Suggestions for avast! (not a debate forum)

[Lisandro]

The purpose of this forum - maybe my purpose posting it - is just to list suggestions for avast!.
If the users want to discuss - they may be debated and you are free for it, of course - I make the first suggestion of this forum: open a new forum with a specific topic.

I think these suggestions while reading the foruns (maybe one of them is yours!, if I have to pay royalties I´ll take it off… ;D). Maybe some of them are already implemented in the new versions. If not, I hope somebody of avast! team said something about… 8)

I have no problem to edit or change any of the following suggestions if I comitte a mistake.

[Lisandro]

avast4.ini

1. It´s absolutely necessary a GUI interface for avast4.ini configuration.

2. Maybe with links or help text added in the dialogs.

3. This will save much time of support (and forum support time too!)

4. A configurable key VirusMessage into [UserInterface] section.

[Lisandro]

Installation

1. Turn back the feature Repair at Windows Installer (not only change the avast! components).

2. A possibility to configure what modules must be installed (which providers, for instance: standard shield, Script Blocker, Outlook, Internet provider, P2P, etc.

3. At the first use (after the boot), the installation could call the Mail Protection Wizard automatically (if other provider than MS Outlook/Exchange was installed). Sorry, the version 4.1.268 is already configurated with this behavior…

[Lisandro]

Configuration

1. The possibility to scan compressed files up to a defined file size, making the resident shield faster and avoiding system freeze.

2. A possibility to set this behavior for the new files (for instance, a button in resident shield configuration (advanced).

3. An option to change the notification text (window) in case of a virus is found.

4. An option to disable (or enable) from log files the password protected files.

5. Must have a security feature to avoid the command net stop “avast! Antivirus” or this behavior.
   A malicious program could disable the antivirus on the system!!!
   The password security just protect the settings and stop/resume providers of avast! at system tray.

[Lisandro]

VRDB

1. Need a configuration page (options): interval of the updating the VRDB not only from avast4.ini file (setting the value RunInterval in the [VRDB] section)

2. A text tooltip for the “i” icon or, better, a progress bar of the creation/update of VRDB.

3. Configuration of VRDB and ODBC drivers (switching avast! to use XML file).

[Lisandro]

Updating

1. The module “very silent” without the “blue panel”, icon on system tray or update progress bars.

2. Always release the update before sendind the iAVS e-mail (to avoid “false update available” information).

[Lisandro]

Screen Saver module

The avast! Screen Saver - besides it´s not the “main” feature of the antivirus - could be highly improved:

1. The “blue window” could be have transparency effects (Windows 2000/XP).

2. At least, the application could give the user the possibility to set the colors of the window backgroud and text.

3. The movement of the “blue window” could be set to zero (actually, it is only possible to set just from 1 to 60 seconds).

4. The window could be a “scroll line” at the bottom of the Screen Saver. With this behavior it will avoid the “screen refresh” problem of the Saver. For example, with “photos” changing in the screen, the avast! window won´t left a distortion of colors behind the movement.

[Lisandro]

Simple User Interface

1. I think it´s wellcome - if posible - a feature (Menu item) to access the Configuration without loading the Splash Screen (with or without memory test). Maybe it could work like a avast4.ini GUI interface.

2. Receive the iNews by e-mail (HTML or TXT) and not just by the Splash Screen (or the page iNews at Enhanced Interface).

3. A Menu command to Switch between Simple and Enhanced Interface, i.e, call Simple User Interface by running ashSimpl.exe and ashEnhcd.exe for Enhanced User Interface.

4. Automatic run of Mail Protection Wizard (un-protectin e-mail accounts) when license has expired.

5. Settings for enable/disable providers at startup.

6. Enable/Disable providers at startup.

[Lisandro]

Enhanced User Interface

1. Show status of the VRDB generation.

2. Must have a security feature to avoid start the Enhanced User Interface without a password. Actually, the password just protect the settings of the avast! tasks, not even the general settings.

[Lisandro]

Help files

1. Description of the System DSN (Access Driver) in the ODBC Data Source Administrator named Avast4.
   If VRDB is not created by ODBC drivers, what is the stored info? Previous sessions, some settings, avast! objects (such as tasks, sessions, mail alerts, scheduler events)
   How this feature scans the system and creates backups for restoring after a virus corruption.
   How the feature communicates via RPC and open a listening service on port 6100 (trojan behavior?)

   2. Parameters to scan file downloads: use ashQuick.exe without any parameter.

[Lisandro]

Web services

1. On-line scan.

2. Virus alert (by e-mail, not the iAVS update).

3. Number (and other informations) about the current VPS file.

4. An avast! skin maker (a separated application for single download, of course not included into avast! engine).

[Lisandro]

Virus Chest

1. Some files do not move to Chest (tests with eicar files) (?)

2. Restoring from “Recycle bin” does not detect eicar files being “restored” to disk (?).

[system]

“2. A possibility to configure what modules must be installed (which providers, for instance: standard shield, Script Blocker, Outlook, Internet provider, P2P, etc.”

