avast boot scan

Oh no! I was finishing downloading avast and did what I think was called a boot scan of my hard drive. I was watching the words come up as it scanned and I saw what looked like porn stuff, (xxx, porn blah blah disgusting crap etc.). Since I haven't been looking at porn, does this mean my room mate, who uses my computer, is surfing sites related to those porn words that came up during the scan and storing them on my hard drive somewhere? Before I get really pissed at him I wanted to know if there is another possible explanation for such info. coming up on this type of scan. If not, and he has been looking at porn, does this mean the people at avast know and think I'm some kind of perv. Not that they know who I am but I don't like that idea.

By the way, I don't know a lot about computers so please keep this in mind during response.

thanks

 

It depends on the location where the names are located.

If you run SpywareBlaster it is possible that the names you saw are entries of blocked sites placed in the registry by SpywareBlaster. Otherwise, yes, what you stated is possible.


There may be other reasons as well that hopefully others may mention.

I would not worry about Avast seeing them. As far as I know no information is sent to them concerning any scan results.

 

I don't run spyware blaster but I do run spybot s&d as well as some other similar security downloads.

 

Relax, Avast has no idea where you or your roommate go, nor do they even care. The only thing that gets reported back to their servers is your antivirus definitions and program version, so they know if you're up to date or not. Also, let me explain something, neither you nor your roommate have to visit any porn websites for things like that to come up. That kind of stuff is in ads, search results, you name it. You very well could have seen surfing history, cookies (little files websites place on your computer that come from ads, search engines, etc.), it could have been a drive-by download (which is where a file, usually malicious, is either downloaded or ran directly inside the browser without your consent).

There are more than a few ways of getting the dirty, bad guy stuff on your system without you or your roomie intentionally doing it. Then again, he may be guilty

 

spaceage, your room mate could be storing a hidden 'stash' on your computer, a folder within a folder kind of thing that you don't know about.

But yes, it is possible Avast was scanning through some advertising cookies, and other temporary junk, or even blocked 'porn' registry entries added by spybot.

Download CCleaner, which is free and a reputable program to remove cookies and other temporary junk off your system.
www.ccleaner.com

 

avast! doesn't scan registry entries (and especially not in the boot-time scan).
So, the files (with the mentioned names) have to be present on the disk somewhere - cookies, browser cache, temp folder...
I guess you can use the windows "Find" function to look for specific keywords - you'll see where the files are located.

 

i_g might have answered your question spaceage.

You know how to search for files and folders we should ask? Hey, some people might not know!

 

If you suspect your room mate is surfing on the dark side, just check the browser history and look at the cookie folder. If you see cookies with names related to women or sex, he's busted.

 

Ccleaner will also give you a list and location of all the cookies and temporary files. Copy the text and paste it into notepad if there is anything you need to 'address'.

 

Of course there is the direct approach... ask him. He might then employ an equally direct approach, lying, but at least you gave him the benefit of having a chance to admit it.

 

It reminds me of this: How to hide your p0rn stash!