
I too am limited to dialup (no broadband on my mountain) and can tell you that Avast will consume a lot of bandwidth. In my experience though, if I continue to surf during an update, the updater will soon report its connection is lost but will keep trying, i.e., you not only lose bandwidth but Avast will not update with heavy surfing.
If you are using Avast 8, you can set the “update interval” to your choosing by opening the GUI, click on SETTINGS in the upper right corner, then click on UPDATES from the left sidebar. In the updates window, near the bottom click on the DETAILS down-arrow and then scroll down to the AUTO-UPDATE INTERVAL. You will likely see the, default, 240 minutes, i.e., Avast checks for updates every 240 minutes. Change this value to whatever you wish. I changed mine to 1080 (18 hours) such that when I turn my systems on in the AM, Avast does its update check - and updates - and then does not check again until the next day.
Monk
Thank you for the information and suggestions. This is helpful.
You’re welcome.
Thank you. I have Wild Blue satellite internet. Unfortunately, I can’t afford their newer Exede service, and we are stuck with the original Wild Blue service, since that’s the ONLY type of broadband service we can get where we are…no cable, no DSL…dial-up would be EXTREMELY slow on these old, old, old telephone lines out here, that they dont’ plan to update anytime soon…I keep asking.
We are limited to 17GB of download data, and 5 GB of upload data, on a 30-day rolling basis, which is extremely annoying and stupid. The stats never get wiped to zero, so you have to fight the big update days (usually around the 2nd Tues. of every month) for months and months and months–depending on how many programs you have on all your computers (we have four being actively updated all the time).
I have to keep a very close watch on everything. I also keep a close watch on every single program I run, to keep each one updated as necessary, and/or as advisable for each particular program.
I do not want or need the Software Updater in my Avast! program, which I otherwise love. I was supremely happy to realize I could change my installation to NOT include this…for four computers!!! Thank you again.
17GB is actually quite a lot, but the 30day rolling basis and no reset after 30 days is a bit of a sting. Effectively you will never have a clean slate as everything in the previous 29 days is essentially rolled over. I wonder if they would like it if you had the same principle on payment, I haven’t used my 17GB yet so I won’t pay until I have.
I have fast broadband but a 10GB cap, but that is per month start from 0 each month and I have never had an issue
Yes…most times, I would be able to get by just fine with the 17 GB (less, actually, because it is only 17,000 MB) limit, if it were wiped every 30 days.
The existing service costs me $91.06 per month (it’s their “pro” service). We are nearly two years out of contract, now, so if we were to move and be able to change to cable, it wouldn’t cost us anything, thankfully. It also means, however, that if the equipment fails, we have to get new equipment (which would be the new Exede service), at the going rate, and sign a new two-year contract.
The cost for that service, for the pro version, is $149/month. It would cost me about $300 to get it set up, as well. There are great perks. You get 25 GB (designated that way, not by MB) per month, which is a combined usage for either downloading or uploading data, which is great, because I rarely upload even my current 5 GB/month limit, though I came close last month, which came back to bite me this month. Also, the Exede service gives you something that I really, really REALLY would like: free data usage every night from midnight to 5 AM!!! Why they can’t offer that on the old satellite, also, is a mystery to me! I happen to be a night owl, and that’s usually the time when I’m doing most of my downloading!
I run my own web forum (Neighborly Sims) and I play WoW, plus now I’m playing the new Sim City. All those things create a variety of data usage that can end up being heavy for any month, especially when the previous 29 days of usage impact each day.
Ah well…such is life.
It is always painful when they have a monopoly position, they can effectively charge and do what they like, unless there are effective anti-trust/monopoly policies in place.