I AGREE!!!

“1. The possibility to scan compressed files up to a defined file size, making the resident shield faster and avoiding system freeze.”

I AGREE! i gave one karma to u ;D

“1. The module “very silent” without the “blue panel”, icon on system tray or update progress bars.”

add this
[AAVM]
NeverShowInfo=1
the blue pannel will disapear!

and maybe a default botton and a brower in advandec scanner in resident shield

the reverend

[system]

Technical
do u read often my postes??!

because i was the first to give some advise like u
for example to setup the max compressed to scan!

[Lisandro]

@mantra

Technical
do u read often my postes??!

Of course! Read my first post in this forum: I think these suggestions while reading the foruns (maybe one of them is yours!, if I have to pay royalties I´ll take it off…). ;D

Btw, I give you a karma too!

[system]

@Technical

Installation

1. Turn back the feature Repair at Windows Installer (not only change the avast! components).
   I do not understand exactly what you mean by “turn back”?

2. A possibility to configure what modules must be installed (which providers, for instance: standard shield, Script Blocker, Outlook, Internet provider, P2P, etc.
   This is not an especially bad idea, but why would you want to cut your protection short? If the provider is not present, then Avast will not run the service.

3. At the first use (after the boot), the installation could call the Mail Protection Wizard automatically (if other provider than MS Outlook/Exchange was installed).

I agree with this suggestion. Many new users do not configure the email protection correctly (or not at all) because they do not use the MPW.

[system]

@Technical

avast4.ini

1. It´s absolutely necessary a GUI interface for avast4.ini configuration.
   YES… The interface was configured for reliability and a modicum of speed at the cost of some memory usage. More than a fair trade don’t you think!

2. A configurable key VirusMessage into [UserInterface] section.

Ah…it would be just another bell and whistle. I don’t see the need for it. The more you allow users to configure things, the more complex a program becomes and the more chance to mess it up! hahaha

[MWassef]

Regarding HE modifications , I agree on all what you suggested… ;D ;D
Kindly check " HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ODBC\ODBC.INI\Avast4"
What does this file do “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\Avast4.mdb” ? ???

[Vlk]

Technical, quite an informative post, indeed. I’ve read all your suggestions. Some of them have atually already been worked into the program (or at least are scheduled to be), some of them are excellent and will probably be included, and some of them, umm, are not-so great but never mind ;).
Anyway, thanks, we need this sort of feedback. ;D

As someone already suggested the WISHLIST topic is already too bloated and needs some work from my part. I’m planning to do this soon and will also move your suggestions from this thread there.

FYI you’re talking about a BIG NEED for GUI editing of avast4.ini - but what do you think the Settings page in avast really does? Yes most of the settings (these that are not user-specific) are stored in the INI file… So in short, when designing what should be on the settings page and what’s not so important, we’ve made a decision. Most common stuff is there. Specialities are not. But you might have noticed that important stuff like UseRAS and AssumeAlwaysConnected were actually added there in version 4.1…

And one more thing - the Repair feature is still there, but to access it, you need to first select Change. So select Change, click Next and you’ll be given the chance to do the repair…

Vlk

[Lisandro]

@Vlk

Technical, quite an informative post, indeed. I’ve read all your suggestions. Some of them have atually already been worked into the program (or at least are scheduled to be), some of them are excellent and will probably be included, and some of them, umm, are not-so great but never mind ;).
Anyway, thanks, we need this sort of feedback. ;D

avast! is an excellent product that earns this kind of feedback

@Vlk

As someone already suggested the WISHLIST topic is already too bloated and needs some work from my part. I’m planning to do this soon and will also move your suggestions from this thread there.

I´ll make a search on the wishlist and thought about.

@Vlk

FYI you’re talking about a BIG NEED for GUI editing of avast4.ini - but what do you think the Settings page in avast really does? Yes most of the settings (these that are not user-specific) are stored in the INI file… So in short, when designing what should be on the settings page and what’s not so important, we’ve made a decision. Most common stuff is there. Specialities are not. But you might have noticed that important stuff like UseRAS and AssumeAlwaysConnected were actually added there in version 4.1…

Ok, I agree. Maybe a GUI for the specialities ;D
I mean, foruns are plenty with questions regarding to avast4.ini and a GUI with “everything” could be a solution…

@Vlk

And one more thing - the Repair feature is still there, but to access it, you need to first select Change. So select Change, click Next and you’ll be given the chance to do the repair…

I´m not so sure it works like the repair, detecting correctly the prior installation. But I´ll try. Thanks a lot.