I have this weird problem with avast, free version. All settings stock, only file shield installed. When downloading and opening eicar test file avast does not show any message/warning. When right clicking to do a on demand scan it detects it's immediately. Apparently real time protection does not detect anything. What the hell can cause this? Any recommendations? I already did a reinstall and it did not fix is. I dunno how I can fix this.. Edit: weird 5 minutes after executing eicar.exe avast finally pop-ups with a message saying it deleted it. So massive delay between executing and responding it seems.
Keep in mind some previous version (2015 or whatever it was called - one of the orange versions) did not even "seen" the eicar test files as anything , at least by default , so the actual 2016 can be considered ok into this aspect So keep kalm , the AV is ok
Hi all avast! Free Antivirus 11.2.2257 RC https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=184439.0 With best Regards Mops21
In the end the problem was not related to Avast. The whole windows installation was corrupt and caused a lot of problems. Clean install and everything is fine. Avast is really a superb AV in a lot of criteria. Basically on my sister, grandma, and grandfather I have Avast installed. Custom install with file shield + web shield only, all other stuff deselected. Then enable detecting PUP's, and enable aggressive mode. Configured that Avast takes care of malicious files be itself, no user interacting required. Basically it works perfectly. Threats get detected and auto quarantined. Files that are not on the white-list can't be executed. There white-list is very extensive, after months I have not had 1 call from them like 'hey I can't open this or that" big white-list. I combine this with Malwarebytes anti-exploit, + firefox with ublock filtering adds and malicious domains. After months of them running this setup they have never encountered a problem or needed assistance. It just great, they all run win10 and like this they are pretty much bullet proof. Almost no adds either I heard from them. And a big plus for Avast is also how light weight it is. Love Avast basically
@robboman Did Avast's Safezone browser install on any of computers you take care of? It came with the latest security updates. My system warned me (Winpatrol and OA Firewall) , but I've read on the Avast forums people were finding the Safezone shortcut on their desktops. I tried it for a couple of days and then removed it via Avast repair /modify. Kind of sneaky if you ask me. A simple pop-up asking "Would you like to try our Safezone Browser' would have been more appropriate. Cheers!
I got SafeZone as well. I took my computer out of sleep, made a cup of tea, went back to the desktop to find a new browser installed.
I tried it for a bit. It's based on Opera/Blink. I uninstalled it to see if it was easy to do. Then found that there was no provision to reinstall it doh! I don't know why they've tried to push this browser, market research I guess.
Haha, yeah, I don't know either. I was not too fond with the whole thing at all, it reminded me of how MS is pushing W10 on people. Too aggressive for me.
Yeah, it freaked a lot of people out. I really don't understand why they didn't expect the backlash. Why not simply tell users that it is available to install now for Avast Free: 'Pop up' ~ Do You Wish to Install SafeZone Browser: Yes/No/Later? Thus preventing the brown stuff hitting the ventilation system on the Avast! forums. lol
Yeah, exactly! There's nothing like giving people a choice, right? I was using a very mininal Avast install anyway, just file shield and nothing else, because I don't like all the other stuff they've been offering for a long time. Don't need it. Just the basics.
Maybe they thought it would be a nice surprise Easter present? lol My Avast! install is super minimal as well; just the file shield.
True, I remember when I first used Avast way back, maybe in 2004/5/6, somewhere in there, and it was a good product with no extra junk. I don't know what happened, but when they started bundling all the non-essential extra stuff, I wasn't too happy with that.
Hi everyone, It is my pleasure to inform you that SafeZone Browser is now available for all Avast users. It has been one of the key features of the premium (paid) versions of Avast for many years, and we've now made it available to our free users as well.
Hi all avast! Free Antivirus 11.2.2258 Beta https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185000.0 With best Regards Mops21
It's money as always, they went from developer owned -> investor owned and that never ends well. As a bonus they also got a new CEO who was previously heading Symantec and that probably didn't help either.
The return of the trolls. The latest Avast free happens to run quite well...nice password manager and SafeZone seems to be smooth...some people have to do business online and that feature helps. Just my opinion but nice that it's free.
Investor owned but not publicly. Avast is essentially owned by two private equity firms. Summit Partners and CVC capital. Remember when you could turn ads off in avast free? Not anymore. Things started to change once the two firms obtained majority ownership. I'm not saying it's wrong but the whole idea of private equity is to create a profitable firm and then sell it. http://www.cvc.com/Our-Portfolio.htmx?ordertype=0&itemid=10391414043001