In the past week or so the Avast icon in the taskbar has started running continously. It use to only “flip” when I opened a page or was downloading something. Now it acts like is is checking a file from the second the computer is fully booted until I shut it down. This happens whether I am connected to the internet or not. Since this is something that just started I don’t know if there is a virus/malware reason behind it or if it is a programming change in how Avast runs. I don’t know if something that shouldn’t be is running in the background all the time or what. I’ve run various malware programs but everything reports back normal.
Can someone tell me if this is normal or if I’ve got something that my detection programs (Adaware, Malwarebytes, Spybot Search & Destroy, RU Botted) just can’t find.
No it’s not normal.
Assuming you have the latest Avast installed 2014.9.0.2008, if you open the Avast GUI, bring up the Statistics->Realtime data screen and look at the last scanned items, it may give you a clue as to what it is scanning.
It would also help if you posted exactly what version of Avast you are using, and what operating system you have.