Avast used half-vast - excellent!

I really like Avast because of the way I'm using it. My *main* security is a triumvirate of AppGuard, EXE Radar Pro, & imaging. So I seldom run Avast for real-time patrolling. Instead, I mostly use Avast to double-check downloads. Plus -- every so often, I have Avast run a boot-time full-scan when I go to bed at night.

Maybe Avast is not the perfect antivirus, but it is *pretty perfect* (sez Charley Brown) --- & it readily lends itself to off-&-on usage such as I have described. Of all the AVs I have tried, Avast is by far the most cooperative for whatever use I decide to put it to -- whether for traditional real-time patrolling OR (as in my case) as an adjunct security app.

 

Generally, I hate to post up for all those nasty onerous technical details, especially in a, um, well, "technical" forum but Avast what? Free, Pro, IS or Premier?

 

Good Evening! Have been using Avast Pro A/V...On and Off for the past five months...I merely use Safe Zone for On-Line banking...and I've found it to be an Almond Joy on my system...a complete absence of Bloat...and it is Harmonious with AppGuard...and WSA Security Plus. I set Hardened Mode to Max...and Am Good to Go. Sincerely...Securon

 

I use Pro because I want SafeZone. However, the free version does all that I have described.

 

@bellgamin,
1. Which Windows?
2. Ouch, three yearly fees (AppGuard,ExeRadarPro,Avast)?
3. No conflicts over all the hooks avast sets and the others likely set some hooks as well? (I haven't had issue with Avast hooks and SSM)
4. Do you turn the shields off permanently and turn on some when you want to use any?
5. or, perish the thought, you don't even install shields?

@Securon,
1. Which Windows?
2. Hardened Mode on "Max" - which? Moderate or Aggressive?
3. Ever managed to make exclusions get into the list (manually or from alert) and stay there and work?
4. Ever used Deep Screen?

I have WinXP, 1gig RAM on one, 1/2gig another. Free Avast is the only AV worth having because is small enough for me. But I haven't used it since May (living risky life just Sunbelt or Kerio firewall, SSM and old Acronis imaging. I know SSM is a dirty word here, so let's not go into it, please).
I ask these questions in case I get back to Avast and maybe try some of these variations.

 

AG and ERP have lifetime licenses.

 

I subscribe to 12 RSS feeds from the usual give-a-way, coupon and deal sites and forums. Over the years I've rarely paid or paid deeply discounted prices. I have six more feeds from the "buy" pages of the developers; they have deals now and then. I visit other pages occasionally.

Aren't you guys glad all I asked for was Avast's "model"? Kidding!!

Cheers.

 

Interestingly, the only anti-virus program to ever find and remove anything suspicious from my laptop is avast! (free). I've had five other AV's and none of them have ever found anything other than either nothing or false-positives. It's also the second lightest running AV I've used on the machine.

 

Good Morning! act8192...I'm using Windows 7 32bit!...Using Hardening at Aggressive...and have previously had it set at moderate! Exclusions are introduced to my Scans...redundant files etc. And yes the process works for scans! And Deep Screen is Enabled! But in all fairness with AppGuard and WSA Security Plus...in tandem...with Avast...I'm very confident in the Total Protection Concept! Sincerely...Securon

 

1- Windows XP....
2- AG & ERP are not yearly.
3- No conflicts whatsoever.
4- I only installed Files shield. I mostly turn it off except when I will be away for a while & leave the computer running. At such times, I turn on Files shield.
* * *
In my opinion, SSM is still VERY good security when running XP. Just ask Rasheed. I just happen to prefer AG.

 

Thank you bellgamin and Securon

Bellgamin, what sort of space are we talking about for AG+ERP as seen in ProcessExplorer?

 

Bellgamin good to see u after sooo long. I don't see much point in running anything but DefenseWall on XP. Though that's a comment based on nostalgia not hands-on as I've moved over to Win7.

 

Avast is down for protection. See the tests: AV-Comparatives, AV-Test and Virus Bulletin.

 

That doesn't really mean anything in the real world though.

 

It's down today, it's up tomorrow. So what gives? These days performance is what most important when looking for an AV.

 

Less than 70K combined for AG + ERP. Of greater importance - - - CPU time used over a 49 hour period was 55 seconds for AG & 1 minute 12 seconds for ERP. They have no discernible impact on my ancient computer's 1.7 GHz cpu.

 

I might be imagining things but, isn't the "Moderate" mode is supposed to be more aggressive than the "Aggressive" mode? Have they switched it in recent versions?

 

Good Afternoon! Graf! I've just notified Avast...Ye Swabs...too introduce new settings...1)Aggressively Moderate...2) Moderately Aggressive...Just don't hold your breath! LOL! Sincerely...Securon

 

Lol, why can't they just name them like "Medium Security" and "High Security" instead? I can't even recognise which one is supposed to be more aggressive anymore.

EDIT: D'oh, figured out that you were joking lol. But still, they need to make the profile to be more easily interpretable.

 

Many thanks, and thanks for including CPU time.

 

Here's a Rejzor description which I've seen quoted by the regulars there:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=142172.0

To me, it's been confusing due to several variables, such as inclusion of deep screen sandbox in the equation caused me few issues with programs unknown to avast.

 

In that case then I agree with RejZoR, better to use this so-called "Aggressive Mode" since there's the help of the cloud database. But they still need to name them better.

 

Daveski17, how do you evaluate the quality of Avast protection?
Look how the tests are conducted. They are very real situations.
Neither you nor I are able to evaluate software protections, so we must listen to professional testers.

 

I've been mentally heading that exact direction for awhile... that is using AppGuard and EXE Radar Pro as the cornerstone of my security.

I like the one-time-pay security software.

I've been waiting for AppGuard and EXE Radar Pro to get a little more refined, and then I am going to do the same thing.

I wish MBAE would do a lifetime subscription.

 

I'm not so sure. Do I feel the need to go back to McAfee because it scored slightly higher than avast! in a recent test in a lab? McAfee never found anything on any computer I ran it on. There are more reasons than detection rates when choosing an AV for a particular system. I have run five different AV's before avast! on my smaller laptop. One well known AV (*cough* Norton) even let a trojan through from a flash advert once, it took SUPERAntiSpyware to find it. The lightest AV I used found six 'viruses' on its first full scan. At least two of those 'viruses' were system drivers (all were false-positives). The second lightest AV I have ever run is avast!. From what I can see it has well above average realtime protection. It has also discovered more than one suspicious/PUP file and quarantined it. For me, at least, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I'm still quite impressed by avast!