Avast - Virus Software

A

Adamski

Lifer
 Edinburgh
Anybody else use this? Since updating the other day, it pops up every 5 mins to say that it's blocking Trojans and Malware.

I think in IT jibber jabber language this is called a "false positive", but I dont know enough about it. Happens when I've only got the forum open (Edit - happens other times too, but surely the forum isnt planting nasty stuff on my laptop...!)

How do I stop it? :?
 
I use it all the time and recommend it to friends, family (and previously clients). If you're using the free one (I am, it's perfectly good) I'd suggest adding the Malwarebytes program. It's also free although the paid version does automatic updates and scheduled scans.

First question, is it blocking access to websites, or flagging stuff on your PC? If it's websites it will show the URL.

If it's on your PC, run a full scan, and clean up anything it finds. Then install malwarebytes and run a scan with that and let us know how you get on. If it's still showing problems with your PC, there is a utility you can run that will kill off any really tricky background malware, but this is fairly rare. Do the steps outlined previously first.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/
 
Cheers Stuart, its not websites, its processes like Win32.soref[trj] or Win.64soref[trj] on explorer.exe or something like that... :? I'm not even using internet explorer

I'll have a go with the link, cheers :)
 
I am running avast. Have done for over a dozen years, never had a problem, this forum is not throwing up any warnings. Malwarebytes is good.
 
Malwarebytes detecting the same malware? Maybe my computer is under attack? :?

Not suggesting it's the forum. Simply saying that I didn't have a load of websites open whilst the threats were being detected

Not too chuffed... Malwarebytes detecting 2 websites, but just comes up as numbers, not names??
 
Adamski, that could be false alarms, but I'd expect all of us using Avast to see it and they're usually pretty quick at posting a correction for a flawed update file. Explorer.exe is a key component of windows and not to be confused with Internet explorer which is iexplore.exe

If you've got a really embedded problem it can stop the anti virus software running properly. Shout if you need help. If running a full scan doesn't fix it, download a utility called rkill from bleeping computer and run it. It's pretty good at stopping all the nasties allowing the anti-virus software to do it's job.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/rkill/

I strongly recommend malwarebytes as a program that will stop you picking up infections from infected websites. It's well worth taking the paid version.
 
Interesting thread

I have always used and advocated AVG Free together with Spy Bot, CCleaner and Malwarebytes - never an issue ever

Always gets me why people want to pay for the like of Norton :)
 
That's external so might be a red herring. I'd want to see a completely clean full scan of both Avast and Malwarebytes before giving your system a clean bill of health. Once you start seeing problems with explorer.exe you really do want to be sure your own system is clean.
 
Yeah ain't taking chances. Too easy to let someone raid the bank account :o


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Used to use Avast years ago for my own machine and work machines. However I found it to be very resource hungry and multiple pop ups etc.

My technology company now recommends Microsoft Security Essentials and I also use it myself, its not bad for a free product!
 
I've heard good things about MSE, but the latest Avast is very light on system resources compared with some. I'm happy with it.
 
Another Avast! and Malwarebytes user here - and I have 20 years experience specialising in information security. Microsoft Security Essentials is also good - I recommend it to my non-technical family and friends.

I think that the OP needs to do a boot-time scan - right mouse click on the Avast! icon in the system tray, select "Open Avast! user interface", click on "scan computer", followed by "Boot-time scan" and "Schedule now".
 
I use avast and have been for about 6 years - light on system resources and not too much bother and free. Never had much bother with blocking or malware but i usually run superantispyware and spybot r&d to clear out any crap
 
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